walnut109

Happy to hear you got out. I have not been out yet this year, which is unfortunate. Skan can be tough or great. Three years ago I ago we couldn't keep the rods in the water one day and then only two fish the next day. The weather and wind was nearly identical, so I have no idea why fishing was poor the second day. Fish should be feeding heavily on perch schools now and the key is to locate the bait. You may also have been running a bit deep for RT, but since I have not been out I may be wrong. I would have started up higher, as typically this time of year the active fish start to run higher. Fishing should only get better as cooler weather is coming and the boating crowd will be less. Looking to get out next week for a try.

The launch is now open. https://www.syracuse.com/outdoors/2020/08/dec-opens-up-new-622000-boat-launch-on-otisco-lake-for-public-use.html

Here are photos of the No. 777. I have also attached an image of my No. 4, which has a different type of stamping. It is Generation 4, but the stamping is rotated lengthwise to the spoon and is the only spoon I have seen stamped that way. The number is also beneath the text. Unfortunately the image is not the best.

Troutman 87, 777 spoon received. Thanks, it makes a great addition to the collection.

Fished out of Sampson 7/4. Best screen for LT was 1 mile north. We were after silvers and got 1 small brown and 1 big pike.

Troutman 87, I appreciate it. I will contact you later today.

Sad news and totally unnecessary. At least I can go out of my camp. All Hail King Andrew!

Personally, I was not pleased with the initial sentence. He should have lost all guiding and personal hunting/fishing license rights forever. He was undertaking an illegal action for personal financial gain. That being said, I respect the licensed guides and the services they perform. Their job is not an easy one and certainly done for the love of the outdoors.

Just saw this post today. It saddens me to hear this news. My prayers go out to the family. I will have to make a trip down to the store very soon.

I got a 5, 44 and 31 from Old Forge Hardware years ago. I wish I had gotten more as they were old stock. Got out this AM and had a 10 minute flurry from shore. 17" and 21" RT.

In the back of the store there is a piece of paper tacked up. There are three spoon outlines, 42, 43 and 47. The first 47 I saw I thought was a fake and I did not purchase it. Then I saw the outline in the store. Got lucky to come across the 47 and the 43. 5's are my favorite for RT on hot flat days in mid-summer, but a hammered 44 is a great all-around spoon. 31 was the go to for LT back in the day along with the 88 at the bottom leader of the Seth Green rig. Miller finishes seem to hold up a bit better over time and would not bend quite as easy as a Sutton. But Suttons always seem to have that certain awkward kick every 3rd or 4th flip if run at a certain speed. I like them all, Miller, Sutton, Quick Strike and Pine Valley.

Thanks to those who are looking. The 42 is going to be hard to find. It is a hand cut spoon that was made in the same time period as the 43 and 47. Suttons are works of art in a fishing lure.

Thought I would share a photo of my Sutton flutter spoon collection that I have been gathering for a few years. Odd that I am aware of 42 different numbers and that I need a number 42 to round out the board.

Congrats on the great fish. I am sure it will be delicious. The Skan fishery has changed a lot since the '70's. Species that were once scarce or non-existent are now appearing in numbers. I do not recall ever catching sunfish, largemouth, crappie, walleye or pickerel as a kid. Not saying that they did not inhabit the lake, we just we never caught them. Lakers, rainbows, smallmouth, perch, bullhead, sucker and rock bass were the only fish we ever boated. We did see large schools of carp back then cruising the middle trolling for trout. Not sure how they got in the lake, but they did. Back in the day, a 14-inch smallmouth or a 20-inch rainbow was something to be proud of. Now they are common place. Fish are bigger and the fishery is more diverse. Yes, harvested rainbow numbers are down, but the average size is up. Not sure DEC has a good handle on the actual targeted species on the lake. The diary reports are a great source of information but participation numbers have significantly decreased and they have always been focused more on the coldwater fishery. Based upon my observations, fisherman are targeting warmwater species much more than coldwater species. Most days trolling for rainbows, I may see one or two others out at best. Walleye will have little impact upon the rainbows or lakers. 99 percent of the walleye diet will consist of young of year perch, same as all the other species in the lake. I do not expect walleye to ever be the dominant species in the lake. It will remain lakers and smallmouth for a long time. That being said, I love fishing Skan rainbows. Great fighters, beautiful colors and good table fare. That being said, walleye are great too. I am sure both will co-exist just fine.

Nice fish!