shorelunch

Some of these responses in my opinion, in my own opinion, without damn disrespecting anyone are completely wrong. The returning, staging situation we now have is not related to clear water and zebra mussels. It is simply, again simply due to the fact of no longer using the Caledonia hatchery to raise salmon. Question for the pros, why, after having a world class salmon fishery, did our state change from the Caledonia stock to the salmon river stock? I have two guesses, money number one, or hatchery structure problems in Caledonia. If it makes anyone feel better, Jim markham, when he took over control of Lake Erie steelhead, successfully destroyed 90% of the Lake Erie steelhead population. Cattaraugus creek had better steelhead fishing than British Columbia back in the day. 90% less steelhead through the great steelhead alley, all because a genius retired and never passed the notebook off to the young buck. But hey one thing at a time, would love to know why Caledonia is no longer our salmon savior.

There is one and only one reason western end fish do not imprint like they use to. Caledonia hatchery no more. It is that simple folks, not global warming like a few here seem to think. Do you not think the rivers were 68 degrees 10 years ago, at this time!! It will be interesting to see if pens can bring back similar imprints to pre Caledonia days.

Never considered the imprint factor when the fish were pushed from those winds. Maybe the fish were drawn back to port, only to be pounded out from those freak winds this month and not return. I have never seen so much east wind in the month of September. Nearly every day, whether light or strong we were dealing with afternoon east winds. I figured when west returned, so would the fish. That never happened, when west returned, the fish never returned with them. Getting late in the year, reguardless of temps. We are going to possibly see one of the worst returns in history in the next 7 days. Freezing temps at weeks end, should push the bulk of whatever is waiting into home or not home ports. We are going to know a lot come late weekend.

I agree, but I know where they are. Genny, oak, Olcott-major problems imprinting fish. Good luck explaining this to our government. Salmon river hatchery is the worse thing that ever happened to Lake Ontario.

I’m confused on the bait issue. I’d be the first one to tell them they are wrong. One day there is too much bait and the next there is none. I personally think there is much less bait then 10-15 years ago, but perhaps I’m fishing different areas. I recall pounding fish through bait ball after bait ball ten years ago and now it seems either you find it or you don’t. Back then you didn’t have to search it was everywhere. The charters know better than the state on this issue, however I feel there Input may be bias because of their profession. I’d love to know what the top 5 captains of the lake truely believe with the bait. Vince is the first guy I would personally ask, next would be songin or vice versa, both excellent guys.

One of the most rediculous posts I have ever read on this site. Your interbreeding theory is beyond wrong. There have always been 2 year olds running the river and dying off when they should not be. There are also 3 year olds that do not run the river and live to 4 possibly 5. The only way this fishery dies is when and it is a matter of when we run out of bait. Hopefully in none of our life times, however I think that depends on the winters we have. Excuse me when we run out of bait or when the Asian carp show up. Neither of these problems should show before we retire from fishing, but you never know. To be concerned about interbreeding and natural reproduction on the south shore is rediculous. This is a put and take fishery that is being sustained by our state and only our state. I don’t want to believe it but I think the light weight tournament placing fish is either bad luck, a true lack of summer feeding on bait, or the absolute terrible, rough, choppy lake we saw during the fall loc. That leaderboard changed pretty fast the last day or two with for once, favorable conditions. The spring boards seemed perfectly normal to me. I truly don’t believe the fishery was any better this year than the last ten. Personally I believe 10-15 years ago was possibly 5 times better fishing. I think the studies, the numbers and the research are all wrong like usual. The fishing has been fantastic every year, this year was no exception. Next year we’ll have all east winds and the title will read “Lake Ontario collapse of 2019” when it is strictly weather related.

I will be. Fished today (Monday) and Saturday, and Friday. Derby fishing each day. Friday was rough slid into inside (120 foot) which I consider inside. Fishing excellent with sun up east of olcott on frDay. Temps were excellent all deep on bottom which makes it like target practice. Saturday was windy, struggled to stay inside with tough, at times rediculos south winds. Currents were rediculous and winds were non stop offshore. Long story short, decided to give up on the inside 100 and troll with the current. Did well once we stopped fighting the wind. Lots of fish 150-180 trolling with that big south wind to keep lines nice and spread. Today (Monday) nice calm conditions trolled 110-80 and then back out to the “dead water” 250. Dead water was not dead and was the best water of the day. Did a dozen fish between 110-250, in my opinion the deeper the better. Fish are not t staged heavy, water is cold down deep everywhere, like 42 degrees past 90 down. If I had to do things over, I simply fish offshore 25-30 north lines. I do not like fishing staggers off bottom when the bottoms temps are ice cold. If you are wondering about having a huge day with staging matures, I believe it’s simply too early. Every kind of fish at every kind of size is in there but it is not a full on mature fest yet. We won the summer loc with a nice 26 north fish weeks ago and if winds cooperate I would prefer to fish deep for another week. Winds have been a disaster for a few weeks. Good luck !!

Going back to my comments made back in the day.....what a $hithole bar across the street. Too bad Newfane doesn’t own both sides to the mouth.

Guy supposively hit the first and second place loc tourney fish today out front of olcott in 65 feet of water on a spoon. Unbelievable how fast fish move with winds.

Keep dreaming if you think kings survive after being released in 90 degrees. Grip or no grip don’t matter, shut the boat off some day and watch them for 15 mins as they float upside down.

Ebay it for $150.

Try different mixes of meat and carbon spoons. Pound inside water and stay in it.

Last Thursday wasn't bad if you compare it to the last couple days. 3-4 footers last Thursday outside nothing torrential. 4-5's today easy out deep. Fishing is not fun after 5 footers...time to go back