panfisher

Cool fish.....any wheres, whens, or hows  ?

Nniiiicce!.....     My first (and only) was about 9"    ..., from Seneca Lake. Not a dedicated musky chaser, just dedicated fishing guy. Beautiful catch baby!!

For the jumbos in Seneca, it might be best to think of going after them (when not the spring spawn time.....lots of smaller ones then) as more like fishing for game fish like trout or smallmouths. Stumbling on big perch while trying for those other species is what happens......The jumbos are bigger and badder than the smaller ones and they live like they know it.

Ronix 51....Hah! I did expect some doubt about that. This was in a publication back in the early-mid 90's, I believe by the DEC, talking of the efforts and status of muskie propagation efforts in Waneta and Lamoka. It stated that specialized large muskie traps were set about the lakes in order to survey and document data on said fish. One was trapped that weighed upward of 65lbs. I'm sure if one did not see this for themselves they would not believe it.....and some would not even if they did read it. This was not some bogus publication, even though I cannot recall the name of the publisher (conveniently a doubter might think). But I am not one to give and spread phony info either. No offense taken, as I myself was definitely impressed by the info. Evidently this same fish was known of before by the surveyors. Everybody knows muskie get that large and I don't know for sure but I believe this was not referring to tigers. In Chautaugua I personally, with others in the boat, have seen an absolutely HUGE muskie swim slowly right under our boat in clear and shallow (maybe 8-12ft) water while smallie fishing. This thing swam under us like it owned the lake and was out for a morning "swim around the pond" on a nice day in May! Paying absolutely no attention to us as we stuck our rods (6-61/2 ft light- ultralight bass poles) in the water as far as possible in attempts to maybe touch or get some response to us as it swam slowly directly under the boat like a submarine. It looked like a champion heavyweight prize boxer, complete with obvious scars from broken off fishing lures around it's jaws; it had that swagger...But I digress. Some other "into it" musky (and not necessarily so) fisherman must have read this same article. I know some musky fisherman do not believe they exist in Seneca. I caught a small one there and saw a pic on the front page of New York Outdoor News of a 22lb fish taken there about 4years or so ago by a fellow from my town. I say "why not?" If they can get that large, why should they not be somewhere and get that large....? Anyway, I will try to find that article precisely and post a link or the article itself maybe (it was in print, not online). I found it very interesting as I am sure anyone might. And delilah, U R in the right place to conveniently pursue your growing interest in musky fishing, no matter how big they get there .....

I'm just excited by the increased reported incidents of large 'eyes being caught in the Big O by salmon/trout chasers. Like the one I caught in front of Hughes a couple of years ago close-trolling for bows and browns on a silver/black #11 floater, first fish of the day in early May..........

kuekakatch&release......Beautiful carp, man.......NNniiiiiiccce!! I love the way those guys get so big and do seem to work well with other, sometimes more "desirable" species. Most places I have fished in NYS often have some stunningly large carp. And they don't seem to be any hindrance at all to other fish in the neighborhood. From the excellent waters of the Cohocton, Oatka, and Wiscoy, to all of the fingers and just about anywhere. Most people do not indulge in pursuing them in favor of the sexier trout, bass, walleye and Esoscidae, and many still like to call them a "trash" or "garbage" fish, Close observation over time has shown, at least to me, no big negative impact on the fishing for the more respected species. True Rodney Dangerfields in many folk's eyes. And some people take this a step further by showing outward disrespect for them (and other folks,too) by tossing them around after killing them. Like they MUST bash them because they are doing some good. Yeah, maybe for the flies.... . Many fish species are "invasive", including rainbows, browns and kings. By the hand of the most invasive, you and me...And I definitely don't want to see silver or bighead carp, which feed in a totally different way (phytoplankton; like grown up baby fish), unlike common or grass carp. Again kuekakatch&release.....Swwweeeet fish    !

Great outing....! And 10lb bows in the fingers....fantastic!!!

