Yankee Troller

Thanks! The quad was AMAZING and hectic with a lot of hollering going on.

We tried out the Scotty event for the first time this year. Usually I am in Connecticut fishing Candlewood Lake this weekend, but with 18k on the line it was a no brain'r. These guys put on one heck of an event. VERY well organized, and everything went fast from the Captains meeting to the weigh-in's. So here's how it went! Friday (Big Fish Friday) - The Canadians weren't too quick with fishing license delivery for my father and brother. They ordered them on March 23rd and haven't received them yet. So, they had to go over Friday morning and find a place to get their license. This set us back a few hours along with the drive down the lake. So we got about 4 hours of fishing in. We thought after our practice that we had something figured out, but we couldn't find the larger Salmon. We did 14 bites on various lures. Both sticks and spoons seemed to be working with cohos higher in the water column. Biggest fish we took was 14lbs. The hot spoon for the Coho's seemed to be the Dreamweaver SS Orange Slurpee (again), and the Northern King Black Mamba and Beefeater took the Salmon off the riggers. Saturday (Day 1) - We got a tip from some friends that there were some bigger fish a little further West of where we had been on Friday. So we take off for those waters. Wind 15-25 out of the SW was tough to fish in, but all excuses aside we couldn't put a program together. We threw everything at them. We had our tournament limit on, but a case of the dropsy's only allowed us to bring in 2 teenage kings on this day. The set-up that saved our butt and got us 4 bites was a Stinger magnum Penguin off our 10 color core down the chute. A Dreamweaver SS Dave Salmon Slapper and a Dreamweaver SS Glow Froggy took the other two bites. So we sat in 54th place at the end of the day out of 72 boats. Sunday (Day 2) - We changed up our plan, especially after the HARD West winds on Saturday night. We ran around a little before we set down to fish. Once we did it was non stop action for a couple of hours. We started off with a quad! That's four fish on at once. Within 40 minutes we had our five fish in the boat and we were starting to increase our weight. We knew we had some NICE fish in the box. First fish took that same set-up that worked for us on Saturday. A Stinger Magnum Penguin off the 10 color down the chute. Next to go was a NK Sea Sick Waddler off the corner rigger. Then the Dreamweaver SS Glow Froggy off the other corner rigger, and lastly the NK Mulatto from the center rigger. We boated 3 out of the 4 with one being over 20lbs. Set back up and rods started to fly again! The Sea Sick Waddler took off again on the corner rigger. Then again with the Mullato off the center rigger. It was FUN! The last few fish came off the Stinger Penguin and a Smithwick Rouge on a 5 color core. We ended up getting off the water about 11am with a nice box of Salmon. The bite died for us once the NE winds started to blow. We had the 6th biggest box of the day averaging 18lbs per fish. We finished in 35th place (half way). So, we didn't win any money but we all had a great time.

Thanks guys! Wish me luck in this weeks tourney!

4/19 We tried to duplicate the great day we had out of the Genny yesterday only to find that a NE wind over night and throughout the day moved around some water. Temp dropped in most spots 3-4 degrees. We fished from Russel station to Crescent Beach with one small Brown Trout off a small Black and Silver matzco stickbait. We turned around and trolled back to the Genny and picked up a pretty nice Brown Trout off a Green and Chartreuse fastrack stickbait. So, after a long troll with two fish we were called in on a small pocket of Coho's out a little deeper. We put out our "Coho Candy" the Dreamweaver SS Orange Slurpee and low and behold we picked up 2 small Coho. We fished from 7-11:30 and only took 4 fish. 4/18 We hit the water about 7am and fished till about 11.30. We hoovered around the mouth of the Genny for an hour or so and then headed West to about the area of the ponds. We had a steady pick of fish all day long! We ended the trip 17 for 21. Mostly Brown Trout, a few Coho, 4 Steelhead, and a 15-18lb KING to end the day! We pulled 6 top lines off our otter boats, and 3 riggers with Dreamweaver SS's, and Stinger Stingrays. Our riggers were parked at 3-8' down and 30-75' back. Popular spoons today were Dreamweaver's SS Glow Froggy, Goby (gold back), and gator. Our Stinger Stingray Sea Sick Waddler also took a fish or two. Off the boards many colored sticks worked. Rapala GFR, bomber's Puerto Rican, Black and Silver Smithwick Rogues, and a Dave's Kaboom Goby. There is a reason why these first few trips are called "shale-down runs." It is to make sure you haven't forgotten anything you will need the rest of the season. Well, we learned the hard way! Our net was left home in the basement and that caused us to break off the King at the back of the boat. He was a shinny chrome color and looked VERY healthy. I tried to tail grab him but his teeth cut our flourocarbon line like a knife! Here's all we captured from the King: Headed out now for some more fun! If this NE doesn't screw with the water.

