Any Luck In Upstate Ny?

[rmcguirk]

Got out both weekend days on Conesus.  Saturday for about 3.5-4 hours before it started misting too badly.  Windy and not particularly productive.  One two-pound LM and one walleye.  It was a sizable fish (probably about 23-24 inches) and hit my red craw colored rattle bait pretty hard, but he just didn't have much fight in him.  I only catch one or two walleye a year, but that's been my general experience with them--that they don't pull particularly hard.  Given my inexperience, is that a wrong impression? 

 

Sunday was better, but a little weird.  Got out from 10-3.  Ended up with 5 bass that went for about 18, with the three best being a 4.3 LM, a 3.9 LM, a 3.8 SM.  So, good size average fish (for me), but no numbers. 

[CarlF]

Made it to Cayuga yesterday from 6 PM-8 PM. The water rose enough to get my boat off the trailer at the State Park launch on the north end. It appears that the new launch by the dam is finished and usable. Water temps in the Northern portion of the lake are in the high 50's. I didn't catch any fish yesterday. 

[ww2farmer]

Things are on the upswing finally here. Some of my favorite stuff is still not "on" yet...but I'm making due with what is.

 

Fished Tues. evening for 3 hours and caught 5 largemouth, and 15 smallmouth. Best 5 went 20.80 lbs. Biggest pair of brown ones were a 4-8, and 4-2. Biggest largemouth was a 4-4.

 

Fished last night, again for about 3 hours. Not quite as good, but not terrible. Even mix of 6 largemouth, and 6 smallmouth. Best five = 18.3lbs, all largemouth. Biggest pair a 4-6, and 3-15. Smallmouth were noting special, biggest was only a 2-14.

 

The nights couldn't have been more different. Tuesday was all finesse, light line, and spinning rods. Thursday was reaction baits.

 

I have been really really bummed out that my normal stuff for late April/Early May has been a bust so far this year. But with my last 4 outings producing lots of fish, and above average size (no real giants tho, have not cracked 5lbs yet) my foul mood about this spring has turned around.

[clayton86]

Hit silver lake today to try prefishing for the tournament we’re having there in a few weeks. Managed 1 pike while there didn’t even lay an eye on a bass all the guys in boats we talked to said same thing lots of pike but no bass. 

 

Left silver decided to see how sandy and Johnson’s creek were but both were up several feet and chocolate milk colored. Same with lake Alice just not high water levels but very dirty. 

 

Ended up trying the quarry on my road and managed another little pike and then a 17.75” bass they were guarding beds there already could care less what we put in there. 

[RichF]

On 5/6/2019 at 7:21 AM, FishinBuck07 said:

RichF thank you very much for the info.  My younger brother fished there over the weekend and caught a 21" walleye and a 36" pike, he was pretty excited.  Like I said wanted to see what kind of stuff to bring with me to fish Cross.  Didn't know if the smallies were more plentiful or the largemouth.  Again thank you for the info.

No prob. The smallies will be more plentiful in the rivers.  I don't think I caught a single smallie in the main lake.

[ww2farmer]

 

 

 

 

3

12 hours ago, clayton86 said:

Hit silver lake today to try prefishing for the tournament we’re having there in a few weeks. Managed 1 pike while there didn’t even lay an eye on a bass all the guys in boats we talked to said same thing lots of pike but no bass. 

 

 

You didn't talk to me LOL....I was out there from 11am - 6pm. For two reasons, #1 after a clear cold night, Silver ALWAYS fishes slow in the morning, and #2 I had stuff to do until 11am.

 

From 11-6 I caught 17 largemouth and 4 smallmouth, just kinda junk fishing all over the lake. No giants again today, but the best five were a solid 19.59lbs, and the biggest 3 were a 4-3, 4-2, and a 4-1....and those were all largemouth.

[clayton86]

Yeah I didn’t get on the water till about 10ish and went north. Launched at the perry beach which that hill was brutal to launch and drag up. Went up that creek till it hit the road we turned around and started working out way back and left like 12-1ish I think. 

