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July 19, 2009 Section: News Page: 1E, 7E Canandaigua Lake, contender for 'lake trout capital' FISHING:Canandaigua Lake remains safe from predatory species such as sea lamprey, which are found in larger waters, so trout live to a ripe old age and are among the biggest catches in the Finger Lakes. ADAM HEROD [email protected] CANANDAIGUA - Though this year's Canandaigua Lake Trout Derby has come and gone, trout season is open all year to fishermen. That leaves some wondering:Are there bigger fish in Canandaigua Lake than the 13.36-pound lake trout that made Thomas Slawson, of Genesee, Pa., champion of this year's derby in June? Al Woodhead, chairman of the derby throughout its 28-year existence, believes the largest fish caught out of Canandaigua Lake was a 15.72-pounder caught by June Jensen. "That's the largest fish we have had in this derby," he said. This may be true for the derby, but according to the following stories from Herbert Kierst and T. J. Lenz, Jensen's lake trout is a mortal among giants. According to the state Department of Conservation, lake trout can age up to 20 years, and the state record was a 39-pound specimen caught in Lake Placid, Essex County. The DEC says people revere trout for their beauty, their fighting abilities when caught and their delicious taste. The sporting aspect of catching trout has spawned trout derbies throughout the Finger Lakes, and has raised money for organizations such as Mercy Flight and Camp Good Days & Special Times. For Kierst and Lenz, Canandaigua Lake is a true trout playground for anglers looking to hook the fish of a lifetime. On May 23, Herbert Kierst was fishing with his son Jeremy, a state trooper who also finished second in the 2009 Canandaigua Lake Trout Derby, when Kierst's fishing career was changed drastically. "I caught the fish of my life," he said. "I have been fishing since I was 3 years old, and with all the thousands of hours and thousands of fish I have never, never caught anything such as this." Kierst was fishing on the south end of Canandaigua Lake, at about 11 a.m., when an 18-pound, 10-ounce giant bit the end of his line. "It took me 20 minutes to bring him in," he said. "Man, did he fight." Upon bringing the fish out of the water, Kierst and his son weighed the laker with two Rapala 50-pound digital hand scales. Kierst, an avid fisherman and school bus driver for Marcus Whitman Central School District, admitted some people fish their whole lives and never catch anything with such size. Larger yet was the monster Lenz caught on Memorial Day 2008. The fish, a lake trout, was the biggest fresh water fish Lenz had caught in his lifetime. "I, too, have been fishing since I was three or four, and know this was a once-in-alifetime fish," he said. He caught the lake trout around 8 a.m. in front of the pump house on West Lake Road, where a 90-foot hole is commonly fished by trophy seekers. "I felt bad keeping it at first, because it was such a specimen," he said. Lenz, with the help of his fishing partner, weighed the fish on a Berkely 50-pound digital hand scale. The outcome, 21 pounds. "Our first thought on the boat was, is it real?" It didn't take much convincing for Lenz to understand his 20-minute fight had rewarded him with one of the biggest lake trout caught in the Finger Lakes. Canandaigua Lake is not in competition for the largest and best crop of fish, but the size and quality of the trout species rival those of Seneca Lake. Both, after all, are touted as the "Lake Trout Capital of the World." According to Woodhead, sea lamprey, a type of jawless fish, are preventing lake trout in Seneca Lake from aging, in turn, keeping them from reaching trophy-like sizes. The DEC reports that sea lamprey attach to a host fish and drain its body fluids, often killing the fish. It is believed sea lamprey were brought here from Europe by seafaring vessels launching in the Great Lakes. Lamprey could have been floating in the bilge of these boats, and found their way into new territories through channels connecting Seneca Lake and Ontario Lake. Taxidermist Phil Hershey, of Custom Taxidermy in Canandaigua, has been a taxidermist for 35 years and has his own theory about the great quality of Canandaigua lake trout. "It appears to me, through my work," he said, "the growth rate in Canandaigua lake trout is slower, rendering them larger fins and a healthier appearance than that of even the Great Lakes fishing crop." Taxidermist Ric Cleveland, of Flint Creek Taxidermy Studio in Rushville, agrees. He has been a full-time taxidermist for 10 years. "I work on animals including those from the Adirondacks and other Finger Lakes, and the fish that come out of Canandaigua Lake are very healthy and have such great color," he said. It is evident these fish are not the only large lake trout present in Canandaigua Lake. Many stories abound, including Mark Thompson's 22-pound lake trout caught in 1991, and Ann Mott's 20-pound lake trout caught in 2006. Woodhead said he has not witnessed fish larger than that caught out of Canandaigua. But that doesn't mean it's not possible. "They're in there," he said. A derby participant gathers trout caught in Naples Creek in a catch-net before weighing and measuring them. JACK HALEY/ MESSENGER POST FILE PHOTO A rainbow trout is proudly displayed to admiring spectators at the annual Naples Trout Derby on April 1. JACK HALEY/ MESSENGER POST FILE PHOTO Canandaigua resident T. J. Lenz holds his 21-pound lake trout caught on May 26, 2008. The fish stands as one of the biggest caught in Canandaigua Lake, along with a 22-pound lake trout caught by Mark Thompson and a 20-pound lake trout caught by Ann Mott. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Thanks cdgn troller for the final results. I don't know what I was looking at. Just getting old can't keep all those numbers straight Jay

