Capt Vince Pierleoni

Happy Easter! Another very well written piece, Rod. I just want to add something to your reference to the "beginning". It was 1985 when the Pro-Am came to Lake Ontario. I was in my 2nd year as a Captain, but my preference for targeting Kings was already well entrenched. Despite the format "staring us in the face", and the late June transition in full swing with dying bait and moss aplenty, we were flat out cocky enough to fish Kings , and Kings alone. The Pro limit was 20 back then, with no restrictions on Lakers. Well, you can see where this went. We finished 35th!!! out of 70 Pro's. Our best day we had 5 Kings and one weighed 32 1/2 lbs--in June! I have not seen one bigger in the Niagara Pro-Am since. You know what we got? Zero, zilch, NADA! There wasn't even a big fish prize-- wasn't what it was all about. All the winning catches were boxes of 20 huge lakers and incidental skipper Kings. What we did get was (besides our a%&es handed to us) was KNOWLEDGE. I will attribute my success in tournaments and chartering consistency to fishing these challenging, high strategy events,--all of them. It's our continuing ED. If you're taking peoples money to take them fishing, it's a great way to sharpen your pencil, AND build lifelong friendships with the competition we players thrive on. Back in '85, the AMs were not like the AMs of today. We saw guys putting riggers on going out of the channel. Today, the average "AM" guy would DRUB the "Pros" of yesterday, yes it has blurred. So, getting back to that first Tourny, had there been the 2 formats we would have cashed checks despite our narrow minded approach. Today, the everyday Pro's have one true disadvantage, we MUST produce fish for our clients day to day. Sometimes this can lead to proficiency in Tournaments, and other times it can hamstrung the best of them as "sharpshooters" experiment and find the winning answer. Lastly, how do you determine a Pro from an Am today? If a guy is unlicensed , but works 10 days a year on a charterboat is he an AM? What if he works a hundred? What if he's unlicensed, but he's been part of 6 Tourny wins? What if he has been a part of a Pro team that has won? Where do you draw the line? The ocean Tournys just say "bring it on", compete at the level you see fit. The 2 formats, AND the expanded "open/am division offer lots of options.

Hang in there Jason, you are "one of us." Go back to the original post, very well written by Rod. They are trying to make positive changes. Lots of work continues securing sponsors and both the "open" and the regular division will be better than 100% payback--can't beat it. Lots of concessions have been made by alot of people, all for the betterment and future of the series. It is the "consistency" of which you speak, that sets apart a 2 day event. The new "Trophy box" addition will only add to the "thinking" part of each event. No 2 events will be the same. Wait to see the strategy implemented this year, there will be surprises and it won't all be by the "old pro's". Good Luck whatever you decide, Jason.

Thanks to all that showed up. We had a great day to work on this vital project. If you can be a reliable feeder, please sign up with LOTSA.

Thanks for posting. What an intelligent, caring, pro-active approach. Michigan certainly realizes that whether you are a proponent of the Pacific Salmon program or not, they make restoring native species possible by controlling the ravenous alewife. Before anyone gets any ideas here, were are in exactly the opposite situation. Michigan alone has 5 Salmon hatcheries, we are relying on one(all our eggs in one basket), we have surplus Alewives and Smelt, and the emerald shiner population is immeasureable. We have been falling short on our egg eyeing targets, and through the efforts of the many pen project volunteers we manage to get a decent amount to escape the huge population of predators that were not here when the program started. On top of it all, being the smallest lake, angler access to the Salmon population is greater than any other Great Lake--they get cropped on both sides of the fence. Finally, as a barometer(as if snagging baitfish on our lures throughout the season wasn't enough), our 3 yr old matures average 22lbs. Our Lake Ontario, is actually under utilized for Chinook production and native restoration and economic gain could be realized in a greater way if we went back to pre-cut levels. That should be a fantastic presentation in Benton Harbor MI, and if I didn't have clients that day I would drive out there.

Your motor should have a sticker or plate on it with important info including recommended W.O.T rpms. The right prop will allow you to achieve those RPMs. This usually provides a compromise between performance , engine longevity, and fuel economy. The problem is, this RPM number differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, in what amount of load is to aboard. Generally, half fuel and a couple people onboard. Also keep in mind that the prop must be in tip top shape--completely tuned-or everything is irrelevant. All this and prop choice is an ongoing science, and we are learning as new designs and materials are developed. Good Luck!

Thanks Tim, and thanks to Joe Yeager and Hank Condes for all the extra work you do with this. We had a cancellation for tomorrow which we could not re-fill so I will be there to help. The pens are crucial to increase survival of our precious fingerling Kings, especially with all the predators in the harbors these days.

