panfisher

devoknovo........NNnniiiiiiiiccee!! And to think they get twice that size....! You said mostly sheepies and white bass were keeping you hopping the last time out. Were those sheep being caught the same way they were a few months ago, and do they still have some size to them? BTW...Irondequoit bay is where I last ran into white bass. Mostly smallish. maybe 7 to 9in. But they fought like smallies accept no jumping. And check out that roughfish.com. I don't know. I like the variety of fish......

On jack perch....They do seem to like gold or brass colored lures, especially spoons. I caught my first "jack" halfheartedly casting from shore a gold 1/4oz Sidewinder spoon. It usually sat in my box as I had bought it but did not have much faith in it. Wrong! That was the most beautiful fish I had ever caught. It was bright colored with a deep yellow belly, bright orange lower fins and dark bars. And it was huge...for a perch. Like the largemouths I often caught there. An impoundment (no trespassing....I was 11 and lots of folks fished there; had to keep an eye out for the troopers!) down on Long Island. Hempstead lake. Now it's open to fishing. On Seneca lake we've caught many jacks trolling with gold or silver Miller and Sutton spoons off downriggers. With gold out-fishing silver 2-3 to 1.

Yes....this is not about perch in I-bay......but SHEEPSHEAD! ......As president of Sheepshead Unlimited and current holder of the NY State Record sheepshead (...my, all that sounds prestigious!...), do U have a pic of your (hopefully) mounted record, on the wall, u'd share? And I was trolling the LOU archives and came upon this posted by Big Dave in 2011. Roughfish.com. Pretty cool new-to-me website. Are yellow perch "roughfish"?.......or just "panfish"? They are pretty rough when handling for the pan!

Irishluck..... ...... ....... .........Fish on!!

We are all here to help each other enjoy and engage in fish and fishing and hunting and their related subjects. I'm sorry.. .. Don't mean to offend or annoy by stating a fact about fish. It might help in targeting.... BTW.... Seneca has always been one of my favorite jack perch lakes. There are many who are way better at getting numbers there by regular fishing (rod and reel) methods. One way that has worked for me is trolling with spoons in the places that Sea-IV has mentioned. Also jigging and drifting over marks about 30-40ft down with tubes, grubs, or almost any soft plastic. Those 11-15inchers seem (to me) to behave more like bigger gamefish. Indeed I've caught plenty while trying for smallies and lakers. I-bay does not seem to have as many big jacks (for me ) as Seneca seems to. The perch there (I-bay) are caught by regular common perching methods that do work very nicely in Seneca during spawning season........for similar sized, smaller 6 to 9 inch fish (not always those jacks).....

Sea-IV.....yellow perch don't protect eggs and young on a bed like sunfish (and bass). They spread their eggs in weeds, they get fertilized, and the "parents" are off. Eggs and fry are on their own..... ....But it does seem to work for them!....somehow

1fih2fish.......Good to see....?..... Why?

Sea-IV........Whoa.... !! Am I the only one who caught this....? A 19 inch perch on the wall? Unless it was skinny, you may have had a world or at least state record yellow perch....From the IGFA through Wikipedia...."The world record yellow perch (18 in., 4 lb. 3 oz.) was caught in 1865 from New Jersey, and is the longest standing record for freshwater fish in North America.[1]" . Most other sites say 4lb. 4oz. ......but all say 18". Also, check out this story...... The true(?) story of Michigan's 21-inch state-record yellow ... You may have an unverifiable world record......

Deaf Fisherman.....Yet another AWESOME!! musky fishing encounter. To go along with that of UPSTATE (refer to LOU thread St Lawrence River Musky Started by nasc620, Sep 19, 2014 ). Therein comes the phrase "beginner's luck"....Well done guys. Big baits, big fish. Not necessarily big water. Glad you got some pictures for proof. I'm definitely getting the itch to try and target these fish. Probably end up losing one while fishing for something smaller though.... . Great story!

"I believe when a pike or musky decides to eat you can be throwing your toothbrush or a can opener and you'll get bit. Keep calm and cast on."........................Not particularly helpful here, but just to say, I've caught both pike and smallies on those joke can opener lures. Each time the fish were schooled and hitting like there was no tomorrow.....so the gag lure had to go out! And it worked. Just like old man says.

UPSTATE.....I have to say it again.....That is AWESOME!! The fish. The photo. The story. And a sunny August day is fine for a fish of a lifetime on your birthday. I know, as mine is too. Always felt lucky to have it in August. That fish is beautiful and I know it swam away strong, happy and healthy. As have you, your wife and your family. Enlarge and frame that pic and hang it over the mantle! (along with the story....... )

Yinz....beautiful big 'eye!! Since everyone (I think....) is aware of the big walleyes regularly caught in the Bay of Quinte region of the Big O, you won't be causing a problem with folks "horning in" on the area if that is where it was caught. Same is true of anywhere on the lake. I caught my biggest walleye fishing for early shallow salmonids close to shore. Was letting out a #11 black and silver original floating Rapala.....had not even hooked up to the rod holder when it took the bait and to great surprise a fat bug-eyed 8 lber. Not the brown we thought it might be. First fish of the day. This was in early May in Wayne county NY. Not an area known for walleyes. I was just wondering if anyone else has picked up a bruiser 'eye or two while fishing for salmonids or anything else (bass?) around the south shore (NY) in the main body of the lake in the last year. And I don't mean the bays, rivers, or eastern shore, where 'eyes are more common. In the main lake. I was about to ask that in a posting when I saw your thread...... Soooo.....care to give a where and how report on that fine specimen you got.....?

