justtracytrolling

I think you veteran captains should start a thread and tell some stories. Give us something to laugh about! I appreciate reading about the guys that paved the way. Just don't have that kind of history where I'm at....

My pontoon doubles as a sailboat! Doesn't tack well tho....lol

It wasnt gonna go out till walleye season anyway but just knowing my boat is going to be in the water on my dock is a nice feeling!

I sold my trailer to the owner of the marina...he puts on the dock and he pulls it for service and winterization...

Unless you do it every day or practice wind is a nightmare solo. My first weekend of my life with a trailered boat Tracy and I saw so many couples screaming at each other I decided to learn to do it alone and sent her to use the restroom before we went out. I still do it that way and don't want any help...same with docking.

I have a launch with in archery range of my deck at the lake....most people struggle mightily with launching and loading and it's always crowded with impatient people.... pretty sure once it warms up it's gonna be just like always or worse...and if guys really go alone the launch and loading will be even slower. I love the idea, but I don't like to kid myself!

Chinook, Mitigation isn't going to actually happen... doesn't matter whether we think it should or not! People would have travelled to protest in large groups or we can let em do what they want. Either way the cat was never staying in the bag.

Let's not screw this up! It would be great if parking lots were half full or less, but I have a feeling that's not gonna happen. As far as travel goes I too think it should be minimized, but I'm realistic. The boat launches aren't exactly population centers so people are gonna travel to fish... Oswego here they come! I'm hoping by mid May we see charters as it's not like we are going to wait for a vaccine, test at a level to trace, or agree to stay inside shut down like China!

I know a percentage return to the pond side to spawn, but no successful spawning happens in the muddy water there. There is successful spawning that happens in the main lake and there are many areas that see consistent returns. Most of the spots where they return aren't successful though. The few spots where they are successful I keep to myself and I don't fish those areas early in the season. Basically during daylight in the beginning of the season walleye will hold from part way down the drop offs around 30 fow to up on the flats in 16-18 fow. At night they are at the tops of the drop offs and shallower. The fish on the flats are far easier to catch than ones down over the drop off.

The walleye are stocked by boat on the pond side from the campground every other year. The region 7 guys found us walleye on the off year last time and will be trying to do so in the future. Tigers are stocked in the main lake primarily at the launch and some at the county Park. Trout go in the main lake at the launch I think. Walleye can be caught all the way around the lake.

I'm done thinking about it! I'm going to continue to distance as I can't work, but I'm going fishing when walleye opens...I'll distance while I fish and I won't be traveling.

On Otisco?

Walleye fishing usually takes a certain touch... especially away from Oneida! I remember my first attempts at walleye fishing came in 1982 in Sylvan beach watching guys fish as you are describing but jigging on spin tackle. Those guys didn't help me a bit...I was 11. Did catch a to of perch in the canal though! Ended up getting my first walleye that summer in row boat out from Verona beach on a nightwalker drifting...

Fishing deeper is tough mentally because you can't "see" what you are fishing. I stay pretty committed to the outside edge of the weedline for tigers. 15-20 fow especially if there is structure which basically is anywhere except the north end. I'm not saying there aren't plenty of fish to be had around docks and the inside of the weedline. The difference is there are tons of things that influence your success tight to shore that you don't control, such as bass tournaments, swimmers, shore fishing, etc. Move out to 15-20 fow and the fish aren't as pressured and nobody is in your way. Also just because you are in deep water doesn't mean you have to fish deep. The biggest tiger I've guided on the fly came on cast away from the weedline into 30+ fow.

Yeah I have a customer I guide for tigers who makes articulated flies that work but I can cast them on a spin rod....I don't see the point in that....plus I'm getting old! Lol. I have several different custom flies coming with the suede paddle tail and i know how well paddle tails work on Otisco. Where are you out of jomat?

You gave advice the mask is irrelevant. I would think because you won't get tested without symptoms we should all wear the masks in case we are asymptomatic.