TOP PICKS FOR NORTHEASTERN MEGA STEELHEAD
In-Fisherman Contributor Brett Richardson offers these spots, listed in no particular order, as his top picks for huge steelhead in the Northeast. Many of these spots are, according to Richardson, sleepers, somewhat off the beaten steelhead trail.

1. Dexter Creek, NY: In the northeast, near Chaumont Bay and the Golden Crescent of Lake Ontario. Henderson Harbor Chamber, 888-938-5568.

2. Stoney Creek, NY: Two hours north of the Salmon River, near Henderson Harbor. Henderson Harbor Chamber of Commerce, 888-938-5568.

3. Little Sandy Creek, NY: Just above the Salmon River, near Pulaski. Pulaski Chamber, 315-298-2213.

4. Oswego River, NY: Not an overlooked option, but one of the best. Oswego Chamber, 315-343-7681.

5. Maxwell Creek, NY: On the southern central shores of Lake Ontario, in Wayne county. Wayne County Chamber, Lyons, NY, 800-527-6510.

6. Poultneyville Creek, NY: Twenty-five miles east of Rochester. Wayne County Chamber, 800-527-6510.

7. Bear Creek, NY: Between Sodus Point and Rochester. Wayne County Chamber, 800-527-6510.

8. Johnson Creek, NY: Between Point Breeze and 18 Mile Creek. Niagara Chamber, 800-338-7890; Monroe County Chamber, 585-256-4950.

9. Wilmot Creek, Ontario: One of the hottest creeks on the Ontario side of Lake Ontario. Oshawa Chamber, 905-728-1683; Newcastle District Chamber, 905-987-4663.

10. Buffalo Creek, NY: On the outer limits of Buffalo, 30 minutes from the Niagara River. Niagara Country Chamber, 800-338-7890; Erie County Chamber, 716-823-8841.

11. Catteraugus Creek, NY: One of the largest runs from Lake Erie. Catteraugus County, 716-938-9111.



RECORD DRUM
Reader Archie Jenuns asks where to go to catch a record-class freshwater drum (sheepshead). In-Fisherman Editor In Chief Doug Stange offers his perspective . . .

Doug Stange: Sheepshead are widely distributed yet seldom targeted, so it's hard to suggest a specific destination to catch a monster. The present world record is a 54-pound 8-ounce fish from Nickajack Lake, Tennessee, in 1972. Fertile reservoirs of the Midsouth and Southeast offer the best overall shot at fish surpassing 15 pounds and may approach 30 pounds, or even record weight. Fish in these waters often feed heavily on shad and have a longer growing season than fish farther north. In the deep South, meanwhile, drum grow fast but may not live quite long enough to reach record status. Still, a record drum is possible from most areas of the country.

Most extremely large drum are "mistakes" caught by anglers seeking other species, usually during spring and early summer, when lots of different fish run into tailwater areas to spawn and feed. Small drum are aggressive, often abundant, and often are caught on just about "anything and everywhere" in many bodies of water. On the other hand, we know little about targeting huge drum once they move from tailwater areas into deeper water. The chance that the record will be broken is slim given what we know about targeting huge drum.




GATOR GAR RECORD
According to Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Parks representative Dennis Riecke, this 7-foot 11.5-inch alligator gar weighing 215 pounds was landed by Mississippian Earl Stafford earlier this year. The fish bit a jig fished on 50-pound line and is potentially a line-class record. Alligator gar once were common in the Delta region of Mississippi, but now are rarely captured.


GARLIC CRAWLERS
In-Fisherman Greg Mangels' recipe for adding garlic scent to live nightcrawlers, a concoction he calls deadly:

Mix two tablespoons of garlic juice into two cups of water and add this mixture to the worm bedding. Then add 5 dozen crawlers; place them in the fridge and keep them in the bedding for 4 days. First time I tried the recipe, I outfished (wipers, walleyes, white bass) my partner 10 to 1. I gave him some of the garlic worms to try and he started to catch fish, too. I'm sold.


IN-FISHERMAN SAVES THE DAY
This note from In-Fisherman Nance J. of northeastern Wisconsin sounds a common theme in much of our reader mail . . .

My friends and I were on the hunt for big panfish last spring and not doing that well. After a day on the water, we decided to regroup and hit it again a few days later. When I got home that night, my redemption was in the mail in the form of the April-May issue and, specifically, the article "Spinning Crappie Magic." I took every word to heart and quickly got a handle on what we were probably doing wrong.

Early several days later, we were heading back to one of our favorite spots, when I suggested we try a nearby drop-off instead, just as the article suggested. We anchored up and my buddies, true to form, tossed out slipbobbers and jigheads tipped with minnows, good options most of the time. I was, meanwhile, tossing my new secret weapon, the small Cabela's Jig Spinner. Four slabs later my friends were begging for me to share. We had the time of our lives that day.

My friends have since joined In-Fisherman, too, and we get together every few weeks to discuss the magazine and tactics we might apply when we're on the water. We've all vastly improved our fishing success.


FARTHEST NORTH WALLEYES?
This tidbit is from writer D.C. Reid, Victoria, British Columbia, about a unique destination for far northwestern walleyes . . .

Some of North America's most extreme walleyes are situated at nearly 60 degrees north latitude in the northeast corner of British Columbia. Here sits North Rockies Lodge, on Muncho Lake, part of a drainage that joins the Mackenzie River on its trek to the Arctic Ocean. A chartered aircraft takes anglers north from Edmonton, Alberta, to this opportunity for fish reaching 13 pounds. Once at the lodge, fly-out opportunities exist for lake trout, and pike surpassing 20 pounds.


ADVERTISER NETWORK NEWS
Lowrance LCX-104C . . ."Best In Category" award winner at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades show.

This new product features a 10.4-inch 256-color sunlight viewable screen with a 640 x 480 pixel display (307,200 total pixels ). Multiple full and split-screen sonar and GPS options.

Lowrance is the sonar sponsor for In-Fisherman Television, and the incredible LCX-104C and other units are installed on staff boats for 2004.

Lowrance also enters the ice-fishing market in a serious way with introduction of "The Ice Machine," featuring either an X67C sonar unit (320 x 250 pixel color display) or the M68C SI Map unit (sonar and GPS mapping capability). More information can be found at www.lowrance.com.


ASK THE DOC
Scott Hunt, St. Clair Shores, Michigan asks: "Does barometric pressure have a lot to do with fish activity, especially feeding?"

Science Doc Gord Pyzer answers: I don't believe anything affects fish movements more than local daily weather conditions.

Some anglers believe the falling barometer affects fish. Others think increased sunlight penetration is the culprit. Others suspect fish feed so effectively before the front that they're generally in a negative or neutral mode following the front.

In such conditions, generally scale down your presentation offering, slow down your presentations, use lighter lines, and depending on the species, consider using livebait.

"Ask The Doc" is a regular feature on our website. Click here to read the latest questions and answers.