Browns near microwave tower

[jpiatkowski]

Upon hearing everyone say that there are TONS of browns between the tower and power project, I headed out there after lunch.  Reports said 70 FOW.  So that is where I set up.  Nothing for 2 hours between the tower and the project so I moved to 80'.  Still nothing.  So I moved to 45 fow.  Then.....BAM.  The biggest brown I have ever caught from a boat.  He came with a friend.  Stupid eels.

I boated another brown a half hour later.  Just a small one. 

The rain became too much so I headed in.

I tried slowing down, speeding up, zig-sagging.  10' from bottom.  Different colors.

Anybody have thoughts???????  4 hours for 2 browns.  I was expecting more success.

[overthelimit]

Were you marking many fish or bait near bottom?

[jpiatkowski]

No, I did not mark any fish on the bottom.  Not in 40', 70', or 80'.  I only marked a few bunches of bait fish 30' down a couple times.  I did notice that the temp near bottom was 45 degrees or less in all depths.

Plus, the big brown hit on a cheater spoon.  Was probably 20' down when ball was 40' down in 45 fow.

[jpiatkowski]

I'm out here again. Still no luck. What's going on?

[Reel Outlaw]

Try setting a 25ft rigger with a slider and a 16 to 18ft rigger with a fixed slider

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[jpiatkowski]

I'll try that right now

[Gill-T]

When I was out Saturday there was a TON of bait in 88' from the power plant to Wilson.  Cold water moved in Friday so it may have pushed the Browns west towards the Niagara and warmer water.  Go West young man!

[jpiatkowski]

I have set my lines at 18 and 25 with sliders. I'm in 75 fow. Let's see what happens.

[jpiatkowski]

Down temp is 58

[overthelimit]

That's ideal bt temp. If there's bait balls on the bottom they will be there.

[Reel Outlaw]

Are you running long leads behind the ball if not Try 60 to 70 ft. Should find them in that temp area the deeper you slid out the temp will get go down in depth

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[jpiatkowski]

I got so fed up with the Browns that I've moved out to 250 fow. Lines 60 to 80' down. Temp is 39 but still not marking anything.

[Gill-T]

Micromanagement minute: If the water is still that cold, consider going WAY inside say 35'-45' and send out a wide program with leadcore, slide divers and riggers with long leads.   If you are chasing kings head north to 350'-380'.  Probe the 45'-60' down area.  Kings are scattered as is the bait out there but they are there.

Edited July 21, 2014 by Gill-T

[jpiatkowski]

I'm at 300 right now, making my way out. I will try 350 to 380 and go 45 to 60 down. I'll post.

[stoutner]

All my Kings yesterday came way deeper than the thermocline. Most came in 40-42 degree water which was about 100 down.

[jpiatkowski]

42 degrees is at 76 down in 390 fow

[jpiatkowski]

Just one shaker. Time for lunch.

[jpiatkowski]

Gill-T, If the water is still cold near shore the next time I go out, I will definitely try closer to shore and probably use my inline planer boards with the lures 75' back.  40 fow.  Maybe even 30 or 20.  Who knows!!!

[Tim Bromund]

In a normal summer, I always find browns in that area in 35-50 fow. You can pick up brownies all the way from port to beyond Sommerset.

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[jpiatkowski]

That has been my understanding.  But my experience the past few days has me bewildered.  Like you have mentioned, I may have been to far out.  Maybe 35' is the ticket.  45' - 80' sure hasn't paid off.  Just 2 at 45' the other day.   And that was after quite a few hours.