Jeff, I have run Outboards all winter for over 20yrs. EFI is the way to go, especially in the cold weather. I think as long as you run them once a month, there is no need to winterize in any way. I have never winterized any of my outboards. I do exactly as RR told you every time I pull out. If you don't run them and go through fuel, you may run into issues with the fraudulent ethanol. Now, what IS critical is that you watch your lower gear oil. Change more often than a seasonal boater, and check even more often as any water seeping in can freeze and cause damage. For the last 10 yrs or so I have also used a synthetic blend oil in my 4 Strokes. That marina gave you poor info, and makes me think they don't know the difference in the different types of motors. Good Luck!

Nice going Rob! Not as chilly as re-doing a porch on a bluff at Lake Ontario in a stiff NEaster I bet! Great job on the water, and great job with you and your Eagle builder team on the porch. Good luck on the water!

Gill-T, LOL yes I discovered that. Baby steps man, baby steps. Some of the guys on here actually think I have a smart phone. Maybe after my current one dies a moisture-related death like all the rest before i'll "take the plunge." It was the best cold/wet day ever out there, congrats again on your great day. After all these years, Kings still amaze me in every way. NOW you can officially consider it Spring!

Poverty Stricken II, it was one of the best "shake down" trips ever. Just trolling towards my home port of Olcott. Fished 4 hrs and had constant Browns and after we left that warm bubble to you guys at the point we hit 41 degree water for 30 mins. When it climbed back up a degree we hit a small BT and a double on Kings-14fow. 13/14lbs and 18/20lbs. We got 'em back in the water quick. One off a board on a silver blk Live Target stick, and the other off a silver/orange DW SS off a rigger. We figured it couldn't get any better than that so we cleared rods and ran home. Good Luck rest of your season. Our April tackle is Okuma Convector 20 D's and 7 1/2' ML Blue Diamond Okuma rods, BTs are fun on these w/ 10lb leaders--Kings are a RIOT! PS, My mate Nick put the King pics up on our THRILLSEEKER Sportfishing facebook page.

Priceless!

Just one short boom left.

Congrats on your first day out on your new boat and the success. Twin 4 strokes is a sweet way to go.

A very common problem. I happens when a kink occurs or it simply wears a groove in the sheathing. Changing a cable is less expensive than changing a control box.

Sweet Buck! Congrats!

I will say out front that I work closely with Okuma. That being said, I refuse to use anything that is sub-par in any way. Okuma reels are incredible in many ways. I am astounded at the amount of fish we have boated on a single set of drag washers. I do not have any experience with magdas , as that is an economy reel. The Convectors are very durable, and have great features. Don't discount that little 20D, great drag and it will hold a ton of 15lb. Great planer board rod, and when matched with their 7 1/2 ML Blue Diamond rod is absolutely perfect for BTs and Coho, and will manage the odd King. As for top-of- the-line reels, I would put the Okuma Catalinas against anything out there for our fishery. Worth the extra dollars for hardcore use.

Definitely points to be made on both sides, but its just so clear we are under attack from all sides. Boaters don't fit the new pro-urban regime. Boaters use fossil fuel, participate in dirty outdated things like fishing, and actually contribute to the economy instead of draining it. Independant people are a threat. They want to discourage future growth in all outdoor activities-it's everywhere. I actually had a couple different conversations today revolving around the criminal ethanol program. Who does it hurt the most? Rural people, and people who enjoy visiting rural places and getting out in the outdoors and on the water. Do we need better education on the water? Sure, but I'm not sure thats the motive here and in alot of whats going on today.

Awesome. It goes by in a flash, I can still remember the little legs dangling off the cooler, not long enough to touch the deck. Take it all in. Congrats on one of your "magic moments!"

We put a Solterra through the paces last Summer and it's a beast! The Tourny crew nicknamed it "farm equipment!"

Thanks guys, for your dedication. I've been watching the temp at the Oak at the main channel, it dropped 10 degrees during that cold snap, to 47. Came back up a couple degrees today. With the return to cooler nights we may be ok in some sites. There are even more warm water predators today, and certainly a much larger Perch population than when the pen projects first started. I think even holding the small fingerling Kings for a shorter period will make a huge difference in survival. In the early 90's, we caught rock bass jigging from our boats in Olcott on the day the fingerlings were stocked. One "rockie" coughed up 10 fingerling Kings, and this was approx 100yds from where the plant took place. Holding pen projects got started in St Joseph Michigan, as Walleyes were devastating the fingerlings at night, while the Salmon milled around an became acclimated. Thanks again to all who help out up and down the lake with these very important projects.