jimalbert

7/3 - Launched at Severne on Friday morning and ran north to just south of Roys. Set 2 riggers both running cowbells and spin-n-glo's (green luminous and luminous spot) at 90 and 95 feet respectively in 100' of water with 2 dipsey's (one with protroll/fly and the other with spin doctor and spoon) set at 75 and 50 feet. Started trolling north in front of Roy's and about 10 minutes later the 95' rigger popped and resulted in a small laker. Even though it was small, it was my first laker so definitely a memory. just as I got past Roys I noticed one of the dipeys going and i grabbed it but lost the fish. I believe this fish was pretty large as he was giving me one hell of a fight. Turned east and headed across the lake when the high rigger went off. This laker was 20". Not a monster but much bigger than the first. 7/4 - I thought since the lake was much rougher than the previous day that I would launch at Severne and head up to long point. Started up near the point in 100' of water and trolled south toward Camp Seneca with the same setup I mentioned in the 7/3 information. We picked up a 5 lakers in that stretch in 4 1/2 hours. We still didnt catch any monsters but they were definitely getting bigger. All of the fish came on cowbells and green luminous spin-n-glo's. There were some really decent bait pods and we marked fish sporadically through the whole stretch. 7/5 - Decided to fish the evening and take my wife, kids, the friend I had been fishing with and his wife. Launched at Severne and ran up to long point again. Fished the same area with the same gear in the same depths as the info on 7/4 with limited success. We caught 2 small lakers and one that was about 21". I would have liked to run north to Roys and fish up there but I didnt want to take the chance of running all the way up there and then it getting rough and having the women and my kids freaking out on a nasty ride back. The bait pods and fish were still there this day as well. 7/6 - I thought since my friends house is down near starkey point that we should try it a little closer to home so I lauched at Severne and ran down just south of Starkey Point. Fished the same gear and the same depth of water and landed our two biggest lakers (24" and 25 1/2") of the trip and found a place to fish that was a little closer to home. This was only my second attempt at trolling for lakers (or any other species for that matter) and I would consider it a success and we definitely had a blast! With the exception of one of my Cannon Unitroll HP bodies breaking it was a very relaxing and enjoyable trip. I did have the opportunity to meet Fishy from Fishy Business over in Penn Yan and have nothing but good things to say about him. I ran over to his shop to pick up a slightly used Unitroll HP that he gave me a pretty good deal on. Very nice guy and a well stocked shop. Here are a few pics from the trip. On a finishing note, I would like to say thanks to everyone who has give me advice or advice I have read through previous posts. I couldnt have been this successful this early without that valuable information. This site is a wealth of information and I will be supporting it by becoming a pro member. Thanks Everyone, Jim

I'm interested, where are you located? Sent from my SM-G900V using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Anyone looking to get rid of a manual cannon downrigger? I'm up on Seneca and one of my unitroll hp bodies cracked hard. Please let me know. Or where can I pick one up locally? Thanks, Jim

Anyone looking to get rid of a manual cannon downrigger? I'm up on Seneca and one of my unitroll hp bodies cracked hard. Please let me know. Or where can I pick one up locally? Thanks, Jim

I saw that you guys might be getting hit pretty hard again this week with rain, how has Seneca held up? I know from previous posts there was a lot of debris that was finally starting to clear out but more rain cant be good. I am in eastern PA and we got pounded with rain over the last week. This is what it looked like on my way home from work yesterday. Not Cool! At any rate, I am planning on heading up Thursday and fishing Friday, Sat, Sun, and Monday. Instead of launching at Severne, I may just tow the boat up to Roys and leave from there instead of running the lake if there is still a bunch of debris. Thanks, Jim

I have personal experience with the auto tether and like it a lot. A friend of mine bought one after he was ejected from his partners 19' Skeeter while we were fishing a BFL tournament on Lake Champlain.

Thanks for the heads up guys.. I appreciate the info and I will definitely buy some of the torpedo's when I need more. I actually found a killer deal on #2 premium ball bearing swivels with coast locks (Gander Mountain brand) and I got 48 3 packs 144 total, for 26 bucks... cant beat that but it was a totally freak thing. Thanks, Jim

Thanks Everyone!

Thanks Chas, thats what I was looking for. I was just sitting here and realized how much of an idiot i am. The ladder is 2 pieces and it is unlike my old ladder in that the upper section (that mounts to the top cap and transom) isnt one piece like the old one. Theres an actual bracket that mounts to the 1" aluminum tube that then mounts to the transom. if I cut that pipe and redrill the holes for the step I should be able to get it to fit the old mounts just fine. Its only like 1" so it wont make a huge difference. I drew a red line to where I would cut it off and re-drill the holes. Jim

Hey guys.. Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on filling 1/4 in holes in my boat transom. First let me state that the transom (and stringers etc...) are all aluminum and there isn't a piece of wood anywhere. I bought what was described as an exact fit replacement transom ladder because my other one was bent. I put it together last night and the width of the existing mounting brackets were perfect but the length of the new ladder was longer so I am going to have to re-drill. What do you guys suggest for filling the holes? I was going to just put stainless bolts in with a good below the line sealant but thats going to look like crap. Other thought was using aluminum brazing rods to fill it back up but I dont want to screw the paint up. Rivets? I hate to have stuff drilled all over the transom but I dont have much of a choice in the matter. Thanks, Jim

Thanks man. I appreciate it. Now the amount of beers goes from single digits to double. Sent from my SM-G900V using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Thanks les. I knew you liked big game. Are you using the mono spool filler line or leader material? Sent from my SM-G900V using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Do you guys specifically use leader material for your trolling fly leaders? Just wondering who used regular line vs. leader material. In my experience fly fishing, leader material is more abrasion resistant but I dont know if I could ever tell a huge difference between regular line and leader. I used to use Rio tippet and maxima to tie my own tapered leaders. Now I have some pline fluoro leader material as well as some vicious in 20,30, and 50 pound but that stuff is super stiff. I know alot of guys use big game, but is that leader as well? Thanks, Jim

Simple question... or so i say... ball bearing or non ball bearing swivels? Only question I am asking is because I bought a pretty good quality non ball bearing swivel and it seems to be working pretty decent. Heres a link to what I bought.. http://www.seastriker.com/styled-16/index.html The ones I ordered are the non ball bearing type with coastlock at the bottom of that link. What are all of you guys using? I guess one of the reasons I pose this question is because if you look at the Walker Deeper Diver 124's or the protrolls or any other flasher they are all non ball bearing. Thoughts? Thanks, Jim