Second Chance 22

Fished the North end of Canandaigua this morning. Couldn't find the fish and couldn't buy a bite. Trolled spoons and sticks. Water temp 37 degrees. Marked a few fish on the bottom in 150FOW to 200 FOW. Marked zero bait. While I was washing lures and having a nice boat ride, Ron Fox pulled this 13 pound 4 ounce brown out of a pocket of 40 degree water on the South end.

A major source of pollution in the Owasco watershed was the Village of Groton Waste Water Treatment Plant. One of their customers, Fingerlakes Aquaculture, was contributing up to 120,000 gallons of waste water (including fish poop) to the WWTP each day. As a result, the treatment plant was exceeding their capacity and in violation of their NYS permits. DEC stepped in and worked with the Village to increase the capacity of the WWTP and set strict disharge limits (especially for phosphorus). I think the problem was identified around 2006 or so and that the upgrades to the plant were put into place around 2009. At any rate, a major source of pollution has been removed from the Owasco watershed.

All of the guides and charter captains that I know are the first ones to protect the resource.

Thanks for this excellent report. One thing that you should keep in mind is that DEC did not fin clip lakers stocked in Canandaigua before 2004. As a rule of thumb, if you catch a Laker there under about 25 inches and it doesn't have fin clips it is probably wild. If you catch a Laker over 25 inches - you usually can't tell. Odds are the bigger fish you saw aren't wild, but were in fact stocked. The 9 pounder you saw with a clip would seem to be an exception to the rule. Traditionally the catch on Canandaigua has run about 75% lakers and 25% bow's and browns. The last couple of years the catch has run 90% lakers and 10% bow's and browns. Clearly, more Lakers need to be taken. Thanks again.

Sean, I am pleased that you are keeping diaries this year. With the number of fish that you catch, I truly appreciate the extra effort involved. The data reported will be very valuable. I caught one of the reported rainbows and it was also the biggest. All that sounds pretty good except with only two reported it is in fact dismal. Owasco only had 11 diary keepers in 2010- the lowest number since the program started in 1966. Even if you only fish Owasco once or twice a year, everyone should consider particpating in the diary program. Region 7 will let you record your Owasco trips in the same diary used for Cayuga, Scaneatles and Otisco.

This summer DEC will officially propose raising the size limit on Otisco tigers to 40 inches. This will be followed by a public comment period and if all goes according to plan, the new regulation will take effect in 2012. DEC diary angler cooperators caught 26 tigers ranging in size from 17 to 39 inches last year. 18 were caught from open water and 8 were caught through the ice. 96% (25 out of 26) were released. DEC believes that Otisco has the potential to be a quality fishery and that : 1) this change will benefit the resource and 2) anglers will support this change.

Indian, I agree with your statement about rainbows having up and down years. But, these are clearly not the "good old days". In 1980 Seneca Lake diary cooperators kept 429 rainbows. In 1981 they kept 797. However, they only kept 11 in 2009 and 18 in 2010. Data regarding Canandaigua angler rainbow catches demonstrate the same pattern. Rainbows absolutely need the proposed regulation changes (and a lot more IMHO) to boost their population. As to your desire that we should eliminate all of the introduced species that would mean Canandaigua would only have lakers (no browns or rainbows), Kueka would only have lakers ( no landlocks, rainbows, or browns), and Seneca would have lakers and landlocks (though landlocks would have to be maintained by stocking since they are unable to reproduce). I think most of my fellow anglers would think this would be a very boring fishery. As far as your statement that DEC should cut down on the number of lakers that is exactly what they are trying to do by their proposal to raise the limit on lakers to 5. Actually, the only way that this will happen is if anglers elect to keep more of their laker catch instead of releasing them- most don't keep their limit of 3 as it is.

Those wishing to keep a diary for Region 7 (Cayuga, Owasco, Otisco and Skaneateles Lakes) should call the Region 7 fisheries office at 607 753-3095 ext 213. Anglers wishing to keep a diary in Region 8 ( Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua, Hemlock and Canadice) need to call 585 226-2466. In either case, they will send you everything you need to get started. The success and quality of the information obtained from the Angler Diary program depends upon angler participation- the more the better. A hearty "THANK YOU" to those of you that are diary keepers.

Each angler that participates in the DEC's angler diary program receives a "report" on each lake that they keep a diary on. In region 8, I keep diaries for Seneca and Canandaigua (way to much work on Keuka). As such, the reports for both lakes contain the info on the proposed changes to the possesion limits and the proposed stocking of rainbows. In addition, we were lucky enough to have the Senior Aquatic Biologist for region 8 give a presentation on the regs changes to our fishing club's annual banquet in February. They plan on posting the angler diary reports on the DEC website before May 1st. I don't know how many years ago that you submitted your petitions- it is entirely possible that people you submitted them to are now retired. More than 35 years of angler diary reports show that the rainbow population has declined markedly and needs help. Similiarly, the catch rate for lakers is such that it suggests an overpopulation of hungry lakers- hence the proposal for an increase in the bag limit for lakers. Also, it is my understanding that the steelhead/rainbow population on Lake Ontario and its tribs has rebounded since the bag limit was reduced to one. I strongly encourage everyone to participate in the Angler Diary program.

A story ran in the Star Gazette a few days ago that there would be NO electrofishing in Catherine Creek this year due to the cold and the high water. For what it is worth, DEC no longer publicizes this event because past shockings have resulted in traffic jams and unruly behavior- your basic public nuisance. Last year I caught the tail end of their electroshocking, but only because I happened to drive by at the right time.