Launch out of Fort Niagara. Check my website under Accommodations or places to stay for hotels in that area.

If you haven't experienced Niagara Bar fishing during May you haven't lived! 30 fish days are common with 15-20 fish days almost a daily thing.

That's a tough area to target Salmon in. Last year you didn't miss much! Usually some will show up in July. Your August and September are really the months you want to target Salmon though. If you want Salmon as early as May head over to the Niagara bar and whack as many as you want! In the mean time you guys can go out and load up on the BT,

My killer spoon of 2008 was the NK Sea Sick Waddler. Helped us cash top ten at the Niagara Pro-Am and also took a 30lb fish in the Fall LOC. DW has a Spinny in this pattern for this year and Im sure ATOMIK is making a fly to go with it. I had a prototype of one outing last year and it took a fish.

My reels are two Tekota 800 and one Tekota 700, I am planning on running two reels on inline planerboards and one of the copperlines straight behind the boat. OK, a Tekota 800 will hold a maximum of 450' of 45lb copper with 300 yards of 50lb power pro backing. A Tekota 700 will hold up to 300' of 45lb copper with 300 yards of power pro backing. Where do I buy copper? what kind of copper line(brands) do you guys recomend? ATOMIK Manufacturing sells the most copper on Lake Ontario. Here is his website: http://www.atommiktrollingflies.com/misc.htm http://www.atommiktrollingflies.com/037_Copper.htm I am thinking of using 50lb power pro as backing. This is mandatory for > 400' sections of copper. If you are running a 300 copper than you don't need 50lb, and you can get by with 40lb. Which length should I use on the copper? We are fishing atleast down to 100´deep. With copper (45# ATOMIK) running a flasher fly will get you down 20' for every 100' of copper in the water. Running a spoon it increases to a depth of 22' for every 100' of copper in the water. So, to achieve the depth you want the reels you bought can't hold that amount of copper. They are great for 60-80' depths though. If you want to get down to 100 or even 120-130 you HAVE to run it on a Penn 345 or an Okuma 55CL. I'm a copper freak and have been for about 2 years now. I don't know everything, but I understand it. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask away! PS......if you want to pay for me and my GF to fly to Sweden I could help you learn how to run copper!

Yeah, it was a BT

Yeah, its my buddy Jax whose boat we were on. Mine is planning to hit the water this weekend.

Set out of Irondequoit about 8am after Jax was fiddling with the boat. Got out there and had more motor problems. Anyway, we figured them out and we were in good shape after that. Water was gin clear and in the lower 40's. We missed one west of of the bay and didn't have another touch till shipbuilders. We went 1 for 2 east of the bay and that would be it. Just couldn't find the color out there today.

Thanks guys!

I'd say so. I have never been a HUGE BT guy, but for now they will have to do until the Salmon show up.

Well, we worried about the weather report of 1-3' waves out of the NW late last night, but we gave it a try anyway. Jeremy met my brother and I down at the Bay around 8am. Waves were bearable, and the fishing was HOT! We finally got into the fish a little East of Irondequoit and it didn't stop till we hit Hedges. Final count was 15 for 18. Tally was 1 Atlantic, 2 Rainbows, 12 Browns. Biggest Brown was close to 10 pounds. The Atlantic was the surprise of the day. It was my second ever, and first in the open Lake. The water ranged in color depending on where you were. The overcast sky and water color made it a great day for natural colors, and that was what they wanted. Water temps ranged from 37-40 degrees. 2 rigger bites with all the rest coming off the big boards.