Nautitroller....Interesting thoughts on the what-ifs....in regard to how, and not very long ago at all, many people have just gone nuts as far as taking too many animals (and plants). No thought of sustaining the resource. Just in selfish minded sustaining themselves. And not mostly for food or shelter. But for moolah. That multiplying affect of money. The passenger pigeon, buffalo, blue pike (a walleye strain). Just to clarify, my "really" comment on Qualitytime's post was in support of his thought. "A hunting season for Bald Eagles?".......actually sounds kind of funny. Along with the "we had millions of bald eagles that were taking dogs and small children"....Could we make a blockbuster "Dances with Wolves" meets "The Birds" movie with these scenes..... .....

.......Really.....

.......This just in from DEC on 10/6/2014......The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has issued the following press release: Lake Sturgeon Released into The Genesee River New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was joined by federal and local partners today to release 1,000 fingerling lake sturgeon into the Genesee River as part of an effort to restore a healthy population of this native fish species. This event, in its fourth year, will increase the opportunity for Lake Sturgeon population.to re-establish and thrive in the river. "This project clearly demonstrates how great partnerships and good science together have contributed to the success of lake sturgeon restoration efforts," said Paul D'Amato, DEC Region 8 Regional Director. "This species of fish nearly disappeared from these waters, but thanks to the combined efforts of dedicated experts, lake sturgeon in the Genesee Rive now have a great chance to return to a healthy, thriving, self-sustaining population." DEC's partners in this effort include research ecologist Dr. Dawn Dittman of the USGS Great Lakes Science Center; Scott Schlueter, Fish and Wildlife Biologist of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Dr. Jeff Wyatt, Director of Animal Health and Conservation for the Seneca Park Zoo. Lake sturgeon is a native fish species that has been designated a species of concern across the Great Lakes Region. Historically abundant in Lake Ontario, this unique primitive fish has virtually disappeared due to overfishing and habitat degradation. Among the activities being undertaken to eventually remove lake sturgeon from the New York threatened species list include: protection from fishing harvest, habitat improvements, stocking of fingerlings, and evaluations of the success these direct efforts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's New York Field Office supports the collaborative DEC lake sturgeon restoration program through funding provided from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Fish Enhancement, Mitigation and Research Fund (FEMRF), a settlement with the New York Power Authority resulting from the relicensing of the St. Lawrence Power Project. The funding facilitates the cooperative sturgeon conservation field efforts in the St. Lawrence River valley, as well as the rearing of sturgeon fingerlings at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Genoa National Fish Hatchery (WI). DEC and federal partners are implementing a restoration plan that includes a minimum of five years of fingerling stocking in selected tributaries of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River to facilitate reestablishing lake sturgeon populations in those waters. The Genesee River had a substantial lake sturgeon presence into the early 1900s that included "monster" sturgeon. The river has been the focus of recent restoration activities that included habitat evaluation, stocking of 1,900 fingerlings in 2003 and 2004, stocking of 1,000 fingerlings in 2013, and an evaluation of the success of those fish. Results indicate that a number of those released sturgeon are residing in the Genesee River and nearby Lake Ontario and growing well, with weights ranging from 10 to 25 pounds. And the beat goes on.......

Nautitroller... thanx for the link to the Ithaca paper article. These guys will take awhile and with the lamprey in Cayuga.....well, really, I think the sturgeon will make it. Evidently lamprey are a native in some NY waters. And with what seems to be a successful effort to reestablish paddlefish into Chautauqua (and the Alleghany river?) and continuing efforts with Atlantics in the Big O, I like where some of my given money is being spent......(not meant to start political arguments...). Past work to build walleye populations in NY seem to be paying off in many places too. And the trout "purists" can point to some real benefits as well. Let's just keep those bighead and silver carp away.

Great discussion. Getting out there while keeping eyes (not 'eyes.....) open then putting it together are keys. And noting the what, when and how of any "stumbled upon" successes and putting them to use again can reap great benefits as far as catching is concerned. I don't believe in "fluke" or accidental catches. Fish respond with the feeding or attacking mode for very real reasons. When it's easy pickings, it is a breeze. But when the going gets tough.....and barring some real awful environmental changes (major industrial spillages or something that just flat out kills fish), one has to dig deep and try new things and tactics. Those wacky or "fluke" encounters need to be detailed and enabled to "crack the codes" to catching hard to get fish.....For shallow 'eyes after dark lightweight floating sticks can be worked slow and easy even in weed cover. I like original floating Rapalas in small sizes. They are a pain to get out there because they are so light, but that is why they work well. My second might be Flatraps, because they cast easily. We're casting close to shore now.....

UPSTATE.......That is......like........WOW!!! 6lb test. No leader. Fishing for bass probably. That is totally AWESOME! I say this in complete jest....Unless your wife (beautiful) is a midget, or you nicely Photoshopped.....that is a huge and fantastic catch under those circumstances. Not all the big ones get away.

Xellent!! :yes:

john1947.....that's some very good news. NNnnniiiiiiicce! Your last two posts are very encouraging. New tactics to get to those smallies and not the gobies. Keep on experimenting. You might catch some surprise big walleye out there too.........

zackblain.....Just now seeing your pics.....Nnniiiiiicce! They are in there. And can be caught. Messy though, but maybe worth it if you can overcome the sloppiness. Possible to get a report on where when and how U were able to cut through the crap and be successful....?