Correct jack... That is a general staple for west coast steelhead... Some even stay in fresh water for more than two years before entering ocean... This is my thought: 1: there is no ocean for them here...lake Ontario is fresh water so if they still have the instinct for salt in their DNA , to them lake o is still fresh water rearing grounds. 2: they have a measily less than 20 mile path back to the lake opposed to thousands of miles like the west coast bullets... We've discussed this one pretty thoroughly in the past, but I'm definitely interested to hear the dec's findings when they are done with the study.

It was a nice cool evening . No A/C needed.
Record rainfall yesterday in Rochester 2.42" , blew the old record outta the water per say.
We got hammered here as well and everything is high and muddy. Sure want to take the Mae out somewhere ( close ) this weekend but it looks like a wash out is coming.
Ah well, all I ask from the rain maker is for a good 9 day run Aug-9th with little wind so lady O will be kind to us..
Start the dance for me Jack, NO RAIN / NO WIND .
Thank you in advance

Good luck out there Tuna- hope your new boat and venture on the lake  is a great one----
 DSR opens in about 2 weeks-  sure sign that IT is rapidly approaching--even for us shore bound folks lol.

There you go, bringing a knife to a gunfight again.... Jaysus, I hope you jig one up, just don't hook a King! Look forward to your reports and I know you'll keep your ears and eyes open for us shore folk, too.

fichy
There you go, bringing a knife to a gunfight again.... Jaysus, I hope you jig one up, just don't hook a King! Look forward to your reports and I know you'll keep your ears and eyes open for us shore folk, too.

I always liked the underdog..  We shall see who wins.. Most likely the Lake which is the enforcer..
Sure will and don't worry.. My fly swatters ( love the term 3fan) may be dusty but they are not rusty.. I still intend to walk in some moving water too..

Clint.
I don't see why it wouldn't work as it does on Lake George in 100 +fow..
The Lake conditions would be the only factor.. Is it a bit over the top instead of just using a normal rod ? Probably but it seems like it would be a blast..
Yup, WHITE is always good for lakers.. I tie up lots of bucktail jigs and tip them with gulp minnows on the ice...
We shall see, I just been doing a lot of research about guys getting into jigging lakers out there.. I know most charters consider them trash fish and avoid them but gosh,,, I pray for ice to be able to catch them, why not a behemoth on the great lake 0 ?

Absolutely came down for the last hour or so with some boomers mixed it, same with yesterday afternoon
 

Andy-was up the past couple of days- as you know cool temps-rain-great water levels and NO Kings yet.
 with these levels and temps- any time now-----
 Stood on the estuary bridge looking for a while and spoke to a DSR worker- nothing happening yet

I've learned my lesson from last year's Labor Day weekend trip....The water is just too warm for these early salmon to survive catch and release fishing.  If I lived in Syracuse, I'd make the trip to fish the DSR on any hint of an early run, but 500 miles is just too far.

I went to Altmar over Labor Day weekend and, looking over the bridge, I saw a few salmon, but certainly nothing close to hundreds, let alone thousands....Maybe I should've driven to the UFZ.

You silly goose db.. Only a 1/0 will hook drag and release a dead fish. At least the true hard core rippers will rope them without any ego boost needed .

Don't worry 1/0 , there won't be any left after next week when I put the 9 day smack down on them. You might as well just stay home..

  It's proven scientific fact that 87.32 percent of Salmon only hold at bridges with two parking lots.  Between the sharks Dime and 3 fan have landed over the past few decades you could have  a decent  run all its own.  Absolute dumb friggin' luck, every one of them.

Agreed Clint-for some reason they -to me at least-kinda slowed and stopped up above the bridge-took a couple of long walks up that way last season  and the further up  the fewer fishes. Again - the hatchery  never got enough and had to go out for  spawners. ( think they netted them someplace).
 The holes seemed to fill with fishes that just sat there.
 Some went up- guys will say- well I found them up higher- and they clearly did- but not in comparison to what was normal IMHO. Heck, that upper area is my mainstay and I quit it to fish lower mid for the first time in quite a while.
 Found some great water down there too.
 Charlie is 100% correct though - ya should never ever waste time and energy walking  much beyond a bridge with a parking lot on the SR- just not worth the effort. That and the pools at the end of the parking lot paths, they put them there for a reason and its because that's where all the fish are.
 Another good tip is to always wrap some of that flat lead on your hook.
Also -I now carry a small down pillow in my truck and when making flies on my bluefish hooks I just scotch tape a piece of white Down to the hook just behind the lead wrap. The white Down shows up real good even in murkey waters.
 No more secrets----

I think some of you use those leaded treble hooks I once saw some Ruskies using in Michigan...I ordered another 100, 1/0 red octopus with hot pink and black chenille.....I'll use the hot pink in the DSR and the black in Altmar.....if you see me, come say hello.  I'll be clad in Simms gear swinging a Beulah switch rod with a Nautilus reel and a fat Monte Cristo number 25 hanging out of my snout.

Well guess what it is raining again............
Saw more than one guy above the cable l last year..........