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2007 Irondequoit Bay perch action updates...click here
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Thursday, May 15, 2008
Hazy sun and cool...less than a 2' chop from the west.
At 7:30. "Tracker" and "Buc-a-roo" are doing well...haven't heard from "Lucky." The "Buc's" quote, "it's smokin', really hot fishing out here." The only negative Capt. Ron mentioned was about the tons of debris between the 24N and 26N lines. Anyway, they have kings up to 15 lbs. and steelhead to 9 lbs. Lures: it's the usual standard stuff...DW SS pink alewife, orange crush, Steelie Dan and mulatto the best. Riggers 25' to 60' down, leads 12' to 20', speed 2.3 to 2.4 on a NW / SE troll. Ryan's Bud lite was also good off the boards. They're a bit west of port.
So, the hot bite continues.
Update 9:00 AM..."Lucky" is into them real good. Capt. Jack said they did best on the up-troll. He's west a bit between the 24N and 25N lines. They're boating some nice kings and bows/steels. Best spoons: green glow on black/white and spooks (both silver and gold mupped).
Added at 9:30 AM...Capt. Ron said the wind is starting to pick up and there's now a touch of white water.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
All's well here at the Oak...72º air temp, just a ripple on the lake and we have Capt. Chas' often used quote, "It's a slaughter."
"Buc-a-roo" narrowed their target zone from yesterday, so it was easier to stay in the honeyhole area trolling east and west (rather than north/south)...this was between the 25N and 26N lines from the wall to the ladders. Temp was 42º down 60' where they parked their bottom rig (mupped mulattos). Other spoons with depths: silver/green glow at 20' and DW SS coyotes at 40'. Slide divers at 120' with DW metallic frogs which fired often. Heavy cooler...good mix of three year olds, one mature and a couple decent steelies. By 10:15, they had their four man limit and went into the catch and release mode.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
A few boats are out this pleasant calm morning, but not much happening as of 7:30 AM. There's been a little action on the riggers 25' to 45' down...temp is 46.9º at 40'. After trolling north for 45 minutes, the "Buc-a-roo" has found a nice scum line at the 25.5N mark and it didn't take long for his slide diver to fire (80' out with a DW SS pink/silver). "Lucky" had a couple of nibbles and is now trekking north.
Added at 8:45 AM..."Tracker" said his best lure so far has been a DW slapper down 60' (short lead)...they're in a little closer than the others. "Buc-a-roo" is having action on a GetterDun down 40', silver/pink alewives down 20' and off a core, a Steelie Dan off an 80' diver (#3 set) and a Ryan's Bud off a yellowbird.
For your memory banks...For over twenty years, that target area off Shadigee (about 10 miles west) and the chrome dome (about 12 miles west) have had a few big kings during the Spring LOC Derby timeframe....we totally agree with CBS on that point and Capt. Bob has other good comments on that LOU thread we mentioned yesterday. Years ago, we would go there at daybreak and find them (not many) in 40 to 50 fow and usually 25' to 45' down. As the morning wore on, they would drift out a bit deeper and drop a bit lower. Use your favorite spoons and don't forget the mag size. Will it be crowded because of that 28 pound winner taken off Shadigee recently? Hardly, the mega fleet will still go west again where the numbers are. "Salmo" (Capt. Carl Bish) and "Heaven Bound" (aka chinook) are on the same page and it's the right page. As chinook said, it's sure nice to get away from the crowd and still have an excellent chance at a real big guy. BTW, both of those gentlemen know the Oak like the back of their hand.
Noon Update...We've heard of only three silvers being taken off the top. "Buc-a-roo" said slide divers were hot again...DW SS silver/lazer orange, 80' out on a #3 set, no ring.
All three charters, "Lucky," "Tracker" and "Buc-a-roo," were doing equally well...'twas a good morning, although Capt. Jack mentioned some bows were running quite small. Capt. Ron said that any under 22" go back (besides his catch and release).
By 11:00, the "Buc" said they were 8 for 11, a steady pick...a couple every hour which wasn't too bad. Today's color was definitely pink...DW SS pink/silver alewife and other pink patterns.
Around 11:15, the "Buc" hit a good king 60' down on a DW grape picker.
A little later, Capt. Dave, on "Tracker," said to remind everyone of all the floating debris out there. He also said that his NBK on a ten color core (knot at the tip) was firing.
Trolling patterns this morning were pretty much N / S from 24N to 26N...one charter was doing it at 13.5W.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Cool, hazy and calm...but it doesn't make much difference, because as far as we know, there's no one out there. It looks like everyone's taking a well deserved rest.
