Sunday, November 16, 2008

SLA Bay of Quinte Trip, November 14-16, 2008

The Annual Strait Line Anglers Club fall Bay of Quinte Walleye trip brought five boats and 13 guys to Merland Park Cottages for a chance at a trophy walleye.

The weather on friday started the weekend with great conditions. Warm sunny and light winds made it pleasent during our jigging tournament. The objective of the tournament was to weighin four walleye's under the 24.8 inch mark or only one over the 24.8 inch mark.

Slowly jigging or dragging castmasters along the bottom in the deep hole at Thompson's Point. Also White perch on 3 inch Gulp Minnows on drop shot were in the same area. Yellow Perch were numerous in the shallow.

The white perch were an indication of the colour Grey Ghost in Mann's Stretch 20 might be a good one. None in the tacklebox to try trolling on Saturday.

The weather on Saturday turned wet. A fast approaching cold front was pushing a heavy low pressure in front of it that contained a great deal of rain. It remained warm throughout the entire day and the rain was steady throughout the day. Winds were light from the south and then from the east south east.

Walleye bite was on. Boats between the bait cave to Keith's shoal could be seen taking fish regularily.

Ron Arnold and I worked a trolling stretch just past the lighthouse on the north side, that was loaded with bait. Fish could be seen throughout the depths but the majority were around 50-60 feet down over 110 FOW.



Our pattern that got all four of our rods working went like this...

Three rods on inline planerboards with leads that were consistently set at 200 ft back using deep diving body baits that were making 35 ft depths. The fourth rod was a deeper set that used three colours of leadcore with a 35 tf mono leader and off the inline boards.

Baits that worked were...

Rapala Taildancer 11 30ft.PD-Purpledescent

Mann's Stretch 20, in Firetiger/Purple back (custom), Original Colour before Purple added to back

Mann's Stretch 20, Doctor Death

Yo-zuri in Crystal Minnow in Deep Diver Sardine Colour Chart

Other boats reported the best colours as

Silver and Black back

Blueberry Muffin

Yellow Perch Crystaglow

Grey Ghost Crystaglow

and Reef runner 900 Ripstick in Purple Barenaked.

1.6-1.8 mph was the best for us, but some teams found 1.8-2 mph good.

Our biggest was 10 lbs 1 oz.

I can't wait for our next trip.

Shane Thombs

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Erie Smallmouths October 18 & 19, 2008

The weather the past few weekends have been favourable. Saturday October 18th was a chilly one with a stiff East wind, but we managed to get out on the lake none-the-less. Our launch site with our charter guests Sal and Kevin was from the Crystal Beach Boat Ramp. After a slow start we searched Windmill Point reef and managed a few small fish in the morning in around 18 fow. We moved to a deep water spot that in the first drift produced a 5.7 lbs smallmouth and as soon as it was in the net Sal took this pig that weighed 6.2 lbs. Drop Shot on both fish using Poor Boy Erie Darter Jrs in smoke and green colours. The winds were getting bad at that point so we motored to set up on the west side of Windmill Pt reef and drifted the 27 ft contour. It produced a consistent bite of fish in the 2-4 lbs range and we packed it in at 3:30 pm.




Sunday I jumped on board Bruno's boat whom has a boat load of boys around 9 years old. His son's birthday party on the boat fishing for bass. Conditions were different with flat water and no drift. It was a tough go, only managing some bass and everything was under 3 lbs. It was great to see the kids get so excited when they caught a bass. 27 ft of water was the ticket, but we also managed a few fish in 11 feet of water at Windmill point.

The fish are starting to congregate and go deeper- even though plenty of fish are stil very shallow.

Also good reports of perch off of Point Abino in 60 fow. limits of big perch.

Shane Thombs

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Labour Day Port Maitland Walleye, September 2, 2008

Lake Erie was flat- just a gentle wind from the south west of less than 5 km. The skies were blue and it was warm.

Went out with a family of three kids, Bruno and his wife Bow. We fished in his boat, a 19 ft Lund Pro V Gary Roach edition. He had it booking along at 50 mph with six of us! He had it equiped with the 997 Humingbird side finder and it was my first experience seeing how it works. It was truely interesting to see how it works and I can see it be a smallmouth bass drift fisherman's biggest asset.

The screan was full of fish, bait at all depths but primarily between 20-40 ft and 60-90. Fish were mostly between 60 to the bottom with only the odd fish up higher. We trolled between 1.5 mph to 1.8 mph and tried as much as 1.9-2.0 when we had the slow period. 1.7 was the most productive all around.

We started slightly west of Port Maitland (straight out from Grant Point) and set up in 90 FOW at about 8:00 am. Finally got 10 rods in the water when the first rod went off then the second went off with a double header. First fish was the biggest of the day at 8 lbs 12 oz. Watermelon 82 Walker Deeper Diver behind the inline Planerboard 220 ft using Blue Berry Muffin Yeck #6 Colorado and Pink Metalic #4 blade in the front. The other was around 5 bls on a Black 82 Walker Deeper Diver back 240 ft behind the diver pulling a #6 Colorado Yeck Puss'n Bouts blade on the back and a metalic Purple #5 Colorado on the front.

