Sean Youngblood

Lake herring will be stocked into Irondequoit Bay on Lake Ontario today, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and partner agencies announced today. Until the mid 1950s, Lake Ontario was home to a diverse group of whitefish that included as many as seven species that occupied varying depths of the lake. Only three species are known to remain, the lake whitefish, round whitefish and lake herring. The abundance and distribution of these species in the lake is now greatly reduced. DEC recently announced the first re-introduction of the bloater, a deep water form of whitefish, into Lake Ontario. Lake herring occupy and spawn in shallower water relative to the bloater, and spawn earlier in winter. "We recognize the economic and ecological importance of Lake Ontarios fisheries," said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. "Re-establishing spawning populations of lake herring in Lake Ontario will diversify the native prey fish community and add stability to the lake’s ecosystem." Re-establishing self-sustaining populations of native whitefishes in Lake Ontario is the focus of cooperative efforts between DEC, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, with supporting research conducted by The Nature Conservancy. Trout and salmon that feed primarily on invasive alewife can experience reproductive failure due to a vitamin B deficiency. Predators that feed on native species like lake herring and bloater are less likely to experience reproductive failure. Michael Morencie, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Services Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, said, Ontario has a strong commitment to restoring native species in Lake Ontario. This stocking event represents another pivotal benchmark in our efforts to restore native species diversity in the lake. Lake herring were once an important prey fish in Lake Ontario, and supported important commercial fisheries that collapsed in the early 1950s largely due to over-harvest. In New York waters of Lake Ontario, lake herring historically spawned in Irondequoit Bay, Sodus Bay, the Sandy Pond, and Chaumont Bay. Ongoing research has documented current lake herring spawning only in Chaumont Bay. The juvenile lake herring that will be stocked this week originated from eggs collected by DEC staff in Chaumont Bay during November and December 2011. Lake herring eggs were hatched and juveniles reared at the USGS Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic Sciences in Cortland, NY. Irondequoit Bay is adjacent to the Rochester Area of Concern (AOC), and is the focus of international efforts to restore habitats and human uses impacted by historic chemical contamination. Russ Strach, Director of the USGS Great Lakes Science Center, said, “We’re proud to be a partner in restoring lake herring spawning populations in Lake Ontario. It is fitting that we have selected Irondequoit Bay as our first stocking site, as we hope to re-establish a self-sustaining lake herring population associated with the Rochester AOC.â€

Here is a better pic. of the sticker points.

Here is more of the story.It less than a text book hunt.Got to my hunting spot just after day break to find were I normally setup was flooded out. So i set up on the edge of the flooded area wear I had very little cover to break up my out line in my tree stand.After about an hour I saw a small buck splashing around in the flooded timber.Couple more hours go by with no other deer.About 9 am I could here some movement on the hillside behind me.After a few minutes I saw a small buck about 60 or 70 yards up wind from me.I don't know if he saw me move or what but he started blowing and ran off away from me.About 2 minutes later from the same area I just saw the little buck run off from I see the 14 pointer at 40 yards heading right for me.He was looking right up at me.He dropped his head for a second to smell the ground and I drew the bow back.When he got to 20 yards still looking right at me he blows and starts to run away.I mouth grunted and at 30 yards head away from me he paused and I let the arrow fly.I spined him he goes right down.The arrow was a little far back to kill him but at least he wasn't going anywhere fast.Now he is crawling towards the water and I can't get a good shot because of the tall grass.I get a little window threw the grass I shot winged him in the front leg.One arrow left.He crawls into the water. I only have a couple of feet till he is into thick brush I shot and missed.No more arrows.I climb down out of my stand and he is doggy paddling much better than he was doing on land.I grab my arrows from my second and third shot.I can hear him splashing through the flooded brush I jumped into the water which is over my hips.After about 60 yards I caught up to him and gave him a lung shot at about 5 yards game over.It wasn't textbook or very pretty but I came out on top.20 inch inside spread new personal best.

Shot nice one this morning.Main frame 10 with 1 small drop tine 3 stickers on the base.

Was thinking of ordering a set of these pencil sinkers. http://www.ebay.com/itm/150895659629?ss ... 1423.l2649 I thought they would be nice for drifting the Niagara in the winter when your hands are frozen.

It's to bad they are illegal to use as bait.I would love to have a couple hundred in a couple of weeks to take to Montaulk and feed them to some hungry Stripers .Eels go for $15.00-$20.00 a dozen.Our last night their last year we went threw $80.00 of eels between two of us in one night.I bet the Stripers wouldn't even taste the difference.

I don't know why you would drive to Rochester when you have the Niagara in your back yard.Olcott and the Oaks are much closer also.

Mine being up on the pedestal bases gets them about 4' above the track.With the rod tip at the water. Mine are well above the danger zone.Maybe I will take the bases off it could make it easier to be a rod hog when your buddy is on the deck waded up in a ball.

I have both Big Jons and Bert's on my boat.I like both but I use Down East for my Dipsey rods. I just feel more comfortable having my rods locked in.I have them on small pedestal bases in my tracks. They have worked great for me.