Congratulations to all who made the LOC Leaderboard and to those who entered and tried. You don't have to win anything to have fun fishing.
We probably won't have any updates today, but we know of a couple charters heading out tomorrow.
FWIW, there's an interesting thread on the LOU Board regarding the Oak...click here.
A Few Buc-a-roo Pics...These fish were taken during the last few days:
The two pics above are of Jimmy Brown with a nice steelhead and a salmon both caught on DW metallic frogs
23 pound 38 inch salmon caught on a DW Coyote by KC Gaffius
Matt Gaffius with a 10 pound 26" steelie caught on a DW steelie dan
Sunday, May 11, 2008
To finish off yesterday...On Saturday, "Sea Otter" limited out trolling straight north of port (no info on depth of water)...mostly steelies, plus a couple coho and a couple kings. Hottest spoons were the habenaro and lemon ice (both 21' down and 25' back)...a watermelon and an NBK also took their share (40' and 60' down).
Today's Report...Hazy, 46º and calm early this morning. Quite a few boats out already...we see at least five trollers out off the woods in 80 to 150 fow and several ran west earlier.
Rec boats "Cindy's Rival" and "Frank's Boat" got into them early. "Frank's Boat" was in 80 fow out from the pump house...by 7:00 they had two 21" coho and a 17 lb. king. They were trolling fairly slow...2.2 at the ball. His partner was starting off well too...both boats usually keep their nets wet.
Hmmmm, it's now 7:25 AM and "This Is It" had this quote, " we're running in with a beautiful fish and, if our scale is right, it's bigger than the current leader"...time will tell. "Bag Lady" also had a quote, "it's wild out here"...no details, except that his hits were coming in the top 30 fow and he also advised a friend to set-up in 100 fow and troll north. It sounds like that fish-rich green water has finally arrived.
Added at 8:00 AM...a couple anglers said that's it's slowed down for them...others are still doing it.
Added at 9:00 AM..."Tracker" is also doing well this morning and he asked us to to advise anglers to watch out for floating debris out there (tree limbs, branches, etc).
Update 9:30 AM..."This Is It" was right boating a 'beautiful fish.' The big king weighed in at 28 lb. 11 oz. As of right now, Point Breeze anglers have both the grand prize leader and the steelhead leader in the LOC.
Update 11:15 AM...Here's another quote: "It's a slaughter," this one is from Capt. Chas on "Buc-a-roo." They limited out before 11:00 with a nice mixed bag of kings, coho, bows and steelies...top king was a 23 pounder (pics should follow). Best spoons: Steelie Dan on a slide diver was really good (60' out at a #3 set), plus the GetterDun at 40', the DW SS coyote mupped at 70' and a DW SS orange crush at 25'. They were in 90 to 120 fow between the wall and the flats...down temp was 42º down 72'. They, along with several others, wrapped it up early because the water was starting to get gnarly. BTW, Capt. Ron wanted us to mention that those GetterDun and trannys are DW SS prototypes...not on the market yet.
Well, the 2008 Spring LOC is almost history. It was a good derby and, best of all, it was a safe one.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Sunny, cool and fairly calm...several recs and charters are out and are doing quite well.
The only solid details we have so far (10:00 AM) is from "Buc-a-roo": quote, "we're smokin 'em...down to three rods, that's all we need." They're 8 for 9, kings to 15 lbs, bows to 12 lbs. and coho to 6 to 7 lbs...now into catch and release. Where: woods to the bluffs, What on: riggers 20', 40' and 65' down with DW SS pink silver, steelie dan and whopper stomper all firing. They don't need boards. They heard rumors of a break out deeper, but after checking out to 200 fow plus, they returned to the 80 to 120 fow motherlode and began hoovering.
If you're into lakers, there were reports of them 5' to 15' off bottom. Other reports mentioned lots of steelies on top...some hefty ones, but many more of that undersized variety (that bodes well for the future)
Added at 11:30 AM...Capt. Chas said they've three hits on the GetterDun spoon (35' down) in the last half hour and the tranny just went at 65'.
Friday, May 9, 2008
First, we will finish off yesterday afternoon..."Buc-a-roo's" quote, "not bad at all." They boated a four man limit, all taken between the wall and the woods...mostly 50 to 65 fow, 25' to 45' down on the riggers with lemon ice Yecks and DW SS mulattos (15' to 25' back), plus Bud Lites and five of diamonds off the boards (120' back). They had a king, rainbows, a laker and a few coho.