Then there was a slow period for about one hour as we trolled Northwest into about 77 FOW and the screan started to show alot less. So we changed our troll to go back towards where we started and that helped get things moving at a slow pick as they would come in pairs.

One other fish came on the Blck 82 diver behind the Planerboard out 240 ft, but the boat divers started to fit more fish with the 107 Purple Walker Deeper Diver on a three setting taking two fish and losing one. It was set out 130 ft towing a Purple Thunder Yeck #6 Colorado with a Metalic Purple #5 colorodo blade in the front on the worm harness. The other 107 Walker Deeper Diver was the Glow Frog on a 3 setting out 130 ft and using Monkey Puke #5 Colorado on the back and a black/green #4 Colorado on the front.

7 colour Leadcore hit two fish with Blue Berry Muffin Yeck #6 Colorado and Purple Thunder Yeck #5 Colorado on the front.

Fullcore never got bit, a flat lined 20 Tail Dancer never got bit, the riggers never got bit and I tried a Spoon behind a diver and it never seen a fish.

Ended the day at 1:30 pm and on the way back something went wrong with the big motor. A squeal sound came from the motor and it wouldn't start after we shut it off to check it out. Had to come in the last two miles on the kicker motor. Good thing it was calm. That was the only low part of the day.

Shane Thombs

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Jordon Harbour to Beamsville, August 13, 2008

John and I had guests Kelly and Colin on the boat for there first time salmon fishing. T-storms had already pushed by us earlier that afternoon and the skies began to break with hopes of a nice evening on the big pond. Light winds from the west south west kept the flies at bay and comfortable temperatures.

We ran down to in front of Vineland and began to set lines in 80 FOW and trolled East out to about 110 FOW. When we reached 100 FOW the Wire Walker Deeper Diver 107 Glow Frog set at 1 ½ and out 140 ft while towing a Green Dolphin SpinDoctor with a Hammered TG Atommik tournament fly took a good strike. This set also had three fish that all came unbuttoned throughout the course of the night.




We angled back in towards Jordon Harbour and worked the shallow trough looking for some staging fish and went in as shallow as 60 FOW and marked only a few all the way in. We turned back out and once we got out to 100 FOW the rigger down 66 ft with a 15 ft lead and a Hogwild SpinDoctor and Crazy Bitch Atommik Tournament Fly takes a 10 lbs rainbow. That was Kelly’s first fish ever!

Slide Diver with a lead of 100 ft behind the diver and out to the diver set at 4 out 150 ft and 160 ft hit a big rainbow at 13 lbs and took one small shaker Chinook and missed one other. Yeck 88 Glow Frog on one side of the boat and Rainbow Matrix regular size on the other. Also took one smaller rainbow on a Fullcore using silverstreak Blue tail.

The Rigger down 66 ft using the Hogwild SpinDoctor and Crazy Bitch Atommik Tournament Fly as it took two Chinooks (no matures).

We then trolled 100-130 FOW towards the west until we finished the night just east of Beamsville’s Ontario St. The lake went flat and the moon came out. We seen baitfish busting the surface and the fishing got better as the sun was setting.

Shane Thombs

Jordon Harbour to Beamsville, August 13, 2008

John and I had guests Kelly and Colin on the boat for there first time salmon fishing. T-storms had already pushed by us earlier that afternoon and the skies began to break with hopes of a nice evening on the big pond. Light winds from the west south west kept the flies at bay and comfortable temperatures.




We ran down to in front of Vineland and began to set lines in 80 FOW and trolled East out to about 110 FOW. When we reached 100 FOW the Wire Walker Deeper Diver 107 Glow Frog set at 1 ½ and out 140 ft while towing a Green Dolphin SpinDoctor with a Hammered TG Atommik tournament fly took a good strike. This set also had three fish that all came unbuttoned throughout the course of the night.

We angled back in towards Jordon Harbour and worked the shallow trough looking for some staging fish and went in as shallow as 60 FOW and marked only a few all the way in. We turned back out and once we got out to 100 FOW the rigger down 66 ft with a 15 ft lead and a Hogwild SpinDoctor and Crazy Bitch Atommik Tournament Fly takes a 10 lbs rainbow. That was Kelly’s first fish ever!

Slide Diver with a lead of 100 ft behind the diver and out to the diver set at 4 out 150 ft and 160 ft hit a big rainbow at 13 lbs and took one small shaker Chinook and missed one other. Yeck 88 Glow Frog on one side of the boat and Rainbow Matrix regular size on the other. Also took one smaller rainbow on a Fullcore using silverstreak Blue tail.

The Rigger down 66 ft using the Hogwild SpinDoctor and Crazy Bitch Atommik Tournament Fly as it took two Chinooks (no matures).

We then trolled 100-130 FOW towards the west until we finished the night just east of Beamsville’s Ontario St. The lake went flat and the moon came out. We seen baitfish busting the surface and the fishing got better as the sun was setting.

