Walleye condition at Pymy%21

[Eyeman]

The newspaper had a article concerning a bad fish taste in walleye's this year at pymy. I've also heard of bad smells on the lake which I have not personally noticed. I know the fishing is slow this year compared to years past. Something doesn't seem right!
Anyhow, the article in the paper related the off taste in walleye's to a chemical dumped into the lake this year. The chemical was supposed to kill Algae(sp.?). Does anyone have any info? Does any one agree? Again, the fishing is slow and the fish I've caught do taste stronger than normal!

Eyeman

[SAS]

There has been at least one other report of foul fish. Check it out a few pages back... it is titled "Smelly Pymatu". It also mentions a horrible smell on the lake. No one seems to know the cause in that string but a lot of speculation and denial.

[SUNSHINE]

I haven't experienced a foul smell or taste but I have to say that last year was one of my worst ever as far as success on walleyes goes. This year is shaping up the same way so far. I live minutes away from pymy and have fished the lake hard for over 35 years. Maybe my techniques are the problem but others feel the same way.

This stuff about the water being too cold makes no sense to me. Most years ice fishing and boat fishing in February and March is quite productive. Not the last few years.

At the fish hatchery open house an employee told me that in the not too distant past they decreased the stocking from 12 million fry to 4 million fry. He said they feel this didn't make much difference but I think they're very wrong. They estimate 10% survival but looking at what he called "stockable" fry , I could see no way 10% could survive. These fry are barely visible. Probably closer to 1% survival depending on conditions.

I'm sure there's good days ahead but I know I'm not the only who feels things are very different...

[CarpetBagger]

Sunshine, Your attitude will change one u start hittin em. Last year was one of my best on Pymatuning, and hopefully ill have the same resluts this year.

CB

[SUNSHINE]

CB,
I had some real good days last year also but if you think last year was good, you would have loved the late eighties / early nineties.

Some people thought there was too many little ones back then but hey , little fish are the future of fishing. And there ain't a whole lotta little ones (or big ones) in there right now. Believe me. Better yet, watch your fish finder.

My point is the Pa. fish commision wants you to believe they have nothing to do with it. They want higher license fees, etc. but when you run into one of these Pa. guys all you get is his power trip and his burning desire to write a ticket. Other states conservation officers (like Ohio's) actually seem to try to encourage fishing but Pa. WCOs like to detain your vessel for awhile and shake you down. And they're not bolstering the walleye fisherie at Pymy like they used to. And it makes a big difference.

[Spunkeye]

I would also have to agree that the last couple of years have been a little disappointing. I'll bet the new sewer systems they are putting in have something to do with the smelly fish. This is by the Ohio Cabins referred to as Cabin Beach. I was surprised to hardly see any Walleye on the Aqua View also. Is is possible that maybe the Walleye are far and few between? Will be there 04/20 to give it a try.

[smoker]

An increase is needed. I do adree that some wardens do have a power trip, but that has nothing to do with the increase. If you want to blame someone blame T.U. they are the ones that got convinced by some Dr. that if you shut down a hattery spring creek will be full of native brook trout. Eell they got what they asked for. A stream full of nothing. And the rest of us got less trout and a need to build another hatchery. Sorry for the rant, but it is the truth.

[Bones]

Eyeman,
What newspaper had the article on the bad tasting fish? I'd like to get my hands on it... I started a string on the bad tasting fish and the lakes smell a couple of weeks ago after a fishing vacation there. No answers. I could not find anyone! anyone! from the Ohio DNR who would try to find out what was going on at Pymy. I'm not surprised about that. But at least I'm not the only person to smell the smell and taste the fish... Its very sad that individuals and fisherman aren't mobilizing on the issue. Pymatuning is an excellant fishery and vacation spot for many people from both states. Would hate to see it ruined by procrastination.

[Eyeman]

The article was in the Sharon Herald. I fished the north end yesterday for a couple of hours and for the first time in years I got completely skunked! Especially considering it's April, which is usually prime time. It's not the water temp either! I've caught fish in Feb. & Mar. any other year. Something is wrong!!!

