justtracytrolling

I can't get enough of the looks on kids faces when they see big fish! Great job getting the family involved and thanks for sharing.

I made my own custom keels that instigator was happy to help me out with the design and 20 bucks wouldn't come close to covering raw materials for 1 AND you still have to have them bent. I sold my old ones at the same exact fair price!

Still a good morning bite!

Thanks for the kind words guys! Fishing is what you make of it and Joe and his family made the most of their time together enjoying the finger lakes experience. It can't be just about catching as that is never a guarantee...it has to be about the total experience...every group is different and when you take a family or your family it's important not to lose sight of the big picture.

Or they are elusive because you have to figure it out...I made an adjustment today and got a decent fish quite easily...just never fished that deep in summer. As far as harvest goes it's not really our place to judge what someone else does with a legal fish. Yeah I definitely want them put back, but I can only control what goes happens on my boat. In the last 5 years I've had 3 bleeders and never 2 in a season...none were wasted. I don't count tigers but my release percentage is just fine with smaller lures. We can lobby for legislation, but around here they are table fare unfortunately. They stock 15000 a year and they don't breed so it a tough sell to the locals to ask them to put them back...it's put and take to them. Not only do we have to convince people to release we have to convince them to buy a big net, tools, leave the fish in the water, lean over the side to unhook the fish....and on and on...I've tried to change local opinion 1 person at a time but it's not easy! I have a different kid every day and I give em an education...by the time they get their first tiger they want to release them as much you or I. Next time you are here I could introduce you to some good people that make a compelling argument to their right to eat a legal fish. Always remember there are 2 sides to everything and total agreement is unlikely. Educating kids is THE only way to change.

Casting is still producing plenty on Otisco but not any big fish, 40 plus, that I know of... trolling is very slow but if you hook one it will be decent. Sent from my XT1080 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I often get asked if the tigers really go deep in summer. Well I've never had a summer where the big tigers seemed so elusive. Sure we have caught some but not like I would have expected after the phenomenal spring. Today things were slow and we decided to speed up for a reaction bite and put out a 10 rod set covering more column instead of zeroing in on walleye or tigers. Had 1 rigger at 24, 1 at 33 and 1 at 37 for browns (55 -58 degree water). Ive been trying for a big brown off and on this year and today I decided to fish colder than the normal for browns. We didn't go far and my brown trout setup (silver n blue alewife spoon 10' off the ball on 10lb mono with 8 lb seaguar flouro leader) is just screaming! I holler to put it in neutral and Wayne's son Trav starts pumping the fish up. Wayne used just the trolling motor to keep our other 9 rods tight and to keep the fish from getting into the riggers. With only a 10 foot set back clearing lines wasn't an option. After several runs back down that had Trav nodding the rod for fear whatever we had would certainly break us off. Pretty soon we have color and it was a pretty decent tiger... unfortunately about the same time we see the water going red. Fish was 40 1/8 and 17lbs bled out. Wayne had quite a day with his son getting his first tiger and grandson his first walleye. He is having the tiger mounted to preserve the great day and utilize a very badly gill hooked fish. I've been sad before losing a fish like this but not this one...not a bit! Happy to share a great family moment with a great friend and great family.

Thanks guys...the group I had that day were easy....kicker was 1 of them is a taxidermist and he is mounting it for me! I don't catch many myself and that was my first customer to break 10lbs so yeah I was thrilled to get a mount of her. Just finished up fishing 12 straight days...I'm ready for a drink and a nap!

Bite has been a bit more iffy with the weather all over the place...still getting quality but not as much quantity...here are 2 pigs from this morning....ended a dismal 2 for 5...oh and big catfish that woulda been a great eye if it was an eye!!!

Mike post some pics of yours and Zach's....I know you have a bunch....bet guys would love to see em!

That's heavy leader for me! Very easy to work, but I rarely have anyone that can use a baitcaster...love jerk trolling it that's something everyone can do!

We worked pretty hard trolling, jerk trolling, and casting....1 largemouth and that tiger were the only bites and no follows. That fish was right out in front of the causeway in 10 fow

Maddux wanted to cast tigers today instead of trolling eyes so despite the bad wind. Fishing was slow to say the least so I joined throwing the bluegill pattern gliding rap for Maddux. Didn't take long and we were tight on a mid thirties fish. He was so excited we couldn't get him to look up at the camera! Thanks Mike you are the man....first I fished it much since I haven't casted tigers since June.

You may remember my posts from his last trip here where he got a great tiger. This trip it was a brown and a walleye we were after. Action was slower, weeds were worse and the fish were short hitting. We ended up 3 - 5 with a nearly 8lb eye and 2 dropped eyes of similar similar size. Nap time.....

That's a solid 10 easy...great fish and nice to have it still swimming! SLR is an amazing fishery and especially shines when a when you work at it like you and prof t do!!!! It's no secret how to catch big walleye....fish hard and put your time in... there's no easy button unless you take charter. Even then there are always bad days no guarantees.