Shane Thombs

Sunday, August 10, 2008

444 International Walleye Tournament August 9-10, 2008

The weekend at the 444 International Walleye Tournament was one to remember. The weather trend this summer was without exception over the weekend. Rain, wind and cool temperatures. The tournament organizers did a good job in the absents of long time organizers Mike & Mike. There were a few hiccups that will need to be fixed next year, but because they put this tournament on using volunteer time- it is much appreciated, regardless.

Now for the fishing. At the captain’s meeting on Friday eve the winds were blowing out of the west, but reports from those that were out prefishing said the lake was good, and fishing was excellent. John and I paired up in the small boat division once again, and his 17 ft Mr Pike hasn’t been out over walleye waters of Lake Erie since last year’s 444. So we were going at this blind.

Saturday morning the skies were clear, the air was cool and the winds looked calm until we get out on the lake. 3 footers out of the west north west with a stiff north west breeze turned out to be a tough go for us at blast off. We managed to make out way over wakes and rough water to tuck in close to shore and 20 miles west before turning out to deeper water. We made good time doing this and got to our destination in 45 minutes.

We set up in 72 FOW south west of Port Maitland and only a few miles from the end of Tecumseh reef’s red marker. The sonar screen was only showing the odd fish and very little bait. We trolled with the waves on the stern as they continue to build to about 4 ft by 11:00 am. About an hour into the troll we finally hit our first fish. Size 82 Walker Deeper Diver on 0 setting and out 210 feet and on the planerboard. The worm harness trailing behind the Deeper Diver was with the large Yeck Colorado blade being “Blue Berry Muffin” and the smaller Colorado blade “Black Demon” beads were black and pink and green.

As we trolled due east we hit a double header in 80 FOW and managed to land one of the two. Same set up as the first fish, but this time the fish got off and we caught the other on a 7 colour off the planerboard using black and purple worm harness and it went in the livewell. Now we got two.

About another hour went by and we missed one more off the planer boards that pulled the tail off the worm and missed the hooks. Then the rigger went off and it felt heavy. John lightly retrieves the fish and some how the hooks pull free. Soft bite.

Managed to boat a smaller fish on the same diver harness combo off the planer board in 82FOW to put the third in the boat. Now all we need is one more to make our four fish box!

Another hour goes by and now were up on the other side of the Maitland trough in 67 FOW when the 107 Metalic Purple Walker Deeper diver on 3 setting and out 165 feet gets a hit. I grab the rod and slowly work a head shaking walleye to the back of the boat just out of range for a fully extended net, and it was the biggest fish of our day and at the surface the brute made a head shake that pulled the hooks free. Our hearts sank to bottom with the fish we called “The Tournament Fish”. The waves were near 4.5 feet and a slow wet ride on the way back.

We come into weigh the fish and there were lots of low weights, and not many full 4 fish boxes from the small boat category. We weighed in at 14.44 lbs with our three fish biggest 6.14 lbs. It was only good enough to manage 7 th place behind our buddies Jim Rodney and Kenny Napper with a box at 14.97 lbs. The biggest box in the small boat was around 27 lbs, almost double what we had!

Day two was calling for 7 mph winds out of the west. We line up to blast off and the whitecaps out beyond the wall were showing something much different. I set up for a spread that would work for calm water with a diver program off the boards in mind. But---- That was not going to happen!

At blast off we rounded the corner of the wall and we were faced with 6 footers out of the south west and a slow boat ride at 14 mph. The big boats even took there time and it appeared everyone was playing it smart and keeping their distance between each other. John tucked inside to work along the shoreline and it paid off using each point to take the edge off the big waves. At Gull island and Rock point the winds were near 40 mph in estimation and the waves were nearly 10 ft pushing between the point and the island. We managed to make progress at 7 mph going against them to Grant point and then out to our waypoint. It took us 2.5 hours to boat 24 miles and we finally set up at 9:30 am. The troll was running the trough of the waves and I switched everything to manage the constant serge from each wave. Divers on the board were not going to maintain a good presentation so a 7 colour leadcore, a rigger, a large diver off the corner and a full core off the back was the only thing I could think off to dampen the irregular speeds. Core has a good belly in the line that can soften some of the serge in the presentation when the boat gets pushed. That and a planer board will work together. It was 1.5 hours of working to find fish and finally we reached out to 80 FOW outside the tip of the end of the Maitland trough when the screen lit up with bait and fish. But the fish were tough to catch again and the weather brought thunderstorms and heavy rains that made conditions in 10 ft waves next to impossible. Water spouts were spotted and the winds only let off at Noon. We managed two quality fish, one on 7 colour off the boards and the other on the down rigger down 62 feet over 85 FOW at about 1:30 pm. It was a short window of time to fish after the long morning run.

Weigh in was quick with nearly 50 boats being off the water by 11:00 am. The Small boat division was won by the first day’s second place team, that had 18 plus pounds on day one. Larry Schoeder managed a good box to take the win. The first day leader with 27 lbs came up skunked on day two. Jim Rodney and Kenny Napper took second place with a 15 lbs box to get them 31 lbs. John and I landed a third place finish with a near duplication weight of day one at 14.37 lbs and 7.74 lbs was our biggest, but if we were to boat that big one at the end of day one, we would have had the tournament. "The Tournament Fish" That's why we do this crazy conpetition fishing - hoping to catch all of the fish needed to win the tournament. If you caught them every tournament, tournaments wouldn't been as fun.

