Skunked Seneca Sunday 10-19

[tinker]

I hate to admit it, but I had two guests along and got skunked Sunday. The lake was gorgeous and flat, and the fall colors made a great backdrop.

Unfortunately, zero fish. Trolled perch Yo-zuri, black and purple R&R, a small silver/copper and various NK spoons in about 40ft from about 7:45 to 8:30.

Then switched to copper (I use it on a big reel), which is almost always picks up something if I can keep it clean. Dragged it north from about Samson to near High Banks, running a dipsy with various slow spoons on the other side. Granted, I got chatting and dragged a clump of weeds on the copper quite a ways, but still...

Changed to jigging near Belhurst around 10:30am. Nuthin. Dropped off my guests and tried a bit of jigging in the warmest water I could find, near Dresden. Nuthin.

My finder is acting strange... I'm thinking the transducer has finally had it... so I was unable to mark any fish, or my jig descending, just a faint outline of bottom.

I don't have downriggers, so that makes getting a multiple-rod program a bit more challenging.

Surface water temp was, uhh (brain strains) about 58.2 on the E side from Sampson to High Banks, a teeny bit warmer around Belhurst, and 58.8 near Dresden.

Anyway, I'd love to hear if someone else was catching on the N end of Seneca.

[Second Chance 22]

When I fished out of Sampson the week before you did the surface temp was 60 degrees- and it was 60 degrees 70 foot down. I don't think most people without a temp probe realize just how long it takes for these lakes to lose their warmth.

We trolled from south of Sampson in 90 fow until we reached the Officers Club and took exactly nothing. Turned out towards deep water and took a 6 lber on the turn in 120 fow. Trolled back to almost Lodi point and took about 25 lakers. All but four were taken on the same spoon fished within a couple of feet of bottom- three of the exact same size and color spoons caught exactly one fish while the one just of the bottom caught 20 or so...

Never did find any "off" fish. Hope this helps.

[tinker]

Thanks, Second Chance

Well, I'm actually pleased.. it would have hurt much more if you were running the same program as I ran and nailing them.

Funny, I spent the whole day in 100 fow or less, and didn't realize it till your post. I have no downriggers for now, so copper is about the only way for me to get down to 100+ ft deep.. given that I won't run meat rigs anymore. : )

I totally agree about water temp taking very long to cool off... and a long time to warm up in spring. I usually get at least one (intentional) swim in during October.

Good point about the water still being warm far down the water column. So the shallows aren't quite as magnetic... yet.

J