Salmon Showdown new season- (complete season)

[steve-hamilton]

Yes, Lake Michigan has smaller fish than Lake Ontario....

 

BUT it wasn't always that way.

 

And Lake Ontario appears to be moving in that direction, at least based on the results over the last four years.

 

If we get another slow year (at least compared to 2000-2010), I would say five years in a row would certainly support a trend.

[Capt Vince Pierleoni]

Yes, Lake Michigan has smaller fish than Lake Ontario....

 

BUT it wasn't always that way.

 

And Lake Ontario appears to be moving in that direction, at least based on the results over the last four years.

 

If we get another slow year (at least compared to 2000-2010), I would say five years in a row would certainly support a trend.

 

Sometimes it just isn't that simple. The size at AGE has not changed much over the years on Lake Ontario. The DEC uses age 3 Chinook as a barometer. There has definitely been a trend where Chinooks mature at a younger age. There is some evidence that fast growth can lead to this, but it is unclear. Age 4 Chinooks in the Great Lakes are the largest for obvious reasons, but that is always the smallest by number of mature Chinooks. IMO, early maturing Chinooks is more common in hatchery fish and could be caused by holding pens. If that's the case that trend is here to stay as pens are essential to create fishable numbers of Chinook with the increasing number of predators feasting on fingerling Chinooks( birds AND fish).

There is not a 5 yr trend of growth reduction. If anything it's 2 years and its directly linked to the 2 record setting winters. In 2013 we were fortunate to set both 12 fish and 6 fish tournament format weight records( Oswego Pro-Am and ATOMMIK invitational) and we did it with King Salmon.

We are all hoping this mild winter/early Spring will reduce some of the anxiety.  

[GAMBLER]

This winter, the lake temp was way warmer than the last two.  The intake temp at my work did not go below 37 degrees.  The last two winters, it was 34 degrees by mid January and stayed there all winter.  We are currently sitting at 41 degrees.  We did not see 41 degrees until early / mid April last year.  Hopefully this will help things.

[Sweet Caroline]

No denying that 40lb Kings are pretty much gone from LO and 35lb+ fish are scarce. Next will it be 30, then 25, then 20 like Lake Michigan? If the theory is that the fish are all maturing early because of excessive bait, then wouldn’t Lake Michigan and Huron salmon mature late because of not enough bait? 4 year olds should be common in their catch if that is the case. I like the optimism and I’m not trying to be a naysayer, but I think we need to be happy with what we have and not push the envelope. Stocking more salmon is risky.

Nature is weird. We could be seeing more mature 3 yr olds because the environment has changed and evolution kicks in and says it is better to reproduce earlier than later. 20 yrs ago those same fish may have stayed in the lake for another year and put on another 10 lbs.  All just a theory of course, but my point is the best thing we have right now is examples of very similar environments in other Great Lakes. I know the Lake Ontario is different, more productive, etc, but let’s not kid ourselves that we can possibly end up in the same situation if we are not careful. The cold winters don’t help, but does anybody really think if we had two warm winters that 40lb or 35lb plus salmon would be back in the numbers they used to be 10, 20, 30 yrs ago?

My two cents…J

[work2fish]

Just a thought could early maturation have anything to do with the massive amounts of hormones going into the great Lakes? there was a post about cocaine and a bunch of other substances but no mention of all the estrogen from birth control pills entering the water shed ?

[Legacy]

update

[Xxx]

Just a thought could early maturation have anything to do with the massive amounts of hormones going into the great Lakes? there was a post about cocaine and a bunch of other substances but no mention of all the estrogen from birth control pills entering the water shed ?

Maybe viagra, it's supposed to make them longer, that would at least put em around 35# LOL. Not makeing fun of your post, just being funny I hope!!?

[GAMBLER]

With how small these kings are in this show, I can't believe more laker fishing is not done.

[Xxx]

There is a show on I watch religiously called IFISHIGAN, they have locals take the host fishing and they do have trophy size lakers, and it seems a lot of guys fish them, along with the smallmouth fishing. The last show the host said that Michigan has world class Lakers and smallies.

[steve-hamilton]

do the Michigan Lakers get 35lbs yet?

[GAMBLER]

do the Michigan Lakers get 35lbs yet?

I found online that the Wisconsin State record came from Lake Michigan at 40.2lbs. 

[Xxx]

WOW, that's a slob, what's the heaviest laker you ever caught Gambler??

[GAMBLER]

34lbs 6 oz. 

[Xxx]

34lbs 6 oz.

YE-OW that's a big hammer!!!!

[steve-hamilton]

35lbs is basically where Lake O lakers currently max out at (unless you have a real fluke).

 

I see a high number of 20lbs+ lakers caught in Lake Ontario every year....and all get released.

 

These Michigan tournaments they keep a ton of small lakers.... I was just curious how their average size is holding up....

 

Last episode the one boat was freaking out over a 24lbs laker, claiming it was the boats biggest laker ever.

[Silver Fox]

With how small these kings are in this show, I can't believe more laker fishing is not done.

Exactly, these guys are getting chubby's over 10-12# kings. I don't get it.......

[GAMBLER]

35lbs is basically where Lake O lakers currently max out at (unless you have a real fluke).

I see a high number of 20lbs+ lakers caught in Lake Ontario every year....and all get released.

These Michigan tournaments they keep a ton of small lakers.... I was just curious how their average size is holding up....

Last episode the one boat was freaking out over a 24lbs laker, claiming it was the boats biggest laker ever.

The method of trolling Dodgers and spin n glows is NOT the best way to catch big lakers. This is the most popular approach to laker fishing on Lake Michigan. I'm willing to bet if they slowed down and dragged some cowbells, they would find a lot of big lakers.

[stan]

Exactly, these guys are getting chubby's over 10-12# kings. I don't get it.......

 

It's not so much about the size of the fish but the skills and techniques used by the winning team...Heck out here they have Kokanee tournaments these fish are the best tasting salmon not even hitting a pound each. 

 

For landlocked Kings Ontario has to be at the top of the list , Land lock Kings in California may hit 5 lbs for the average catch, if you hit the big Salty lake they reach 30 to 50 lb range depending where you fish.

[Silver Fox]

I'm talking tournament strategy. You would think in 2 days you could get 45# of "Trout". Lol

[Gill-T]

You said Chubby......  .....but I don't think I looked down at their pants once.  I will have to go back and review.

[Silver Fox]

What I do in front of my computer is my business! Lol

[Gill-T]

Updates

[vetting]

The method of trolling Dodgers and spin n glows is NOT the best way to catch big lakers. This is the most popular approach to laker fishing on Lake Michigan. I'm willing to bet if they slowed down and dragged some cowbells, they would find a lot of big lakers.

 

Going to be putting that theory to the test this year!

[vetting]

At one point during a week long tourney last year we were averaging at least 4 lakers a trip that were 15 lbs or over.  Of course a 6 year old kid won the whole darn thing ($20k) with 25.58 laker on the last day that had swallowed a smaller laker.....

[GAMBLER]

At one point during a week long tourney last year we were averaging at least 4 lakers a trip that were 15 lbs or over.  Of course a 6 year old kid won the whole darn thing ($20k) with 25.58 laker on the last day that had swallowed a smaller laker.....

If you have lakers laying on the bottom, the cowbell method is the way to go. Look at the LOC Summer leaderboard and the Fall leaderboard (fall 2012 or previous) and you will see hammerhead cowbells and spin n glows dominate the leaderboard.  You also have to go with the less is more approach fishing lakers.  When I fish lakers, two riggers is all I use. No divers, coppers or leadcores. If you get a hot area, two rods will too much at times.