Big controversy over whether the tournament should have been cancelled or let out in the conditions we were in. My gut feeling was that it should have been cancelled, and I was surprised it wasn’t. The new tournament organizer has a few things to fix for next year and the one is checking the conditions of the lake to make the call to cancel. The other was the Calcutta side bet that included the big boat and small boat in one pool, a change from last year.

Shane Thombs

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Fifty Point/Grimsby July 26, 2008

Mike Dumesnil “Catch-One” and I were off to do a charter in the morning. Weatherman said we should stay home, but we managed to get out on the big lake at 7:00 am and fish until 1:00 pm without a rain drop. We watched as lightening was on shore over the escarpment in Grimsby in Beamsville, but the three cells seemed to follow along without visiting us out in the lake. The wind however wasn’t light. Moderate to strong south-westerly made for a tricky two – three foot chop out four miles.

As for fishing, we started in shallow working as little as 40 FOW inside and east of the riffle range at Fifty Point. Then slowly edged our way out to 50 then 60 FOW east of the gun range. The first hour was slow with one shaker and one missed fish and then we turned outward (north direction) we started hitting fish. Turn back against the waves going south-southwest and the bite stopped. Turn back out to the Northeast and the rods started firing once more. This happened over and over and we varied speeds to try top get something to go trolling south- but nothing. Paddle wheel speed was 2.5 mph trolling north. That was fine, it gave me a chance to set up on the troll south only to catch up on setting rods from trolling north. Most productive depths were 60- 75 FOW.

End count is still ??, but the four clients all said they brought in three each not including two or three shakers. Notable fish were Chinooks at 23 lbs, 18 lbs, four between 12-16 lbs, two rainbows at 6 and 8 lbs and one chunky coho at 11 lbs. Here’s the tackle and sets they seem to produce results starting with the best…

Wire line 107 Glow Frog Deeper Diver 1 ½ setting and out 120ft with Black/Crush Glow SpinDoctor and a Green Mirage Strong Fly.

Full Core with Yeck 88 M&M Glow

Rigger down 55 with Yeck 88 Glow Frog

Rigger down 51 with NBK/Mountain Dew Chrome SpinDoctor with a Hammered TG Atommik fly.

Rigger down 45 with Glow Gin & Tonic Michigan Stinger Stingray

Bait was no further out then 65 FOW and there was two depth ranges they were found. 20-40 feet and smaller schools right on bottom.

Surface temp was 68’F and the down temps dropped at we trolled outward 45 feet on the ball had 56’F in 55 FOW and dropped to 54’F in 60 FOW and then to 53’F over 70 FOW at the same time with a temp rigger down 58 feet it was 54’F in 55 FOW and dropped to 51’F over 60 FOW and then to 49’F over 70 FOW. It would appear that the window of temperature got narrower as we went deeper and only slightly came closer to the surface.

Shane Thombs
www.fintasticsportfishing.com

Monday, July 21, 2008

Grimsby humps and bumps to 28 lbs, July 21, 2008

John Poirier "JubeJube", my son Aidan and I went out on the lake after dinner to fish the evening. north east breeze made a 1 1/2 chop on the lake and it was our decision to ply the waters in tight in search of bigger fish after good reports from the Salmon Dance Tournament in shallower waters then where we fished during the tournament.

Set up in 40 FOW and worked our way in and out on 40-70 FOW and first went west of 40 mile Creek and then east. Had a fish hit a Blue Silver Blue Fox matrix spoon Mega large size on the rigger with a 40 foot lead and down 52 Ft in 60 feet of water. But the hooks pulled free before too long.

Started heading east but made efforts to troll in and out instead of along the shore as we relize the currents are taking away from consitent and known down speeds. We took a small shaker, and then moments later the full core bends over and starts peeling line. My turn on the rod and it was fun to say the least. Finally get the fish to the mono leader when John says " We don't have the net in the boat" WHAT?". It was left inthe truck after the tournament and we forgot to put it back in the boat.

So John pulls everything in as it was getting to about 8:15 and the sun was hinding behind dark cloads. John made three attempts to run his fingers under a gill plat over the transome before lifting the fish to the deck of the boat.

28.20 lbs it weighed. Biggest in the boat this year.

It was caught on a Yeck 88 M&M glow spoon in 55 feet of water. 2.5mph trolling in and out.

Shane Thombs

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Salmon Dance Tournament, July 19, 2008


Tournament day is here and it was a weird morning wake up. On the way to John Poirier’s the lights were out everywhere from Beamsville to Grimsby. The darkness and the muggy and hazy look was an ominous setting. While on the way down the QEW the LED blue and red flickering lights from the police reflecting off of two small import looking cars the had rolled over the South Service Rd ditch and took out a hydro pole. Racing??

