justtracytrolling

I wish I could say I am exhausted from all the fish I caught, but it was tough opener for me. Friday night we fished from 12 till Dawn and never even saw an eye. Saturday we casted for tigers in the middle of the day and didn't see a single tiger. Saturday evening I decided to load some trolling rods and work some deeper water. I ended up missing a couple fish and landing 2 tigers. Sunday I put the riggers on and ran a full spread hoping to figure something out. I ended up losing several fish that I'm fairly certain were walleye before we could even get the board off or in some cases out of the rod holders. We finally landed the my first 2 eyes of the season when I bumped our speed hoping to get them to hit better. Along with the 2 eyes we caught 2 more tigers. None of the fish were noteworthy but it's a start. The bigger eye, 6lbs, and the biggest tiger, upper 30's both came on a spoon off a rigger 30 down on steep structure occasionally banging bottom...tough trolling! I was hoping for eyes ON shore at night for casting sticks, then I hoped for eyes suspended, or eyes on a sand flat, but if it was easy they would call it bass fishing! I definitely felt I was getting things figured out.

They may be able to "breathe" out of water, but any pike/musky/tiger you are intending to release shouldn't be "worked on", as in removing hooks, out of water like you would a bass. These fish are definitely much more fragile especially in summer where oftentimes they shouldn't even be removed from water at all. Sent from my E6810 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

My experience says they see quite well with their eyes out of water. Half the battle of catching them when they swim on top is not being seen whipping a rod at them, and not being perceived as chasing them. Often if you don't pressure them too much and are patient shortly after they go back down you will hook up in the area... especially if there are several around swimming on top. Once you really spook them it becomes very difficult. Huge baits landing in their faces isn't the play. Sent from my E6810 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Perhaps porpoising isn't the best term, but we are definitely referring to the same behavior. I've seen them keep their entire head out of water for an extended period of time.

They will bite...the fish absolutely exploded on a lucky craft gunfish. Ive caught quite a few after spotting them. This particular morning 5-6 solid tigers we're porpoising behind us and after getting us in range at the right angle young Maddux made a perfect cast!

I love my helixes! Have them on both boats and as soon as my new g3 12s get here I'll have a 9 and a 12 for sale. Mine have high hours on them but I've never had any problems with my birds. Sent from my E6810 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I certainly don't want individuals stocking public water for any reason. That being said walleye didn't hurt a thing on a owasco as Kevin stated. The proof is the lake is still has a very fishable population of walleye yet the trout fishing is solid. The trout are the invasive species here and the walleye belong here. Furthermore, walleye are at least a challenge and worthwhile to eat! I hope they flourish and could care less about the trout as we have plenty of trout lakes. The DEC has everyone convinced the trout and walleye can't coexist but they do fine together. Walleye can and do reproduce well in the finger lakes. Walleye fishermen don't politic for elimination of other species if our fishing drops off...we just work a little harder....trout fishermen aren't happy unless they have enough to throw them away after each derby and box tournament...so sad.

It's not that I feel any different than you...trust me!!! But I know we are not the majority on many of the issues we hold so dear! Just because we were raised one way in one environment and others were raised differently in a different environment doesn't make either right or wrong no matter how loud we shout our opinion...our system is and has always been compromise and therefore we just can't ignore how we are viewed because we don't see a problem with our way of life. Nobody is really going to change their minds on either side... Sent from my E6810 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I certainly don't fish the rivers hard anymore like Kevin, but if I know the water is up, not chocolate milk , there is front coming in or a full moon, and temps are at least near freezing so eyes don't freeze every cast I'm miserable if I don't go!!! For my personal fishing, which I don't get much anymore because I'm guiding, I don't stay up all night anymore unless it's right. Sent from my E6810 using Lake Ontario United mobile app