We got a late start on Sunday due to the 4-12 hour days I put in at work prior to Sunday. I needed a little sleep! We stopped short of Shipbuilders creek and started to cast. First thing I noticed was the decent water color, but more importantly the water temperature was a few degrees warmer than last week. So, hopes were high! We casted spoons and stickbaits down the shoreline with no hits or follows. I made the decision to start trolling. We put out a few small in-line boards and a couple of flat lines and down the shore we headed. Right as we got into the cove East of Shipbuilders creek FISH ON! IT was our first fish of the day and it was our smallest fish of the day. We trolled a little bit further without a hit, and I made the decision to head down to 4 mile creek. We pull up and the water still looks good. We found 37 degree water outside the mouth and once in the creek it was 38. Not a touch, which was really surprising. So, again the decision to troll was tossed out and accepted by the crew. We put the lines in the water and headed back West. From 4 mile creek to shipbuilders we were able to put 5 more fish in the boat, and we also lost one. It was a great end to a slow start! Black and silver off brand stickbait was the hot bait for us pulling 6 bites, and its brother in a goby pattern took one. Reports from some friends said they had as good or better luck trolling from sun up. Its starting guys, so gear up and lets go whack some fish! Here are the pics from Sunday:

Well, my ol' lady bought me some Larry the Cable guy tickets for Friday night. So, I had to go and watch him, and boy was he funny. He came with all new material that I have never heard before. Earlier in the week I saw the forecast and knew this weekend would be the first weekend for me to get out chasing some of them Brown Trout I have gotten so good at catching. Well, I rushed her home on Saturday with hopes of making it out, but the rain was on its way and I didn't want to get the boat soaked. Therefore, the trip was put off till Sunday. A few friends wanted to go so we piled in the bass boat around 10:30, and off we went. Stopped at shipbuilders, which was our "honey-hole" last year, and not even a sniff! Picked up and drive down to Webster Park, and again nothing. Figured Hedges was only a few more miles, so we made the run down to there and as god as it looked nothing again! On the way back we figured we would give Shipbuilders a shot again. We tossed out 3 top lines and had the electric trolling motor pull us along at about 1.6 to 1.8 and right about the time my bait came out of the plume at the creek FISH ON! I landed a nice little Brown Trout on my new Daiwa Heartland noodle rod pulling a BPS Nitro minnow. After that fish we would have 4-5 followers to the boat, but they wouldn't touch anything. Water temp was 33-34, so we were thinking they were still a bit sluggish. If the nice weather holds up this things should explode with hungry fish, so stay tuned!

Daiwa makes a few different line counter models. They range from an economic price point to a premium price point. Accudepth Plus - Can be found for around 50 bucks and is a great reel for the weekend warrior. Sealine - Tough reel with years of service in the Daiwa lineup. Probably one of the most popular reels on the great lakes. Saltist - New for this year, and line counters will be available come summer time. Also these offer a sick gear ratio of 6.4:1. As for rods you cant beat the Daiwa Heartland trolling rods. For downriggers most guys run a 7'6" rod up to a 8'6" rod. For dipseys most guys are running the 9'6" or the 10'6" Daiwa heartland dipsey diver rods. For 30 or 35 bucks you cant beat the price, and they are tough as nails.

I'm sorry but this forum is called the "Salmon Pro's Connection." I don't think the word Brown Trout should be allowed in here! Last year when I was forced to fish for those speckled trout at the Sodus Pro-Am I had really good luck on a Stinger Penguin pattern.