Time throughout the day seemed to go soooo fast. We called the blast off over the radio and horn and 25 boats were off in all directions. Some toward Toronto, others toward Bronte and Port Credit, and some toward Port Weller. This should be a very interesting result to see where the biggest boxes come from. For john, Stephanie (John’s neice) and myself, decided to start in front of Beamsville where we had been hitting them consistently over the last few weeks. The Grimsby spot was where I took good fish on Thursday night with Ron and that was our second spot to go to. At the morning launch, John told Joe Williamson “Trophy Taker” and Bill Ransky/Randy Scott “Reddog” that they should start there. 20/20 hind sight says we should have went to Grimsby in the morning instead, because nothing over 16 lbs could be taken from our first spot. The mature fish had moved.

On set-up at Beamsville we had a triple header right off the start and lost all three and then another rod went off and lost it too. Man- not a good start. We caught lots of fish but nothing of size. Joe radio’s to us and says he boxed a 19 lb king on the spot in front of Grimsby. Then an hour and half later he boxed one over 26 lbs in front of Bartlett St in Grimsby in about 55 FOW.

We headed that way and hooked up on a biggie on the same spoon I took my 27 lbs fish on Thursday night. Then the line snapped. Pulled it in that the line looked like it went through the meat grinder. Must have been on bottom when the board slowed and the fish took the bait.

Time ran out and the hits were fewer and fewer. The dark skies turned to rain and we started to pull lines at 1:40 when the Thunder rumbled across the lake. We managed to get to Jordon and see everyone under the gazebo before the lightening and ran was on us. It was a great tournament, and some incredible weights of two fish in the 55 lbs range. You needed over 45 lbs to get in the top ten! I not even sure where we ended up, or how much we weighed, because it was far less then we had anticipated our result to be. But that’s fishing!

You can see the results of the Salmon Dance tournament at

Thursday, July 17, 2008

No Riggers, but still manage quality Kings, July 17, 2008

Ron Arnold, his son Cole, my son Aidan and myself set out for waters west of where we have been getting fish, again to search out waters for the Salmon Dance Tournament on Saturday. We had a late evening start with lines in the water by 6:00 pm and out by 8:30 with dark thunderstorm clouds approaching before dusk.

We motored slowly out of Foran’s on a North East angle scanning for baitfish and without surprise the bait was from 35 FOW out to 50 FOW. We set up in 45 FOW roughly in front of Nelles Beach Park and trolled straight out. I set out the 7 colour first with Ron’s NK Mag Blue Dolphin that has been sitting on a lure hanger in his boat for I think years now. I get it in the rod holder and start to let out a second line when I seen in the corner of my eye the rod start to bend over a buck like mad. Fish On. Ron says “What, you got to be kidding me” and the rod was handed to him when the drag starting peeling out. Three good runs then we boated it, 24.1 lbs. We snapped a few shots, and then in the drink it goes. Get the rods in the water and missed a fish in the process on fullcore. Turned a 360 to come back through the area we just got the 24 and I set the fullcore out with an old discontinued bait that was good in it’s time for big fish. Super King sized Northern Dancer in blue/silver with a little bit of tap added to the cup side of the spoon that was purple and pink. Because we were in 50 FOW at the time I slowly let the full core ten colours Leadcore out by thumbing the spool for the last two colours so the big spoon would pick it up off the bottom. Sure enough the rod takes a violent slam in my hands and my thumb starts to warm quickly as it is still in free spool and it’s the only drag at the moment. Engage the reel and the clicker finally tells the tail of a drag scream. I fought the fish for nearly 20 minutes as it seemed to just keep dogging it down behind the boat. Boat the fish and it was my best in a few years. 27.4 lbs on the scale. Here’s the picture.

We took a bunch of other salmon below 12 lbs on 7 colour with Ron’s NK Mag Blue Dolphin, before pulling lines and coming in with ominous clouds approaching from the west.

Shane Thombs
www.FINtasticSportfishing.com

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Tip: Consistent Slide Diver Lead Lengths

Here’s a tip to keep slide diver lead lengths simple and consistently set every time. Zero the counter and pull out the lead length behind the diver. Clip in the diver so it holds on the line and then zero the counter again and let it out the desired length out to the diver. The counter will only show the distance out to the diver for easy adjustments without having to remember to subtract the lead length in your head. Then when you set the line out again the counter will read something like 935 ft (65 ft lead was the last set). Pull out the lead until it gets to zero and then clip in the diver and all you have to remember is the distance out to the diver.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Beamsville Salmon, July 14, 2008

John, Aidan (my son) and I had the evening free to continue the search for fish to target for the next weeks Salmon Dance Tournament. We worked water closer to Jordon Harbour that we hadn’t seen in weeks and then went back to in front of Beamsville where we have been getting them in recent outings only to find they haven’t left. GOOD!

We managed to hit as deep as 130 FOW and seen a number of fish on the bottom. Drop down to 102 with the Hot Spot Glow Green Flasher with a Sure-strike Rig and a Banjo Minnow as imitation whole bait. 19 lbs 1 oz Lake Trout. My biggest taken in a few years.