[Eyeman]

Eyeman,
I don't know if the smell has anything to do with the fishing. Most of the fish are in 5' or less right now (mostly males). The females should hold tight to cover and the steep breaks for another week looking for easy meals. Spawning is hard on them... Thanks for the answer on the article.

[Ben]

Ya i think you guys just arnt fishing the right places. Last year was one of best years yet. Most everytime we went out we limited. we limited on crappie a few times...a couple of times we had our wheelborrow filled with fish. The week that picked up was....the week right before the crappie tournament. Ill bet you guys will come back with a good report this weekend or if not this weekend next. Im positive.

Ben

[Dinky]

Back in the late 70s they also put in chemicals to retard the weed growth. The water stunk,the fish stunk and after filleting them you had a time getting the smell off your hands. The fish when cooked had a awful taste. I used to keep my boat up there at the time,I pulled it and have fished Mosquito since. Hows that for being stubborn? Thirty two years! Just hope they didn't pull that stunt again.

[userm8092@aol]

Myself and a friend fished Pymatuning this monday. WE fished the north end. I caught one eye that was 14 3/4 in long. I brought home three perch and one crappie, my wife cooked them for me the next day. The best way i could describe the taist, was like drinking a glass of water that had mud in it. We didnt notice any smell while on the lake though. I fished the same aeria two years ago, and we caught 88 eyes in four hours, but only three where big enough to keep. I must admit that i never taisted fish with that kind of flavor, it was like it was maranated in mud. Maybe there is something wrong, and maybe not. I just wanted to let everyone know of my personal experience. I am 55 yrs old and have fished the aeria lakes all my life and a lot of Erie days in there. I even have a diffeent boat for the small lakes and one for Erie. If anyone finds out what and if there is a problem, please let me know. Untill i hear something for sure I wont be eating any moore fish from Pymatuning. Jack

[rapman]

has anyone asked the pa fish commission or the ohio division of natural resources if any chemicals were put into the lake? who would be authorized to do this?
have waded the lake 6 times and have not taken a walleye. i know many have, but i am fishing the same haunts that i have for over 20 years. for some reason, i am in a slump. i hope the fishing is not going back the way it was in the late 80s. i, too, have swung over to mosquito, for the time being.

[LCL]

I happen to manage a bait store at pymatuning and have asked most everybody about bad tasting or foul smelling walleye, and have not had one report of bad fish i have fish in my display tank right now that have no odor. It is not possible that some fish taste bad and some do not come on now think about it?.the hitman has 61 keepers in his freezer right now that have no bad taste or odor. I think it's time to fish and not concern yourself in my opinion about something that doe's not exist.As far as the fishing goes the lake is a month behind but i have personally seen many limit's the eyes have begun to move to deeper water,i think this lake will explode with walleyes this week no matter what depth you fish in, as for the stocking program goes 6 million fry will be stocked this year as they have been in previous years the outlook for fishing this year is excellent and fair for next year. Now that i have gotten this off my chest good fishing to every one and go out and enjoy this lake and yourselves.

[hank]

if there in his freezer how does he know how they taste lol

[eyeman]

True! And if I managed a bait store I would not say anything negative about the fishing condition or taste. The fishing being off this year is a fact and it is dramatic. Again, I usually start pounding fish in March. It is more than water temp. believe me! I have never had such a slow spring at Pymy. and it's more than just slow. Something is off with the fish. Defrost some of that fish and taste for yourself.

