Opening Day Itinerary

[Scott McKee]

“A common mistake people make when trying to design something foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.”

- Douglas Adams, author, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (1952-2001)

According to one of the nifty widgets on this site, we are only nine days and sixteen hours away from the start of the 2012 Musky Season (I love to incorrectly capitalize musky terms and club titles to make them seem more important).  One of the other neat widgets on the site tells me the weather the days before the Opener and the Opener itself will be mild with temperatures in mid-seventies with light winds out of the W-SW.  I have about as much faith in the weatherman as I do in racing touts giving me the Superfecta winners for the Belmont, but those are the predictions nonetheless.  According the nifty Marine Weather page on the site, the Port Colbourne weather buoy is reporting the water temperature in Lake Erie is 59.4 degrees.  With all that in mind, here are my plans for Opening Day (I can’t get enough on this)?

By today’s standards we had a fairly decent Opening Day in the Harbor last season thanks in part to the fact that I started fishing in the River, or at least that’s what I thought at the time.  I am sorry to everyone who plans on starting in the Wasteland (Harbor), because that’s where I’ll be just as you start to think about taking off your headlamp.  My “foolproof” design is to troll the usual spots (ends of the walls, canal and departure buoys) in the North Side and then cast the usual spots (Donnelly’s, Canal, Coast Guard wall, small embayments and Cargill).  I may take a trip to the Dirty South (South Gap) and cast and speed troll until I’m convinced I can’t catch a musky in the Harbor or until I’m completely exhausted.   Since I’ll have to run back down River when I reach that point, I’d have a tough time neglecting a few spots on the way.  I’ll probably stop at Thompson’s for a few casts and then take the drift casting and jigging to the International.  A quick survey of the Triangle would be in order and then a few drifts in front of Strawberry perhaps.  I think I’ll end up casting a few spots in UN4 on the way home.

I realize that a lot of things can change between now and then, but that’s my plan as of right now.  What are yours?

[Frank Stachowiak]

Well I think I'll sort through my favorite spoons, all silver, and pick out one with the best shine, with a little bit of patina. Probably one that is six inches long with no nicks or burrs.  Then I'll dip it into the sugar bowl and scoop out saom sugar for my cup of coffee.  The I'll hear Len pull in the driveway and off we'll go, not quite as early as the kids (those under 50).  I'll have fun reporting in to CANPASS, hoping that the person taking the info doesn't ask me to repeat my date of birth.  I will follow my instincts (which haven't worked the last five seasons) and head out to the harbor.  I still have memories of the big year when everyone was yelling for the net.  I hope to run in to Scott McKee and see him smiling.  That's because he landed a pig, or, maybe he's due for a BM, you never know! All kidding aside, we'll be trolling perch baits and or Ernies in the Harbor. There probably will be a bunch of guys leaving tubes in the triangle for Jim Kinner to fill up Davey Jones' locker.   Good luck guys!!

Frank S and Len K

[Josh Ketry]

For the first time in as long as I can recall I may have to miss the opener. We are going pretty wild opening the new Brewery at the Lafayette, and Saturday looks to be a serious pinch point. So my plan is to listen to everyone on here, then make a decision for day #2.-4. Good luck friends!

[Scott McKee]

It's opening day Frank & Lenny, treat yourself to a doughnut or two with that coffee!  This leads me to ask what kind of doughnut should you choose?  If the winds out of the east or north, I know I'm up against the breaks and would choose something decadent, like a bear claw.  if the wind is from the southwest or if the barometer is dropping, I'd go with something lighter in anticipation of action, so probably a plain glazed.  if it's raining I would choose something sloppy like a apple fritter or Bavarian creme as the rain will wash most of the delicious filling off my hands and face.  The only thing I want sticky on my boat are my hooks.  Look for my Opening Day boat snacks post just prior to the season's start: Overstuffed Sandwiches, Pretzels & What Else?

[Scott McKee]

If you get a break from work opening day for an hour two, give me a call and I'll pick you up at Erie Basin.

[Frank Stachowiak]

Len and Frank will have the standard fare:  Four cans of spicy hot V-8; oranges; string cheese sticks; salted almonds; hard boiled eggs; twizzler licorice (black, not red) and water.  Will there be any time left to fish with all that food being consumed???

[Scott McKee]

After that bill of fare Joyce won't come near you for a month!  More time to fish!

[Tony Scime]

I'll get up in the morning, probably about 5 am or so (I used to be out at mid-night, but now I need to pace myself for other commitments). Depending on wind conditions, I'll likely head up to the harbor for a morning troll along the bouy breaklines. I won't test the gauntlet with winds much over 20 (when the rewards were more likely, my limit was 30). I think the water temps will be too high, but I'll do it for old-tmes (old-timers?) sake. Hopefully I'll have a cigar or two. Opening day in the harbor is best when water temps are in the low 60s. Acceptable when in the mid 60s. But poor even in the hey-day if temps are 67 or more.

Around 10am or so (unless we caught something), I'll head down river. If the boat traffic isn't too heavy, one drift from Thompson's to the IB dragging and casting tube jigs. From there I'll drift the west river casting tubes and other rubbery things along the shoreline drop-offs. Triangle to shipyards and to where-ever the flow takes me.  I'll probably have to quit around 1pm.

[Tony Scime]

I only bring healthy stuff. Water, banana, apple, and cigars.

[Stephen Glassic]

Just got through reading a;; the latest activity.  was listening to the latest album by foghat while I was reading which is pretty good. check it out here:Last Train Home - New Release from FOGHAT | The Official FOGHAT Site.

You can also get a free download of the first song.

I'm not sure yet what Mark and I will do on opening day.  I would like to try the harbor a little but I have never gone through the gauntlet.  It wastes a lot of time to go there and later pick up and drive to Sheriden, not to mention the cost of two launch fees.   I don't think I want to try it without going with someone who knows it.  I have an old handheld GPS.  If i could get a track set up in it the I would feel more comfortable.   I don't know if I could figure out how to set on up manually with the right way points.  If someone can give me some waypoints, I could try it. It would be easiest to set it up by following someone but I'm not sure exactly what time we will get there and if there will be anyone there at the time we arrive who could guide me through.

[Scott McKee]

Foghat?  Are you kidding me?  Who's left?  One of the original roadies grandsons?  Foghat?

[Scott McKee]

You don't have to run the Gauntlet.  You can always head up the Canadian Channel and cut over to the North Gap after you reach the red buoy past the old lighthouse (rocky, bird guano covered mess near the Round House) or just take the Ccnal.

[Scott McKee]

I've decided on one of my opening day starting trolling lures; Black Perch jointed Depthraider with an orange lip.  I'm not sure on the down rod yet.  Carrie, is waiting for water clarity verification, but is leaning towards a Niagara Walleye jointed 10" Believer on the outside and a Firetiger 10" jointed Believer off a Jojo Ball down.  So many decisions, so little to really do and so much time.  Ah, the life of the middle aged bartender with no kids.