Favorite Spring Brown Trout Presentations

[vtfishin]

Thank you for all of the information, we are planning a trip over as well!

[Dipsey]

We often take a lunch break at the Little Sodus Inn, dock your boat right in front, nice lawn and seating outside, beautiful little place. Mary (the owner) is a Sweetheart.

[Gecha (Gerry)]

I just booked cabin 002 for April 20-27 at Fair Haven State Park.

This will be my first try at the big O
With all the favorable postings I read, I feel confident this will be a memorable time.
It will also be a good time to test the new Lowrance Elite DSI-5 I won at the taping session.

February has 29 days this year... so I'l have to wait one more day before catching my first big brown.

[Hairbone]

Is Fair Haven State Park the best place to stay out there? How is the fishing around little Sodus?

[Dipsey]

Hairbone,
The State Campground is sweet, just depends if you want a cabin, bring a camper or like to tent. Plenty of other places to stay also. The fishing around Little Sodus can be fantastic in the spring especially after a nice rain that muddies the shoreline and creeks. Like Ice Dog posted, be flexible, some ports fish easier than others depending on the wind direction.

[bigfish]

There advantages and disadvantages to each port. If your in a smaller boat I suggest Oswego. The harbor in April and may can save the day. From Mexico too Henderson over the past 5-6 years the fishing has improved tremendously.
Early April stick too the extreme shallows close to the turbid outflow from area tributaries. Some areas produce better on different days but that is wind dependent.
Extreme shallows go with small honeybees. Suttons, needle fish small mooselooks light stuff to keep off the bottom and small stick bait.That's 2-5 fow
As you go deeper 4-12 fow off boards black silver rappies in clear water and blk/ silver stingers.
Dirty or off color blk/ silver, blk/ gold orange bellies smithwicks and Michigan stingers.
12-20 cores off boards snap weights dive bombs and riggers
I run boards well into July for browns. Divers coppers cores snap weightsall work as the season progresses. Once you get to 10 feet you can run cheaters if you want more stuff to think about.
My early spring spread is 8 board rods and 1-2 riggers. Depending on boat traffic and water clarity dictates my stretch. Normally 45-150 behind the boat.
If you have a program that works, stick too it. Confidence is the name of the game.
I knew a captain that ran 8 size 7 blk/ gold rapalas everyday he went out and he caught browns everyday just more some days.
Tighlines and good fishing.

[Hairbone]

bigfish,

thanks for the info!

What speed are you guys running? I have trouble with my otter boards staying out running less that 2.2 mph. was think about adding the half keel.

[bigfish]

Anything between 1.5 too 2.7. Half keels will surely help an old pair of triple super skis work well. With smaller boats see if you can find the collapsable ones. I run dual keel otters they work fine. Or you can go with online boards

[Dipsey]

Good advice Bigfish.

[bigfish]

Your success on Lake O no matter which Presentation you choose is going too come down too one thing LOCATION All decisions in the spring or any other time of year are based strictly on MOTHER NATURE. Learn the wind no matter where your fishing and success will come much easier.
Believe me I spent plenty of time on Lake Champlain having great days and terrible days. So whether your here or there pulling the hottest baits it usually comes down too MOTHER NATURE. Yes info is key to being where there is a hot bite and with the internet that portion of the learning curve has gotten extremely smaller over the past years as technology has put us in the Know.
I have seen the fishing in Mexico bay start out slow first thing in the morning and as the wind increased it got down right amazing just in a couple hours. The moon has a huge affect on the salmon i believe but you can fish one day in a 2-3 foot chop and punish the trout and the next day in flat calm seas same area you would swear that there are no fish in the lake.
The south and east shores of the lake produce the best for spring trout in my opinion, The south shore harbors become ice free sooner than the eastern ports. Fair Haven to pultneyville is a sure bet early in the season, Thundersticks,smithwicks,ac shiners stingers honeybees mooselooks speedy shiners needle fish all work.
So put the boards out stay fairly shallow stretch um 60-120 back depending start about 2.2 go up from there be considerate to other fisherman and play the wind. Its as simple as that
Tight lines Good Luck

[Digitroll Fishing]

Thats great advice Dave!

[Dirtyhooker]

Your success on Lake O no matter which Presentation you choose is going too come down too one thing LOCATION All decisions in the spring or any other time of year are based strictly on MOTHER NATURE. Learn the wind no matter where your fishing and success will come much easier.
Believe me I spent plenty of time on Lake Champlain having great days and terrible days. So whether your here or there pulling the hottest baits it usually comes down too MOTHER NATURE. Yes info is key to being where there is a hot bite and with the internet that portion of the learning curve has gotten extremely smaller over the past years as technology has put us in the Know.
I have seen the fishing in Mexico bay start out slow first thing in the morning and as the wind increased it got down right amazing just in a couple hours. The moon has a huge affect on the salmon i believe but you can fish one day in a 2-3 foot chop and punish the trout and the next day in flat calm seas same area you would swear that there are no fish in the lake.
The south and east shores of the lake produce the best for spring trout in my opinion, The south shore harbors become ice free sooner than the eastern ports. Fair Haven to pultneyville is a sure bet early in the season, Thundersticks,smithwicks,ac shiners stingers honeybees mooselooks speedy shiners needle fish all work.
So put the boards out stay fairly shallow stretch um 60-120 back depending start about 2.2 go up from there be considerate to other fisherman and play the wind. Its as simple as that
Tight lines Good Luck

Very well stated Bigfish. The internet, this site as well as Lake Ontario United and various weather sites will be the determining factors as to which weekends I make my trips out. With a 3 1/2 hour drive to get there wind direction and current conditions are really Key
Scott

[Dipsey]

My cousin was just in Fairhaven and wanted to get the word out that the water level is pretty low. When trolling close to shore there are some huge boulders that can ruin your day when the lake level is down. 2 years ago a good size wave almost deposited me on top of one below the bluffs about 1/2 way to Moon Beach. Just something to be aware of.

[Dockside]

Should be on the water soon, nothing for a snow melt.......

[FISHCRAZY(LALLY)]

I'm working on my new boat project, but as soon as she is done I will be spending many days over that way. I like Oswego for browns and GIANT eyes and have had some great trips there. I have caught my biggest numbers and sized browns out of Rochester however. I will keep tabs on my charter captain buddies and decide where I want to fish

The Smithwicks are deadly!!! It is my #1 Walleye bait all year second to the Salmo stings and Rapala #18's. The browns will eat the Smithwicks and Salmos as well The Gator and the A.S.S spoon along with Black/white spoons have produced well for me. Landed a nice 16lb'r on a Michael Jackson custom taped with glow crinkle on the backside.

For those of you heading over from V.T I will have available space in the new rig if your interested. Send me a P.M. and we will keep in touch.

FISH-ON!!!!



They grow um big in lake O!!!!