Stef

Being new to the board I don't know anyone yet but I have been following this post and my thoughts are with Jenn tonight...........

Live on the West Arm and ride motorcycles (presently a Vespa scooter as I got rid of the Valkyrie). Its the name I use on those boards, carried it over to a photo board and now here when I joined........

My X510C is fading in and out badly, possibly the LCD or a power issue. Called Lowrance Canada, they answered right away, after discussion said they don't repair anymore but offered me the HDS 5 at $449, thats over $100 off of the best price I could find , as a replacement. Didn't want the HDS, but it gives you an idea of what to expect...........

The shad flies do effect the fishing and its not just the pickeral, seems everything slows down. The hatch is near its end now. As for maribou's, I use them all the time. Bass pro sells cards of them for crappies up to 1/8 oz at a real good price and decent colour selection. They have the "pipe cleaner" body, you can put a drop or two of scent on the body and it doesn't foul up the action of the maribou (put scent there and it'll foul up the action). When they dry the feathers stick together, just pull apart with your fingers as much as you can and your good to go. After a while the maribou gets gunky and its time for a fresh one......

Anybody that caught fish this weekend can congratulate themselves on their fishing skills. It was brutal out there, I had a friend up for the weekend and we landed maybe 4 small pickerel and a half dozen small pike...... we fished hard and I live here.......... Went out for 3 hours today, still bad

Its back to normal levels this year which means its 3' deeper than last year......

Pickerel are starting to hit better the last couple of days, shad flies are thinning down. Good between 8 PM to dark in about 10 -15' water in the normal spots or try right up against steep rocky shorelines if the wind isn't to bad and you find a small ledge for them to work. During the day try 15 - 23' down. I've been catching them on plastics and feathers because I can't be bothered to get minnows but live bait is the way to go if you're only up for a short time. A slow death worm on a bottom bouncer during the day drifting is really good, they like a short 3 - 4' length behind the bouncer better than a long one (maybe the stained water). Pike are slower than usual but that can change in a day, surface temps are coming up to 70F and the weeds are starting to become noticable shallow but still okay in 7-9 ' (the stained water stops weeds pretty much after 9'). If you haven't fished the waters west of Dosters Narrows to the Hwy 535 bridges and around Oak Island for Muskies yet give it a go. Warren Bay and Musky island areas get the brunt of muskie fishing because the waters deeper, but for the next month or so I would work the upper reaches. Water is around 11' generally with some deeper holes. Look for new cabbage growth and when you find some work it hard and often, it'll probably have a muskie around. Also around the rock outcrops........................

Yes, it has tie ups for your boat. It's a raised pier with the ramp on one side and built up wooden wallswhere you can tie off. Lots of room, parking is on an upper area about 50' away, sheltered area out of the wind. More developed than Lavinge and right at the start of the West Arm..........

The one at Sucker Creek is good, go Hwy 17 to Verner, south on 64 past the first bridge at lakeair and just past the second bridge on right, if you stop on the second bridge you can see the ramp on the south shore, good ramp and sufficient parking. There is a swampy local put in off lake Rd from Hwy 535 but no parking and shallow with mud............