I have run the sharks for a few years now. If you want to go DEEP there really is no better weight. I have the 13lb Ridgebacks and they have their time and place too. Typically if I am fishing the top 75' its the Ridgeback. When I'm going below that to about 125' its the 15lb shark, and now with the addition of the 20lb Mega Shark we can efficiently fish below 150'! That's where the big guys live on Lake Ontario. Where pancakes can tangle up your spread these wont even in the roughest stuff. In order to get pancakes to not swim you have to bend the tail some. But that just adds to your "blowback." Not only is it loosing depth becasue of forward momentum its loosing depth from planning out to the side. So your defeating the purpose of the pancake weight. I'm not sponsored by Shark, but its a product I choose to run. If you want to fish tourneys you need the option to go deep for the big guys.

I cant get enough of this river fishing for some reason! I rode up Sunday morning and met Andy Bliss and his friend Ricky at Fat Nancy's Tackle shop (where I dropped another 40 bucks on tackle). Not to be confused with the other Ricky while on the boat my code name was Magic Man for the day and his was El Diablo! OK, lets shake and bake! <-----If you dont understand any of that....watch the movie Talledega Nights! We hit the water around 8 a.m. at Altmar and floated down the river till about 3 p.m. Unlike the previous trips I have made the weather on Sunday was enjoyable. OK, so we are floating down the river and I have had some great luck this winter on a blue glo bug. So, I was content on catching one on the Salmon River on this blue glo bug. Well that didn't take long! I was locked into a nice Brownie and the results were Magic Man 1 Fish 0! So, after short while and watching El Diablo hook and land a few Steelies I switched over to the bag in hopes of a steelhead. Well, it didn't take long and I was locked up again. But guess what? It was another Brownie. So, now its Magic man 2 fish 0. A short way down the river and that little float goes under. Guess what? Yup, another Brownie. Are you getting the picture here? Its looking like a Brownie kind of day. So at the end of the entire trip the results for the boat were: Magic Man - 4 for 7 (all BT landed) El Diablo - 3 for 3 (all Steelhead landed) Captain/Guide/Paddler/Goon - 2 for 3 (1 BT. 1 SH) Andy's SH he landed was a very nice fish and when we went to take a picture his camera was dead. By the way if you ever want to fish on the Salmon River it is a pre-requisite that you learn the proper way to use the word GOON. Don't ask me why. That's just the way it is. I also want all PRO Pro-Am participants to be very cautious of me this year. With the experience of last years Sodus tourney (where I actually went BT fishing) and the BT in the rivers I might throw you a curve ball by doing a little more Trout fishing! I think I have them figured out! Here are some pics:

Thanks! Fishing is AWESOME right now!

We teamed up with some members of the Irondequoit Bay fish and game club for a little tourney today. We figured if we wanted to catch fish then we needed to be off Point Breeze (Oak Orchard). We checked the inside water and took a shot on a Sea Sick Waddler down 70' on the corner rigger. He got into a wire and he left with one of my spoons! The picture dried up real quick because of the traffic, so we picked up and headed for the 27N line. We stop there and start setting lines to have the middle rigger parked at 50 fire. It ended up being a 10lb king that we threw back. He took a Dreamweaver Glow Forggy SS. That spoon would take fish throughout the day just like the previous few trips out. Another hot spoon was our NK copper NBK. We had it on the rigger between 60 and 80 and it took our majors, and some great steelhead. 300' copper pulling a #3 J-plug in a Mongoose color was another HOT rig. That took 5 shots throughout the day, and we dropped a screamer on it towards the end of the day which would have been part of a triple header. Our low/deep wires were firing at 150 out on a .5 setting pulling Kelly Green Spinnies and A-TOM-MIK Wiggler's. Our high wires out 200-225' on a 2.5-3 setting were going with Dreamweaver green sparkle SS's and orange Yecks. We had another 20 fish day that was anchored by a 25lb Salmon and a 12lb steelie. We ended up taking 2nd and 3rd in the Salmon division, and 1st in the steelhead division. I have to loose some weight so these big fish can look big! When that fish hit the deck we though it was high 20's! Boy can these fish fool ya, and I have been doing this for 20+ years! Green was definitely the color today!

Yeah, after about 8 hours in a cooler. He was a touch under 25lbs.

No problem!