[rmcguirk]

Got out on Conesus both days this weekend.  Saturday for about 5 hours -- 9:30-2:30.  Fishing was slow for me.  I only caught four, but three of them were very good, including a 4.1 LM, a 4.5 SM and a 5.7 LM kicker.  So close to my PB. 

 

Sunday with the weather being sketchy, I got a late start and only got out for about 3 hours from 12:30-3:30.  It was actually pretty nice on the water (if you were dressed for it), and I should have gone earlier.  Fishing was very, very slow for me.  I caught two cookie cutter 1.5 LMs.  I also caught an enormous pike.  I don't know how long or how heavy as I try to get them out of the boat and back into the water as quickly as possible.  I got him on a medium action rod and could barely land him.  Turns out, it had slapped at the lure and it was hooked in the side of the face.   

[ww2farmer]

I fished Honeyoe for the first time in May in a  LONG time Weds. afternoon/evening. I did OK for hardly ever going there. Caught a bunch of the typical dinks that lake is known for. Caught my new PB for that lake at 4-8, and had 14+ lbs for my best five.

 

One of the reasons I went there is I held an MLF format tournament on Silver yesterday, and put an off-limits period during the week, with one official practice day of Saturday the 18th....the day before the event. SO it was a full calendar week since I had been on Silver (very rare for me LOL) by the time I went on Sat. to practice. I had a great practice. 20+ lbs for my best 5, and caught fish non-stop all day.

 

That brings us to Sunday and the MLF event. I invited 23 of the best AND/or most trustworthy (this event was a solo angler event, and everyone was on their honor to not abuse and the numbers on Scoretracker Live) local anglers to participate, hoping 5-8 would come as to not overwhelm and overcrowd the lake for the first time I tried this. 6 showed up, and they  were all top notch local sticks.

 

As for the tournament....As usual Silver did a 180 overnight. Largemouth that I caught during practice were SLOW all day...but brown fish saved the day. I ended up winning the event with 16 bass caught for a total of 52 lbs. I averaged 3lbs 4oz. per fish, and also had Lunker with a 4-13 (one of only 4 largemouth I weighed) Everything else was cookie cutter 3+ lb smallies. I LOVE this format...watching me take the lead, then losing it several times during the day via Scoretracker live was fun and nerve-racking. I give huge props to the guys who came, a couple of them didn't catch them very well and watched the rest of us run the score up, yet they stayed and fished hard till the end. This is the future of my tournaments...I only hope I can be calm, cool, and collected when I am on the receiving end of a beatdown that I can watch unfold on Scoretracker......which WILL happen (me getting my teeth kicked in....who knows about staying calm LOL)

[NYWayfarer]

3 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

I ended up winning the event with 16 bass caught for a total of 52 lbs. I averaged 3lbs 4oz. per fish, and also had Lunker with a 4-13 (one of only 4 largemouth I weighed) Everything else was cookie cutter 3+ lb smallies.

Grats on the win! Nice haul.

 

I fished a local pond and canal Saturday and caught 1 Largemouth Bass.

 

 

I was having too much fun multispecies fishing to just target Bass. 

 

Sunday was all canal fishing between thunderstorms. I found a Rock Bass honey hole that produced some fatties.

[nosdog2]

I am missing the NY fishing, been slammed with work this Spring and haven't been able to get up to NY as much as I normally do.  I did dust off the boat finally and went out Thursday in pursuit of Snakeheads in VA. This is the first time out trying to get them and they were definitely active!  We couldn't get them to bite; I think it was a combo of my fist time after them and not having the right bait.  They are something to see/hear when they move through the lily pads; they sound like a person walking in the water.  So crazy and I can't wait to hook onto one, and eat it!  Here are few we did catch, nothing crazy but we got a few. 

[NYWayfarer]

I was able to fish all three days of the long weekend. local pond and some secluded spots away from the memorial day crowds.

 

Saturday was a great multi-species day from 2 spots. 19 fish and 5 species. Caught a limit of Brook Trout and first day that I caught multiple Largemouth this year.