4 Chinooks ranged from 8 – 18 lbs and we lost another good one. Also took one brown and one Rainbow. 6 for 8 I think. All the same depth zone with the same baits producing. Bluetail Silver Streak seemed to do the trick.

Shane Thombs
www.FINtasticSportfishing.com

Lake Trout, Brown, Rainbow, and Chinooks, July 14, 2008

John, Aidan (my son) and I had the evening free to continue the search for fish to target for the next weeks Salmon Dance Tournament. We worked water closer to Jordon Harbour that we hadn’t seen in weeks and then went back to in front of Beamsville where we have been getting them in recent outings only to find they haven’t left. GOOD!

We managed to hit as deep as 130 FOW and seen a number of fish on the bottom. Drop down to 102 with the Hot Spot Glow Green Flasher with a Sure-strike Rig and a Banjo Minnow as imitation whole bait. 19 lbs 1 oz Lake Trout. My biggest taken in a few years.


4 Chinooks ranged from 8 – 18 lbs and we lost another good one. Also took one brown and one Rainbow to complete a Grand Slam (four species in same day). 6 for 8 I was our total. All the same depth zone with the same baits producing. Bluetail Silver Streak seemed to do the trick.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Skinny Water Beamsville Kings, July 12, 2008

John and I had the Saturday to search for fish to target for the next weeks Salmon Dance Tournament; it was a day to narrow down location and to test a number of things.

Firstly the flasher/fly has been a dud for us for sooooo long. Our program has been spoons since the early spring and it is a shock that we have had only the odd day (count on one hand) where flasher fly had a few fish. This season it is never out producing spoons in our boat. But everyone else is hitting fish on flasher/fly and every trip we try to make it go. Today was without exception. We dedicating time to experiment and make it work. All the hot colours in flasher and flies reported by others were put on riggers, core, wire deeper diver, and no stretch braid deeper diver. We varied fly leader lengths from 19 ¾” to 25” and most in the typically productive leader lengths of 23-24”. Not a single fish on it. Speed Over Ground (SOG) 2.3-2.4 mph. Four rod spread and two of the four we ran flasher/artificial bait on one and flasher/fly on the other. The other two were spoons.

Spoons on the other hand are doing it. We went 10 for 12 today and all but one rainbow came on spoons. Total breakdown two rainbows at 5 lbs each, two shakers, and the balance of our fish were mature Chinooks 18, 20, 21, 22, and the biggest was 23 lbs 11 oz. Nothing like the reports from TO and east, but our best for size this year on our shore. 50-80 FOW with all of the bait inside of 55 FOW and directly in front of the microwave tower just east of Beamsville’s, Ontario St. 7 of the 10 fish came on slide divers set on 3 with 65- 100 ft leads (behind the diver) and 85 and 90 feet from the rod to the diver. 6 out of 7 fish on the slide divers were caught on one lure, Silver Streak Blue tail. The other was caught on a Blue Veggie Michigan Stinger Stingray.




The 23 lbs 11 oz fish came on 7 colour leadcore down the shoot using Silver Streak Blue Tail, but I doctored it with a little bit of purple along the blue edge of the blade and glow eyes were added to the hook end of the spoon but avoiding to cover up the pink painted dot. Also one was taken on a five colour using the rigger at 20 feet. Estimated to be at the 45 foot level with that set while going a speed of 2.4 mph, and was likely the deepest fish we took all day.

Shane Thombs
www.FINtasticSportfishing.com

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Water temps stir things up in West end of Lake O, July 5, 2008

John Poirier "JubeJube", my son Aidan and myself headed out for a morning fish infront of Grimsby. Calm water made an easy boat ride and we set down in 60 FOW after watching the surface temps as we ran. On my way to work on Friday the breeze over the lake showed a clue... Flat water inside from shore out about a mile, and then choppy after it. All I could guess was the moderate to strong Southerlies had pushed out the warm water and drawn in the cold stuff along the shoreline. The prediction was right... It was 58'F infront of the Greenhouses at Bartlet in 60 FOW and we it was colder in shallower, out to 90 Feet we were in 64'F and it was warmer East and out then West and in- if that makes sence?? Called Peter Hansen on the radio and he was almost at Jordon in the same depth of water and he read 68'F!!! They had 8 fish in the boat by 11am. Far west towards Hamilton and Bronte Reports were surface temps of 44'F!!!!! Burrrr.

Set up and discovered a great picture on the graph. bait fish schools and hooks all over them. Best marks in the 45 ft depth

Slow start and flustrating to get bit. Cores were quiet for a change. But we worked at changing colours and spread dynamics and managed to pattern something with some level of catch rate. 7 for 9 was the count by the end of the day. Aidan reeled in two shakers, one about 6 lbs and three were about 12 lbs kings, and the largest was this 22.30 lbs chinny.