Wow great fish!I was hoping to see picture also.Thanks for sharing

On my Big Jons I just put regular 110volt male plugs on them and mounted a outdoor water proof receptacle on the transom.Then I fused and wired it to the battery.Cheap and works great.

I would suggest Olcott or Wilson for your first trip.The Bar is good but at this time of year it is combat fishing.Way to many boats.You can still fish the Bar from ether port.Olcott has a couple of good tackle shops and a great boat launch and fishing.Both ports are a little to the East.

http://pub15.bravenet.com/forum/static/ ... 2&cmd=show

Sounds like they need to get the kinks worked out of it. http://www.glanglerforum.com/forum/show ... ble-Advice

Same here out of Sandy Saturday fished all day.Started in 80 after about an hour of nothing headed north. Went out as far as 570 never had a hit till noon.Caught 3 bows out deep lost probably 7 or 8 mostly on the sliders nothing big. Trolled back into 80-90 did one more beautiful colored bow and finished up with one King 22lbs.Whats up with these slow mornings?

Fishing Report Your Name / Boat Name: ============== TRIP OVERVIEW ============== Date(s):8/19 Time on Water:6:30-2 Weather/Temp:71 Wind Speed/Direction:southern Waves: 2ft. or less Surface Temp:71 Location: Devils nose LAT/LONG (GPS Cords): =============== FISHING RESULTS =============== Total Hits: 10 Total Boated:9 Species Breakdown:Kings and Bows Hot Lure: Crazy -itch sd , getter done spoon Trolling Speed: 2.8 Down Speed: Boat Depth: 280 Lure Depth: 70 -92 Nice day on the water. Quiet till 9. Worked out to 280' started marking and catching.Caught almost all of the fish in the 280s West of port.Top fish was 30.8oz currently 8th place in the Loc(for a few minutes).Next best 28lbs. 9lbs was our best Bow.deep rigger took most of the fish 92 down with getter done.First 30lber of the year.42in. long. ==================== SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS ====================

Laker of a lifetime great fish Brian

I think it is calmest when I am working

Nice! There faces don't look as green as my 10 year old daughter when I tried to convert here from blue gills.

Looking for Shimano Tekota 500lc or just a 500 for the right price.Thanks Sean

Anthony Saw this on Great Lakes Angler.http://www.glanglerforum.com/forum/show ... SX-100-OBO

Anthony the bracket for the kicker motor or the main motor? Outboard or i/o if main motor?

Fishing Report Your Name / Boat Name: ============== TRIP OVERVIEW ============== Date(s):7/28 Time on Water:7AM-8PM Weather/Temp:overcast morning sunny afternoon Wind Speed/Direction:Northeast 15mph Waves: solid 3 footers in the morning 1'or less in the afternoon Surface Temp: 75-76 Location:Olcott LAT/LONG (GPS Cords): =============== FISHING RESULTS =============== Total Hits: 30+ Total Boated:21 Species Breakdown:Kings and Bows Hot Lure: Crazy -itch Spin Doctor NK Blue Dolphin Trolling Speed: Down Speed: 2.4 Boat Depth: 450-550 Lure Depth: 70-85 Headed to Olcott for the first time this year.Put in just after the rain stopped.Waves were 3 to 4footers unlike 2 foot or less like weather report said.We started in 70' had a good picture and got a small bow.This was a start but not what I was looking for so we trolled Northeast into the waves.The fish-finder went blank for a couple of hours.When we got out to around 500' we started marking and catching again.520' seamed to be the best 80' down.We got two 25 pound Kings 3 or 4 12-14 pounds.Many Bows in the 7 pound range only two over 10 pounds.Our hottest rod was a Striper bunker spoon rod with a Penn 114 loaded with Monel single strand stainless trolling wire marked out every 50' with electrical tape.We ran it down the shoot with 150' to 200' of wire with a dipsey set on 0 setting pulling a Crazy -itch Spin Doc ==================== SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS ====================

Fishing Report Your Name / Boat Name: ============== TRIP OVERVIEW ============== Date(s):7/22 Time on Water:10AM-7PM Weather/Temp:hot /hazy Wind Speed/Direction:SW Waves: 1' Surface Temp:74 out deep Location: LAT/LONG (GPS Cords): =============== FISHING RESULTS =============== Total Hits: 14 Total Boated:8 Species Breakdown:King and bows Hot Lure: Kevorkian spoon Crazy *itch Trolling Speed: 3.1 Down Speed: Boat Depth:440' Lure Depth: 70-85 Nice relaxing day fishing solo.Spent most of the day searching the deep water 400-500' I wasn't marking much but when I did I hooked up.3 kings 14-20lbs 5 bows all small 3-5lbs.Kevorkian spoon did most of the damage was our best last weekend also.1 King on Crazy *itch Spin Doctor.Whore my hat out beating the black flies to death. ==================== SUMMARY & FURTHER DETAILS ====================

My friend I fished to day 7AM till 5PM Good action in the AM slow afternoon.Couple Kings 17lbs and 14 lost a couple of good ones 5 or 6 Rainbows to 13lbs few Lakers.Purple NK with glow eye took lots of shots.Crazy -itch Spin Doctor was best paddle.60-70 over 170 fow off the Nose was best for us.