It's at the Clute Park Community Center in Watkins Glen. Located on Route 414 just across the access road from the launch site on the canal. You can't miss it.

Yes, the flea market is Sunday from 9 to 2. Weather forecast for Sunday sucks for fishing, might better hunt bargins at the flea market.

Canandaigua is stocked with zero rainbows. Laker stocking is 12,100 spring yearlings and 24,100 fall fingerlings. Brown trout are stocked at the rate of 8,000 yearlings annually. The reported take of rainbows and browns has been declining for years on Canandaigua- the same general pattern as keuka and seneca. About 19% of the lakers in Canandaigua are wild fish compared with 65% for Seneca and 100% for Keuka.

I've asked the fisheries biologists as recently as this February about the possiblity of closing sections of the tribs as nursury areas ( I believe this is done in some Michigan rivers) but they are opposed to it. Significant monies have been spent to provide public fishing rights on these streams and they are reluctant to limit angling opportunities.

I don't have a web link yet for comments on the proposed changes, which haven't been posted on line yet. The number for region 8 is 585-226-2466. Written comments can be sent to: NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Region 8 6274 East Avon-Lima Road Avon, New York 14414-9519

Some of the dead rainbows your finding are probably due to the result of the stress of spawning, however I wouldn't be surprised if most are the result of human activity. One year there was a story about some "sports" that dynamited a hole in Montour and killed something like 50 or 60 trout- luckily they got caught (the crooks that is, not the fish). Once while fishing Catherine downstream from Millport I discovered quite a few small ballons floating in the creek- most stuck on snags. I took me a while to figure out what was going on- they were trotlines baited with spawn- about 30 in all. I reported it and helped the warden remove the lines from the creek- they only contained one sucker,but it makes you wonder. I don't think the perps were ever caught... Others practice the "art" of thumping where they drive the fish from cover in an attempt to net them. Nothing like a good kick to the midsection to kill a rainbow- in about a week or so. Some of the dead bows you see are probably the result of this activity. I watched a guy take his limit of bows, put them in his car trunk and go right back to fishing. When he returned to his car with his second limit, an ECO was waiting for him. This has a happy ending- he lost his licence for 5 years. I quit fishing for rainbows in the tribs about 10 years ago. I just couldn't take it any more... seems like everyone out there is determined to destroy the fishery. People treat rainbows the way we should treat lampeys. Sorry for the rant. Thanks for letting me vent.

I received my region 8 diary yesterday. You should see your packet soon. Lot's of info enclosed this year. No word from region 7 yet. They hope to have the diary reports on their website before May 1st.

Natural reproduction of Lake Trout has increased in Seneca to the point where two thirds of the population consists of wild fish, so a reduction in stocking is needed to keep the expanding laker population in line with the forage base. DEC has proposed reducing Lake trout stocking from current levels to about 28,000 yearling equivalents- about a 33% reduction. They have proposed stocking 10,000 yearling rainbows in Catherine Creek each year for 5 years. According to DEC literature, these would be offspring of wild adult rainbows collected from the Cayuga Inlet fishway and raised in the Bath fish hatchery. Each rainbow would receive an adipose fin clip to differentate them from wild fish. Results of these stockings will be evaluated using spring electrofishing and angler diary reports. To my knowledge, this is the first time in decades that Catherine has received any rainbows. Cold Brook on Keuka lake is also proposed to recieve 5,000 rainbows annually. These would also be marked with the adipose fin clip. Current stocking levels of Browns of Seneca will continue at 43,000 fingerlings and 21,600 yearlings. Another lampricide treatment is planned for Catherine Creek this Summer and the lamprey barrier will be evaluated to see if it is effective.

Sean's boat is a 23' Parker. A complete discription can be found at reelhookedup.com

Due to the overpopulation of lake trout in the western Finger Lakes, Region 8 DEC has proposed the following changes in the creel limits for trout/salmon in Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua, Canadice and Hemlock Lakes: "1) Reduce the creel limit of rainbow trout in the tributaries from 3 to 1 per day. 2) Reduce the creel limit of rainbow trout in the lakes from 5 to 1 per day. 3) Remove the restriction in the daily limit where no more than 3 lake trout may be harvested as part of the 5 trout and salmon allowed and allow up to 5 lake trout to be harvested per day. Therefore the new regulation will read: Daily Limit: 5 in combination (catch shall include no more than 1 rainbow trout or 3 landlocked salmon)". These changes are only proposals and and if enacted would take effect in October 2012. Region 8 DEC is seeking feedback regarding these proposals.

According to Pete Austerman, DEC Aquatic Biologist, "The 2011 spring electrofishing on Naples Creek will be Thursday, March 24".

I sure could use a few slow days if they include fish like that one!!!!

The FLTA fishing tackle and outdoor show is on Sunday March 27 from 9AM until 2PM. (It's always held on the last Sunday in March unless that day happens to be Easter). If you need more info please call 607 765-9866.

Most of the Creek is iced in- doubt it will be fishable before next weekends thaw. (Season closes Friday).

I've always heard it was bad luck to shot a white deer. A few years back a hunter in the Watkins Glen area died while draggging out a white doe..... (massive heart attack)! I guess the same thing could have happened with a brown doe, but who knows?