Canandaigua 9-16-23

[Sk8man]

Decided to go solo about 8am after rainbows. launched at north end and set up near the pump station on west side. It was pretty breezy so I decided to run just two five leader Seth Green rigs to try out some small Elmer Hinckley spoons I recently received instead of the usual three rigs..

Trolled to just south of Menteth Point and had first hit and run that took out drag but gone when I got to the rod. Checked temps with the X4D. 71.8 surface and 54 degrees at 62 feet. I had set up both rods with the new #87 spoons in gold, hammered gold, hammered silver and plain silver. I was trolling in 200-220 ft of water and varying speeds but 1.9-2.1 at ball seemed best for these particular spoons.  I started getting hammered by 2-3 lb bows and went 9 for 12 on them (all released unharmed). No real big ones but it was a lot of fun with the jumpers etc. Very strong year class apparently and good sized school of them there. I worked it until about 2PM when the wind started making things less fun. The fleas were horrible even some on the probe rigger wire. and they were the fishhook variety so not easy to get off either.  Saw a few other boats working the general area but didn't see whether they did anything.

 

Edited September 17, 2023 by Sk8man

[signalman]

Good going Les. Mkie and I went to oneida today got some perch and a couple keeper eye,s,plus if there was a sheep head derby going on we would have won it,lot,s of them great fighter,s though fun to catch.

[Sk8man]

Cool Mike. I used to get a lot of those Sheepshead at Mays Point in the old days on those spinning rods with 6 lb test seemed like forever getting them in

[Gill-T]

Wait a minute Les. You took a picture of some snot on your line but no pictures of those beautiful Canandaigua rainbows?  

[Sk8man]

Well I was solo remember....I did start taking pics with my phone and almost dropped it in the water and that ended that. The ones I took weren't great either but i'll post the ones I took. All fish were released in the water by the way. These are the least blurry

[Gill-T]

(Little does Les know I use use the background in his pictures to figure out where he is fishing).  Shhh 🤫 

[greenhornet73]

I was in Canandaigua for the weekend and ate at a restaurant on the water last night and they had beer battered walleye as a “daily special”. I didn’t ask the waitress but are there walleyes in the lake? The harbor was beautiful and I’d like to visit again but I have never fished Canandaigua.

[Sk8man]

[Sk8man]

Greenhornet there used to be Walleyes in here a long time ago but for many years I never heard of any being caught until recently when a friend who is a guide out here caught a good one in his boat. the thinking is that it may have been introduced into the lake from elsewhere.

[greenhornet73]

Sounds like Skaneateles, they are in there but not enough to target them.  

[troutman10]

Thanks for posting. Seems like less and less reports on here. Fleas were bad last time I was out as well. Had to hand line in a couple times. Those bows are a good time, no doubt about it.

[Sk8man]

Hard to tell if it was a "one of" or not.

 By the way for rig fanciers I don't run my rods in the rigger holder it was just there while I was cleaning the fleas

Edited September 18, 2023 by Sk8man

[Fbog12]

Nice job Les.  I'm hoping to get out for the last couple hours of light on Thursday.

Long time no see!  Stop in some time for a chat.  I'm at 21 Parrish on Tues/Thur/Fri.

Ted

[adesalvo]

Great Job Les! 
 

I am more curious on how you took those leaders off solo and still got the fish to the boat!  
 

what pound weight did you use on the end of your rigs? 
 

 

[Sk8man]

Will do thanks Ted. Anthony.  The leaders have spring clips (homemade) at the end which snap to the bead chains so it is just a matter of setting the rod in the holder while I hand line the leaders in. It can be a bit hectic when either 2 fish are on one rig or there are fish on two rigs at once Usually I run three rigs even solo. I use 40 ounce weights that I get from Troutman87 (Harvey) and they work great. I coat them with Plastidip to minimize lead contact and prevent boat scratches.

Edited September 20, 2023 by Sk8man

[Pequod1]

Stop messing around with those silly things Less and start looking around for the yellow ones with the black stripes😁😁😁

[Sk8man]

It is  coming soon to a location near you Jim

[cinnamon fish]

I'm curious if anyone might have an updated flea report for Canandaigua.  I know Les said they were bad back on 9/16 but I'm wondering if the cool weather we've had since then may have eliminated them by now?

[troutman10]

Hopefully the fleas have decreased. We got into them pretty bad on the 10th. Even had to hand line in a fish or two bc of the fleas. Would like to break out the braided dipsys next but don't want a mess.

[Sk8man]

Once the water temp goes to about 60 or less they will dissipate. A few more cool nights.....

[Dan P]

Thanks for the report Les. I’m hoping to get out there a couple times this fall. Love it in the fall

[troutman10]

Was out Saturday evening. Fleas were non existent. Guessing that may change with warmer weather this week.

[Sk8man]

Me too Dan. Hope,to see you out there soon. Thx troutman10. I was hoping the cool nights would get rid of them.