Hey.. Fellow New Yorkers!

[Sluggo / NY]

With walleye opener just two weeks away, my partner and I have been discussing where to head for the opening weekend. Where's everone think the bite will be? I'm torn between staying here on the Susquehanna and searching for post-spawners or hooking up the big boat and heading to Oswego, Black River or Oneida. Anyone got any good ideas? I know that the island area of Erie will be heating up, but that's a long haul for a short weekend! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

[scottcny]

Chris,
I'll probably end up on Onieda out of convience. We usally wade at midnight and then go out in the boat in the morning. No light on my boat. If i end up feeling a little ambiouse i thought maybe Otisco lake. I think that one is a sleeper, numbers are up finally and size is good. just the opposite of Onieda!

[Jim Schmick]

Hi Chris,
We will probably be fishing on Oneida,(my backyard), The reports in todays paper arent too good with only about 200,000 adult eyes.

I think the bite will be shallow, they are netting at hatchery right now. Which probably means eyes will be returning to Lake around openeing day.

Give me a shout on marine radio, usually ch 72.
luckyhook's the handle.

I will probably be in Lakeport area and if no good there then down to Sylvan Beach.

Good fishing

JIM

[scottcny]

Hey, Jim,

I agree with you on the shallow bite. I think the shallow weeds will be holding a lot of fish. Would be interested in hearing any other thoughts you have on how the opener might go this year on Onieda. Email me if you like.

Best of luck.

[MF]

HEY SCOTTY, be carefull on OTISCO LAKE .the launch is real bad and some one out there likes to cut trailer wires.had it done to my rig three times . there is very little parking and when you park they just walk down the street and cut your lights on the trailer.it is always a night bite , good luck MARK

[mf]

JIM, last year they said the same thing and VERYBODY i know had the best year in a LONG time.we had a great JULY .we also did evtremely well in the fall on the night bite. I dont think the way they estimate the # is a fare way of doing it. i had the boat radio on and verybody was getting walleyes .it will not be long now . see ya on the water

[water_wolf]

Hi Chris,
I will be doing the long standing tradition of pike fishing on Saturday. Then Sunday probably hit Silver Lake out of convenience or maybe Pt. Breeze if they are running there yet. However I do plan on making a trip up to Eastern Basin of Lake Ontario (Black River Bay, Chamount Bay area) Memorial weekend. If you are interested in going up that weekend gimme a shout and we can hook up. Good luck all.

Rich

[big red lund]

CHRIS, we are going for the haws on the BLACK RIVER if the water condition are better.that river can be nasty if the water is high. how did you do on ONIEDA last year?we did great and i think it could be another good year this year.i know guys that fished the weeds down near onieda shores park and killed then all year in the weeds.11ft of water. good luck, and hope to see ya again on onieda this summer. good luck at DUNKIRK this AUGUST

[jerkbt]

Just got back from the RCL @ Bass islands.What pigs!! However most now appear to have spawned.They should be clearing back into Onieda by the openner.May be a little to early to pick up the pigs @ Black river.Otisco is running a little high and I did not see any docks @ the ramps last wknd.Probably fish Onieda by constantia or by the south side launch.See you out there and at Dunkirk.

[Jersey John]

Chris,
Heading to Oswego for the opening weekend, might hook into some hogs there. Hope the boat traffic is low this year. Last year there had to be 50 boats in the river at midnight, what a mess! Wishing all a great walleye season, CATCH THE BIG ONES! JJ

[Gilligan]

Well since nobody is going west that must mean there won't be any crouds at Chautauqua. Had a good spring last year. All indicators point to some good fish in the system.

[sublux]

A question:..since I have an option to stay on Scaneateles Lake,..has anyone input on that body of water?

[eyedoktr]

Unfortunately, I'm not sure I'm going to be fishing the opener for the first time in about 30 years. My boat isn't ready and I don't know of any place good for wading. I normally fish Honeoye and do very well. It is rare not to limit out by casting medium divers over the areas that will have weeds in a month or so, or by creeks. I may just have to buy a canoe or something just to get out. Good luck all.

[scottcny]

Sublex,

Skenneatlas lake is on of the finger lakes. Primary game fish is Rainbows, lakers and land locks. There are some big perch in there too, 14-16 inches sometimes. he bad news is there is no walleye fishery in that body of water. Email me if yo udesier a list of walleye lakes close by. What dates will you be here?

scott

[Wondering]

Hi Jerkbt

How was the RCL? I almost got in that and from what I have heard I should have.

[Rich (sublux)]

Thanks Scott,...well,.. the thing is a friend is leaving for a year of travel and has a place on the lake that I can stay at,...so it just depends on when I can get away,...I might have to get my other tackle out and relearn how to fish for these other species.

[MF]

SUBLUX,if you go to SKENNY,fish by the sailboat club in 120ft of water and use a spoon like a sutton 21. the lakers love them.you can get in to some nice smallmouth bass near the docks .good luck

[rebs]

We are heading to chautauqua for the opening weekend
can you give us any advice or tips, we have never fished there before

[scottcny]

Rich,

Another option is just to the east of of the lake you will be on is Otico lake, another finger lake, this one has walleyes in it!! some piggies too!

