Ramage Does Damage, April 28, 2012

Brian Ramage, Linda and Paul had recently purchased a boat and were looking for some advice on how to rig their boat, and then fish for Great Lakes Salmon and Trout and Lake Erie Walleye. Brian, Linda and Paul determined to spend less time, and less money, hiring a guide to show and explain the techniques and equipment that will fast track there experience and understanding. Where it may take years and many tanks of fuel to discover and experience the facets of t rolling, they instead were provided with 4 hours of in-depth On-the-Water-Clinic through FINtastic Sportfishing.

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We departed from Port Dalhousie at 2:00 pm after weighing in at the Spring Salmon Showdown. We were motored out to in front of Port Weller with a plan to troll east towards our waypoints from our morning fish. We soon discovered that inside of 50 FOW along Port Weller Bay there was a wall of bait that went from top to bottom. At times we found that even trying to turn out and escape the large schools, they would go for minutes at a time while we searched for the outer edge. We managed to reach the outer edge and it wasn’t long when we would take a shot on a Downrigger but three times in a row we would come up empty handed.

Then we had our first Chinook salmon on a 7 colour running off the planerboard with a Chartrouse and Red Proking in tow. Ladies first, so Linda was on the rod and put the reel handle to work. The salmon was small, but it finally broke the ice. We proceeded to troll east with our waypoints straight ahead. From roughly the Greenhouses east of Port Weller to our waypoints we discovered clear water. The screen went blank and we were anxiously wait for our waypoints to arri ve. Our activity on the rods were also met with a lull as we covered the clear water.

We watch as the waypoints neared, looking over the side I announced, “Here we go”, the clear water turned back to pea soup like we had in the morning. And no sooner did we look at the GPS we were crossing over the area we were working throughout the morning tournament. Immediately we started to see fish streaking on the graph and following the downrigger weights. It was exciting as we anticipated the strike.

Then as we were in the middle of all our morning trolling trails and waypoints, the Slide Diver rod on the Starboard side set out 50 feet behind the diver and then 90 ft to the diver starters to show signs of life, Paul is on it, but it was merely seconds later, the port side downrigger goes off again and we were doubled up. Unlike the last few strikes on the downrigger this time it was a solid hook-up. I pass the rod to Brian and the drag showed a fish worthy of a fig ht. Brian was experienced reeling in fish and was able to working away at gaining line.

Paul’s fish was nearly ready for the net and everyone is watching the doubleheader happening at the back of the boat when everyone’s head turned to the Port side when the drag was absolutely screaming under the strain of a much larger and more powerful fish then anything we have hook up on all day. I was pulling line at an alarming rate and Linda’s arms were put to the test holding the rod up and watching the line be pulled from the reel. In the meant ime we net Paul’s smaller salmon and get it in the box. Then Brian’s salmon weighing roughly 9 lbs came to the net and was also put in the box, but upon returning to the back of the boat to help Linda out with her credible sized Chinook Salmon, the hooks pulled free and the fish was left unseen. The boat was full of excitement after so much action in such a short period of time.

The time for the trip was coming to a close as the sun neared the horizon. We ran back to Port Dalhousie on a calm lake and returned to the dock to complete the first Charter of the season with success, both fun and meeting new friends.

Shane Thombs
www.fintasticsportfishing.com