Zebedee: Big fish caught this year. Results as of 3pm I didn't stay around for final results. Largest trout: Brown/Laker 1. 12.86 2. 12.84 3. 12.54 4. 10.48 5. 10.44 Rainbow 1. 9.38 Browns: 1. 9.65 I'll try to find the final results for you. (Mongo get on it) Thanks Jay

Congrats to the winners. Where did they catch the winning fish and what were they using? Fished all three days caught nothing but lakers 3 to 6 pounds. Had some nice fish on the line but luck was not on our side this weekend.

Coup Did you have any work (welding) done on the frame or just glass replacement? I had a piece of glass cut for the window but the window frame still comes a part to easily. I've been out with the current set up on the Finger Lakes with no problems I'm just worried on a rough LO day I'll loose another window or damage the hard top. Jay

I believe A-Tom-mik sells the ladder type tape that fits the spindoctors. Check their web-site at http://www.atommiktrollingflies.com. Tom sells great products at a reasonable cost. Jay

It's that time of year again. Fishing season less then a month away. Going through my boxes I noticed that my super slim and reg. dreamweaver spoons hooks were dull. I know I could probably sharpen them but I would have more confidence if I just replaced them. What size hook would you recommend? color? wide gap?etc? I also purchased a 1/2 dozen NK spoons at the LOTSA show. I've searched everywhere what size hook should I use on them? Thanks Jay

Tom When will you know if you have any 15# black faceted in stock? Jay

Chowder, I've used the offshore releases for years with no problems. I've cought alot of fish with them and really haven't lost that many. I use them on both the Flx and LO. I just place them deeper in the pad on the big lake. Thanks Jay

Thanks for all the info. I appreciate it!!!!

I used 20# FF last week on a couple of rods with limited success. (Who am I kidding the stuff was absolute junk!!!) We had fleas all over everything and it was like using 15# mono. For about the same price you can purchase Ande line. I used 30# Ande pink, it worked GREAT!!!! It is easier adding floro leaders then wasting the time removing all those fleas.

I am the proud owner of a 1995 Starcraft Islander 221V with hardtop. It is a great fishing boat and gets awesome fuel milage. Last week while fishing in the greater Rochester Area I hit a wave pretty hard which popped out my Starboard sliding window to the bottom of the lake. I called Starcraft and the window manufacture will no success. There is not much to this window- glass, stick on latch, and c-channel for the window to sit in. Does anyone know where or who I could contact to get a replacement so I can get back on the lake fishing? Thanks!!! Jay

Cannon S-N-T with coated cable

I've read about the use of flasher/flies on Seneca Lake and even tried them last week with limited success. Will they work on the smaller lakes like Canandaigua? If flies do work on the smaller Finger Lakes, what size do you use and what size flasher would be appropriate for such skittish fish? Jay

I just recently purchased 13 pound pancake balls from cabela's. They ran great for the first 4 hours then I had trouble with them crossing each other off the rear riggers. I went back to 10 pound balls with no problem. help!!! What am I doing wrong?

Frank, The creek is running fast with limited visibility in the water. The DEC shocked the creek last week and only had four fish with the largest being 6.5 pounds. Have a good trip. Stay safe. Jay