Best set up was Slide diver on 3 setting 65 feet back and 90 or 100 feet out to the diver. Silver Streak, Blue tail

was good and the bigger fish came on NK 28 Glow Frog (white back). Couldn't buy a fish on the riggers and managed only one on 7 colour. Flasher/Fly, Wholebait and Wire were not doing it. Curious Fish coming into the spread, but wouldn't bite in close or way out in the outer spread. had to be that middle spread that would get the bites. More on this in Powerpoint for your download... PowerPoint Slide Show on "Putting out a Salmon Spread"

Shane Thombs
www.FINtasticSportfishing.com

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Fifty Point, August 3, 2008

Boated from Foran’s (Grimsby) and set up one mile west of Fifty Point (hydro cut in the escarpment) at 6:30 am. Before getting the last rod of six in the water the Slide Diver rod takes a shot. around 18lbs. 80 feet behind the diver, 3 setting and out to the diver from the rod at 150 ft. Blue Dolphin NK Mag.

Not long after, the same set-up takes another around 21 lbs and then after adjustments the other slide diver set 100 ft back and out 160 to the diver using Yeck 88 Glow Frog starts going. It took three – one rainbow, two Chinooks (no matures). Wire Divers were quiet with only one Lake Trout. Fullcore took one small king on Matrix Blue Silver. One rainbow on the rigger down 60 ft using Silver Streak, Blue Tail.

After 10:00 am the wind had stopped and we couldn’t figure out how to keep the rods moving. We mixed up the spread throughout the day to see what was what. It was about an hour before we found more fish and starting getting hits. But short hits at that., some were big heart stopping rips. Managed another small king in front of the Riffle Range on the Yeck Glow Frog, Slide Diver set at noon, and then we pulled the plug at 1:30pm. Temps on the surface was 71’F but down 45 ft you were into 45’F, at 35ft the temp was 50’F. Now that’s a small window of temp, hence the reason we figure we managed all our fish out of temperature and weren’t able to move a fish above 40 ft in the water column. Bait was in 65 FOW and less, and all our fish came outside that to as far as 75 FOW. At 80 FOW the screen was blank and reports from others in that water, the odd rainbow was going.

Haven't got the one picture I took off the camera yet, sorry.

Shane Thombs

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Canada Day Eve with Irish luck onboard, July 1, 2008

Nice to have some Irish luck in the boat for once. hahaha.

Colm and Ethia from Dublin, Irland were visiting family in the states and came to Ontario to see some of the tourist sites. John and I had anticipations of providing a trip on Lake Ontario for Salmon to be added as a highlight to their vacation.

The Canada Day evening trip of four hours was with moderate south winds that made 2 ft chop in the water we fished, which started in 60 FOW in front of Beamsville and angled toward the East. We took the first hit on a full core off the boards using Michigan Stinger Mixed Veggie on a copper blade. It took line and had weight. We coached Ethia through the fight and she was a champ with the arms and hands feeling sore, but the fish pulled the hooks free with only one more colour to reel in.

We missed one other fish on the same set up that took it out of the release, but nothing was there when we got to the rod. The second fish was where the Irish luck kicked in. Ethia took our coaching into full implementation and managed to boat the first and biggest fish she had ever caught. 21 lbs Chinook Salmon. It took a screaming run that made us sweat it out turning the boat on a dime to chase it and recover line before the final roles of wraps on the reel were stripped off. She smiled for the entire night after she seen the fish come aboard. 7 colour with Michigan Stinger Magnum, Chicken Wing.

From Photos

Some pods of bait throughout the 60-100 FOW with a few hooks on the screen. Never ventured further out for the building off shore waves. The inside waters did display the greatest picture on the screen and likely the reason for only a few releases.

Hope the Irish luck stays in the boat for the season thanks to Ethia and her dad Colm.

Shane Thombs
www.fintasticsportfishing.com

Friday, June 20, 2008

Holo Hog Wild at Bronte, June 20, 2008

The morning of Friday June 20th was picture perfect. Lake was calm and the sun rise was something. Boated over to in front of Bronte with John Poirier and Peter Hansen. We had all the lines in by 7:00 am.

By 7:20 we were in 130 FOW and hit a double header both of the full core off each board on either side of the boat start singing. John's fish was about 19 lbs and when the fish was in the net coming on board the wire diver takes a violent strike. I grab it and work my way around Peter as he lands his at about 17 lbs. The wire rod is peeling and the head shakes are unreal. Then the leader on Peters fly snaps. Sorry no pictures of those fish- not enough hands free. Had the video running through part of it though.

Yeck 88 in my custom Hologram Hog Wild ---Holi Hog Wild?? see the picture for a look see.

The spoon took the 19 lbs king, as well as another about 8 lbs on full core. The other full core was the Warrior Chicken Wing. then the rods stayed still for about 1 1/2 hrs. The bait was incredible. The most I've seen all year. At times running from the top down to 80 ft.

The riggers take a 5 lbs king down 100 feet on a Warrior Wild Hog and a shaker on the slider with Michigan Stinger Seduction. Also missed a fish that destroyed my blue dyed coloured whole bait in a three fly rig behind a 11' Hotspot Green Glow flasher down 60 ft over 150 FOW. Peter's wire went off again with Black Crushed glow with Green Crinkle on 2 setting and out 170 ft with the ring.

