Cayuga jigging..

[bulletbob]

 I read a report from a member here stating he was doing better jigging in the evening than he was  in the morning... I have had times in the past when I have seen that myself.. I left candor around 2:30, and by the time I launched at T park and got to the area north of the plant it was about 4.. .. For the first couple hours it was a skunk.. No hits, no follows, and a sickening blank screen, in all depths.. I was not far from another boat with 3 guys jigging, and as they were pulling drift socks in and getting ready to leave, I idled up asking how they had done... They weren't real specific, but said they had caught some..   Then I was told that they were there all week, and that the fish were really turning on before sunset.. So It was around 6, and I decided to tough it out  and check out  his report..  made a move   a bit further north from where I was, not  more than a few minutes drive, and started my drift again  in around 70 FOW where most  of the few marks I had seen  were located.. At about 6:30 I began seeing that blank bottom start to come to life.. The fish were there all the time most likely, just laying  inactive on the bottom.. All of a sudden, I could see swipes at my jig as it fell.. You know the score,,Big red lines crisscrossing the bottom of the graph nere the jig,,
Started hooking up regularly.. I brought 4 to the boat by about 7:45, all nice clean fish, no marks.. I kept the first one to eat, released the others... Had several solid hookups that got off halfway up, numerous hits, and had a jig cut off  by teeth it seems... It was a hoot watching that color screen.. there were a TON of lakers down there milling around the jig, but not grabbing.. At one point, I reeled a laker up and he was followed up by a big swirling ball of other lakers, probably 10 or more..  Never saw that many follow a hooked fish.. One or two yes, but never a big school  like that.. Anyway, the fish went from dormant to very active in an instant, and then shut down completely  as it got darker around 8.. As always, you need to be there when they want to eat... I had decided I was terrible fisherman that could no longer fish a jig properly. Until the fish  wanted to eat of course, after which time I was reveling in my remarkable skills with a  jig!.
Met some guys at the ramp that had been south trolling  with riggers.. They had a few very small fish, nothing legal, and a couple of other guys that were fishing the shorelines with bass tackle, and they had caught nothing at all.

It sucked going out alone , but  I usually  have trouble getting people to go.. Most of my fishing friends don't like to jig or don't have the stamina it takes to work the jigs, and stand up a lot, or thet simply won't fish from a boat.. whatever...  btw, it was windy early on,, and when the wind dropped off is when the screen became  more active, so its possible that my presentation became more vertical, and thats why I started getting hit a lot.. Not sure, but when they started, they hit quickly, and when they shut off it was OVER...  It was good to get out again, even if it was solo... bob

 

[Tg8]

I found the same tendency on keuka as well. I will be there aug9-16 and have some further research done for you.

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[Sk8man]

Great report Bob. I do some jigging once in awhile and it helps that I have ice fished all my life and that is what your account reminded me of....waiting around for them to become active a flurry of bites and then somebody hits the shut off button   Nice going. I laughed like hell at your comment about (in my words) going from zero to hero with the jigging techniques....we've all felt that  "what the f" feeling when wee were doing the usual stuff and it isn't working

Edited July 30, 2014 by Sk8man

[flyrod2]

Bulletbob that we me in blue boat last evening and one who posted the evening suggestion. Took out friend, could not stay as late as I wanted to. Glad you stuck it out. I have luxury of  being couple minutes away so can hit those spots often and during week there is usually no other boats on the lake. We also hit them at noon. Just have to be there went they want to hit. Sent you a pm

[dawsonscreek]

I love jigging for lakers, its all I know. I've never Been on Cayuga but if you're ever stuck going solo send me a pm I'd love to go!

Edited July 31, 2014 by dawsonscreek

[gonefishing71]

great report, It seems I always have better luck at night,

[bulletbob]

great report, It seems I always have better luck at night,

 You know, its funny.. I am a firm believer in being on the water while its still dark in the am.. Right around "false dawn".. However Cayuga isn't always that way.. Some days I don't get a touch  in the morning, and then get them at noon.. Other times, evening is better, like its been lately by some accounts... I usually  like Seneca in the early am, but at times I do better there when the sun is higher in the sky, late morning.. The only lake that never fishes well for me except in the morning is Keuka.. I might be doing something wrong, but at Keuka, I start at first light and usually don't get a  hit after 11.00 am.. Its always best for me between 6 am and about 9 am.. Maybe I should try it some late afternoon... bob

[Tg8]

Late afternoon-evening works on keuka. Trust me:)

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[Lakertaker187]

Great report! I've been many times jigging and to finally have them flip the "on" switch is both awesome and rewarding. Btw were using rubber bodies or hard freestyle jigs? I use both some days one is better than the other. Tight lines!

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[bulletbob]

Great report! I've been many times jigging and to finally have them flip the "on" switch is both awesome and rewarding. Btw were using rubber bodies or hard freestyle jigs? I use both some days one is better than the other. Tight lines!

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  Once they started hitting size or color didn't seem to matter.. First one was caught on a dopey looking, stained old white twister tail, they whacked that hard a few times.. Others were caught or hooked on a  Chartreuse fluke,  also, Shad Fluke[i think this one was bit off as well],.. also landed one on a 1/2 oz chartreuse/white hair jig..  bob

[gonefishing71]

 You know, its funny.. I am a firm believer in being on the water while its still dark in the am.. Right around "false dawn".. However Cayuga isn't always that way.. Some days I don't get a touch  in the morning, and then get them at noon.. and about 9 am.. Maybe I should try it some late afternoon... bob

 

I agree, I'm a firm believer in being on the water while it's still dark in the AM, I love watching the sun come up with a pole in one hand and a coffee in the other

 

my wife however, isn't getting out of bed before 7 haha,  unless it's deer season,

 

so I get a few mornings solo, and a few night fishes in

[Tg8]

they turned on tonite around 730 on the north end of seneca, 105-115ft. We brought 3 to the boat lost two. And one lamprey. Sent them all back but the lamprey. They fought hard, and heavy, all in the 5-9lb range.My sisters first laker, u can see the excitement.

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Edited August 1, 2014 by Tg8

[Copperliner]

Interesting post!  My favorite pre-dawn - 9am or so morning jigging trips on Cayuga are usually productive (I enjoy the peace and coffee too!), but I've experienced several humbling afternoon/evening trips just the same.  Sun/moon cycles, cloud cover, barom. pressure, who knows....that's the fun of it.   May need to try a late-evening trip sometime though.  Nice to see Cayuga on the rebound this year, we're really blessed with this fishery.