[Gilligan]

Look in the deep holes on the north end such as Long Point And Mission Meadows. Fish will be near bottom. My favorites are jigging shads or Got-chas. Unless wind is to unruly try drifting to locate active fish. Usually there is a decent early season nite bite,haven't fished that in some years though.

[jk]

Hay that is one of my favorite places to go. Those walleye are ibg and usually there is noone else fishing for them. It seems to us that most people fish for bass or trout. And I don't mind getting a surpris muskie either. About the trailor stuff I don't know...jk

[jerkbt]

You should have gone!! Sonny and his group are trully committed,Where else would you get a full field payout(over250,000$)with only 78 boats fishing??Had a good time fishing with Eric Olsen and on the 4th day washout with John Phillips.Landed some truly nice fish,Port Clinton people were great.Would get in on any tourneys yuo can.I was @ 46th my dad got 5th 5,000$ for doing what you like.E mail me if you have any questions.

[Ness]

The ice on Canadarago is just about ready to go any day now. So I know where I'll go as soon as the season opens :-)

[TONY ON ICE]

CHRIS
Despite what the DEC has said about the low adult walleye populations in Oneida Lake, it will be another great year for the walleyes there !
The walleye netting that took place last week to collect the eggs for restocking programs was completed in a shorter timeframe that in the past 15 years and the egg take was close to record numbers.
While at the hatchery last week, I saw more 4 to 9 lb walleyes in the holding tanks than I've ever seen and I've been fishing the lake or 35 years and had a camp there for 15 years.
Even the male fish were larger than the DC said they were and the ratio of legal to sub-legal fish was at least 4 to 1 in favor of the legal (18 inch) fish.
The antiquated testing procedures that are used on Oneida are not accurate for the way the lake has changed over the past en years.
Marking off a 1/4 acre area and electroshocking that area is the system that's used and if two wallees come up in that area, it's determined that there are 8 walleyes per square acre with a 3 % slot for error.
The testing is still done in areas that are not used anymore by the walleyes for an length of time like in the old days.
With the invasion of the zebra mussels (which is the best thing to happen to Oneida Lake), the water clarity is greater and weed growth in waters of up to 40 feet is now a common occurence.
With these new weed beds, the walleyes are holding, spawning and feeding in these areas and no testing has been done anywhere near them yet !
The walleye fishery on Oneida was excellent all through last year whether it was open water or through the ice.
I believe that the new 18 inch size limit and 3 fish per day regulation was implimented to create a trophy walleye fishery to lure the PWT and other organizations to Oneida to hold their tournaments here.
There's no doubt in my mind that if the powers to be in the tournament trails saw the "REAL" population of 3 to 9 lb walleyes in Oneida, they'd be ringing our bell immediately !
The high water is doing wonders for the fishery on Oneida Lake this spring and the Perch population will also benefit once again from the high waters and boating ban on the lake that is still in effect as of today.

I'd be aiming for Oneida if I were you or anyone else looking for some excellent walleye fishing this season.
You have to see it to believe it !

[TONY ON ICE]

JIM
Don't believe the low walleye numbers reports that the DEC has sent out.
Talk to the people who fish the lake and spnd more than 100 days on the water there and you'll see that there's a huge difference in the findings.

I'm thinking the fish will be deeper than normal because of the high water levels and rapidly changing conditions along the shorelines.
Bernhards Bay and Taft Ba are always hot for the post spawn walleyes.
The south side of Willard Island in front of Bernhards bay will be where I'll start on the opener.
We had a camp ther for years and it was always easy pickings there no matter what the water conditions.
The weather means a lot for the opener and if it gets cool again like they're forecasting for the next few weeks, it could slow down their movements to the deeper drop offs and deep water shoal areas.
Pray for a south/south east wind on the opener and head to the north shore !
Too much commotion in front of Chittenango creek but Canaseraga is a good bet.

Are you related to the imfamous Charlie Scmick, the trap shooting retired truck driver ??
He's a good friend from way back !

Good luck !!

[Sluggo / NY]

Tony, Thanks for the great feedback and even greater news! I know a lot of people who have given up on Oneida, but I actually had one of my best years ever there last season. I can't say that I found any of those nine pounders, but we caught more "quality" fish than I'd seen in a long time. Although Oneida's not my main fishery..I fell in love with Erie..we hit it quite often as it's three hours closer. Hope to catch you on the water! Good Fishing, Sluggo (Chris)

[Kevin Pierce]

Im not sure of where to fish on opening day, as I will have to be off the water early afternoon. The DEC website has good things to say about Whitney Point reservoir, as well as a write up in april issue of New York Game and Fish. Says the 1997 hatch of eyes will most likely top the 18" size limit this year, and they say there are plenty of them. Fish the river channel, which closely parallels the western shoreline all the way. 25 horse restriction in the reservoir! Spillway will also be good, but may be shoulder to shoulder for a while.