bosco

Thanks for the tips YT. I'll utilize any info I can get. I figure the worst that could happen is I don't catch much but still get to spend significant time learning a new body of water which is always a pleasure.

Well, I know this is a LOOOONG shot, but heck, this board is my home board so I figured I'd start here. Anyone got any info on the Mohawk River? Particularly the area between between Lock E9 at Rotterdam Junction and Lock E8 just west of Scotia. I've got a 5 day conference in Albany next week and I decided to scrap my hotel reservations and instead I'm hooking up the boat and I got a campsite on the Mohawk at the Arrowhead Marina and RV Park. They've got a launch and slips on site so I figured I'd get in several evenings of fishing as well. Even if the fishing suck, it still beats watching Seinfeld reruns in the hotel eh?? Thanks folks

Anyone have any info they're willing to share on the Bass, Pike, Walleye action around Clayton? My brother's heading up next week, he's not a regular to the area or this board and asked if I could put out any feelers here. Not looking for anyone to give up their honey holes but any general info to help a newbie up there have a decent few days on the water would be great. Any info's appreciated. I'll keep an eye out for the PM's as well. Thanks folks.

Wish I could say the same thing about the Walleye tonight. Not a one. I sat floating over the nicest looking screens for hours and couldn't even get a tick. Unreal. There's times I've been skunked on the eyes but I at LEAST usually I pick up a couple or few bass, rockies and silvers. But man it was just shut down. Too bad. I'd been off to a pretty good start this year. I may take a jaunt up the Genny on Sunday night if it's not running too high or blowing chocolate milk.

Well I guess I'VE been fishing the wrong waters. I've never caught enough walleye in a night TO cull. If I've caught 3 in an outing, I'm having a great night. If I've still got one in the freezer, I keep none and just keep searching for that ever elusive wall mount. In terms of hours spent on the water versus the number of eyes I get in the boat, it's safe to say that I suck at walleye fishing but I absolutely love it none the less. The only fish I'll target. But it really makes me really appreciate the 1, 2, (or on a great night) the 3 that I DO get in a night. I can't imagine guys going back and forth to drop off loads of them. Are they hording them or selling them do you suppose?

I have friends who fish that lake frequently. They get them on worm harnesses using a snap weight to get them to the depth they want. They never mentioned specifics and I didn't ask because it's unlikely I'll get out that way. But hey...maybe you've got a new starting refernce point anyways.

Hey Sluggo.....how about putting on a workshop?? I'd pay money! LOL Sounds like you've got it down to a science. I'm absolutely going to try your techniques with my next catch. BTW....anything happening down your way yet? It's still on my radar for a jaunt later in the season. My home water has been kinder to me so far this year compared to last so I've been keeping it local....for now. Later

I was out with my brother on I-Bay this weekend. He works with some guys who fish Sodus regularly. He told me they've been saying that it's been pretty tough for the eyes so far. Said they worked it hard, found a spot, found a technique, and they aint saying peep about it!! But in general, he tells me, it's been SLOWWW. He mentioned nothing about pike. Sorry I can't be more first hand but I thought I'd at least pass along what info has come around to me anyways.

I have had the same experience with Rochester area Walleye (Irondequot Bay specifically). I kept my first 2 walleye out of Irondequoit Bay last week. A 20" and a 24". They were the first ones from I-Bay for me that DIDN'T have an unusually strong taste. I attributed it to maybe the colder water temps this time of year as well as them being on the smaller side (at least the 20"er anyways because I felt I could taste a difference between the two). I could be wrong on the water temp theory but that's what I've heard about spring bullhead...that they only taste good in the spring because the water temps are colder. Anyways....I'm already off to a better start than all of last season so I imagine I'll keep the smallest ones here and there and then get around to buying a couple disposable cameras to throw on my boat to take shots off the rest of them. The few I do keep I don't like to freeze so it's usually out of the water and into the pan.

I think I've had 2 bite through my line while walleye fishing this year (no steel leaders here). You know....where you get a hit and have a fish on for just a moment or two....and then they're just gone....and so's your lure. No snap. No hard fight. Just a tug or two....and then your line has a nice, clean cut and you're out a $7.00 Rapala. But on a brighter note, I took my brother out Sunday night. Fished again until 4AM. No eyes for me but an assortment of bass, sheeps head, perch, silver bass. My brother on the other hand landed 3 eyes, the biggest being 26". His 2nd biggest ever (his biggest being an 11+lber out of Quinte a number of years back) so he was pretty happy.