 

Sunday was another multiple Bass day including the largest of the year. a big girl off of a bed 1 and a half pounder which is nice for this pond. Got her riled up dragging a Ned Rig past her. Same rig caught my biggest Brook Trout of the year just before I got the Bass.

 

 

Sunday was a quick trip but I got my first two Smallmouth of the year. and a bunch of Rock Bass also on their beds.

 

 

 

[clayton86]

Silver was a big let down today for everyone in our tournament by far our biggest turn out for an event. 63 guys tackled that lake today from kayak in that ridiculous wind. 63 anglers, 51 bass submitted....normally with less guys we see numbers in the hundreds. Of those 63 guys only the top 4 had a limit(3 bass). I know that lake can do better but didn’t today. I managed 1 bass a small 16.25” guy on a siebert outdoors spinner bait. 

 

 

[NYWayfarer]

Signs of life have returned to the North Country Hudson River. LMB and SMB action was great.

 

Saturday was rainy and chilly in the morning sunny and nice in the afternoon. Fished before breakfast and after lunch.

 

Morning:

 

 

Afternoon:

[NolanEckert21]

looking for a partner for honeye fathers day tournament I cant drive but can get a ride there so hop in someones boat. Let me know If your interested.

[rmcguirk]

I got out both days this weekend on Conesus.  Man, fishing was tough, at least for me.  I saw some bass cruising the shallows and a few that seemed as though they were tight to beds, but probably the tail-end of the spawn.  Also saw a lot of bullhead and carp there as well.  But I didn't catch a single fish either day.  I'm not great at bed fishing--hunching on a spot and trying to get a bass to commit--so this time of year I typically do poorly.  But, I don't think I've gotten a two-day skunking in a long, long time.  

[clayton86]

Managed this hangry girl today. 

[ww2farmer]

Whoa...it's been a while since my last report...let's see if I can remember it all.

 

We last left off with my win in the MLF event on Silver on May 19th.

 

Since then..lets see. 

 

I was out of town for a wedding Memorial Day weekend, but I book ended the trip with and evening trip on Silver the day before, and the day after we got home. The first trip was good, caught a half dozen 4lb largemouth. The second trip was slow for largemouth, but OK for smallmouth. 

 

I was jammed up busy at work and/or with tons of make up softball games the following 2 weeks, only making it out a couple of times....the details escape me.

 

Saturday June 1st I fished another guys team MLF tournament on Conesus...We won that with 61+ lbs for our total. This was a bit larger tournament than mine, and it was a nail biter. We were down 2lbs on scoretracker with 10 mins to go, and I caught two 3lb smallmouth the last 10 minutes to go up 61-58 on that team. We caught 21 fish, that averaged about 2.9lbs each, and also got lunker with a 4-6 largemouth. I am in love with the MLF format...it helps that I am also 2-0 in the tournaments I have fished LOL.

 

The last 10 days or so on Silver have been a roller coaster. Smallmouth are still biting good, but I'm not doing much on the largemouth front.

 

The highlight of this period was last Saturday when I took my 9 yer old daughter out, I didn't fish, I just played guide. In the 3-4 hours we were out, she caught 6 nice smallmouth, and a bunch of rock bass and crappies.

 

One last youth softball tournament this weekend and that's done...I'm going to miss opening day on Silver for the first time in a LONG time....but oh well. If they don't advance to play on Sunday, we have decided to go enter the "kids" division at the Honeyoe Father's day tournament....but I REALLY REALLY hope they advance in the softball tournament LOL.

 

Now that youth softball season is over, I'll keep up better on my reports.

[ww2farmer]

Since last report:

 

Fun fishing and practice fishing days on Silver are a blur....there's been several trips since the last report, but I can't remember any of them LOL.

 

Tournament reports are as follows:

 

Fished the Honeyoe Father's day tournament with my 9 year old daughter. We took 2nd in the youth division. She won $100 and a nice plaque. 

