Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

[rolmops]

It is going on right now and it will go until May ninth
So far the leading fish is a 27 pound 11 ounce lake trout .....
They will probably catch something bigger before it is over.
As I was printing this another fish was weighed in. It is a 33 pound King salmon...
Let's see what tomorrow brings.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

I was in Oswego Weds-Thurs but couldn't go out due to big winds and waves crashing over the breakwater... maybe next year. Didn't realize there was a derby on.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

It runs the whole week. Salmon has to be 20Lbs to enter. Got a 16 Lb'r yesterday. Love those kings on light line.

At this rate, fall should bring some 40 Lb'rs.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

p.s. downriggers - Don't leave home without them.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

It runs the whole week. Salmon has to be 20Lbs to enter. Got a 16 Lb'r yesterday. Love those kings on light line.

At this rate, fall should bring some 40 Lb'rs.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

p.s. downriggers - Don't leave home without them.

Your 16 pound salmon beats my 11 pound king , but I almost got you beat with my 15 pound laker off the dump ground east of the Genesee.
Still,only those in front of the Niagara river or maybe the Salmon river have a chance to get anything real big this time of year

 

[Bondo]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

Still,only those in front of the Niagara river or maybe the Salmon river have a chance to get anything real big this time of year

Ayuh,... On average, the Salmon winner of the Spring derby comes from the West end of the pond...
Salmon don't get over to the East end til August...

 

[scipper77]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

I need a bigger boat!!! I'd love to catch some salmon but my 17'er and off shore lake Ontario are not a very good match.

My neighbor won king of the lake two seasons ago (or whatever it's called). The overall title for all derbies. Don't really know this neighbor very well as he seems to only work and fish, so I never see him.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

I need a bigger boat!!! I'd love to catch some salmon but my 17'er and off shore lake Ontario are not a very good match...

Go the NOAA website and find your wind and wave forcasts- that's what I do for champlain. My little 14' Niagara has seen quite a few days on big water since I overcame my 'fear'. I never fished Champlain much until last year- but after a few times out I was hooked! Only made it out to Champlain twice so far this season though.

I would think your 17-footer would be fine if you "pick your days" - go for it!

 

[rolmops]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

I need a bigger boat!!! I'd love to catch some salmon but my 17'er and off shore lake Ontario are not a very good match.

It is as Mark says. Check the weather and be safe.
I spent a lot of time 10 to 15 miles out over 600 feet of water in a 17 foot 1963 Duratech with a 50 horse Johnny,never a problem.Oh a few times I ended up having to run north to stay away from a thunder storm,but that was only an addition to the good times spent.
Just keep your boat in tip top shape with a good GPS and VHF radio.
Usually there is no wind or wave early in the morning.The breeze usually starts around 11 o'clock.
These days I run an almost 19 foot Sylvan and I think that Tom B (longline) has a Bluefin of about the same size.
As a side note. The invasion of the Bay Of Pigs in April 1961 was launched with 17 foot Duratech boats made in Peekskill NY.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

I would think your 17-footer would be fine if you "pick your days" - go for it!

Well I would have to install down-riggers or at least get some lead core line. But I'm not so sure that picking your days on lake Ontario is such a good idea!! When the wind is blowing down from Canada it doesn't take that much to kick up some significant chop.

I do love fresh salmon however.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

Check the weather sites for speed AND direction. Prevailing winds on Lake Ontario are from the WSW & Rochester/I-Bay are a lot more protected than Sodus, Fairhaven or Oswego under those circumstances. N, NE, NW winds are actually kind of rare and yes they make the Genny un-boatable as the channel becomes the roughest place on the lake. However those winds occur more often late in the season. (Sept, Oct)

90% of the time the early morning breeze (if any) is from the south so it's very calm out past 100 FOW.

I have an 18 ft'r and generally get out 17-22 times a year without any problems (weekend fisherman) and 3 ft waves are about my limit, as a soloist. In all my years fishing slamon out there, I don't think I've ever had to or even been past 300 FOW.

Weather can change quickly out there, but if you're alert & keep an eye on the sky, you'll have plenty of warning to pick up and scoot back to port.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

BTW: The launches at the Genny & I-Bay are probably 2 of the best on the Lake.

BTW#2: Get a rigg'r first; master it first, then move on to a lead core setup.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

I used to use the I-bay public launch when I was in Irondequoit, A am now in Webster and either launch at Meyers Marina(Right next to public , Webster side of bay), or drive up to Sodus. I fish for small mouth on the lake but never am more than a mile or so from shore.

I don't think I'll try the offshore thing this year. Mostly because I'll have no idea what I'm doing once I get out there. Maybe I should try a few charters first to get a better idea of how to catch em once I am out there.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

Going on a charter is a great way to learn. Another is to volunteer to become an observer during a Pro/Am derby. Unbelieveable what you can learn.

For another month, you should be able to run into some really nice browns in the Shipbuilders area.

You may want to check out lakeontariounited (dotcom) for all kinds of south shore fishing info on Lake Ontario. Mostly trout & salmon on the big water but some bass, essox, panfish & finger lake. Just like I-boats has a lot of great guys willing to help out with motors & boats, LOU does the same with fishing the Big-O. (Some guys are looking for observers now)

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Lake Ontario Spring Derby.

Those are some good size Lake trout and Salmon glad to hear your fisheries are doing well in Ontario.

Lake Huron has taken it on the chin as far as big salmon go.

That is some good advice on taking a <20ft craft out on the big lake. The same applies for Lake Huron as well.

Another tip, keep an eye on the big rigs with radar, when they head in- do the same.

Many times when fishing 8-10 miles offshore at a wreck the 28ft+ rigs would give us in smaller aluminum boats a quick heads up on the VHF so keep it scanning for storm warnings.