Also managed a 10 lbs rainbow on a Grimsby Tackle special Michigan Stinger Stingray colour that is green dolphin on a copper blade. That was on wire with the Walker Deeper Diver 107 in Froggy Glow set at 3 and out 180 feet.

We ended the morning going 8 for 10 and pulled lines by 11:00 am.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Grimsby Salmon on Freaky Friday 13th and June 14, 2008

On Friday 13th - oh no... John and I had a quick trip out of Grimsby. Caught two nice rainbows out over 200 FOW straight out of Forans. One came on Michigan Stinger Stop & Glow Magnum 60 feet down on the rigger and 140 ft lead. The other rainbow came on Warrior Chicken Wing

on Full Core . The day before resulted in 8 fish in this area with a mix of kings and rainbows.

On Saturday 14th we had Ed Barbosa on board and we started in the same area straight out, but the picture changed. The Thunderstorms on Freaky Friday 13th must of chased them off. So we trolled East south east towards Beamsville and finally started to intercept the odd fish in 140 - 100 FOW. Slow Slow pick but managed 4 for 5.

Yeck 88 in a custom Hog Wild colour on 5 colour leadcore managed two rainbows. 12 lbs king on a Warrior Wild Hog on the Rigger down 70 feet and 60 ft back and lastly the 19 lbs king shown here was on Full Core using Michigan Stinger Seduction.

Shane Thombs
www.fintasticsportfishing.com

Friday, June 6, 2008

Grimsby fishing with Norseman and JubeJube, June 6, 2008

Managed to get out for short trip with John Poirier and Peter Hansen out of Foran's. The winds were moderate out of the south west, but being off shore, we decided to run the shoreline east before angling out. While running we marked bait regularly in shallow < 30 FOW. We started to set-up outside the bait in 50 FOW and angled out. We marked plenty in shallow and usually in the top 25 feet in the water column. When we reached 70 FOW we had our first hit. Slide Diver on 4 setting with Warrior Dragon Slayer


back 70 feet and the diver out 70 feet. Rainbow was about 6 bls and went in the box. We opened the belly up and it was FULL. Flys, one large alewife and one emerald shiner. Fresh kills.

When we reached 80 FOW we started to mark more around the bottom and we lowed the riggers and one wire diver to deeper depths. Wire diver set at 3 and out 220 feet with ProChip 8 Michigan Stinger colour DieHard with ATOMMIK Hoover fly takes a rip, but was gone when the rod was touched. Riggers didn't go at all at 80 to 120 feet down.

Full Core off the boards with Warrior Chicken Wing

takes the next fish and it takes a run like a freight train. Got it to the boat and it weighed 20.7 lbs on the scale. Back int he drink it goes.

Time to move things up. Rigger comes up to 45 feet and shortly there after it hits a small chinook at 5 lbs. Warrior Green Monkey Puke with Glow back. Modified slightly with Mountain dew ladder and Silver ladder on the face of the spoon and the cup of the spoon was spray painted red on the hook end. In the box the fish went and checked its stomach and found it stuffed with three large adult alewife, fresh eats once more. No wonder the magnum sized spoons are working.

The winds at Grimsby were not where we were. We had flat water and the flies were unreal! John's boat was covered.

Adrian also was out and managed a big Rainbow.

Shane Thombs
www.FINtasticSportfishing.com

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Salmon Slammin May 3, 2008

On Saturday May 3rd was the second annual Salmon Slammin Invitational Tournament out of Port Weller.

Congratulations to IM64ME, Starcraft Jimmy, Pressman for putting together the biggest four fish box of 67.02 lbs!

FINtastic Sportfishing Team of John Poirier, Brad May and myself (Shane Thombs) stumbled onto our fish late in the day.

First thing we boated to around Four Mile Point (Canadian side) in about 30-40 FOW. We managed two in two hours, one 18 lbs on the scale. Both coming on Slide Diver back 35ft and out 70 feet on 4 setting. Warrior spoon, Broken Hammer.



We pulled lines and headed to the ledge off the bar. We trolled along the “highway” of boats from the Canadian side to the American side and back. Managed a few rainbows and a nice coho, but we gave that up at noon.

We pulled lines again and headed to in front of Port Weller in 57 FOW. Rain starts the wind comes up and we were thinking the fish should be moving up in the water column. Within a minute of having the 5 colour out on the board it fires. 12 lbs Chinook. 15 minutes later the other 5 colour fires. 17 lbs Chinook. Slide Diver back 200ft and out 40 feet on 4 setting. Warrior spoon, Sister Sledge

. Other Slide diver goes off back 150ft and out 70 feet on 4 setting. Warrior spoon, Broken Hammer. Net that fish and start pulling lines to head in when the other slide diver takes another. While making our way through the marina we were busy using the balance beam for the best four in the box. Pleasantly surprised the weight turned out the way it did. 65.42 lbs good enough to hold in at second place.

Also hats off to Team Atommik (Jay Cuipak) for third place with 64.14 lbs with Big fish at 20.08 lbs

Good day on the water.

Shane Thombs
www.fintasticsportfishing.com