MLF BPT Stage Five at Cayuga Lake NY

[PhishLI]

Smashfest!

 

24-11 for the leader, Cliff Pace, by 10:00 am.

 

 Connel and Wheeler are nipping at his heels.

[PhishLI]

KVD at 25-08

[InfantryMP]

This is going to be a slugfest all week. 

 

I think this will end up being who has the most active spots consistently. I know they are catching them now really good. Hopefully it continues all week.

[PhishLI]

KVD's at 28-01. Nuts!

[Lmbasshunter]

So I guess the state makes an exception for the pros to fish a closed season? Doesn’t open up until June 15 

[PhishLI]

Just now, Lmbasshunter said:

So I guess the state makes an exception for the pros to fish a closed season? Doesn’t open up until June 15 

Yes, because MLF is C&R.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

7 minutes ago, Lmbasshunter said:

So I guess the state makes an exception for the pros to fish a closed season? Doesn’t open up until June 15 

Wow, that's BS.   Either it's open for everyone, or it's closed for everyone.   

[PhishLI]

2 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Wow, that's BS.   Either it's open for everyone, or it's closed for everyone. 

$ signs for the town talks I suppose.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Just now, PhishLI said:

$ signs for the town talks I suppose.

100%

 

I never realized they had closed Bass seasons until I joined this forum.   Seems silly to me with Ice and C&R.    

23 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

KVD's at 28-01. Nuts!

That's a monster bag, what's the limit comprised of species wise.......just turned it on and Davis threw back a 3+ LGM.    Would have figured these are SM bags, but maybe this place has a great LGM population 

Keith Poche is an absolute animal....he was just fishing the Sabine in TX, now he's fishing Cayuga in NY.

 

Some of these dudes like Poche, BP, Walters, Cox, etc. fish almost all of these elite level events.   Makes sense, but dang what a grind.   

[PhishLI]

7 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I never realized they had closed Bass seasons until I joined this forum. 

Up until last season we were closed here for the spawn from May 1 thru June 15. Stupid that they changed it, but they want the money from licensing fees. I stay away from the spawning areas no matter what.

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

That's a monster bag, what's the limit comprised of species wise.......just turned it on and Davis threw back a 3+ LGM. 

Some big LM were bagged last year. Stay tuned.

 

11 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Some of these dudes like Poche, BP, Walters, Cox, etc. fish almost all of these elite level events.   Makes sense, but dang what a grind.   

And across leagues. Walters won a NPFL event just before the Sabine.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Outside of DD LGMs, this lake is amazing.    You combine the much more aggressive Northerns with the SMs, don't let anybody fish for them for months and months, then unleash some of the best anglers on them during pre spawn and early spawn.  

 

Seems like the perfect storm for epic Bass fishing, I'm amazed watching Wheeler hammer a 5+ SM on bed, looking at all the 3-5lb prespawn LGMs.    

 

This is an event where all you want to do is just go fishing on the same lake these guys are on.   

[PhishLI]

Just now, AlabamaSpothunter said:

This is an event where all you want to do is just go fishing on the same lake these guys are on.   

Last year it was held in August, and it was a smashfest too. Sick lake!

[Texas Flood]

4 hours ago, Lmbasshunter said:

So I guess the state makes an exception for the pros to fish a closed season? Doesn’t open up until June 15 

Written below is from another site article.

 

 

 

[J Francho]

Anyone can fish catch and release for bass aside from one county in the state. Catch and keep starts 6/15. 

[PhishLI]

8 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Anyone can fish catch and release for bass aside from one county in the state.

So, no payola and grimy backroom deals? How boring?

[Kirtley Howe]

5 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Wow, that's BS.   Either it's open for everyone, or it's closed for everyone.   

Well, it IS open for everyone, as Catch and Release. You just can't keep any bass yet. Look up NYS fishing regulations, and you will find the rules on this.

5 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

100%

 

I never realized they had closed Bass seasons until I joined this forum.   Seems silly to me with Ice and C&R.    

