bosco

There are no engine size limits on Honeoye. They don't have a speed limit either. Just a noise limit.

A Walleye rookie would likely have better luck fishing more productive Walleye waters like Honeoye or Oneida. I've been skunked 4 X out this year on IBay and the River so I'm not inclined to act as an authority on those bodies....at least this year....but more often than not, in past years, I've had productive outings when I went at night. I think Sodus Bay would be more productive than Braddocks as well. I've heard they gather at the mouth of Black Creek on the River at dusk and dawn too but I've never tried it myself. I've heard good things about the river south around Avon as well.

I, personally, would have no reservations about eating a good looking eye or two out of the river. Even below the falls. I wouldn't make it a regular part of my diet but I don't think a meal or two is going to put my health at risk. Might not taste as good as a little 15" Honeoye eye but it's still any eye and its going to taste better than any bass or pike IMO

Yeah....Channel Cat. I'm no Phil when it comes to photographing myself with a fish though. I just tried to get a couple quick shots and get her back in quick. She was bleeding all over the place. Took the hook REAL deep. A big jointed Rap and the back treble was WAY down. Far and away the biggest Cat I've ever caught. And yes.....helluva fight.

Well....I PM's you with my program. But I've been out 3X and caught no eyes. Worst start I've had since I moved up to the bay. Last night I thought I'd change it up and tried the river. Again, no eyes, but I caught THIS ugly f'er. I think I'm going to have to hook up and haul out to Oneida or something.

Dude.....you've got your priorities backwards. Joking. Leave the yak at home. I'll take you out in the boat.

Hey Phil.....you catch any in-season Walleye yet? Man....nothin lights up the frying pan like a nice 18" eye. I've got a buddy taking me to his holes on Seneca for Perch on Saturday. Says I've got to fish with a blindfold though. Doesn't want to give up any locations. Then it's on to I-Bay late Saturday night for an eye run after a wedding. I've only gotten out twice, briefly each time, and haven't boated an eye yet so I'm looking forward to that.

I use Fireline for long-line trolling only. 100-150' back and you can see and feel every twitch especially when using sticks and cranks.

Wal-Mart or WestMarine would probably have one of those battery operated stern lights with a "C-clamp". It's like a flashlight on a stick. I'm sure with the resourcefulness you exhibit in rigging that yak of yours you'd be able to get one of those on it easy enough. 2 D batteries and yer good to go. And ya know.....you seemed to do pretty well on the eyes before the season opened. Now you're doing well on the bass before the season opens. Might be a good idea to wet your line in some Musky waters right about now.

Yeah Phil.....can't keep those bad boys off the line this time of year. My folks have a place on Honeoye and it was my home water until I moved up to I-Bay. I caught more monster largemouths down there this time of year than I even cared to. I think you'll have better luck on the eyes after dark this early in the season. But keep it up and keep trying. They'll start to turn on if they haven't already and you'll start figuring them out.

Wow....I-Bay is 55-57 and I'm not finding active fish.

Blanksville here. Friday night I went from midnight to 3:30AM before I threw in the towel. One very large silver perch and a couple hits but they didn't feel like eye hits. Tried tonight from 6:00 to 10:00 and did even worse. I few short hits on the worm harnesses, panfish I presume, but nothing in the boat. Worked hard but couldn't even really get a good looking screen. Looks like Oneida is the place to be spending the time. No surprise there but I'm going to stay close to home, keep putting my time in, and learn the spring patterns for my home water.

What are the surface temps on Oneida right now? Thanks

Now that's a wicked cool setup. I'll keep an eye out for you but I usually launch at night after everyone has pulled out and I usually pull out early in the morning before anyone has launched. If not, have a teriffic season.

So Phil....you made it through your first Rochester winter. Congratulations. Did you get out on the ice at all?? And I can see a glimpse of that kayak setup you've been talking about in that pike photo.

I don't think anyone thinks they CAN'T catch eyes early season in the daytime. For me, it's just a season opening tradition. I prefer to fish at night because there's only two kinds of people on the water at that time. Walleye fishermen, and Walleye fishermen. The yahoos on the pleasure craft and the bass men ripping the spawners off their beds are nowhere to be found. I do believe I catch more at night, but for me, night fishing is more about solitude and tranquility. That'a also why, more often then not, I go alone.

I had planned on it but I play in a band and we had a rather late add-on to our schedule for this Saturday night. I Imagine I'll be busy until the venue closes at 2:00. I may still take a stab at it after that but my brother-in-law is directing me toward possibly early Sunday evening. I'll be fishing I-Bay. The launch is so close to my house and I've really been trying to dial that fishery in the last couple of years with just a little more success and confidence each try. I got your PM regarding the panfishing on Honeoye too. Thanks. My brother and I went out 2 saturdays ago. A couple tiny bass, a couple small gills and one very nice Crappie. Hardly set the lake on fire but no one was doing anything from what we saw. And it was a beautiful day.

I know Landshark. I was referring to scramp's post. My folks have a cottage on Honeoye in the cove immediately south of California Point. I've sat there opening night with my boat in the hoist until 11:45 and watched boats working off the point and drop-off hours before midnight. I've gone out early to get that "spot on the spot" and anchored there waiting until midnight while guys pulled up on both sides of me and brought a bunch in. I'm not uptight about it and I don't claim that fishing a few hours before midnight will adversely affect any fishery one bit. And I think the chance of being caught by the DEC is just about zero. I just prefer to play it by the book myself.

Sure....there's plenty of folks that drop the lines a few hours early. I think some rationalize that they are merely bending the spirit of the law if not honoring the letter of the law. I'll let my conscience be my guide and others are obviously free to do the same. I had a friend die of cancer this past weekend. The first eye is for him. I've decided to start a tradition and let the first one of the season go in his memory.

Can't wait to get out. Taking the boat out for a run on I-Bay tonight to make sure everything is all squared away for 12:01 AM Saturday. Best of luck to everyone wherever they're going. I'm sure Honeoye, Oneida, and Conesus will be the preferred locations. Oswego River too if you like the adventure and flirting with a hard core game of bumber boats. Personally, I'd rather take in the solace and catch fewer and smaller if it means avoiding the crowds. I'll be looking forward to everyone's reports.

I've heard they're into the slabs on Sodus. Anybody put in on Honeoye? I'm trying for this coming weekend and a report or two going in would be nice.

oh....and I almost forgot....paperclips tipped with boogers. Gets 'em every time.

I-Bay for me. If it's like last year, I'll be the only one out there and I won't be disappointed.

Whew....good thing....I was beginning to think that perhaps you'd gone into Walleye fishing retirement.

The reports I'm hearing are that the ice is still plenty thick and plenty safe in many places.....but getting out to it is the problem. Open water between the shore and the main slab is hindering some folks. As always though....no fish is worth dying for. Be smart. Be safe. I'll be waiting until NEXT weekend to hit the ice again myself. I've got a buddy that promised to take me out on Seneca in his boat this weekend. He knows the elephant perch program there that the pros are so tight lipped about. That should be a nice change up. Then I'm going to think about concentrating on the nighttime crappie and walleye program again after that.