Any Luck In Upstate Ny?

[ww2farmer]

Silver was absolutely on freaking fire tonight. I bet I won't say that a lot this year LOL.

 

I fished 3 hours, from 6pm-9pm, boated 30+ bass. Easily one of the best short after work trips in a long time.

 

Best five 5-3, 4-9, 4-6, 4-4, and 4-3. A 4-0 and several upper 3's didn't make the cut.

 

I flipped docks for an hour and a half and caught the snot out of them, then moved out to the grass as the sun was going down and kept up the pace.

 

At one point on the grass, I had a flurry of 7 fish between 3.5 and 4lbs on 7 consecutive casts, with hordes of bass following the hooked to the boat trying to steal the bait from it.

 

I don't know what's going on here LOL. I have fished this lake for 30 years, had the day of my life back in May, followed by one of the worst 3-4 week spells I can ever remember, to the place being more "on" than "off" lately. Meanwhile, Conesus, which is usually great for me more times than not, is stumping me. I wish my Thursday tournament was on Silver this week instead of Conesus. I am not on Silver (for a tournament) again until the 26th. Which by then might be too late to take advantage of this spell of good fishing.

[ww2farmer]

Had my previously mentioned tournament on Conesus today. I finished 5th with 17.24lbs. 21, 20, + 19 cashed, 17.30 was 4th, and then me.

 

I gave it away.....at least third, I doubt I was getting to 20 lbs, but I had two noticeable upgrades get off due to operator error. One was a big smallmouth I high sticked the hook set on when the bite caught me off guard, I had it to the boat, but she just opened her mouth and out came my 3/4 oz jig.

 

The other was a big largemouth that bit me under a dock, and I was day dreaming............NOT looking at the bikini clad hotties on the next dock down....nope, not looking at them at all, and I never noticed this fish pick my bait up and swim OUT from under the dock into the grass with my line wrapped around two posts. By some act of god, I got the fish back under the dock, back around the poles, only to have my leader break when it made one last surge at the net. Those metal posts did a number on my 17lb FC leader...thats what I get  for gawking at................I mean day dreaming.

 

Anyways, other than those two bone head moves, it was still a grind to get to 17.24. I had a limit in the first hour on a swim jig worth about 13lbs, then proceeded to struggle for the next 6 hours not catching anything that would help. Then in the last hour made several culls to get to where I was. The two boo-boos happened at the end of the day too about 20 minutes apart, and in the last 1/2 hour. The only saving grace today was that my bag was at least good enough to take a slim lead in our AOY race two events into the season.

[bclark7b]

Went to the local reservoir today because that's where I go when I need a pick me up from the grind of fishing the lakes on the boat. From 3-8 I caught too many fish to count 6 being over 5#. With many 3-4's mixed in. 

Best 5 were 5-14 5-7 5-5 5-4 and 5-2. It's almost cheating at this place though. I caught the 5-7 and 5-2 on consecutive casts dragging a 1/4 oz. I think I may go back Saturday to totally refuel my confidence tank before I take the boat out again and grind to find fish.

[ww2farmer]

Regardless of what happens the rest of the 2018 season, there's going to be two days I remember from this year for a long long time. I have fished this lake for 30 years, and days like these two don't happen often. A really really good day here is 20-30 fish, that's why these two days will be remembered for a while.

 

The first was May 12th, see my report  a few pages back on that day, but the highlights were: A new PB 6lb 8oz smallmouth, 11 bass over 5lb boated, including the PB smallmouth and a 6+ lb largemouth, and over 100 bass caught during the day.

 

That brings us to yesterday. Another 100+ bass day, with 23 fish over 4lbs put in the boat. No five lbers though. I did set a new bass caught on consecutive casts record for my self, when I caught 17 3-4lb fish in a row..off one piece of cover. Unlike that day in May where I caught them on multiple things, and caught big smallmouth and largemouth, I only caught one smallmouth yesterday, and I had one rod, and one bait in my hand all day, and pretty much caught fish non-stop from 6am-5pm. The only lull I had was from 11am -2pm when the sun popped out. But before and after that, it was cloudy, and they were chomping as long as there was cloud cover.

[nosdog2]

@ww2farmer you just set the bar for next time we fish together!  Hahah!  Great day!

[ww2farmer]

Silver continues to be "on"

 

Fished 3 nights after work this week...Monday, Weds., and Friday. Caught the snot out of them all three days.

 

 Entered and fished a CV Bass League open tournament yesterday on Silver with my buddy Tim. I was quite confident in having a high finish given the way I have been catching them. We both caught  tons of quality fish, had a great time and ended up in the money , finishing 2nd out of 25 teams with 21.8 lbs.  Winners had 22lbs, and 3rd was 19lb. 

[bclark7b]

Went to canandaigua last night because it's close by. Caught a rock bass and a 2#er. Never really have any luck there so I wasn't very suprised by it. Looks like the next time I can go out will be next Saturday the wife is going to pa so I have all day to fish! Now I just need to figure out where to go.

[Krux5506]

I fish outta Fair Haven NY (about 25 mins east of Sodus Bay) every weekend. The fishing continues to be in that normal summer pattern, i.e. finesse fishing mostly for me anyway. Decent numbers I guess but not finding the quality I have in years past. 

 

Ben, I see you're from Palmyra. I fished the canal out there last week with not much success. I didn't quite have the patience with how hot it was the day I was out there. Fished that Canal Park right outside of Macedon, at the mouth of that spillway. Only got into pike and small bass. 

[J Francho]

Are you guys on shore or in a boat?

[Krux5506]

I'm on my boat around Fair Haven/Lake O, usually on shore at the canal or occasionally kayak. 

