Anyone fished Lake Chautauqua recently?

[PETE/NY]

Just wondering if anyone has been to Lake Chautauqua lately and how they did. We were there yesterday from about 9 am-8 pm and caught 4 silver bass or as a local called them--white perch???? we tried everything for wallies, worms, leeches, cranks, jigs in the weeds but never saw a fish! We were checked by the DEC boys and they said as of 4 in the afternoon they had checked no one that had caught a wallye either. The water temp was 78 degrees and weeds were floating all over the surface no matter where we were. We fished the entire northern bay and guess we will wait til Fall before going back.

[Dave "Hog" Baldwin]

You probably need to come back in about another week as the water temp is too warm. Interesting, I've found that when rhe water temp drops even one to two degrees the fish tend to turn on.

[SeaNymph14]

Hi...Dave,
Any tips on where to try and what methods try for the Chautaqua wally's? I been out catchin a bunch of those white perch,but did manage 1 - 18" wally , been fishin 14-20 ft on west shore of lake... Any Ideas?

Thanks in Advance.....Rich

[Gilligan]

Pete..wish I had a report for you but haven't been on there since mid July. Did you have any wind when you fished? The shallow weed bite can be tough without a bit of wind to break the water clarity. If the fish aren't in the weeds look a bit deeper, I've found them suspended 15-20' down off the large north end flats.

You can thank the Chautauqua Lake ASSociation for all those floating weeds plus the uncontrolled spread of milfoil. They yearly poision/cut weeds destroying cover and spreading milfoil and killing the good weeds.

[Will S]

The Chautauqua Lake Musky Hunters are circulating a petition to cut back on the chemicals and weed cutting on the lake. You can contact Mike Sperry at CLMusky-Hunter@hotmail.com for more info.

By the way while fishing a musky tournament last weekend up there I had a 23 inch walleye grab my jerkbait along the outside weed edge. This was in the morning about 8am.

[PETE/NY]

Gilligan- thanks ofr the reply and others also. No there was NO wind at all that day. Just hot air and water temp! I think the best time as others said is in the Fall and early Spring. We tried calling you and Sluggo that day but guess you weren!t there. My brother inlaws name on the radio is Rainbow Gypsy. Hes talked to you guys before out on Erie. Guess I will concentrate on the deer hunting til the jet skis and kids go back to school. Pete

[Gilligan]

Pete.. actualy Chautauquas best bite is the summer weed bite. I think your poor sucess had more to do with the conditions along with the idiot weed cutters. KAWA and WPA walleye clubs both held tournaments there on July 14th with fish coming on the weeds and winning weights averaging 6#.

[Gilligan]

I tried that address and it kicked back.

[Ray]

Gilligan,
Pete has a bad back. thats why he did not catch any fish. Pete I want you to rest that back this week. when I get back from seneca this week we will plan a trip. and please put some ben gay on that back. Ray

[PETE/NY]

Gilligan- that Ray is a character!! I don!t know if you have ever met him but I have fished with him a couple times, hes a very good fisherman but hes been fisihng so much this summer he has fins growing up his back. Ray- My back is always better when I am out fishing or hunting. I think you are finally right- to heck with work, sit back and let the retirement checks roll in and keep the wife working!! Let me know when you get back from Seneca Lake.Hope you had a good vacation with your family. I woder if you make them stay out in the boat as long as you make me-HA HA!! I was going to e mail you back but knew you were on vacation. E mail e when you get home. Pete

[Will S]

That is the address that I have on my newsletter. Let me check into it more and I'll get back to you.

[Will S]

Gilligan, give this one a try without the hyphen:

clmuskyhunter@hotmail.com

[Buckeye twister]

Just got back. Caught 5 little fish on artificials. The lake is full of an algae bloom that turns the boat wake a peas soup green, especially the south end of the lake. Weeds have recently been mowed which has removed cover that they once afforded. Pan fish were biting on live bait from what I observed from other fishermen. I should have stayed on Lake Erie that day, but wanted a change of scenery, presentations and species.

twister

[Lund AnglerMJ]

Take the weed's,and the fish follow. Don't these goof's at Chautauqua #####-N know anything? Guess not. A few people should get involved in putting a stop to taking weed's from the lake. Back to fishin'.Anyone do any night fishing in the narrow's area for fall Walleye?Current set up by daytime wind's should put some in there.Anyone ever try it?

[Gilligan]

Lund..there are petitions circulating now trying to stop the poisioning of the weeds but in my opinion they stopped way short by not including the weed cutting. There used to be alot of coontail weeds just 4-5 years back and they have killed most of that with mostly milfoil remaining. I can get you a copy of the petition to sign (and hopefuly fill on up), drop me your address on email and I'll send it with the address to return it to. (See posts from Will S above)

I've wondered what the weed cutting crew would do if the fisherman followed them around and anchored up in their path? The DEC is afraid to control what happens down there. They seem of the opinion that the Chautauqua Lake ASSociation owns the lake.

I don't night fish anymore but last years fall nite bite was excellent. Look shallow at night. Many guys were even casting off shore around Long Point and getting good fish. I had a great fall day bite right up to ice 2 seasons ago but not much last season.

[KYBOB]

Planning a trip up soon. Just wondering how much damaged they done by cutting the weeds. Did they cut everything on the lower end or the South end I should say? Have they done any cutting in Bemus Bay or the North end? They do this every year. I don't know why this year should be any different.

Who would know? I will sign any petition to stop this nonsense.

KYBOB

[KYBOB]

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