[LCL]

I did taste the fish courtesy of the hitman and they were excellent, am heading to the causeway right now western reserve walleye assoc. is having thier walleye tournament today. I will be taking a poll to see if there fish have an odor and try to determine if there is a sewage smell. To you eyeman this is my first year of running a bait store.I don't own it i just run it. Have fished this lake for over 30 years and i call it my home so i'm sensitive to people who post on this site that the fish taste terrible,I have never had a bad tasting fish out of this lake yet.Asfar as mosquito lake goes msn reported trailers are dumping there holding tanks directly into the lake. There lake assoc. reports that they know about it but don't have the money to do any thing about it so you keep fishing mosquito it's quite possible that's where you got the bad tasting fish. LCL

[Eyemadman]

I have ate 18 walleye this year and they are better than ever! I have been eating walleyes out of the lake for 15 years and these fish taste better than all the other lakes I fish. As for a smell? Please get real, if there was a smell I would have posted a long time ago. Pymy is a clean and beautiful lake please do not tarnish it with the he said she said bull. I am from Pittsburgh so I have no financial gain posting this. I agree with LCL and there is no SMELL OR BAD TASTING FISH!!!!!!!!!! I know everyone is entitled to a opinion so if you do think there is a smell or bad taste PLEASE THROW THEM BACK FOR ME!!!!!!!!! Just Kidding Guys! Good Luck and Good Fishing!

EMM

[pymy]

I THINK THERE IS RAW SEWAGE GOING INTO THE LAKE I SAW A LOT OF STRANGE LOGS FLOATING AROUND IN THERE LAST WEEK LOL......

[TMK]

I'm as concerned as anyone about the strange smells and poor walleye fishing at Pymatuning this spring. The PA Fish Commission should step in and help us by doing the following:

1. Create a Walleye stamp to raise money to fund the activties of a special study group to investigate the smell. Charge five bucks for residents and 25 bucks for people out of state! And then the comission can fix Pymy and afford brand new Cadillac Escalades for their staff!

2. Reduce the number of fish stocked and the daily limit to two fish. They can say that the two fish limit is a sporting limit and not a consumption limit. That way we can say we limited out and still be politically correct!

3. Create delayed harvest artificial lure only walleye waters and somehow include an antler restriction!

The transmission on my boat towing vehicle went blew up on Thursday of last week! (2000 GMC Jimmy with 31,000 miles) Was really hoping to fish Pymy today! Car will be in the shop till atleast Wed.

Man I hope things are okay on Pymy. I had a great time fishing there last spring!

TMK

Man I hope

[LCL]

Just got back from the walleye check in at new bowers landing 85 teams were entered,got tired of getting odd looks from guys fishing the tournament when i asked them about bad taste or smell of there catch. Most said they have been here earlier this year and have eaten there catch which were excellent.I personally did not smell anything unusual while i was there the wind was blowing from the north right in our faces so you would have certainly smelled something unusual.Oh by the way for those of you that think there is something wrong with the fish because you're not catching fish there were 5 teams over 11lbs.with most oter teams in the 5 to 11lb range. So maybe you should change your tactics i still maintain that this is one of the best all around lake in ohio &p.a. (END OF DISCUSSION EXPECT NO OTHER POSTS ON THIS ISSUE) LCL

[rapman]

i have got a question, where were these strange "logs " sighted? maybe the state dnrs can take it from there. i too have fished this lake for almost 30 years and have yet to smell anything foul. i have not hit real good wading this year, but my timing and the high water have had negative results. i have talked to and seen waders with some real nice stringers. i live in warren, only minutes away from mosquito, but pass it by in order to fish pymy for walleye. i love this lake. i fished back in the mid 70s when the fish did taste like dead leaves and really hope this doe not occur again. i would strongly advise anyone seeing logs, smelling logs or anthing of the sort to contact ohio or pa and report this or at least get an explanation. good luck.......

[steely123]

My personal experience.

Fished Pymy in the north in 5-6 1/2 ft. of water. Picked up 4 nice and fat jacks and 1 beauty girl. Spawned out. As soon as I came off the bar into 7, 8 9 ft....NOTHING!

green chartruese jighead with only a minnow, no twisters, they didnt seem interested in anything else.

I launched at Padanaram(oh), no foul smelling water, and the boys and girls were tasty as ever. I took the wife out, she did awesome, catching the big female (19''). that is what I know...

it is good to see all the guys chiming in on this one, I like to hear a wide body of opinion on matters like this....

steely123....