Capt Vince Pierleoni

I have a rig with an outboard that I run all winter on the Niagara. Most of us have no problem starting the motors in as cold as 0 degree mornings. Hank could probably offer some advice on here, but the battery is probably getting tired or there is some corrosion robbing starting power. Many manufacturers make dual purpose batteries that will give you up to 4yrs of service. Always a good play to keep your batteries on an automatic charger, especially during colder months.

We experimented extensively with spinners years ago. Found decent results in the springtime mud with Browns and Cohos. Primarily Vibrax(Blue Fox?), and some mepps. Absolutely imperative to use a quality ball bearing swivel. We were trying to pull a few more bites and the flash and vibration may have helped. Ran them relatively short behind riggers. Never wanted to donate them to the lake so we never tried them off the boards. In any other application, caught a few, but not as well as other presentations. Thats been my experience, let us know how you make out. As for ball bearing swivels, the ONLY ones that are holding up to our repeated opening and closing are the Dreamweaver ones. I have had failures with Spro and Sampo.

Paulie, don't ever knock 'em til you tried 'em. I think they look BAD A*&S! They are the most trouble free, functional 'rigger there is, and I've had 'em all. C'mon Paul, they use the heck out of 'em in the Pacific NW. Is there a harsher place? Well OK, maybe the cockpit of my boat!

These are very important to attend. I have never been to one that was fully attended. It is an excellent way to express how important the Salmon & Trout fishery is to you, just by your presence. By having 3 such meetings along the south shore, on different dates, there is one that fits everyone.

King Salmon 22, Lots of theories about what happened to the lakers in that area. Forage changes, predation on stocked lakers by cormorants, intense pressure by an experienced fleet, and a slot limit which probably did more harm than good in that warm water. In addition to these reasons, the laker stocking was cut in half in trade for cutting the Kings a little less back in the early 90's. Since then there has been very few years when the Feds have been able to produce the target number, even though it was reduced considerably. Take all this into account, and there are less lakers for the resurging lamprey population, which compounds the problem. We see the big fish that survive the lampreys, not the young lakers that succumb to them. The good news is Summer King fishing has been strong in that area of the lake for several seasons.

You don't even have to have the same team members on the 2 days of the tournament. As long as team members sign the disclaimer in the morning, you are good to go. The Pro--Ams are even charter friendly, no max number of persons in Pro division, just abide by the rod limit. Not only does a Pro never have to miss a Pro--Am because of a booked charter, they will become the most popular events, with your most experienced groups looking forward to them year after year. It is the Charter professions' "continuing education".

Running your planer boards from a spool mounted directly from the rail will lead to frustration at some point. You want the starting point to be higher. This will allow you to run your boards out further from the boat, and keep the belly of the planer line out of the water. You can get away with an inexpensive simple system. My first booms were hardwood closet rods, with tarp hooks mounted directly on the wood to store the line. You could mount your reels to some kind of boom like this with an eyelet up top. Make it as high as you can comfortably reach it. I have known very good fisherman who used ocean boat roads as their planer booms. I'm sure there are many ingenius designs the guys on here can give you to get you started.

Thanks Hank, very cool site. I would have never imagined the potential nightmares. My goal would be to SIMPLIFY my day to day operation, not open up a can of worms. Seems EFI is worthy of consideration in a brand new engine, but too risky as an aftermarket project. Thankyou everyone, for your input.

Thank you for your time guys. From what I'm hearing here, no matter what it sounds like adding it could be a recipie for disaster! I guess I shouldn't start a thread on all the new technology surrounding props!

Wow, I'm impressed with the knowledge on this subject. Maybe I'm getting exaggerated info about the EFI's. I was told by several owners that they felt increased performance and economy was achieved when they went to them. These were the same concerns I had when I chose the carb motors. They start beautiful with the Holleys they came with. Hank, do you think going with the Edelbrock carbs would improve performance or economy? I have heard good things about these as well. Thanks for the responses guys.

I attend at least one, if not two of these every year. Unfortunately, I pretty much see the same faces. Even if you don't want to speak up, your presence there expresses that you care. With alot of the issues, getting active AFTER there is a problem is too late. Often there are polls given via paper, and collected at the end of the meeting. It is scary to think that if a special interest group loads the room it could jeopardize the complexion of the fishery. Do not take any aspect of this incredible fishery for granted. There are many threats to this fishery out there. Show how much it means to you and yours by showing up. Last year at the Niagara co. meeting there were many young guys and girls there, listening intently. Kudos to those of you that brought them!

I need to see if any of the motor heads out there have any experience with adding on aftermarket EFI to a modern marine engine. I repowered with brand new GM vortech 5.7's in 2007, and now really wish I went with the EFI's. I think I read somewhere that these kits exist, does anyone know if this is a viable option?