That's a monster bag, what's the limit comprised of species wise.......just turned it on and Davis threw back a 3+ LGM.    Would have figured these are SM bags, but maybe this place has a great LGM population 

Keith Poche is an absolute animal....he was just fishing the Sabine in TX, now he's fishing Cayuga in NY.

 

Some of these dudes like Poche, BP, Walters, Cox, etc. fish almost all of these elite level events.   Makes sense, but dang what a grind.   

Cayuga Lake has an excellent population of both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.

[Kirtley Howe]

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Outside of DD LGMs, this lake is amazing.    You combine the much more aggressive Northerns with the SMs, don't let anybody fish for them for months and months, then unleash some of the best anglers on them during pre spawn and early spawn.  

 

Seems like the perfect storm for epic Bass fishing, I'm amazed watching Wheeler hammer a 5+ SM on bed, looking at all the 3-5lb prespawn LGMs.    

 

This is an event where all you want to do is just go fishing on the same lake these guys are on.   

Cayuga Lake is always listed in the top 100 bass lakes in the country....and often makes it into the top 25 list. Some say it is a top 10 lake.  It also is a great fishery for Lake Trout, Brown Trout, and Pike. It used to be a great lake for Rainbow Trout, but that seems to have declined in recent years. It also has a good population of Perch, Rockbass, Crappie, and Sunfish and Bluegill. Also catfish and bullheads. And we have some European anglers who come over every year just to fish for Carp....they say we have an incredible Carp fishery, and don't realize what a great sport fish they are. There is also a limited population of Walleye. And they have stocked it with some sturgeon, though you cannot legally fish for them yet. Back in the 1800s, Cayuga Lake was a commercial Sturgeon fishery, but over harvesting just about wiped them out: In fact, it was though that they were extinct in this lake. About 14 years ago, a few Sturgeon showed up in the lock at the north end of the lake....that convinced the DEC to try restocking them. It will take 30-50 years before they allow anyone to fish for them.

[J Francho]

The biggest LMB I've seen out of this lake was 8-05. The biggest SMB was 7-6. Both caught in a tournament by the same same team. 

[JediAmoeba]

I can't wait for my club to be there in August. Last time I had 20 lbs in 2 days on 6 fish. ( 3 fish limits for our club)

[J Francho]

I really like those 3 fish limit rules. Kind of changes my tactics a bit. 

[gim]

2 hours ago, Kirtley Howe said:

Well, it IS open for everyone, as Catch and Release. You just can't keep any bass yet.

The first 2 weeks of our bass season in MN is exactly that way too.  Its completely closed from late February until mid May though, you cannot specifically target them at all.  It really has nothing to do with actually protecting bass when they spawn here, as that does not occur until late May/early June.  It protects the sacred walleye.

 

But that could be changing as early as next year, as there is a potential legislation that would allow C & R fishing for bass all year.

 

You can have bass tournaments when the C & R season is open, just no weigh ins since you cannot put them in a live well.  Most walleye and muskie tournaments here are CPR format now: catch, photo, release (by length), just like a kayak bass tournament.

[J Francho]

Walleye here stack up that time of year. If they're prime money maker, that rule makes sense. 

[Tlauz]

I love tournaments where they can catch both LMB or SMB.  Catching a 20 lb bag and being in 20th. Amazing.

[GReb]

I live in the south and love it. However there’s no denying that in 2023 the best fishing is up north. These northern fisheries are insane. Even the lakes you don’t hear much of such as in Maine produce silly numbers. 
 

You’d have to believe the LM bite will slow as the week rolls on.  Absolutely insane it’s going to take a 5lb average each day to contend. 

[Kirtley Howe]

5 hours ago, Tlauz said:

I love tournaments where they can catch both LMB or SMB.  Catching a 20 lb bag and being in 20th. Amazing.

And you can do that on Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, Onterio, the St. Lawrence river, Lake Erie, and a bunch of smaller lakes around here. If anything, the Bass fishing around here has gotten better in the last 10 years.