 

The following Thursday evening 6/20, I fished the 3 fish limit, 3 hour evening team tournament on Silver. I used to run these for a while, but I have passed the torch on to another group of guys, and they did a great job. I was supposed to fish with my daughter again, but the weather was TERRIBLE. Wind, rain, cold, etc...so I went alone when she decided to not want to go. I took 2nd by myself out of 15 boats with 11.70lbs for my best three, and also won lunker with a 5.12lb largemouth.

 

Sunday 6/23, fished my first tournament ever with a new club, on a body of water I have almost ZERO exp. on. The one time I was there it was in May, and it was a bed fishing "easy" day. I got work to do on this lake...It was not by any means on fire as one team only had a limit, but I learned some valuable lessons. It's known as a smallmouth lake, with an occasional largemouth kicker. I started with smallmouth. It was slow..for me. I had one 3lber in the boat in the first 3 hours. Bailed on them and went looking for the elusive largemouth on this water...BIG MISTAKE...the smallmouth turned on in the last few hours, while I was chasing green fish on the bank. I caught short green fish and pike the rest of my time there and got steamrolled.

 

Friday 6/28......Back to water I know LOL. Held my season opener solo angler series tournament on Conesus. It was a numbers day for me, tons of both largemouth and smallmouth up shallow. I ended up in the money with yet again another 2nd place finish out of 17 boats with 17.80lbs...winner had 18.06.

 

Tomorrow I have club tournament #2 on another new body of water that I have limited exp. on.....I hope to not fall on my face again.

[ww2farmer]

I forgot to mention...yesterday at noon, all 4 wheels were off the wagon, the wagon was on fire, the fire hose had gas in it, and I was being attacked by Indians. I caught one fish in the first 5 hours of that tournament...AND LOST 6 BOAT SIDE....then, I turned it around the last 3 hours.

[J Francho]

Went down to the dump for a mid day jaunt, yesterday.  I was on them pretty good on Saturday, but the storms chased me off.  I was hoping they'd still be up in the flooded brush, fallen trees, and flooded timber.  They were. Fished from 11-3:30, with a break to eat a chili cheese dog at the Bayside.  Northeast breeze, 10mph.  Water Surface was down to 78 from 85 on Saturday.  Ragetail Craw in Bama Craw, T-rigged with 1/2 oz. flipping weight.  No other baits necessary.  Fallen timber and isolated pockets in the weeds was the program.  Nothing huge, largest of 17 fish caught went 19".  No pics of the that fish.  Let's just say, I WON'T be endorsing the BPS brand fish grip any time soon.  Most were like the cookie cutter 3 shown below.  All post spawn.  Some blue gills are still on beds.  Due to no wake restrictions, the weeds have grown in strong this year, and the water is clear.  The dump is actually pretty nice when it's not soupy brown and churned up from the boat traffic.

 

 

[Krux5506]

Nice, I'm not sure if I've ever seen that water look so clear. I was out in Fair Haven this past Thurs/Fri with limited time to hit the lake with not a whole lot of success. Located and caught a few little smallies in spots I already had marked, but really nothing in between. The high lake water has visibility down a bit and with that goes my confidence out there. 

[J Francho]

I'd be hitting anything that resembled flooded brush and timber.  That's where I saw and caught most of my fish.

[FishinBuck07]

Was up fishing with my younger brother over the weekend.  Mostly fished the Oneida River in the Three Rivers Area, beautiful river, caught some nice bass.  I caught a 4# largemouth and he caught a 4# smallie, within about ten minutes.  Caught a lot of smaller fish also, the occasional pickeral, and rock bass out the wazzuu.  His buddy caught almost a 5# smallie the next day also out of the same river.  We also fished Delta Lake near Rome, Ny and the Black River.  It was an amazing weekend with all the good times and beautiful scenery.  Then Sunday took my Mom on a drive up into the Adirondacks, WOW is all I can say!

[J Francho]

Three rivers is a pretty cool place to fish.  I used to fish team open tournaments there with my buddy.