tipupesox

Cliff, Glad I was able to assist. Hopefully your next bite will be the 6 pounder you are looking for ............ Tom

Sturgeon was up to 68 on Saturday and down to 66 on Sunday after the rain. Weeds were looking pretty healthy .....

Unfortunately I will not be out on Sturgeon this year for the opener, the resort we normally stay at was booked. Daughters dance recital this weekend as well. A few of my friends from the NMA will be staying at Ennsimore over on Pigeon, if you see them (NY boat id's), give them a shout. Leave a few of them for me to catch in the Fall, good luck to all .................

Cliff, We caught all our eyes along the weed beds and little weed pockets along the south east shoreline. Two gentlemen that were staying at Gil Mar did well just before nightfall and at night along the same shoreline trolling harness's. Not sure if you ever travel down that area of the lake. Tom

Have to agree with what Greg stated, took a trip up with the family to Sturgeon lake for the U.S. holiday weekend. All eyes were caught on natural colored jigs and tubes in areas relating to weeds. Drifted some rock flats and humps which were good at this time last year without success, only caught OOS smallies. No whoppers were caught, all good size eating fish, but they were released to be caught another day. There was a tournament being run out of Bobcaygeon on Saturday, looks like some of the boats were coming in with bags of fish. Will be back up in the Fall, this time for skis and eyes ........ Tom

Tracker, I own a 2003 19' Islander and love the boat. It has the 4 cylinder, 3.0 litre, Mercruiser. Top end speed is around 42 mph but has more than enough power for recreational activities like water skiing or tubing. I primarily use the boat for fishing on lake Erie and Ontario (walleye and salmon). The boat is nice and deep to handle the big water on bumpy days, also very adequate cockpit space for downrigger fishing. Have to agree with the statement that the boat will drift on windy days, just not heavy enough as compared to a fiberglass boat. My daughter (who is 7) loves the fact that we have the cabin so when she gets tired she can lay down and get out of the sun, porta potti is a bonus feature as well for the ladies. At the time I made the purchase Starcraft stopped making the boat with an outboard versus the I/O (which they have currently started manufaturing again). But for the price I couldn't beat the boat I was getting. I pulled the boat with a 2003 extended Trailblazer (6 banger) and did not have any problems but it would dog on hills. Most of my travels to my port of choice were within an hour of my home but I would take at least (2) trips a year to Sturgeon Lake in the Kawartha's (departing from Buffalo, NY). I have recently upgraded to a Chevy Silverado 1500 and I can't even tell I am pulling anything. I actually will be leaving later this afternoon for Sturgeon for our holiday weekend, hope the eye fishing is on ............

Being from the States, I agree it is a stupid time. I can see it occurring in the earlier series so you don't have programming contention but not now. The game is going to cramp this weekends outdoor activities, might have to pull the TV outside and watch the game out on the patio. GO SABRES .................

Cliff, Thanks again for the information, if I am in need of any assistance I will give you a shout. If time permits I may swing by, all depends on how much of my time is committed to the family. Extended forecast looks favorable for next weekend, hopefully it will hold up......... Thanks again, Tom

Well all you Sens fans can put those brooms away. Hopefully the Sabres can win game five Saturday, than let the head games begin. Could it be another Sens choke.............

I have used 4 lbs. Berkley Vanish for steelhead since the product came out. I have never lost a fish to a knot failure. My outfit consists of a 12 foot noodle rod, very soft action, not sure if the soft action will help by putting less stress on the line. I do have tro agree with the coiling issues the line creates, can be aggrevating at times. Cliff - How has the fishing been on Sturgeon? I will be coming up next Friday with the family for our holiday weekend and will be staying up the lake from you at Gil Mar. If you see a blue and beige Starcraft Islander (NY registration), give me a shout. Tom

I have a friend that owns a 19 ft. Monark. He has had it for two seasons and is quit pleased. His hull is welded, no rivets. I was out with him a few times fishing last year on Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara, hull handled the water well.

I have never fished the lake for crappie; primarly fish for eyes, bass and lunge; but you may want to try the stump fields around Emily Creek or up the creek itself. I would imagine the water in this area would warm quickly and attract panfish. I know it holds some good largemouth.......... You may also want to try the bay on hte North west shore by Verulam Park. From what I can remember it gets shallow and very weedy.

I have the following tube style rod holders on my boat, http://www.titelok.com/product_info.php?cP...;products_id=41 . Use them for pulling dipsey's for walleye on Erie and salmon on Ontario. Also use them to pull large muskie baits (plows) in the Fall. Haven't had an issues. Best part is you can by a few additional bases and place them in differnet locations on your boat.

You may also want to try the following in high wind situations: Tie some guide lines to your posts and tie them to tie downs (eye bolts) placed in the ice behind the wind break. You can even tie the guide ropes around a piece of 2x4 big enough to fit in an auger hole. Push the 2x4 in the hole and wedge it on hte backside of the hole. A number of guys do that with there temporary shelters so in the event they get out of them they don't blow down the lake. You may also need to look into stiffer poles made out of wood...........

You may want to try Gil mar Lodge on Sturgeon Lake (Kawartha's), ask for Ron. I try to get there twice a year, once with the family and the other with the guys in hte Fall. They have an inground pool and a nice lodge as well as beautiful grounds to sit and watch nature. It is truely a family oriented environment.

Clampet, I have an old wind break that was given to me by father-in-law. The break is made out of canvas with slots sewn in it to slide over the tops of branches/poles. The kit also contains a post hole drill made out of a old hand drill with a large bit. The bottoms of the branches have been carved to fit the circumference of the hold produced by the drill. My father in law would sit behind that with an Old Pal minnow bucket mounted on a base. He would fill it with charcoal and keep his feet and hands warm. He would place a grate on the top and convert it into a grill for sausages. The break held up to some fierce winds since we would often fish the open waters of Lake Erie (NY side) for large jack perch. He passed away last year and I still look at that old wind break and remember all the good times we had. I hope you enjoy your day on the ice........

Wow, plenty of Buffalo bashers on this board. I live in the suburbs about 30 minutes from downtown Buffalo and find it sad that the government which runs the city can't get it together. They have been talking about revitlaizing the waterfront since I was a young man, still have not seen any improvements. With a viable resource at their door step,lake Erie, you would feel they would do everything possible to market that to improve the city's status. But than again we are talking about politicians...........