muskiedreams

Isle View is the one I was talking about. Griffin Park Boat Ramp is another option that is free if you want to explore further up the river. It is a good launch located near the north end of Grand Island. Here is a Google Maps link. It is protected from the wind being behind Cayuga Island but strong west winds can be brutal once you get out on the river.

I have been told that after labor day it is free but I have not used it so I am not absolutely sure. I stopped there Oct 22 (before I was told about it) but was not sure so we went to the launch at Tonawanda Park (follow the river a few miles north and a bit past the South Grand Isle Bridge). That was the only time I had the boat out this year. I know it used to be free after Labor Day and before Memorial Day before they instituted the yearly fee.

There's a serious ole lady for you, Old Man!! I wonder if Dr. Farrell's team does any spawning habitat surveys in that area. It would be nice if the DEC would consider the possibility of stocking SLR strain of muskies in the eastern basin bays and few bays and rivers along the south shore. With the gobies compromising successful musky spawns on the SLR, I wonder if creating a few successful spawning areas outside the SLR system where there are less gobies might help to insure the survival of the strain. And maybe there would be a bonus of eventually creating musky fishing opportunities closer to home for many musky enthusiasts. It may also help reduce the amount of gas we burn traveling across the state to distant waters.

In St. Lawrence County, it is illegal to fish for bass until 3rd Sat in June. In al other NY waters of the Great Lakes it is legal to fish for them while they are spawning. That is also true for the finger lakes and other waters of NY. The VHS disease was the big reason for the die off. But now, because there are so many gobies in the Great Lakes, when an angler removes a bass from it's nest, the gobies will move in and eat up all the eggs in a frenzy before the bass can be released and return to the nest. So IMO the best thing the DEC can do for SMB is re-enact the old season start date and enforce no fishing for bass until the 3rd Sat in June. This will at least give them a fighting chance to hatch and survive. But my guess it that they are greatly influenced by tournament organizers and their sponsors in the name of profits. This video shows gobies on a nest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWt_uffYZ4M

Here is part of a weekly email I get from the DEC that explains a little more. So there are some exceptions to the rules in specific regions or waters. So it is always a good idea to check because sometimes they change those also. DEC Reminds Anglers of Special Fishing Regulations In Effect for Upcoming Fishing Seasons Opening Day for Many Cool Water Species Opens on May 1, Except in Border Waters The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation today reminded anglers to always consult the fishing regulations guide to ensure they are complying with the seasonal restrictions and waterbody-specific rules before heading out onto the water. Fishing regulation changes implemented earlier this year replaced the floating "Saturday" season openers in most - but not all - locations with a fixed May 1 date, in addition to other improvements to enhance fishing opportunities across the state. Special regulations often apply to border waters such as the Delaware and West Branch Delaware rivers, Greenwood Lake, Lake Champlain and its tributaries, and Indian Lake (NY/CT). For instance, the walleye season for Lake Champlain and its tributaries will continue to open on the first Saturday of the month of May each year, which is May 7 in 2022.

A question about pike season opener came up in another thread and I posted some info from the DEC to try and help clarify the changes. So I thought it deserved it's own thread for those who have questions. Below is a copy of what I posted. In it there is also a link to the DEC's full 2022-2023 Fishing Regulation Guide. Yes, starting this year it is May 1st (it used to be 1st Sat in May). That also includes opener for pickerel, walleye and tiger musky. They wanted to get rid of the "day of the week" start and stop dates in favor of 'month/day". Here is a link to the 2022-2023 regulations. From this page you can go to various sections of the regulations to get more detail such as creel and size limits, special regs etc. https://www.eregulations.com/newyork/fishing The cover page gives a basic list of changes for state wide regulations but there may be some variations in specific waters (and maybe counties) such as some southern tier tribs. Here is text from that page that gives the basics for pike, pickerel, walleye and tiger musky. New specific dates replaced floating dates for statewide season openers to include: May 1 - Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel and Tiger Muskellunge; June 1 - Muskellunge. (Note that in 2022, DEC will allow for the fishing of muskellunge beginning the last Saturday in May to accommodate previously planned fishing trips); and June 15 - Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. Note that the opening day for musky is June 1st but THIS YEAR they are allowing people to fish for musky on the last Sat in May (this is for waters like Chautauqua Lake and Waneta Lake). Also note that musky in the Great Lakes from Lake Erie to the St. Lawrence River does not open until June 15th which is 3 days earlier than the third Sat (which it used to be).

If you did, it was a fluke. There are a lot of northerns in Ibay though. Many of them are pretty small now though.

Didn't know exactly where to post this. Please pass the word, maybe in other forums and other places on LOU so maybe it will help someone. I saw an upper outboard motor cover about 10:15 am today on side of road that someone must have lost while trailering. It is small to medium size (maybe from a kicker) mainly grey with some graphics. Might be somewhat older model. Saw it on the transition ramp traveling in Rochester, South on Rt 590 going to Rt 490 West. It was on the right side of the ramp which is single lane with barrier walls on both sides and no place to safely pull over. To be safe, it would require help from Monroe County or NYS police to retrieve it. Could not tell it's condition other than it is in one piece.

I just became aware of this in a weekly email I get from the DEC and I found this article. This fish was caught in a very small private residential lake. It goes to show that big fish can be found in small places, including private lakes and ponds. What a slab!! https://www.fieldandstream.com/fishing/new-york-angler-catches-largest-crappie-of-all-time/ The photo got squeezed horizontally in this posting so for a realistic view go to the link.