For today...It sounds like a so-so morning. Some are doing well, a few said they had only a couple/three...more steelies and bows than anything (a few good ones). Target ares is in 50 to 70 fow from the wall to Johnson...no set pattern on spoons.
It's rather hazy and cool out there this morning. Two footers from the N/E make a comfortable troll with it, but for a few boats, not pleasant at all heading east into them.
So, it's not slow and it's not fast...but a few decent sized silvers have been boated.
Noon Update...Capt. Ron on "Buc-a-roo" said they continued to work that same area from the wall to the pump house in 55 to 70 fow. The pick was consistent all morning...14 hits by noon (a mix of several coho, small and good sized steelies and an over laker). Same lures as yesterday, but add Familiar Bite (diver), DW SS orange crush and a DW SS black/silver with orange tape. Speed was usually 2.3 to 2.4.
FWIW, it looks like the lake has settled down a bit.
Update 1:45 PM...A reminder from the "Buc"...today, the steelhead were either 9 and 10 pounds or they were under 21", usually 19" to 20" (size limit is 21"). It's a good feeling to release those little guys to grow up to be one of those lunkers.
They finished a while ago with a few more and found a new hot spoon (it was hot today, anyway)...DW SS silver/pink on a ten color core. Capt. Ron also said he was pleased with the way Paul's Planer Boards worked in that choppy water earlier earlier today.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
A bit of a ripple out of the west...warm with a hazy sun. We haven't seen or heard of anyone out there yet, but "Buc-a-roo" has an afternoon trip scheduled and should report on that. In the last couple days they landed some nice fish (two pics are below).
Last night, a couple captains at Wilson told us that the king rich green water has left the red can area...it's now around the Wilson / Olcott area and heading our way.
Buc-a-roo Pics...These photos are from Tuesday and Wednesday:
Noel and Bob Moyer enjoying a spring fish double on browns
A wallhanger Steelhead caught by Steve Williams on a DW Super Slim Fire Ball...unfortunately, not LOC entered
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Warm, one foot chop from the east...a few recs and the "Buc" are giving it a try this morning.
Capt. Ron said they don't have many so far, but they're decent quality...a two year old king, a bow and a coho that went 6 to 7 lbs.. Those coho are putting on some weight...they grow as fast as any specie out there. Riggers are 20', 40' and 60' down pulling DW SS mulatto, metallic frog, fire ball and orange crush...the 60' rigger is mupped with twin DWs. They dropped a couple off the board lines...Ryan's Bud Lites and five of diamonds. They're fishing from the pump house to Green Harbor in 50 to 70 fow. Capt. Ron said the beach is barren.
Update 11:00 AM..."Buc-a-roo" is still working the same area as earlier (20' to 60' down on the riggers). The DW metallic frogs are hot and board action has improved with Ryan's Bud Lites and five of diamonds...coho, browns, one king an a laker that hit a Familiar Bite. Capt. Ron said, "six hits in the last hour and a half, it's really picking up".
E-mail received last evening..."Good Evening Folks, We spoke to you on the phone earlier today about our fish which was
registered in the LOC Derby. You asked for a photo and we are very pleased to send you one. Thank you for all of the effort to keep your website so helpful!!
"Thanks from the crews on the rec boats, Ayhab & Piglet from Maine."
Our comment...Hmmmm, we thought they were having a slow day...maybe they were, but we and everyone else would love to have such a day. That beauty grabbed an NK blue dolphin. Hey Guys, hope your leading steelie hangs in there.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Sunny, warm and calm...not many out and the action sounds pretty slow so far. A few were caught down around Green Harbor. One angler said they marked more fish under 25 fow than out deeper. The water is gradually starting to clear and the temp in those shallows is 44º to 45º.
We'll have an update later if one of the boats gets lucky and finds a honeyhole or two.
Noon Update..."Buc-a-roo" ended the morning with three in the box and released a big domestic rainbow. They lost two screamers off their 60' and 20' riggers (guessing kings 14 lbs. plus)...these hit a DW SS purple icicle and a DW SS steelie dan. The bow and a few coho came off the boards. The 35' rigger also had hits.
After fishing close in (gin clear, no hits), they went north and stayed in 50 to 60 fow all the way to the dome. They marked 70 to 75 fish, mostly 35' to 65' down, with most diving away...sounds like salmon with lockjaw. Well, at least they're out there...some of them anyway.
So for some unasked for advice, start early, 45 to 75 fow from Johnson to the dome or even a few miles further and try for the kings. Forget those 'has been' shallows. The bait (alwives) is in there thicker than fleas on a West Virginia hound dog.