I am not a musky fisherman. Just one who loves fishing and associated interests in general. I do know this....the DEC has trapped at least one musky in the past in Waneta well over 60lbs. This is approaching world record size. You live right there. There are some very decent fish in those waters. Take these people's suggestions and have fun with them.....!

bobjones.........spelling b......jones ....Thanks for that notification. Now, how many ways to spell "Allegheny".....       old man..... maybe a small dash of orange or red color on those homemade lures to trigger that xtra little tease ...?

Niiiicce BSmaster...!   I know what you mean by the smaller rivers. That fish would be really good on one of the fingers or the Big O or any other larger body such as the Susqe, but in those rivers and streams where a 10-12 incher or so is more common, that one is a pure hawg ! Actually there are more of those than you think in those waters, but with the quicker smaller younger ones, they are hard to get. And fewer and farther between. Nice going!!

I have lived close to the canal for many years. The 'eyes, smallies, largemouths and northerns all like jigs, Rapalas (countdowns, shadraps, flatraps, fatraps, orignals, huskies, almost anything Rapala makes), and swimbaits about equally as well.....It's a fairly good fishery for warmwater types. I've had seriously BUSTIN' smallies and walleyes hit these offerings in bunches, Sometimes the water is so warm the fish feel like they have been taken from a hot bath! .... But it does not seem to slow down the smallies at all, with jumps a good five to six feet straight up that just blow U away ....! Not big numbers, but good quality fish and not having to spend a lot of time (2-3 hrs in the evening or similar), if you spend the time to find where they generally hang. Makes for easy fun fishing if you're local, have a boat (not absolutely required but makes getting to most areas easier), and don't have the big hours at your disposal. But I guess that would be true for anybody living close to a good fishery here in New York, as many fortunately do ...

Just now saw this......niiiiice....! If you (anyone reading) thinks one has to go hundreds of miles away or way "up in the mountains" somewhere to enjoy brookie action like that....well, not so necessary. There are many places not too far from your home, if U live anywhere in NYS, to enjoy that kind of adventure. That's the thing about trout in general. They can be easily over fished if plundered and over visited (true for most fisheries)....It is good that New York's state fish does live on in way-back-in places that are often hard to fish. Cool music in the background Terphunter .....

Wow.....! Nice 'eye Not knowing how big Tray is, I'd venture to guess maybe 11lbs....or more..... Heavy large fish. Niiice!! WTG.

Munching on Rock bass from last fall..........HA HA hahahahahaa    ...fish on!

NNniiiiiicccee!!!!!   There are probably more and even bigger old lakers like that there, but they don't get to the lures as fast as the younger and smaller ones. That's a really nice laker for any of the fingers and even in the big O......!

Absolutely right about the 90%-10% thing pap..... and dick black ......thanx for that observation and sharing it. I am jealous of any one who has a place on one of the Fingers; especially Seneca which is not like "the city around the lake" as Kueka is with all of the close abodes around its shorelines. But these and other lakes in our state do continue to support and grow great fish populations with variety and quality despite the heavy hand of  man. I've said before and I'll say it again... It's the real cheaters, the completely ignorant, the careless  polluters, the over harvesters, the poachers, etc. who get greedy and selfish and think they can do whatever the heck they want and it will never make a difference because they could care less, really, who make it tough for all. Watching meat fisherman trying to make a financial killing through illegal over-harvest is what generations have been trying to  rectify the damages of for years now. And there are still plenty who believe and justify to themselves with all manner of reasons why they feel it is their right to take it all and to hell with tomorrow or anyone else. I think that money/greed is the root of most of that evil and always has been. .....rant over.....Hope none of you "tight lippers" don't think by making a suggestion of how one might catch some perch take offense. The real cheaters already know how to get what they want and have a different compass......

