Sk8man

Good report Jim and WTG on helping those guys out. A lot of people can relate to how vulnerable you can feel when the power goes and I'm sure those guys were real grateful for you helping them out.

Yep....you got it straight from an expert north ender

The thermocline seems to be forming and I'd say set stuff at about 35 to 55 ft now for starters. I think the bait has started to move out so I'd be looking for that too. Probably mostly spoons right now and I'd start about 30 -40 ft and work out from there. As you go deeper I'd add flasher/fly or perhaps jerk copper if you do that and are after lakers. If after lakers go with cowbells with peanut or Spin n glow just off bottom.If If landlocks, rainbows or browns use smaller spoons on downriggers and dipseys and troll off drop offs on west side especially. Good luck.

First f all Berkeley Vanish is the absolute worst line let alone fluoro line I've ever seen virtually no knot strength. Switch to Seaguar fluoro (or even Vicious (inexpensive but good) and Big game 30 lb mono or Blood Run 30 lb Sea Flea and your problem should be solved.

A NW wind sure sucks from Sodus in terms of controlling your lines and speed...best of luck to you folks.

Hi Jason, The north end sounds like a possibility Sunday. I wouldn't mind testing out some of my new (home made) trolling flies either. Send me a PM with your cell and I'll do the same. Thanks. Les Jason you have a PM

Good luck Nick and Theresa....hope the bad weather has passed by you before you took off from there.

Jason - it is up and working right now....

I guess I should have reviewed the total article Jason I once had a printed copy of that information back in the late 70's or so and some very specific charts of the thermocline as it moved from month to month throughout the year that was given to me by one of my buddies back then. The sampling was done in the 500 ft of water and as I remember in the month of November there was a radical drop off of temp and then it was nearly a straight line from slightly below the surface during the dead of winter of 39 degree water all the way to the bottom. There are also measurements taken by the Hobart and William Smith research buoy out from Roy's at the north end but they end in the late Fall. It includes quite a few profiles including wind speed throughout the day and water temp plots (thermocline plots).

I believe it supplies power to the barge if it is the one I'm thinking about.

My situation happened in the early eighties and there were no actual boundary lines or signs of any kind but the real problem is that you don't even have to be very close to it to hang up your lines - just running them very deep because the huge cables go out at an extreme angle on all sides and you couldn't see them from the boat...I was running lines down well over 200 feet...that was the major part of the problem. They do have a 17 ft Boston Whaler Montauk that transports staff between the barge and the small office/lab on land in Dresden. The sense it made fishing near the barge is the fact that a lot of bait collects near it and there are HUGE fish out there and once in a while you connect with one way down deep. I fished out there for well over 40 years and have never seen anyone ticketed but I have heard them on the loud speaker.

WTG and nice report. All hell will break loose tomorrow out there with the jet skis etc. so I guess I'll have to wait until "amateur weekend" is over. The channel and launch at north end will be double the zoo it usually is.

There is a point where the leadcore will "bow out" with added length (in addition to increases and decreases in trolling speed) and I'm not sure you will gain as much as you think but I'm not sure exactly where that point of "no return on your investment" occurs

I think Pap is right on the money if you're going to do it yourself. Those new plugs for the Opti aren't cheap (about $20 each but well worth the investment).

Small to medium spoons in bright colors (hot pink, red, orange etc.) trolled quite fast (2.8-3.2) and usually out deep where you said and down 35-75 ft or so for starters. Sometimes they will take small sticks on the bottom main line with a small active spoon cheated above it ( I've had better luck with sliders unfixed). Have to look for them because they love to roam.

Welcome to LOU John. I used to really nail the smallies on a plain brass Mepps when I was about your age and also a CP Swing spinner (don't know if they make them anymore). I think the charter will really open your eyes to the wonderful world of salmon fishing.....we all look forward to it and the excitement will be starting up anytime soon. Best of luck with your fishing adventures. Les

Good luck with things Bob.

Definitely a major reason for living here in NYS but it is is also something to really think about when we local yokels complain about traveling an hour or so to get to the launch. Where else can you have world class fishing on your doorstep? Can't take anything for granted....we are truly lucky. My hat is off to those of you who travel such distances because it says a lot for your love of the sport and perseverance. Best of luck to all of you this season.

Rippin'Line and Missdemeanor did a great job of hitting on the main concerns and problems (ie. too much lure action, no the right action or not enough) and monitoring SPEED. Another factor is know your lures. Experiment to see exactly how your lures run and whether they might need to be tuned (as in flutter spoons). Sometime even slight bends in the spoon can make all the difference in the world. Notice how the spoon responds as you let out line...is it doing what you want? Sometimes I decide to use a different one and take if off if it doesn't look the way I want it to (back and forth motion in rhythm). There are times when you may actually want to use spoons that "roll" at higher speed (especially smaller flutter spoons at higher speed for rainbows and Atlantics). Varying your speed is important...don't just troll along at the same speed... throw it in idle once in a while then speed up, gradually speed up and then back down....do "s" turns while changing speeds. I constantly play with boat speed untiI connect with a particular setup (s) (good way to stay in shape too ) . The specific speed recommendations are fine as GENERAL indicators but they are not gospel....don't be afraid to run faster or slower than those (e.g. 3.2 vs. 2.3)...every boat and equipment setup is different as are things like current specific lures etc....many things to think about and monitor but attention to detail often separates a good day from a skunk. AND...sometimes they don't want spoons!