Update 4:00 PM...Rec anglers from Maine, "Piglet" and "Ayhab," only boated one fish each today, but they were good ones. Larry Daggett on "Ayhab" landed the biggest steelie we've heard of so far this season...16 lb. 9 oz. That whopper came 30' down in 60 fow off Johnson on a blue dolphin and a black slide diver. They said the fish were there, but were scattered...lots of dead alewives on the surface.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Cool, sunny and calm waters...not many out and not much VHF traffic which means those rods are not popping like they should. We still have stained water in close and the surface temp (in certain areas) is fine. In fact, our stained/green/gray waters extend all the way out to 45 or 50 fow...that's why the fishing stinks. The browns, kings and coho are dispersed all over from 5 to 50 fow....that should soon revert back to normal conditions with concentrations of silvers.
It sounds like it's slow going for recs "Piglet" and "Ayhab"...although, black/silver was mentioned a couple times. They're working those inside shallows. They come from a long ways and always do very well (today may be the exception). Also, from what we've heard, the deep water trollers are doing zip.
Added at 9:00 AM...We're posting this after hearing a discouraging quote from Capt. Chas, "perfect color, perfect temp at 47º to 49º...however, only one hit so far." He believes the fish are around, but haven't regrouped after yesterday's blow.
Update 2:45 PM...We just heard from "Luv 2 Fish"...they just boated a 17 1/2 lb. king in 7 to 8 fow off Johnson (large purple stick 175' back). They also have a couple browns in the box (gold and brown/orange sticks). Surface temp is 48º to 49º.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Cloudy and cool with a brisk wind from the west. Quite a few charters and recs out...they're fishing both east & west, shallow & out a ways. It's now 9:00 and, from what we've been hearing, they don't seem to be doing much. There's a lot of talk of planer boards acting up in those choppy waters. Have you ever heard anyone say, "you should have been here yesterday."
Interesting e-mail..."Hi, Maybe the Great Lakes will be the only US King fishery in 2008? See: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/02/BABT10F7PE.DTL&tsp=1...Regards, Richard, " 'frican Queen"
Saturday, May 3, 2008
It looks great out there this morning...warm, cloudy and calm. It's 7:30 AM and we've seen and heard a few boats...two recs said they're doing it in close. Lures mentioned were GFR, firetiger and perch sticks. We know there are a couple charters fishing this morning, so we should have an update later.
Update 12:00 Noon..."Buc-a-roo's" quote: "Dynamite fishing, six man limit by 11:00 AM...browns, bows, steelies and coho. What a day!" Details...from the wall to the nose, 7 to 10 fow, great color, DW Super Slims 3' down and 45' back on the riggers, 120' back on the boards were GFR, black/gold straight #11 Raps and perch small Bombers and various firetigers. Speed 2.4 to 2.5. Temp was a very fishable 45º to 47º. We had other good reports this morning, but not as detailed.
So, the Oak inside fishing is back on track. Other boats that we know did real good were "Intimidator" and "Pisces." "Rally Killer" was also out and went west...no word from him, but he usually does well.
Off shore a bit, several boats boxed a few kings and coho, but nothing to brag about.
FWIW, it's not all a bed of roses...we heard three or four recs that were doing well, but we also heard a few say they were finding it tough.
Also, you've probably noticed that "Buc-a-roo" is mentioned here quite often. They are out there a lot and they give what helps other anglers...details. Of course, several others, both charters and recs, do too (you know who they are) and we welcome all timely input...this could be by VHF, a phone call and even e-mail.
Photo From Buc-a-roo...Here's a pic of one of the browns boated this morning:
Brian Hughes with a 10 pound 26 inch brown caught on a DW Super Slim
Friday, May 2, 2008
Cloudy and cool...one to twos from the east, good color (stained out to 10 to 15 fow). We've heard no one on the radio as of 10:30 AM. However, we did see a rec boat trolling west and, as he passed by the woods in 8 to 12 fow, he was getting his net out.
Added at 1:00 PM...Wind direction switched to the N/E...two footers coming in now.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Where is everybody? Super color line out to 8 to 10 fow and pea green for a stretch...sunny, cool and only a ripple on the water, even the surface temp is a fishable 45º to 48º. We only saw one boat heading west early, but have not heard a peep. For some reason that color is still staying with us...usually a wind generated roil dissipates in a day or so. The Oak is fairly clear, but the Johnson stain flow probably helps.
Archive Page...For those of you who are interested in a summary of past years Fishing Reports and earlier reports for this year...Click Here.
At The Oak...Fishing Page
Lake Ontario Fishery News (Updated July 23, 2007)
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