My key factors to landing top ten fish at Black Lake!

Finally a top ten finish at my favorite lake in the whole world.

I can't tell you how many hours I've spent fishing and studying Black Lake.  Situated in St. Lawrence County in Northern New York, it's the site of the first tournament I ever fished, the first fishing trip I ever took, and the very first entry of my fishing weather journal.  I have had incredibly good days there, that have been followed by the worst finishes I have ever had since I started fishing tournaments.  For whatever reason, this lake has just not been kind to me when the whistle blows and it's go time.

Correction.  Hasn't been.  That all changed this past weekend when my buddy Danny and I beat out nearly 400 other anglers to take a top ten finish in the one event that has meant more to me than any other.  It won't qualify me for the Bassmaster Classic, and I can't say that our check had a coma in it either.  But the hours of preparation, studying, learning that lake, learning the patterns, the behavior, the weather.  This tournament was a prime example of why practice is important, but paying attention is equally vital.

The Weather.

I'd been watching this for a week.  Making sure the temps were consistent, monitoring the wind, the rain, and the pressure.  I knew that Friday and Saturday would set up very different.  Friday saw strong winds out of the North, Northwest.  While Saturday was the exact opposite with howling winds blowing from the South East and heavy rains all day.  Black Lake is a river system of sorts.  There's a main channel that flows from North to South with a pretty decent amount of current.  This made the main lake water pretty dirty.  The bays were more protected, but I knew the fall temps were pulling the fish out to the points on the main lake.  We had hoped to find some fish still in the grasses around Conger Island and Pins Island, but this wasn't the case.  We also knew that the points where we caught fish on Friday would set up different on Saturday, but would return again Sunday when the winds went back to being NNW.  That was really great news for me because I knew a lot of guys probably wouldn't pay that much attention to the two days and the conditions would be completely different.  Turns out I was right.

Our first and favorite spot was taken first thing in the morning.  But while roaming at 9 am we saw that it was open and we took it immediately.  Location was everything.  This point had exactly what we were looking for in the conditions we had:  wind blown point, shallow water with drop offs to the main lake channel, rocks with grass mixed in, near summer holding areas.  This was the key to finding the fish.  Our Humminbird graph was really vital in showing us where the fish and schools of bait were located.  And our Fishidy app gave us detailed information about the lake that we weren't able to find anyplace else.

The Bait/Gear.

This week was the first tournament I fished all year where I had only spinning gear on deck.  Here's a list of each set up:

Dobyns Champion 703 SF Spinning rod.  This is a medium action, seven foot rod, but it has a really great tip and loaded up incredibly well.  I paired this rod with a Shimano Stradic spinning reel, and ten pound Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon.  I used this set up to pitch a 5 inch Baby Bass Senko, rigged wacky on a Lazer Trokar Weedless Wacky 1/0 hook, weightless.  We pitched the bait up in real skinny water (6 inches or less) and slowly floated it down the ledges.  Cruising fish would smash it in less than a foot of water, while our biggest fish waited at the bottom in 12-15 feet of water for it to fall to them.

Dobyns Savvy Series 703SS Spinning rod.  This is another medium action, seven foot rod, that I rigged with a Quantum Smoke spinning reel, 8 pound Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon line, and a 1/0 Lazer Trokar Drop Shot hook.  For bait I used a Jackall super cross tail shad, a Berkley Gulp nightcrawler 6 inch green pumpkin, or a 4 inch black senko rigged wacky.

Dobyns Champion 703 SF Spinning rod.  This was the same setup as above, but with a white 3/4 oz Strike King Sexy Shad spinnerbait, tandem, gold and silver.  It probably sounds crazy to a lot of people that I was using this to throw a spinnerbait, but I needed to slow-roll it SUPER slow, and my casting reels were pulling it too quick.

All our keepers came first in a short window from 9-930 am one right after another, and we never culled.  Every fish we caught the rest of the day was too small to keep, so it was crucial that we got the bites we needed and that we didn't lose any of them.   That's a testament to having the proper gear.  I also have to give credit to my partner this weekend.  Danny also did a ton of research and our success was a testament to our ability to share knowledge and work together to find the best plan of attack.  It was a great victory for us both.  It's not easy beating 400 other anglers, many of them locals.  It's probably the most gratifying finish I've ever had.  Special thanks to The Log Cabins for putting on such an amazing event, and to Cedar Grove cottages for the great accomodations.

Humminbird new leader with Onix System?

Last February at The Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville in Birmingham Alabama I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Humminbird booth and the team there was kind enough to demonstrate some of the features of their new Onix system.  This is an entirely new platform that’s been redesigned and packed with the most amazing features of any graph on the market.  Bar none.  And believe me that I only barely scratched the surface of what this new unit will be able to do.  It’s got all the 360 and side imaging components of the old platform, plus trip log, fuel, internet, tides, and a few others.

To begin with the unit is a touch screen.  But unlike the new models of other manufacturers, the Onix has an optional joystick-type toggle switch that will allow you to navigate the screen easy and efficiently in heavy rain or while wearing gloves.  Anyone who didn’t like having to take their gloves off in the cold to use the touch screen will be delighted with this feature!  The joystick is smooth and very easy to use, but so is the touch screen, so you’re really ok with either that you use. 

