Sk8man

I think it is safe to assume that there may be debris etc. in all of the Finger Lakes right now given the recent rains and high water levels

Back in the early eighties a buddy and I were fishing Owasco and we did notice a bunch of boats at the ramp but didn't think much about it until we came back in and realized that a derby was going on there. I inquired about the current standings on the leader board and a 9 pound something laker was leading. I asked them to weigh the two we had just for chuckles and mine was 11 pounds and change and my buddy's fish was a little over 10. The 9 pound laker held up and we were kicking ourselves in the butt all the way home for not knowing about the derby. It is a great little lake with some real nice fish in it.

I think if it were me I'd try going straight out to the middle of the lake from the park and head south in the channel where the buoys are and when you reach where it drops off to about 12-15 ft. or so (south) fish to the west side (e.g. outer edge of weedbeds near Canoga Park using live bait (e.g. shiners rigged with bobbers to "freefloat" or casting lures. If trolling try the channel area 8-20 ft (you'd be headed south) with stuff like red and white or black and white daredevles or stickbaits on toplines way back trolling slow for starters to where it starts dropping off out from Hibiscus Point and Frontenac toward the east. You should also run into some good sized Pickerel there.

It is an "old school tactic" that serves two main purposes - it keeps the spoon or stickbait under the surface and also can keep weeds or debris off the lure itself as well (usually placed about 2 - 4ft above lure for that).

I sure hope things settle down a bit before derby time Ed... Canandaigua Lake is also a mess right now A lot of debris and mud.

Very nice job of nailing it John.

Years ago when some of my friends were getting into chartering I figured I'd look into it too so I took an evening class short business course which started with developing a detailed business plan and "defending" the plan in front of the class. I was all psyched up until I fully explored the details regarding the financial investment in the boat, equipment, captains course, insurances, upkeep/storage costs. I then computed the time spent chartering, making arrangements, rigging stuff and cleaning up after/between charters. When I finished with all my figures and made my conclusion statement it became fully apparent to me that in my personal situation I couldn't justify doing it from an economic standpoint....I figured my hourly "wage" at $2.70 and although the tax "write off" initially appeared attractive it was too much of a "gamble" to take a chance on the average 5 year loss of an "average" small business. The final blow was the realization that given my "fussy" nature to keep my equipment nice and extreme desire to fish as much as possible (as was currently doing) I wouldn't be able to fish the way I really wanted to if I was trying to please customers and screwing around with the business part of the operation which is essential for success....I worried that it would "spoil" the enjoyment factor of fishing for me. My hat is off to the guys like Rick, Sean, and Nick and other very competent charter guys who have overcome these "obstacles" and maintain their fishing enjoyment as well. I was meant to be a "recreational" fisherman.

Bob, If anyone can help you with that it is Hank at L & M .....not much time left before the derby...good luck with it....

Dave's Body Shop and Towing has bait right on East lake Road in Honeoye on your left just as you travel south from 20A on East Lake Road - not sure of his hours though