You guys are on the ball. Fish in the lower Niagara the past month have been gorged with young smelt. We also saw lots of smelt in the Salmon and trout in the western basin last spring. You should do ok dipping in the Niagara this spring. Unfortunately guys, you are not likely to hear about any resurgence in baitfish numbers as this leads to an intelligent discussion about upping Salmon numbers.

I have had 5 different brands of 'riggers. Not only do I like the looks of them, but Scotty customer service is top notch and they have proven to be Team THRILLSEEKER proof. I seem to attract first mates and clients that break things!

Thanks for the endorsement, Billy v. Politics actually do interest me, but could we Govern the "New" New York in such a way that I could still fish for Kings? I have a feeling that you guys would catch 'em all while I sat in meetings!!! This is good, guys. The towns and counties will do a better job than the state, and private enterprise would be even better. We The People........it's the American way. When each of these facilities turns a profit it will provide further proof of how inept our State government is. It is a honor to serve the people, trouble is that has been long forgotten by this state administration.

Thanks for noticing Jerry. Before I run out here I have to point out that the Town of Newfane boat launch, cleaning tables, marina, and fishing access areas are successful and profitable. Why? because the local government is Republican and realizes the power of the economics of fishing and tourism. HELLO? Closing places like Fort Niagara and Selkirk shores? Time to privatize all of these locations and facilities. For years I have pointed out the Fort with pride to visiting anglers, and they always went to visit after fishing. Now it will be an embarassment. I have said for years we have a world class fishery, IN SPITE of the state. Pardon me, now I have to go be positive to hordes of people who are looking for an "escape" from this type of crap when they spend their hard-earned tourism dollar. I feel like Dave Chilson, gonna need duct tape for my exploding head! Run for governor, Ray. We have never met but I will back you because if you hunt and fish and love your family you are REAL.

Well, I grow more impressed with the caliber of people on this site every day. I agree with everything I have read here. This is how change begins, with unrest. We don't have to be sheep paraded to slaughter, or as the great Ted Nugent would say, "sheeple". Some of you may not be aware, but cormorant control only came about after some deeply concerned sportsmen grew frustrated with the inaction of the state and federal governments, and committed some serious crimes. They took it upon themselves to do SOMETHING. Although they brought trouble to themselves, it got attention, and soon after cormorant control began. Spoonfed, the problem is NY is Democrat controlled. They just simply always favor "Big Government", and big taxes. With the natural resources NY has, there should be a blizzard of "New money" flowing in from all over. As I informed that assemblywoman at the "town meeting", just that ONE Pro-Am held in Niagara County last June, had contestants and their money from 6+ states and 3 countries. How can they be so unaware? Dave is right, its time to organize and expose people, because a politician would have to be corrupt or mentally deficient to cut the legs out from under the ONLY economic engines this state has.

It is just so exasperating to watch these decisions and actions. We are WAY overdue to conduct the DEC, and the state, as a business. In difficult times, you dig in and sometimes you need to spend MORE in the areas that win for you. As I stated at a recent "Town" meeting to one of our long time politicians from Niagara Falls, we cannot "starve" the engine that makes the whole thing go. We are killing the "Golden goose". I asked at 2 different "state of the lake" meetings last year, whose job or responsibility was it educate the rent-a-governer. No one had an answer to me. It is damaging, even if all you care about is that sickening free lodging for prisoners guests, to increase fees and make cuts, WHEN DOING JUST THE OPPOSITE IS PART OF THE SOLUTION!!!!!! We must fight to not let any more of this fishery and tourism in general to become sacrificial lambs, AND FOR CRYING OUT LOUD WILL SOME DEMOCRAT WHO HAS HIS EAR GIVE THIS GUY "A CLUE"!!!!!!!!

I would suggest 7 1/2' to 8 1/2', ML action. Okuma has several models that are very inexpensive for this purpose. Also, there will be scads of just such rods, new and used, at the LOTSA sale Feb 28th in Lockport.

The first ESLO derby was in 1976. I believe the name and ownership change didn't take place until the mid 90's.

Yes Salmon Boy, as Tim said there is ALOT to be excited about and grateful for. Don't judge the success of the Salmon fishery entirely on the returns to the tribs. It is the goal that these be lake caught, after all, whether it be out in open water or off a pier. The trib fishery is a by-product, as they are on borrowed time. The warm water in our tribs causes them to decline quickly. As long as we get enough back to recover surplus eggs for the hatcheries, it is mission accomplished. More people are successful at targeting Salmon now than only a few years ago. They get to enjoy them in their prime fighting condition. This is a good thing, as the program wouldn't be justified for just a handful of successful anglers. The size of the adult kings last year returned to the best in many seasons, and is the best on the Great Lakes. Lake Ontario currently holds the WORLD RECORD Coho Salmon. Several Browns and Lake trout have been caught over 30lbs. in recent years. ANY time you drop a line in Lake Ontario you could break a WORLD RECORD, and have the opportunity to enjoy some of the best fishing on the planet for the fraction of the cost of a far-away destination. So keep your chin up and concern yourself with PROTECTING the type of fishery we do have.

