Each year, when we pull our boat out of the cobwebs of winter storage, the anticipation of preparing and maintaining it for the following year often outstrips our ability to “get it done fast enough.” And as we get older (in my case), aching joints and creaking bones can slow the effort of subsequent fishing trips.
So sometimes, you just have to forget about all the chores of organizing and preparing to make the most of your trip and go rent a charter boat, which can be an eye-opening experience. Last weekend, my granddaughter and I did just that.
My dear granddaughter has been busy studying for years in college to be a veterinary technician and teaching 4-H kids how to care for horses in Western New York and has had little time to “get away.”
Last weekend was an exception.
We went fishing with Captain Dennis Young who runs “For Your Eyes Only Sport Fishing” with his fun and energetic 81 year old first mate “Chugger”. Their dock at Burt's Cove, south of the Port of Dunkirk near the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, made it easy to park and a short walk to the spacious (wide) Starcraft fishing boat. The boat is state of the art with a networked I-pilot speed and direction control system. The rig is powered by a fuel efficient 200HP Yamaha main engine, a 9.9 HP Yamaha trolling motor (with Trollmaster 3), a Minn Kota Ulterra electric bow motor, a Canon DigiTroll downrigger, Cisco rod holders to run six Dreamweaver Ninja side planer boards, and over 20 fishing rods and reels.
Daiwa Wilderness trolling rods and Okuma Coldwater High Speed Fishing Reels were equipped with various lengths of lead core or braided line to suit a variety of conditions.
As we slowly pulled out of the dock and left the port of Dunkirk, Dennis and Chugger explained the plan for the day. They explained the safety equipment (life jackets), the fishing plan, how to hook and bring fish ashore, etc. On one side we used lead core fishing lines in 6, 8, and 10 colors, and on the other side we used lead core fishing lines in 5, 7, and 9 colors. These fishing lines would only have stick baits and hard body spoons behind 75 feet of fluorocarbon leader line. On the two Dipsea Diver rods (one on each side) we would use spinners and worm baits. The downriggers were attached to 30 pound test braided main line with the same length of leader. We slowly worked our way to a depth of 80 feet and arrived about 5 miles offshore. Now we were knowledgeable about the boat, the gear, and the fishing plan.
While Chugger was setting the lines, he got me and my granddaughter to work, quickly setting long line deployments, teaching them how to use planer board line hookups, and we were done in no time. It didn't take long for the fish to find our bait. A Long-A Bomber (15A) in a Northern Light color was one of the popular baits on a lead core line. An Eyefish #319 “Daydream” spinner/worm with a copper back was the popular bait for a Dipsea Diver caught at 155 feet out on a 3 index at a boat speed of 2.2 mph. Fishing with these guys was a lesson in “how to fish at its best.” We quickly filled our limit of walleye for the day and were back on shore just before noon.
“How far do you think it is from here to shore?” asked Captain Dennis. Kelsey guessed about six and a half miles, I guessed seven, and Chugger said six. Captain Dennis pressed a button on the navigation and sonar unit on the Humminbird's main screen and said with a smile, “5.8 miles. Chugger, you win. The winner has to swim back, my friend.”
We all laughed and felt like part of the crew. “Why am I working for this guy?” Chugger said with a big grin. On the way out, Captain Dennis gave us some valuable fishing tips, reinforcing the camaraderie and knowledge sharing.
Captain Dennis adds, “I keep it simple because it's effective, foolproof and anyone can learn to tie it. We use a double uni knot on each end of a 27-pound lead core. It's a simple and strong knot, but perhaps most importantly, the end where the lure is attached. I use a 30-pound VMC Duo Lock ball bearing snap swivel between the end of my 17-pound Tactical P-Line fluorocarbon leader and the lure. This is especially necessary when using spinner/worm rigs. It prevents that pesky line twist that we all dread, which can result in a new leader or the line having to be re-spooled.”
Captain Dennis Young, who has been running the charter boat since 2020, is retired from the Buffalo Sewerage Department and lives in East Otto. On this trip, we laughed a lot and had a lot of fun. Young's motivation for running the charter boat is simple: he loves fishing and he loves spending time with people. When I asked him about his favorite customer joke, he answered without hesitation. “That's easy,” he said. “It's when a customer is looking at the tip of their rod and suddenly yells, 'There's a fish!'” Our trip was not only about fishing, but also the joy of sharing experiences and laughing together.
I love the outdoors.
calendar
Aug. 29: NYS Hunter Safety Class, Ripley Rod & Gun, 6-9:30 p.m., plus additional half-day class, 9820 Rod and Gun Club Road, Ripley. Register online: https://register-ed.com. Attendance both days is required.
Aug. 31: Labor Day Sporting Clays Shooting, NSCA registered event, Hanover Fish & Game, 780 Overhiser Road, Forestville. Registration begins at 8 a.m., shooting begins at 9 a.m. Information: https://hanovercalys.com.
Sept. 1: Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Family Picnic, members only, 1 N. Mullet St., Dunkirk.
September 1: New York State squirrel hunting season opens in Western New York (gray, black and fox).
Sept. 6-7: WNY Walleye Association Lake Erie Walleye Tournament, contact Ron Kucinski at 716-545-5925 or email: kucinski1293@gmail.com.
Sept. 7-8: New York State Hunter Safety Seminars, bowhunting (Sept. 7) and firearms (Sept. 8), West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls. Register online: https://register-ed.com. Separate registration is required for bowhunting and/or hunter education (firearms).
September 9-22: New York State Early Antlerless Deer Hunting Season 2024 (firearms allowed). Check for specific Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).
Sept. 15: Deadline for waterfowl hunting applications to Oak Orchard/Tonawanda WMA. Visit NYSDEC online site.