Chautauqua Help

[John Miller]

I want to take my second trip ever to Chautauqua, but I need a lot of help.  I took a trip with Ketry and Arena a few years back and we got 4 fish in the net!  All action came casting Mayville.  So I know casting Mayville is a viable pattern, but don't know if there are any reasons why I shouldn't try Mayville now.  I am also aware of Capt Larry's success trolling for suspended fish over mid 30 foot depths.  Although I do not run leadcore, I assume I can long line deep divers to replicate that pattern.  I heard of the toxic algae bloom and know one is under way, but I don't know how that affects fishing.  Any help, even your take on the above patterns will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks gang

[John Miller]

Capt Larry, sorry to hear about the injury, but play with lazer sharp hooks and teeth long enough and you will bleed, just ask Kitchen. when we spoke last night you mentioned the bloom, but i dont recall what you said about it. Where is it now and how does that affect the fishing? Thanks and good luck finding grandma

[104pbcexobzwh]

Got 8 fish over the weekend 2 weekends ago during the 3 rivers tourney.
Shoot me a text 814-558-5088 and I'll let you know the scoop. Leadcore not needed. I don't use it, never have. Not needed at chaut

Frank

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

Frank, Leadcore may not be needed but I did catch 49 1/2",40 3/4",40 1/2" and 5 other muskies using it! Dr Dave has 49 1/4",43" and 27 other muskies using Leadcore. Sometimes getting deeper further from the boat works best.

[104pbcexobzwh]

I'm sure it has it's time and place but it sounded like this guy feels it will not be productive. I've had 12 fish days at Chaut without it. I know you do well with the core and little Wileys. A guy can weight them and do the same. You troll a ton slower than me, at my speeds I doubt lead would even stay down. Plenty of other baits that will catch alot of fish without having to get different equipment. Personally i don't see a need for it at all but that is my choice.
I did just buy two rod/reel combos and spooled it with lead for lake trout fishing so i am not totally aganist it. For a newbie troller it just seems like a lot of un-needed BS to learn and buy equipment for.

[104pbcexobzwh]

You catch fish with it because you use it. If i took your lead rods away you would still catch fish just using a diffrrent approach.
I was fighting those stupid inline boards tripping off from waves. Finally had enough and let out what line i wanted and wrapped a rubberband on the line and high stuck the rod and let out to where the rubberband was dancing on the surface. 50' back on the lure was 156' back on the counter. Same as running it on my inline board?? Same....different rigging.

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

Frank, John caught a 46" and lost one bigger fish in my boat using the Leadcore, so he knows it's value.On the turns your showing the fish the opposite of what powerbraid does,inside goes down and outside rises.I can control depth very quickly by speeding up or slowing down to move crankbaits to the level of suddenly marked fish at a different depth then we're you are.To each his own method, not saying yours does not work.I have used Leadcore since 1972!

[John Miller]

I was born in 72, lol. I know Larry has his program down tight with the lead core. It's just not for me, at least I'm not prepared to gear up for it. I certainly don't mind using it on someone else's rig. frank I'll send you a text. Thanks for the offer.

[104pbcexobzwh]

Not saying it doesn't work or doesn't have some advantages. If i used it I'm sure i would have sucess stories as you do. It is just not needed to catch fish. Catch more somedays maybe? Many days i have smoked your reported catches, many days you out fished me. Most of the times your old Chaut reports were right in line with what i did. Normally i got more but i fished longer so figured we did similar for same amount of time spent on the water.

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

Yes, I only run 4 lines! Frank , have a great remainder of the muskie season.John, good luck on Chautauqua Lake.If your going to cast work the area over where the channel comes out of Snug Harbor,The clear creek water will make that section of the lake a couple degrees colder in water temp.Trolling the 25ft out in front of those same bouy's around through Whitney Bay to Camp Chautauqua has been productive.Gold 5 " Tuff Shad or Baker Bait and Wiley 5 1/2" Jtd in Golden Brown Perch.

[John Miller]

Thanks for the help

[Joe Dolan]

John,

When are you going to Chautauqua?  Since the start of the season, the trolling bite has been the better approach.  We have found a few fish casting, but trolling the trolling bite has been too impressive to skip over.  I normally expect to see the casting bite improve up in the north end around September, but who knows with how this year has been!  For now, I will continue my trolling pattern.

--Joe