Thanks Longline for digging up that Canadian piece. I knew this didn't sit well with me, and now I remember why. Canada has a tremendous loyalty to commercial fishing. Has actually governmentally owned many commercial fishing operations, and may still. I was exhibiting at a sports show about 12 years ago, and got into a conversation with an Ontario Province tourism representative. She informed me that there was alot of outcry from the Northern "camp" operators about the provinces involvement in Salmon stocking. They conveyed to their government, that by helping to create an exciting, attractive fishery, the result was less business for them. The Yanks were staying home to fish "the Big O", and even many of their own(Toronto residents) were opting to spend their fishing vacation money on charters or trolling rigs. After all, we're talking SALMON. Do you think its just a coincidence that the province has discontinued stocking PACIFIC (you know, the ones that "work" here, grow big, fight hard) Salmon since then?(Thanks goes out to all the hard-working Ontario sportsmen club members who do their best with BS shackles put on them) I think we need to wake up and smell the coffee before its too late. There is no good reason, to put forth vast amounts of effort and money, to restore EELS in THIS fishery, at THIS time! Unless of course your ultimate goal is to create a commercial fishery for them, be damned the ramifications to the sportfishermen and women. We already know they love fish eggs, thus jeopardizing at least the shallow spawning species. Ask yourself, was I ASKED my opinion or wishes about restoring EELS?

Salmonboy, its a pick-'em situation. I would say that more fish return all at once to the greater Oswego area, but you are going to share them with more trollers. The staging fish there are often mired in warm water, piled down there by prevailing westerlies. They can be very challenging to catch. Out west here, we seem to get more of a trickle run, and enjoy the ability to almost always find cooler water. It has been my experience that there is more room to troll. Shade-Howie, got the pm, if you are willing to fish Cohos, Browns, and dropback Steelies, you can almost always fish near Olcott in shallow water and save the long run down west. Fish less than twenty foot of water and watch temp guage for warm water.

Salmon Boy, thank you for your interest in these issues. Continue to educate yourself, we will need people like you in the future. Compared to Salmon, Lake trout don't fare well. They do however, belong in the Great Lakes. Their flesh as table fare would improve if they grew slower, and were leaner. They also have the capability to attain incredible weights because of their long life span. The NYS DEC gets cooperation with the feds because they are working together along with Canada to restore Lake trout. This is important because this is why we get all the effort and funding for Lamprey treatment. Although it looks like they don't do much, with all the new wounding we are seeing, it is a great effort. The Lamprey adapt and become more and more resistant to the lampricide, and thankfully, our watershed is becoming cleaner all the time. This creates new habitat that is suitable for Lamprey reproduction, that wasn't suitable a few years ago. Lake trout just don't "do" warm water well. When hooked in cold water and pulled into warm water, they fizzle out quick. Catch them in 33 to 41 degree water and they have incredible stamina. In regards to Niagara river Salmon fishing, there are several factors at work there. The Fall water temps have been very warm, as that rivers water comes directly from lake Erie. The Salmon can only wait for it to cool so long, with length of daylight part of the equation. They run the river but are much tougher to get to "bite", with river temps in the high 60's/low 70's. The Canadians don't plant as many as they used to(although the dedication of their clubs to stock what they do is admired and appreciated) as Ontario province discontinued it through the OMNR. It is felt that in years past the Mighty Niagara "sucked" in many strays because of the strong flow into the western end. Lastly, the amount of predators has increased big-time in the lower river. There are fishable numbers of Walleyes in the Lower Niagara now, they are voracious predators of stocked Salmon and Trout. In Michigan and west coast states, many holding pen projects were implemented to try and protect the Salmon from the Walleyes. This is being addressed as a pen project will be tried again this spring with Chinooks(Kings), in the Lower Niagara. You are right, Salmon fishermen in the Great Lakes must stick together and protect Salmon fishing into the future.

Lakebound, sorry you ran into a Captain with an "attitude". Cut him some slack unless it happens several times. Sleep deprivation is a terrible thing. It is possible with cooperative weather for him to be out SIXTY days in a row, baking in the Sun and dealing w/ the fleas. Perhaps he just got a call about a two day cancellation, or discovered a mechanical issue that threatened the next outing. Maybe he was fishing Kings, and they just plain "fried" his brain. Now, if you by chance followed directly behind him, or too close while trolling, he will be upset. He is probably working hard to get presentations "away" from his boat, so he wouldn't want to fish baits near yours. Keep fishing around the lake, most people are great.