BillyBarilko

Any tips over these 3? The first 2 need coated down rigger cables, the last is transducer supported. I'm indifferent, whatever works the best is good for me. I fish Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Any suggestions is appreciated. cheers, Darrel.

Sure and thx, I'll msg you closer to the date. I just like getting out on the water, that week will be pretty relaxed. I'm gonna try hitting Lake E this year early for eyes besides my main trips out for early bows/salmon on Lake O. I'm in Kitchener so I'm midway between all the big lakes. Huron/Ontario/Erie.

Guys this awesome. I see a nice trench out from the Thames river mouth at 19 FOW I'll be sure to try for walleye out there. I'll also target Muskey too and post some reports for a first timer. I got 7 days so I hope I can translate my Salmon/Bow experience to landing Walleye and Muskey its been awhile. I'm used to fishing 200-300 FOW so 20' will be a change

Booked a cottage for early August for a week, will be in the Thames river mouth area. Based on this I'm targeting fish I haven't fished in a large lake before. I'm equipped for Lake Ontario Salmon (Dipsey Rods, Downrigger Rods flea flicker line, braid on the dipseys etc). I do fairly well and am comfortable with fishing for Salmon. I've never fished big lakes for Musky/Walleye/Bass. I've always fished for them on smaller lakes (Muskoka/Kawarthas etc) Lake St Clair is shallow it seems, are my riggers of any use? What equipment do you guys use, what lbs test on dipsey rods? Lure wise I'm good for Musky/Walleye I've targeted them before so I know what works. What areas should I focus on, I suspect find the deepest water for summer walleyes in Lake St Clair? Any tips would be appreciated. thanks, Darrell.

Thanks all for the great suggestions. Temagami is definitely on my radar for next year, unfortunately we booked a cottage on Lake St. Clair today where the Thames river mouth is, so I'm targeting Musky and Walleye, and maybe bass. I'm equipped for Salmon so not sure if this translates to these new targets, I haven't targeted Walleye or Musky since I've bought this boat. I'll ask on a new thread... cheers, Darrell

Thanks all these are great suggestions. I've fished West and East lakes before so Picton area would be an interesting trip I think. I'll look into it. I'd love to get back up to Temagami too so I'll look in that too.

Hey everyone, Normally I spend my days on Lake Ontario trolling for Salmon/Bows. But with the family, wife and 3 young girls, they are asking for a week at a cottage this summer, and there's not many cottage options on Lake O so I need to switch strategies for that week. My hope was to target Walleye, Muskie, Smallies, or Lake trout etc. I have 19' deep V fiberglass fitted for Lake O, Walkers riggers, Dipsey rods etc. I'm comfortable in deep water. No bow mount trolling moter (yet), just a 115 4 stroke Merc for power. Any suggestions on focusing my search? I've hoped to try Turkey Point, or even Western Basin Lake Erie for walleye. What about Lake St. Clair, or Lake Huron? I'm even tempted to try Honey Harbor area and make the runs out to Georgian Bay. I have the Navitronics Gold maps for my Lowrance so I've covered for great lakes + Nippising + Kawarthas. In-Laws live in Penetang area so I'm comfortable with navigating in those areas, and have made the run out to deep water from their place. (not much luck) Not sure if I'm comfortable with navigating for fishing purposes a lake like Stoney Lake (Which I've done before in tinnys) but not sure if my GPS is accurate enough vs local knowledge. But' I'm considering any water system inland that can hook me up with Musky or Walleye (or Lake Trout) If anyone knows of a cottage that suits me, let me know Driving distance from TO < 6 hours is acceptable. thanks all. Darrell

I was out this morning in anywhere from 40-130 feet, lots marked from 45 out to 110 by the ship canal. Managed one 15 lber only out for a few hours. Boats were all in close, almost within casting distance Lots jumping too, I'd say casting from the ship canal in the next few days esp after these rains should yield some, good luck! It's been a crazy summer trolling, spring was good, then fish were out way deep most of last July and Aug, might have some good later runs too. Fish I got today was still very silver.

If you're fully vested you made $44800 on paper. Now the Q is do you sell or do you hold. My rookie advice is to sell and diversify, unless you need the $$, say for a new boat That amount of cash is not life changing, only life helping. When you get to $1,000,000+ then we are talking life changing.... I've been in the options game many times, my advice is, unless your think your company is going skyward sell and diversify. Take the profit you need, and re-invest the rest elsewhere, get a proper investment adviser (I am not one, so don't take my advice!). And finally congrats!

any decent rod 7-10ft in length, with a spinning reel with a *good* drag and 10-15lb test I tend to stay at 10 lb test, and toss cleos or buzz bombs. You don't want downrigging rods, these are not meant for casting off piers. I like 10-12 foot rods that have a nice whip to them to get more distance casting. That covers more water = more hits. Go with what you can afford, but I really recommend a better reel than rod, since drag is important for the angry hooked Chinook. Have fun.

When I was young fishing off the shore in Lake O, I found browns can be found along break walls and piers during the hazy days of summer, esp in the morning or eve hours. I've caught my share of browns from 50 point to Bronte. There's an old Ontario Fisherman magazine article called "The Browns of Summer" that details it quite nicely. From experience, up until the end of June, and then back at the start of Aug I caught browns from break walls and piers. Back in the 80's & 90's the MNR use to stock browns (and other salmonidae species) right off the beach at the breakwalls and piers, not sure if they "imprint" on that location like they would a river, but I always had most luck at breakwalls that the MNR stocked at (You can get this info from them, well you use to be able to) Summer browns are fun, let us know if you catch any.

Renting a cottage hopefully in the Southampton area, from my old trolling books, it looks like the only place for salmon or bows is out 5 miles in 100 FoW. Anyone have any tips for fishing this area? Do the same Lake O techniques work out there? thanks, Bull

Its going into my local mercury dealer to have them look at it. It's all under warranty so not really concerned. I know it's new but things happen, I'd expect it to have 0 issues, but I'm dealing with it. Called the dealership that sold it to me, they said it could be a bunch of things, they didn't think it was fuel pump related. They said there's not much pressure coming from that pump. I didn't expect a diagnostic over the phone, but I'm surprised the 3 beep code wasn't known to them, it should be in their maintenance manuals. But I still can't see how that is accurate. The 2006 115 Merc 4 stroke EFI says it doesn't need to be primed, the motor pulls up fuel itself with it's low pressure pump. It should have some pressure to lift fuel up from the tank? you'd think you could at least feel it. but even if this magical force wasn't perceivable according to them, when I took the fuel line off it was dry as a bone, no fuel. That tell me the pump ain't working. thanks for the replies, I'll post an update once it gets diagnosed

Oil check was OK, dip stick anyway, is there another check? I siphoned it the main tank with an oil pump, gas flowed with no issues. It's gotta be the fuel pump, the line to the main pump had no suction, 0, nothing. I can't seeing it being more complicated. Turn key on on, fuel pump engages, pumps gas into engine. If the pump doesn't do any suction, it's gotta be a problem. I'm no mechanic, but some suction seems reasonable.

I remember 20 years ago attempting to net a nice rainbow for a gentleman at the Burlington lift bridge pier in the spring, and the hook pop'ing out of the fish's mouth, flying by my face (no glasses) and landing in the upper lip of the gentleman. Things I learned from this: Never land a fish like that unprotected, and 2nd, wear eye gear at all times. You can't cover 100% of yourself, as this case points out, but if one thing is taken from it, protect the most important parts