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I wouldn't jump to a purchase just yet, if you have a surface temp on your depth finder that's all you need in the shallows of the Black River basin, let the finder do the work. Try drifting around the bouys and see if anything shows up on the finder, try to stay outside the pack of boats, my personal preference is the north side that would be the green bouy side, watch for a pile of rocks about at the last green bouy you will bottom up beware been there and it's not fun. Don't get discussed right away as I have caught them in the middle of the day 1or 2 Oclock pm. more than once!! And also I have caught them over Memorial Day weekend in the middle of the day. The best fishing conditions are when the wind comes strait up the bouys towards the river, I guess the that would be south west, when you wind drift up to where the river current stops you then go back out to the last bouy and pick a different pass, a good drift takes about 1/2 hour drifting at 1.5 or less I use # 5 Colorado deep dish blades for they don't take much speed to turn them, in hammered copper was always my best harness with ruby red beads and 3 red drop shot hooks, and hook the worm with the first hook as close to the nose as possible, learned that from a charter captain he said that was very important cause live bait that swims don't swim with their head bent, it works we tried both ways and the worm that was the most strait did the best. In the mid 80s, the water was a emerald green and you didn't need to be so stealth like, but now it's different I use 8# fluro. Hope all this helps you and good luck Saturday. I already to two man tickets the first day, with 8 to 6# fish they are there, just have to be patient, that's the name of the game PAP.

Thanks Tugger for the walleye report, now I don't feel bad for missing the first day, got a late start on the last to do list for the boat. With all this cold weather, maybe in 2 weeks it should be good, and I will be up in time to hit them good. Again thanks for the WALLEYE report PAP.

I fished the Black River basin since the early 80's, and the way this year is going, I will be drifting worm harnesses off of bottom bouncers, I use 2oz bottom bouncers with the green and orange beetle spin rigs, with 3 hooks, make sure that you hook the worm as close to the tip of the crawler as possible, this make the crawler as strait as possible, if no luck there, troll up the river on the left side, stay in the deep area at the first set of bouys , then go up the left side there is a shelf about 20 yards off shore work that shelf up to the weeping willow tree, than repeat by going out to the last set of green and red bouys. I have better luck on the green side of the bouys, there are holes used to be 8 to 10 feet deep on the side and they hang in those deep holes when the boat traffic is heavy. Hope this helps a little, been successful their for years, if no luck there, troll down the north shore towards Chaumont bay or try Chaumont bay, after the Black River Basin.

Reelintence, That's a sweet looking ride, and don't rush things together, I bought a 1983 22ft Sea Ray cuddy that I have been working on for 3 years now, this year I will be ready for Lake O'. I had other boats in the 18ft range, but going to a 22fter is a whole new ball game, from 4cyl to 350 Mercruiser (complete rebuild,30 over bore job) did all the work myself, I think it's a lot of boat, 96 inch beam, and a lot of boat in front of the helm makes for a lot of time on a lake at home getting used to the boat, loading and learning to handle the new to me vessel, before I bring it up to the big O. Nothing irritates me more than waiting for someone else to load their boat, taking 20 minutes to get it on the trailer, so I don't want to be that someone!! This boat took a lot of work but it's worth every penny to me, it should be the last boat I need, not that I wouldn't want a new one, but all the work and time make you appreciate the ones we have. Enough about me, good luck with your new ride and let there be many fish in your box this year!!

WOW, what a trip, sounds like you guys had a blast, I always wanted to take a charter trip on lake O' but time fly's buy and before you know it's fall and where did the season go. Glad you guy's pulled off, maybe the trip of a life time!!!

I'm really interested in your spoons, but I fish the eastern side of lake O' I wouldn't mind paying the shipping cost, if you would ship them I will buy them. Thanks PAP