Yes...north end launch. No I've never been broken into. And I hope ya didn't jinx me! Kidding. Seriously, no problems whatsoever down there. It was an enjoyable night. Very calm. Wind died right down. But don't get me wrong. The only reason I fish I-Bay is cash and convenience. I'm only 1 mile from the launch. I also usually only launch after 7:30ish after the launch fee attendant has packed it in. Were gas and time not an issue, I'd likely be on Oneida, Chataqua, Erie, Honeoye, or Consesus. All of which I believe are superior Walleye waters. I'm sort of forcing myself to make do and to learn as much as I can about the bay and whatever eyes happen to be in there. Even so, there are few things I'd rather be doing.

East side. North of the 104 bridge. Trolling a perch colored Wally Diver. Moved over a decent looking screen and got a nice hit so I stopped and started casting. Lost one. Boated another. After I got the spot a little more dialed in, the crankbait went dead so I switched to a buck hair jig and leeches. Boated another, lost another, had a bunch of hits and pulled out a few bass too. I was pitching the jig on top of a drop off and walking it down. The bass came on the top of the ledge and the eyes on or towards the bottom. ALWAYS on the drop. 12-17FOW. Just woke back up and got around to measuring and cleaning them. 20" and 24". I've got to tell you though....it seems no matter where I go or what I try, I don't get any eyes until after like 11PM or later. And it's kickin my ass. I've got to spend more time trying the deeper water during the daylight or something.

Had to fish my arse off but managed two nice eyes and tossed back about a half dozen largemouth....one absolute hog. Went till 4AM but most of my fish came in the last 2 hours after I FINALLY managed to get on top of some active fish.

WTF is a slime dart?

I went out yesterday. Got one eye and one largemouth in about 15 FOW trolling a perch colored WallyDiver. Might have done better had I had more time but by the time I'd switched to that particular strategy and location, my day was just about done. Not much to brag about but you asked if anyone had been out lately so......

It's my understanding the panfish fling is over. My brother did well down there up on the crappie up to a couple weeks ago. I've been out walleye fishing at night twice myself. Not a single eye but couldn't keep the bass off my line. I hear they're doing well on the eyes on Conesus though.

DeRuyter Reservoir??

While it was reported that a 40" pike was taken from Honeoye last Saturday AM....Honeoye is not a pike lake. It's believed they were introduced illegally several years ago and they are now reproducing enough to maintain a small population....but not large enough to make them worthwhile to target. Lots of walleye in Honeoye but they run on the small side compared to some of the other walleye fisheries.

Crawler harnesses wouldn't have been my first (or second, or third) choice in presentation for this time of year. Perhaps I should rethink that.

I didn't do well on Honeoye either. Caught just about every species BUT walleye. I can't say the folks around me seemed to be doing any better. Heard at the bait store that one father and son team limited out Saturday AM.

I fished I-Bay for the first time for opening night. Same deal. Not a bite. But tons of fish jumping and splashing the surface at the south end. But big baitfish. Alewives I think. There were thousands of them...bouncing off the side of the boat and everything. Tough to compete with that. I'm going back to Honeoye this year and pitching Rapalas at the shore in a few choice spots and trolling raps over a few stretches, and jigging a few past proven spots as well. I may not set the lake on fire....but I rarely get skunked opening day there.

Hmmm...I dunno. I called my brother who lives out that way to find he's out of town. Might have to take a drive down today. Unless anyone on the board here can save me a trip

Sunday's looking like 45 and partly sunny. Might be the best bet to get out and see what's shakin. I'm thinking Honeoye just for familiarities sake. Hopefully, I'll have a good report. If anyone else has been out that way....a report would be much appreciated.

So...please excuse my inability to interpret....are you saying the Crappie run bigger on Honeoye or on Sodus? I've never fished Sodus Bay.

Nice...I might just giver her a try. Although I could put the boat in Irondequoit Bay for perch now. Ice opened up to the 2nd set of navigation buoys. Yesterday one lone nutcase out on the ice fishing out by those second markers and as close to the edge and to open water as even an insane mind would allow. I've seen em do it like that up at Bay of Quinte for the Eyes but damn.....it sure looked lonely and unsafe for that guy. He's got bigger ones than I THAT's for sure!!