Jomat

It usually is a 1-2 week pulse around Veterans Day/thanksgiving. Big wack of water and if ur lucky enough to be able to fish those weekdays it can be very good....if u go on the weekend it’s packed. Then when the water drops the fish are left high and dry or they drop back out. Spreading the water out is a really good opportunity for both fish and fisherman.

Throwing in a plug for the outdoor shop my uncle works at in north Tonawanda. Niagara outdoors on Whitmer rd. Mostly a bow hunting shop but a lot of good gear for fishing the river. If ur in a pinch they have a vending machine stocked with all seasonal bait (salmon egg sacks in the winter, leeches/crabs in the summer). Usually have emeralds in the winter for ice fishing/river fishing.

https://www.fish307.com/fish307-com-downrigger-trolling-rods/ these seem to be very popular with the New England guys fishing for smaller trout/landlocks. https://www.lamiglas.com/products/cg-70-dr Here is the west coast version.

I think frank Campbell (lower Niagara’s guide) is pulling those maglips

That’s a big bait for big off color water I wouldn’t use it in small creeks like the ones u mentioned.

I don’t use them in trickles

Bobber.....u need a bigger bobber for those heavy senkos

5” bubblegum yamasenko if u want to catch the big ones!

He’s still there.

Lakertaker, You may want to consider mooching. Essentially “power jigging” with the rod in the rod holder....would be very straight forward with a kayak. Guys on the west coast pound salmon doing this...no one really does it here but I think it’d be very effective especially for staging fish. Drop that 8oz toropedo down to the bottom with a flasher/meat rig behind it....start pedaling to pull the rig up off the bottom and get it rotating....then pause and let it spin back down. If u have a fishfinder set up right you can prolly watch the whole thing go down and video game fish them.

I’ve got a couple rods that need some guide repair, and a couple ice fishing blanks that I’d like built up for ice season. Not looking for an artist with a 2 year wait list, but if anyone knows a reliable rod builder in upstate ny that can build to spec/help me out with some simple repairs I’d appreciate some contact info. Thanks

If ur into ice fishing you can’t go wrong with a cottage on Oneida or chaumont...4 seasons of usage if you have access to running water. You can also do the airbnb thing in the winter and get some of ur tax money back. You’ll def want a snowmobile if ur trying to get to walleye from 3 mile bay. i haven’t spent much time up there in the summer but they have had some high water events the last couple years, and generally although the bay is protected, the lake out there is pretty rough with wind/waves. personally if I could swing Oneida I’d do that...then ur only a little over an hour drive from chaumont. Weather a lot more kid friendly on Oneida during winter than chaumont. I’ve been thinking about the same thing for my family, but with the cost/taxes of lake property renting someone else’s house 2-3 times a year just makes more sense.

DO NOT run tattle flags on your walleye boards when fishing for kings. Those wires and springs are not made for chinook.

Yeah I’ve been running the 4”ers with the walleye gambler rigs behind them off 6oz bottom bouncers and have taken some really nice fish on the shoals.