Hemlock, Conesious, Or Silver Near Geneseo

[clayton86]

I'm gonna be in Geneseo for this week and possibly 2 weeks additional. How do these lakes fare for kayak fishing. Or if there is anywhere closer to geneseo to try.

[rmcguirk]

I've fished them all from my 'yak, though Silver only once.  I'd suggest you contact WWIIFarmer about Silver, as he seems to routinely pull incredible fish out of that lake.

 

Conesus:  There are three launch spots for a yak.  The first is on the north west shore, the second on the south west shore and the third is the state boat launch about mid way down the east shore.  The first two would be free.  I now have my boat in a marina on Conesus, so I'm most familiar with it.  If you want some additional info, pm me.  It is a good SM LM and Pike fishery, and there are some very nice fish to be had there, including absolutely trophy pike.  A nice surprise is that there are no pickerel, at least not that I've caught in 6+ years of going.  Supposedly, there are Walleye, but I've never caught one. 

 

Hemlock:  A beautiful lake.  As you may already be aware, it and Canadice (below) are or used to be part of Rochester's water supply.  All the houses were removed and it was allowed to effectively go wild.  It is a beautiful lake, with crystal clear water and green trees pretty much all around you.  The fishing there is pretty good -- I've done better at Canadice, which is pretty much adjacent to it.  SM, LM, a lot of pickerel and rockbass, and salmanoids.  There are two yak launches you can use.  Both Hemlock and Canadice are left pretty wild, so unlike the other Finger Lakes there are a goodly number of really outstanding laydowns, some of which extent out into pretty deep water. 

 

Canadice:  If I go to heaven when I die, it is going to look a lot like Canadice Lake.  In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful spot in Western NY.  It is cut in a valley, so that when you're on the water (often completely alone), all you see is crystal clear water, green treed hills and blue sky.  Fishing there is a treat, even if you don't catch a thing.  SM and LM bass, a lot of pickerel, and salmonoids.  There is not a lot of fishing pressure on it (or Hemlock) and a nice spread of large and small fish.  My pb LM is from Canadice, at over 5.  When you're moving around, troll a medium to deep diving crank in about 25 feet of water and you might get a nice trout surprise (same at Hemlock). 

 

For both Hemlock and Canadice, if you're not fishing the laydowns or right in the slop along parts of the shoreline, a depth finder is essential.  In most places, the bottom drops off fast and steep.  In some places, you're in 40 feet of water within 20 yards of shore. 

 

Honeoye:  Another option, though probably another 15 minutes past Hemlock/Canadice.  If you simply want to catch fish, and lots of them, go here.  Of all the lakes in that area, I've always had the best luck there, at least for numbers.  There is an easy launch at the north west corner of the lake.  The LM bass are not large but they are aggressive and eager.  The best I've ever gotten there was under 3 lbs and I've fished it out of my yak probably 100 times over the years.  However, I've had evenings there where I caught 30 fish between 6 and 8 and days there that I had to stop fishing because I flat ran out of soft plastics, even after I went to using halfs of worms, etc. 

 

If you want any more specifics on those options, drop me a line. 

[J Francho]

Candice and Hemlock are outstanding for kayak fishing. 

 

A view from Hemlock:

 

 

A nice Canadice bass:

 

[clayton86]

I'm hitting hemlock today I'm gonna be in geneseo at the very least till Friday possibly an additional 2 weeks so I may hit up all the lakes.

I'm gonna hit the south end of hemlock today

[J Francho]

Never hit the south end of Hemlock, but the south end of Canadice is pretty awesome for slopping largies.  I imagine Hemlock is the same - similar to the rest of the Finger Lakes.

[Marty]

I would imagine you were able to get out at the south end of Hemlock today, but in some dry years the south end dries up and you can't launch.

[clayton86]

I got out it was muddy and smelled like do do till I made it about 1000 yards north of the launch then it got clear and beautiful. Got rained on pretty good caught 2 little bass and a pickerel.

[ww2farmer]

Silver and kayaks don't play nice together on the weekends. Hit it during the week if you must. Try to fish the middle of the day right now, the mornings and evening have been SLOW. Had a tournament there sunday, not a fish in the boat till 10am, then between 10 and 2 we boated 17+lbs and culled 7000 times and finished in the money. Same held up today, got there at 8............zip till 10-11am, then between then and 5pm I caught 30+ keeper fish with a nice 5-3 to end the day. This lake is like a women though, it will change..............with out warning, and even maybe by tomorrow the morning and evening bites will be on. Water is dirty deep and clear shallow, and warm all over. I have to work tomorrow, and have a tournament Thursday night, and another one sunday or I would at least be available to show up and point " go over there" LOL. If your out there and see a big fat guy in a little boat, with 400 rods on the deck and swearing at every boater and jet skier that goes by.............that's me.

 

 As for Conesus, I have been there twice in the last two weeks...........same deal, weekends are insane, and the best bite has been mid day. Fishing was borderline on fire when they were biting, both days 20+ lbs made it into the boat for the best five, and both days had 25+ keepers for numbers. Water is dirty there too, and forget that water even exists south of the state launch. Plan accordingly LOL. 

[bigdaveyl]

Unfortunately I haven't fished those, and it's been 20 years since I fished Silver Lake