| Subject: Re: Lake Ontario King Salmon |
Author:
King Davy
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Date Posted: 07:11:49 02/07/02 Thu
In reply to:
Undertaker
's message, "Re: Lake Ontario King Salmon" on 10:46:51 02/06/02 Wed
>>Great post man. I have to agree that most people don't
>>have a clue how to fish for kings. That includes most
>>of the guides that I've seen. Why anybody would go out
>>and fish for a 30lb fish that has stuffed itself on
>>baitfish it's entire life, and then tie on a size 12
>>estaz fly is beyond me. Don't get me wrong, I have
>>seen a few fish bite them, but your wasting your time
>>with those trash flies if it is true biters your
>>looking for. I fished Oak Orchard this fall in mid
>>November(targeting browns). There were probably 30 or
>>so spawned out kings in most of the holes. You should
>>have seen them chasing down wooly buggers and
>>streamers and BITING them. I'm not talking about the
>>"salmon river DSR,line'em up, he's hooked right in the
>>outside corner" type of bites either. I was stripping
>>the fly slowly with no weight about 3 inches below the
>>surface(water was LOW and clear) and watched them all
>>chase it 3 to 8 feet before opening up and grabbing
>>it. These fish were nasty too, all they had left to do
>>was die. After hooking a few of them I started letting
>>them spit the fly because I didn't want to have to
>>deal with taking them off.Probably had 30 moldy kings
>>and several moldy cohos bite that week(caught lots of
>>fresh coho at burt dam).With all those bites stripping
>>the fly, only one took it on a dead drift. My
>>conclusion is that they prefer something swimming like
>>the baitfish that grew them that big, rather than
>>something drifted. Although I have had lots of luck
>>drifting skein too, but not so much luck with the
>>artificial egg patterns. I think that has something to
>>do with scent. As for the salmon river and the leader
>>laws, it doesn't really matter too me. After going
>>there several years I have found it to be the most
>>over rated river in the world. There are just too many
>>lead chuckers there to get any fish to bite. They can
>>make all the laws they want, but the worst thing going
>>on in that river is chuck N duck. Without a doubt the
>>most effective snagging tool ever invented, because
>>the goofs actually think they are fishing. I guess
>>it's all ok though, there going to die anyway.
>I totally disagree with the comments above. I have
>fished the salmon river for kings for 22 years and
>have had very few kings hit a fly, but the cohos hit
>very well on the fly.So, please don't make it sound
>like its the fishermen and not the fish! I'll even go
>so far as to bet anyone here that they can't
>consistantly get kings to take a fly in two days on
>the salmon river. Let's say from route 2A to Altmar.
>On a weekend with lots of people around. I'll video
>tape the two days and we'll see who is fishing and who
>is snagging. I've been around enough guys who tell me
>they get them to hit and when I see them fishing, I
>see alot of line ripping and fast, high rod sticking.
>That's not a fish hitting, that's pooning! I want to
>see these kings chase down a fly and smash it. So, put
>your guides' licenses where your mouths are and let's
>see you work your magic. If I video tape six kings
>moving at least 3 feet to attack a fly, no dead
>drifting crap, I'll shut-up about the kings having to
>go. Otherwise, you guides back us here and help get
>rid of them.
>
>Any interested parties, leave your email address here
>and I'll contact you to set things up for this fall.
Undertaker - I am also not a stream guide. I have guided for 20 years on the lake, but just stream fish for myself. I've had many many days up in the fly stretch where I've had 15 to 20 fish days catching kings. I don't use running line...very little weight if at all...depending on water conditions. I don't use tiny flies for kings...size 12 is the smallest I'll go...again depending on water conditions. I've had fish chase flies all over the place to eat them, and I've caught them drifting a nymph in a natural fashion...plus under a float off the fly rod...fishing vertical. The fish bites the fly...pulls the float down...set the hook fish on...no different then any other fish.
I would agree with you that if guys are stepping all over these fish...it is nearly impossible to expect them to bite. They are fish...and any fish when it gets spooked gets tight lipped. But that is an angling problem. I can't believe how horrible the avg. fishermen is these days not just on the salmon river but all rivers I fish. A very large contingent of people I observe got their mechanics, and their strategy all fouled up. In many cases if you can clearly see the fish...it can clearly SEE you. I see guys fishing with blaze orange hunting coats on white hats...I mean real stupid stuff.
The chuck and duck techniques does more to put fish down then any other method out there. Hell even a J-Plugger can land the bait quietly. But the pretend fly guys with their running line and slinky's plop that bait in to clear water...and the fish hear every thing. Plus these rigs don't give you the sensitive feel required to truly detect a strike. King salmon are a VERY moody fish. They will either SLAM a bait...or pick..pick..pick at it like a perch would. Either way, you need to be able to feel the take. Leaders anchored by heavey weights deaden the feel at the business end.
I respect your opinions...but there is no sense on getting into a debate on catching kings on a fly cause I've caught too many to remember. It's like saying on a cloudless day...the sun doesn't shine. Not debateable. I'd be glad to talk to you about fishing for them...and if we are ever in the same neck of the woods fish with you...
You are not going to get rid of the king salmon in this river system...until the state can come up with a fish to take it's place. The only one that would have a chance is the Atlantic salmon....and after 20 years of trying to find a strain that would take to the lake...and it's rivers...we've failed misserably. If you'd like to be more successful in catching king salmon I'd suggest putting your energy into working on your technique and strategy to fish for them. Nobody likes crowds...so I assume you are willing to walk back into places that are not as crowded etc.
Anyway...I don't doubt many people would like to see kings disappear, but the states open lake program revolves around the king salmon...and if you fish for them on the lake you should have a whole different attitude about them. Cause they are marvelous. The whole program goes down the shute if the lake loses it's kings. The impact to the WHOLE lake is much more serious then the impact to one river system.
I just don't think your idea is realistic because it's much more far reaching then the salmon river. Good discussion though. Take the time to write me a note and let's talk about how you fish for kings and we'll exchange ideas and tactics....you give them a try and see if you don't see a difference. Good luck to you.
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