preferred trout/salmon lures

[rolmops]

Re: preferred trout/salmon lures

The 10 color would do well for the deeper water.It will get you down to about 45 feet, but it will not help you much for the browns because you want your lure to be about 150 feet behind your boat if you don't run side boards and that would mean 4 colors which will get you down to 20 feet and that may be too deep.On the other hand 10 colors with a flasher and lure will get you into Cohos.
As for the line,try to run about 50 or 60 feet of 8 pound or maximum 12 pound line with a loose drag. It has been proven time and again that browns do not like line much over 8 pounds in fairly clear water.
As for your 17 foot Niagara.You may want to leave it at home if you plan on the Niagara Bar. A trip like that is usually way more successful when you hop on a charter. 10 foot waves are not uncommon and added to that are some quite nasty currents around there.
If you go after the steel head and Cohos,with the occasional laker or king mixed in,800 feet of 20 pound line will be your ticket. LOL I have caught 29 pound kings on a 20 pound line,just set the drag loose and let them tire themselves out.

 

[LongLine]

Re: preferred trout/salmon lures

Ditto rolmops.

Drag setting is extremely important. Unlike stream fishing where rod quality is a must, On Big-O, reel & drag quality is a must. Many guys use $30 rods but $100+ drag quality reels. 10 Lb quality fluro is sufficient if you've mastered the drag & can tie good knots. Most of the time I use 12-14 Lb main line with 8Lb fluro. I don't think I've ever used more than 17 lb main line on the rigg'rs.

I don't use braid so can't say much about it. As to mono/copoly, the less stretch, the longer the rod. I'd expect same type of thing with any line.

With light lines, make sure you check them often for wear, nicks etc. Also look for "curly" line near any knot after you've tied it. That's a sign of stress & you should retie. Every fish, I cut a couple feet off & retie.

Any time you're head to the Great lakes always check the long range weather forecast. West winds at the Bar can mean calm water whereas easterlies can be gale force. Opposite on the east end of Big-O. With the captains we have up here, you can learn many years worth of knowledge in one outing. I have no problem going out in a 17 ft'r, BUT I've been doing it for a while & know most of my limitations. Good Luck.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[Chas0218]

Re: preferred trout/salmon lures

rolmops, longline, et al:

Now that's some good stuff! I learned a lot and I hope that gets OP some idea of what to do. I am not sure about running to Niagara Bar for a day - I need to give myself a geography lesson but last time over that way that is a pretty good drive. However, that stuff sounds great and you have whetted my appetite enough I may just have to do it!

I have my leadcore rods (full 10 colors on Magda Pro 40s) set up with 40 feet of 20# clear mono leader as shock absorber and to give me a little visual avoidance from the braid. Then a tiny swivel with about 8 or 10 feet of 15# Seaguar Fluorocarbon tied to that.
Q: Is that an acceptable leader setup to you guys?

Q2: my 'rigger rods are spooled with 14# clear mono and the same 15# fluorocarbon as a rod-length leader. Am I OK with 14# mono? It is more than enough here in VT except maybe for the once-a-year laker. Just wondering.

Most other rods are 30# Power Pro with again 15# fluorocarbon leaders about a rod-length.

Thanks as always-

Mark

EDIT: Since my boat is an MFG "Niagara" maybe I will HAVE TO fish the Niagara Bar. That would only seem appropriate don't you think? LOL

In early spring my father and I get out of sodus and do pretty well. We mostly flat line with boards unless we are seeing some down low then we will throw down the riggers. We generally troll with rapala stick baits gold with black backs, silver with black backs, and silver with blue backs.

My buddies and I would cast Krocodile spoons from shore (SUNY Oswego) and catch the browns and steelies in the fall. Nothing like launching a spoon 75 yards off shore and having a nice 4lb-8lb brown just darting and watching the fins like a shark thru the water. The largest we caught was 11lbs but that is extremely rare from our locations.