What is the most impressive is that when you’re looking at the 2D sonar screen, if you are landing a fish or just not paying attention to the screen and you want to see what you missed you can do that by simply moving your finger on the screen from left to right, and either slide the image backwards (like you’re rewinding the tape), and then forward again if you choose.  If you see a brush pile that you already passed and you think you want to put a way-point on it and fish it you can and then you’ll have it marked.  That feature in and of itself is priceless!

You also aren't limited to having a small number of preset screens anymore.  With Onix you can have virtually an infinite number of screen combinations preset and stored that you can quickly toggle between within seconds.  This will allow you to have combinations for rivers, lakes, tidal waters, specific depths you’re fishing.  It’s very similar to some of the new smartphone software that people use to combine pictures.  It really is an incredible feature and very simple to use.  Just highlight an area and you’ll be taken to screen to choose what presentation you want:  2D, downscan, sidescan, nav, etc.  After making your selection you’re automatically returned to the previous screen to select another.

Onix also has a pinch and zoom feature that I that will allow you to expand an area on your map that you want to look at more closely.  When you’re done and want to go back you can just place two fingers on the screen and you’ll be taken back to the main screen.  Another great mapping feature is located in the settings.  If you want to highlight a particular range, say 20 feet deep, and set it with a variation of 2 feet; your map will then highlight in the color you choose all the places on that particular body of water that are 18-22 feet deep.  So you can see them right away without having to scour the map.  And if it’s a lake with water levels that rise and fall you can adjust that too, and the map will even show you where the new shoreline is and where the old shoreline would be.

The only things this system can’t do are drive the boat, and catch the fish.  That being said, I don’t know another system that can put you on fish better than this one can. 

5 In The Box with John McGoey

In this edition of 5ITB we head north to the land where smallmouth reign supreme and talk to one of the more amazing bronzeback anglers on the planet, Goodyear and FLW Pro John McGoey.

Why do you fish?

I have fished since I was a small boy, my Dad started me.  He was very busy (bus driver) and because of that he wasn't able to take me very often, but he made sure his friends or family friends would get me to the water.

You're from the North like I am.  I have said for years that the smallmouth up here are different than they are in the south, that they seem to have an attitude problem, lol.  

(Laughing)

Would you agree with that?

You are right the northern smallies are crazy compared to the southern fish; I like to say they are nuts!  
In your opinion why is it your smallmouth up north are so much heavier?

Golbies.  The fish are just gorging themselves on them.  I predict you'll have them in the Finger Lakes within two years and you'll start to see a difference soon after that.

You've fished tournaments with over 25 lb bags.  In fact you told me of one in particular where you had 29 lbs and took second because "I had 2 7's, a 6, a 5, and a 4 lb rat I couldn't get rid of", but you're favorite way to fish is with a flipping stick?

Favorite way to fish is with a flippin stick in my hand and a Perfect Jig on the end.  That is the only way to fish (lol).

How is that even possible?!?  I'm sure you're gonna tell me Ontario or Simcoe is your favorite body of water.

Yes, Lake Ontario is for sure.  But flippin and pitchin is the way I live to fish!

So why Ontario?

Big, deep water smallies.  The Potomac is a close second and when I'm there I have my flippin stick in my hand the entire time.

What's your least favorite?

Least favorite lake is the Potomac river cus it is so humbling.  I've had tournaments there where I've won thousands (he's referring to his top ten finish on the FLW Tour Majors in 2011) and come back a year later and had great practice and then my fish just disappear.

What are you planning to fish in 2014?

Next season I am planning on fishing the BASS Opens and if the FLW Everstarts go to the Potomac I will go there as well cus it is a great place.  

If you weren't fishing, what would you be doing?

If I was not on tour it would be doing what I am doing:  running the Goodyear store where I work with plans to own it.

Everyone has someone they talk to, or learn from.  Who is that person for you?

I have got a good buddie here at home who fishes a lot, not competitively or in tournaments, but he's on the water a lot, he is really good and I always talk with him, ask what I am doing wrong or how I could be better.  His name is Jeff Pammett.

When we were fishing together on the Potomac I went through more sunscreen in one day than most people use in an entire summer.

(Laughing)

Do you think there's any hope for me to ever get a tan of any kind?

Honestly I don't think so.  After you killed the second bottle of SPF 50 I liked your "Just give me a stick of butter" comment.  I think you should stick to the shade when possible.

Great.  On that note, let's get to the 5ITB!

1.  What's it like on a Sunday at home when you're not fishing?

A Sunday at home here with no fishing in July would be having some cocktails and lounging by the pool with my wife and friends.  We have a lot of fun doing that.

2.  Do you have any pre tournament rituals or superstitions?

No rituals or superstitions for me just like to practice hard and fly by the seat of my pants when it is all done.


3.  Where was your best finish this year and where did you struggle the most?

No great finishes this year, I have gone through a rough patch and I cant put my finger on why.  I would say I struggled the most at Oneida cus I could not ever really figure out the fish there.

4.  What is the one body of water you would fish in 2014 if you had your choice?

The one body of water that I would like to fish is Okeechobee in Florida cus it has lots of big fish.

5.  What's the one thing nobody knows about you?

I'd give you my last dollar if you needed it.  I'm always helping people whenever I can.

*For the record, John is one of the nicest people I've ever met.  He's given me countless hours of advice, gear, sunscreen, made appearances with me at bait and tackle shops, and is always willing to help other people catch more fish.  It's meeting people like him that remind me there's a whole other side to fishing these tournaments.  Weigh-ins last a few seconds, friendships last forever.