[bclark7b]

5 hours ago, Krux5506 said:

I fish outta Fair Haven NY (about 25 mins east of Sodus Bay) every weekend. The fishing continues to be in that normal summer pattern, i.e. finesse fishing mostly for me anyway. Decent numbers I guess but not finding the quality I have in years past. 

 

Ben, I see you're from Palmyra. I fished the canal out there last week with not much success. I didn't quite have the patience with how hot it was the day I was out there. Fished that Canal Park right outside of Macedon, at the mouth of that spillway. Only got into pike and small bass. 

The canal get's really tough in the summer. I only go when I only have an hour or two because its so close. The water going through that park where the water falls are is actually mud creek which runs into the canal. Lots of pike and dink smallmouth. Both of which are fun to catch. Lots of guys catch walleye there also I believe although I never have

[Krux5506]

37 minutes ago, bclark7b said:

The canal get's really tough in the summer. I only go when I only have an hour or two because its so close. The water going through that park where the water falls are is actually mud creek which runs into the canal. Lots of pike and dink smallmouth. Both of which are fun to catch. Lots of guys catch walleye there also I believe although I never have

The canal is what usually ends up being my "weekday fishing" spot. Like you said, close enough to home and sometimes can be fun. Usually I fish closer to the Ayrault rd launch in Fairport and often times end up with quite a mixed bag of fish. Lots of walleye around there. 

[bclark7b]

9 hours ago, J Francho said:

Are you guys on shore or in a boat?

If this was directed toward me I am in a boat. If you ever make it down to canandaigua with any success I would love some tips. I launch from the south end because the north end is an absolute mad house weekends and nights when I can get out there

[J Francho]

I only fish Canandaigua late fall/early winter, and haven't been there in years.  The south end is the right place to be, though.

[Krux5506]

Still trying to dial in the smallies out of Fair Haven in the lake. Early season is a piece of cake. Post spawn things start to be a little less predictable, and my lack of experience of fishing those deep 30ft+ areas becomes apparent. I'm finding the shallower water is still holding the cookie cutter bass. The ones that are fun enough to catch here and there but not doing too well with locating those bigger fish. Perhaps this is where side imaging could help me out a bit...

[J Francho]

Look for carpets of bait, holding close to the bottom.  At first, it will look like weeds on a standard graph.  I find down imaging much more useful than side imaging for this, since the bait is not suspended in the water column.  Start at 25' and work your way out.  Works for me out in front of Port Bay, just a little east of you.

[Krux5506]

Thanks J. Fair Haven is actually east of Port Bay, and typically I head east out of Fair Haven toward Oswego. Sometimes I fish the bluffs between FH and Port Bay but I always find myself wanting to go east. There is some nice areas out of Port Bay though. Not sure if the lake will be cooperative by the weekend with the wind we've been having but I'm itching to get out there. 

 

[J Francho]

Shoot, meant to say a little WEST of you.  I've fished many a tournament on FH.  Even got DQ'd once for running over to the "Pond" which I didn't realize was off limits.

[ww2farmer]

Another day, another tournament on Silver, and my 3rd straight 2nd place finish there this year with my second straight 20lb bag.....20.86lb to be exact. A guy could get used to this....at the very least I am enjoying it.

[bclark7b]

31 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

Another day, another tournament on Silver, and my 3rd straight 2nd place finish there this year with my second straight 20lb bag.....20.86lb to be exact. A guy could get used to this....at the very least I am enjoying it.

I hope you're not losing to the same guy every time? Lol. Seems like things over your way are pretty on right now.... Or Maybe its just you knowing that lake like the back of your hand... Maybe I need to head west this weekend.

[ww2farmer]

13 minutes ago, bclark7b said:

I hope you're not losing to the same guy every time? Lol. Seems like things over your way are pretty on right now.... Or Maybe its just you knowing that lake like the back of your hand... Maybe I need to head west this weekend.

No...it's been 3 different guys each time. This lake is "on" because it seems like everyone is catching 13-15lbs with ease. 25 boats on Saturday and 17 +18lbs was not cashing. 14 boats today, and 16- 17lbs did not cash. And this is only an 800 acre "pond"

 

It's been "easy" tournament fishing for me lately, I can catch a 15-16lb limit in an hour in the AM, and then go hog hunting all day. And for the last few tournaments it's been working out. I am sacrificing numbers after the first hour or so, but it's been worth it. It's kinda been hard to put whatever is working on 2-3lb fish down, and pick something up that might only get half a dozen more bites the next 6+ hours, but that's what I have been doing.

[bclark7b]

3 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

No...it's been 3 different guys each time. This lake is "on" because it seems like everyone is catching 13-15lbs with ease. 25 boats on Saturday and 17 +18lbs was not cashing. 14 boats today, and 16- 17lbs did not cash. And this is only an 800 acre "pond"

I'd say it's high time for you to win. Well even a noob like me may just be able to catch a few then. I'll be there saturday all day. There aren't any tournaments this Saturday out there is there?

[ww2farmer]

Just now, bclark7b said:

I'd say it's high time for you to win. Well even a noob like me may just be able to catch a few then. I'll be there saturday all day. There aren't any tournaments this Saturday out there is there?

I don't know...there's not one I am fishing in, or running. A private club might have a small one out there, but usually they are not much to worry about.

[Krux5506]

21 hours ago, J Francho said:

Shoot, meant to say a little WEST of you.  I've fished many a tournament on FH.  Even got DQ'd once for running over to the "Pond" which I didn't realize was off limits.

lol thats a bummer, I've actually never fished the pond but have always been curious. I'm too chicken to bring my boat into there. 

[J Francho]

It's not worth it, mostly pike.  The boat we took in there was a 18' Gambler that drafted very shallow.  It's 2-3' deep