Thanks for posting this news. From the numerous replies you've generated, I'd say not that many people are presently engaged. I am interested, though. I'm also excited about the recent news of paddlefish being re-introduced to Chautauqua, where they are native. And the continuing progress of Atlantic Salmon in the Big O. More really nice walleye are showing up more and more around the main lake.  All of these species were at one time in the not to distant past abundant in Lake Ontario. It's good to see efforts and money spent are paying off and people will get more enthusiastic about these fish as they continue to build their presence. Many are s-l-o-w growers and get large. Now if we can just keep those silver and bighead carp from getting a hold. I fear with the current political scene, many of our best current efforts could be to no avail. But that is a whole other story. Lets hope for, and work for the best in the continuing re-establishment of our native, heritage species.....

Even if it is dead is the law.....? Is that in the guide book? I'll have to look it up. My ignorance has been changed to enlightenment if it is so. Thanx ! Still a wonderful fish, a good example of how good stewardship of surroundings can only be beneficial. I really hope that fish was released and lives on......Yeah, out of season I can see why you'd have to throw it back even if dead....because there would be no way to prove you did not kill it on purpose. But what a waste it would be for even the acknowledgement of the magnificence of the musky to just throw it away and nobody should know about it (If it died of some trauma not the fault of the catcher). There must be a way one could catch a trophy inadvertently out of season (the fish don't read the rulebooks) and be able to publicly let it be known without getting into trouble for it......

!Awesome baby......   ! And a "reely", Really....!! HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY..... ....!!......for your son. Looks like it is!

EYE SPY......That's a huge and beautiful muskie that guy has in the pic......irregardless of the circumstances....I'm glad to see they are getting that big and nice. Hopefully the fish was released live and healthy. If it could not be due to whatever condition of the fish, it better be mounted on someone's wall..... Just out of decency and respect for the animal. East side  Big O bays? Nice....

Good sentiments and actions jimski2.....   And keeping the frozen fish, however cleaned....or uncleaned (I've sometimes tossed fish in whole and unpackedged in the freezer due to lack of time for some reason), encased in water inside plastic bags or old clean drink cartons or whatever you like, works great. The water insulates the fish from dryness and freezer burn.....unless you still have a way old freezer made before the "frost free" freezer days. Those used to get caked with ice inside (even the refrigerator part) and had to be periodically "chipped" clear of ice or defrosted. They did serve to keep frozen items moist and of nicer quality though....So if any of you still have one of those old freezers around, keep them handy, plugged in somewhere to keep your ''long term'' frozen fish and game preserved. After you literally break the food out 3 or 4 years later, you'll find they really are in excellent condition...     Hopefully you might also have alternate electric power (wind or solar), as those old boxes can put a dent in your wallet come bill time.    But, good things are never free....one way or the other.. ..

Nice shots Sk8man.....I'll bet, from that angle, the balloon gave U a start!......"Girly-girl spoons" _???^???? I'm afraid to ask... ..!    rbonnell....When at Seneca try that shiny trolling spoon thing. If you are picking up smallies doing that, you can find the jacks right in there with them, on the same technique. You can try brownish or greenish soft plastic (grubtails, swimbaits, etc.) jigs as well, suspended or rigged 15 ft or so behind the cannonball at those mid depths over 50-60fow. Good luck.

OUCH!!   .....At least it wasn't an eye....   !

Hey Justin...... don't let the boo buggers get your guff on the fish or game you get and eat......they could just be jealous. And if they say something about over-harvesting and it might be all your fault and such, feel glad that at least they really are on your side... ....What??.....I mean that at least they seem to be concerned and do outwardly express that concern about their, and your, environment, in which we all live . That is, after all, a start in the right direction of a more enlightened attitude for many. I'm sure 98%+ of the contributors in this forum follow the rules and if they aren't, I'll bet it is just some bit of ignorance...The DEC does change the rules of harvest take and method and eligibility as new research and understanding make it necessary (hopefully), and not everybody does their homework every season to stay on top of them. It's the REAL cheaters.....poachers, snaggers, way-over-the-limit-all-the-timers, indiscriminate polluters, etc. that make it tougher for all of us; folks and critters..... and life in general...... to enjoy this bounty shared by all. Fish on!!

OK....Erie....thanx ...