I got back into fishing over the past few years to get out with my brother and my Dad. Went on an amazing trip way up in Gogama, ON a few years back and caught the bug chasing eyes, pike and bass on some remote lakes. I bought a boat last year to get us out some more and feed my habit and just got into rigger fishing this year and with help from Ben, Ramel and (good) people on the forum I have a new addiction...
Not knowing how the boat was going to run and if I would be rigged, my brother and I booked a trip this past winter with a charter on Lake Ontario. Irene almost put the screws to the trip but we found ourselves with her to our backs Sunday as we drove through the outer bands to Oswego. My wife, Pam, friend Brad and nephew Bob were all in. 6 of us total counting brother Mike and Dad.
We checked into a flea bag hotel that was part of the deal...Clean but well worn and perfect for fish camp...
We were not fishing until Monday afternoon and went down to check out the 15 foot waves crashing onto the break water and the 6 foot rollers up in the canal! We were hoping it would lie down for our trip and we headed to the Press Box down by the water to start telling fish stories and grab some grub.
Monday we woke to less wind and we made sandwiches and loaded coolers for the trip in the afternoon. We got down to the boat at noon only to find the charter captain straddling one of 3 motors with the carburetor torn off. He looked up and asked if we got his message which was to go out at 1 instead of noon. We didn't. We watched as a mechanic delivered a rebuilt carb and the captain bolted it on and fired it up. Things were looking up. We headed back up into town to grab some lunch while the captain ran home to change. Little after 1 we were on our way out.
Well, the fishing was good Saturday with huge kings coming in by the boat-full. Irene swept through Sunday and flipped the lake. We heard that some areas were "iced out" with the surface temp going from 72 Saturday to 37 Monday! The area in front of the canal/river was around 67, but 67 all the way down. The captain made the call to fish in the front yard and the mate started dropping gear. We were the only boat and he figured he'd give that area a try.
Our first fish hit and it was a nice 6 lb brown. I was up in rotation and brought it in. Next up was my nephew Bob and he landed our first king:
I somehow ended up in the rotation again...It hit on 200 copper. What a blast to fight those fish! When it hit it took off and I thought it was going to run the reel dry. The drag was screaming and I didn't see an end in sight. I started pumping the fish in and reeling. I almost ahd it to the boat and ZOOM! The fish takes off again on a run! My forearms were blowing up when 15 minutes later I landed a decent king (my first ever King)
I will NOT miss this springs BROWNS and I have an idea and a lure or a 100 that I can bring along 
