RD9

Absolutely correct, find your best way to catch em and stick with what works. My point was not my way is right, it's just an example of how taking what we previously did and improved on it. The one thing I love talking to other fisherman about is how we all do really different things, but the same. Our tactics are geared towards open water trolling. That's what we enjoy. Fishing tournaments people are tight lipped but you ask the right questions and see what they are running you can learn a lot. Not saying you bagger but it don't hurt to take a look and ask politely. You alway get we got them on three color or five color. That really doesn't tell you much. One example is I always thought we fished deeper then most and then I fished in a tourney right next to the winner we did good he caught a huge box. We fished five and seven colors at 2.2, they fished three colors at half the speed. We both fished the same fish at the roughly the same depth, but there presentation was better.

The single biggest key to our Walleye fishing success besides countless hrs on the water and communication with other anglers in the know (make some friends whom know how to fish). Is a good contour map on your graph,it is absolutely invaluable. When fishing structure based fish I can keep on breaks others can't. Auto chart live on the hummingbird bird is amazing. For example I can fish the section from east of vanburen to Barcelona and stay in 60 ft were we use to stay off certain passes of fear of loosing a whole bunch of segmented cores. Take example the fingers off Barcelona, fish those on a north south troll or east / west and find sections that hold fish. Makes the difference between a limit and a few fish on tough days. Or wait till mid July grab the boat run a four rod spread, have a beverage and catch a handful by doing just a few simple things. Some days we just go fishing and don't worry that much.

Ok sorry of topic last few post. We fished the southtowns out of dunkirk never had many great days. Consistent catches of three and four fish trips. All with no real setup/pattern. Our fish came deeper then anticipated. 7, 10 color and riggers on spoons. We are dw spoon junkies on riggers. Our biggest eye was little over 9lbs caught 65 ft down over 70 ft in front of Stacks little east. Last day I went to DJ's on north / south depth change. There were fish marked but bite was tough. I talk to lots of different guys and bite was tough out of Cat and Dunkirk whole week from what I've heard.

Sorry antlers. Are they horns if they never get the chance to shed them?

There the best when you can't even see there horns.

Now last year for hunting I released all the big bucks by letting them walk right by me because the bow is shaking in my hand so hard and by the time I shoot im a mess. Little buck walks by me I can kill him every time. QDM I call it. I let the big ones die of old age so they can travel to farms and impregnate your does. I even grow food for them when the big ones come back. No worries as I am a true sportsman.

We don't throw any back and the back strap on a big one taste wonderful tossed in butter with fresh garlic. They just have to be cleaned properly. Anything with eggs in it now is not waiting to spawn. If I am correct sometimes the females won't drop there eggs when conditions are not right and they end up not droping at all.

Team dances with fish wish for all you to stay safe and I hope you guys all finish second.

Team Dances with Fish will be there.

I also was down at my slip in Dunkirk and spoke to the marina. They came down to see why I didn't have power. He said they were going to contact the south towns and see if they could do a wiegh in station.

Use this format and replace Walleye with Salmon. This is really a fun strategic way to have a tourney because playing the weather is a huge part. I think doing six fish would work instead of seven. The thing about doing during the southtowns as is most of these fish would be weighed in anyways. Also being able to sign up for tournament online is huge. Southtowns should be able to do this membership and all. One day passes would be nice too, the loc seems to have it down. It's so easy to sign up if a buddy wants to go.

As far as it being to early in the season I do not share that opinion. Yes fishing is tougher but why is that an issue? I can tell you that there is plenty of guys whom are going to catch the heck out of em. There is an old school way of thinking that the water is to cold, which is just wrong. The fish are present and available to catch but dont go out there and fish like it's mid July and expect to catch em. People just got done pounding them at night. Those fish don't just vanish. They have just moved. As for this tournament being less expensive, it is to a certain extent. It cost a $100 per guy after it's all said in done. With four guys in a boat it's not much different then the rest of the one day shootout and con club. My opinion is the tournament is fine but add more to bring in the tournament anglers in would be a good move. The proof is in the facts. Take the sunset bay shootout, 444 and Conclub tourney, there is a waiting list a mile long. Heck I bet if Don made the entry fee 1k (without calcuttas) for the shootout they would still have a waiting list. I fish this tourney because I want to support the club to be honest the tournament aspect is lacking. Im going to talk to Jim and hopefully get involved next year. I think there is a way to keep the old school guys happy and hopefully attract some new guys. The reality is very few will travel in from a distant with the prize structure.

Jim, I was wondering if the SWA ever considered doing like a Walleye Slam tournament, similar to what they do on Lake Ontario the week prior to the WHI. Be a great way to bring in more people and money. If you don't know what I'm referring to it's your 7 biggest fish per boat per week and once you count a wieght of a fish you can't upgrade. With the turn outs we get for the sunset shootout and other tournaments cost really isn't an issue. The only thing this could create is more revenue for the club and get more people involved. A side tournament coinciding with the traditional tournament in such. My family and I has fished this tourney for years kids and all. It's a good tourney but always room for improvement. I think you would really get interest in this next year.

Drive 48 miles Sw

Good luck man hope it all works out I'm sure it will. Carl has got my number don't be afraid to text me if you need some info down by Dunkirk/Barcelona area. Yes I'm a huge rynowsky guy but them dam bay rats caught me a bunch of coho and spring browns this spring. So I ran the most productive one and it took the first two eyes. I like bay rats but am basically a tackle junky. I contemplating order way more then I need now. Along with the hundred of dollars of custom painted rynowsky it gets out of hand.

We are fishing the edge of the structure in 30 to 45 ft. Our contour map on our Helix 10 is the best tool you can have during this time of the year. Allows us to hug the edge of the structure for miles which is key.

It's hard to tell in the picture but all the fish were in the two to 6lb range. Last year we caught a mess that were 18 to 20 inches. We had a few like that but the majority were larger. Nice fat dark colored fish. We caught them for a few mile stretch no real specific spot you just need to keep at it.

We ended up with a two man limit. 2 fish came off riggers down 20ft with black silver rapala. Rest came off two and three color with bayrats. Caught four from 845 to 9pm. Which is uncommon for us this time of year usually those fish have moved up shallow by that time. We had some nice heavy fish 6lb or so in the batch.

Nice box of day time eyes. Church boards with two and three colors. Also got a few off riggers down 20 ft.

West off brocton

We are out now out of Dunkirk 5/8. Two and three color. All bites since 6pm.

Nope wasn't me. I'll be out Wednesday and post a repor.

Kind of hard to read but run the same lead core on the same side. I'll take a video next trip out and post. As far as our secret baits nothing beats a fire tiger rynowsky. Lol. If I had to pick two baits to fish with it would be fire tiger and mirror pink. We do run custom painted rynowsky and they work but nothing sucks worse then loosing a $12 dollar lure