Reel Doc

That's a brute!!!

Sounds like the low silver numbers are down at the South end too....I was thinking needed to take a run below Sheldrake to up the odds but maybe I'll save fuel for now and wait until September when everything shifts South.

Fished out of Dean's this morning working the middle of the lake. No fleas to speak of, small amounts of weeds. A South breeze had everything moving, never came across a significant weed pod. Lake trout very active from 60-100 feet down loving everything green in spoons or flies. I'm still struggling to find solid silvers. Skippies to barely legal salmon hitting cheaters and spoons at 40-50 down but no solid fish. I'm jealous of Lyk2fish results on Owasco!!

Beautiful fish! I bet that big one gave you a show coming in!

Reading about the history of the lamprey invasion of the Great Lakes is saddening. Once the Welland canal was built to bypass Niagara Falls they moved into all the Great Lakes and destroyed the high quality fishing for trout and salmon for most of the early and mid 1900s. Human manipulation of nature certainly has its ups and downs.

When did the DEC treat the streams last?

Thanks for your report. It seems larger landlocks are tough to find this Summer

Yes, and you should be able to fish it the same way for the next month with great results so a good reason to visit again!! Somewhere around the first of September the spawning fish start to head south towards Taughannock and other inflows. Hope your hands are healing. Better have them 100% for Kansas.

Nice to hit the water as first time out since the 4th. South wind so started a little above Sheldrake and put the wind at my back for the solo trip. Worked over deep water in the center of the lake Steady pick of lake trout in the 20-24" size plus a few smaller ones. Found a couple barely legal salmon which is an improvement from the skippies I've been finding over the past month. Green was the favored color this morning. The majority of fish wanted spoons vs flies. Hottest depth was 60-70 down though the 200 copper took a solid lake trout and a salmon. 80-90 feet down also produced fish. One of the larger Lakers had a recent large lamprey mark, the first I've seen on a fish this year. Hopefully the lampreys will continue to be a rarity. Great morning to get out on the water!

Still the same for you but they moved the machine from the upper parking lot to the lower drive by the launch

Good point. Does anyone, DEC included, know the status of successful natural reproduction in Cayuga lake? Last I knew a mineral imbalance was such that essentially no lake trout could reproduce in Cayuga. If that is true, then harvest rate control is not a factor unless a tremendous number of fishermen suddenly deplete the numbers. Restocking rates are equivalent or above current catch rates. Otherwise the fishery would suffer. I would sooner wonder the status of the landlocked program as very few reports of legal sized catches this year and I feel like despite my best efforts most skippies I catch do not survive after release.

Yes but, the fight of one nice King can equal several Lakers......

You best stop catching so many fish when you visit!

The worst is too often I'll see blood on my hand and find it doesn't go away. Laker bites tend to cause serious paper cuts!

Agreed. Many complain of DEC mismanagement with Seneca lake but don't you wonder if there is more than just a lamprey issue there?

I for one hope it continues for awhile. Haven't noticed much in the way of lamprey marks on the fish. Anyone else seeing signs of lampreys?

So even though you had the permit taped to the windshield they still gave a warning? Mine is taped on as well but no warnings.....yet

Looks like you are picking up where you left off last year. Those are Owasco fish?

So glad you invited me Andy. It was both an honor and a pleasure to be on the inaugural trip for Emily III. She is a great fishing machine with loads of memorable fishing days ahead. Sent from my Pixel 2 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Great job with the kids. Silvers have been scarce across on the West side. Was there a Bass tournament this weekend?? The only time Dean's is packed like that is when the bass fishermen have something going

Really heavy rain throughout the day in Seneca County. Tonight Cayuga lake level looks significantly higher than 24 hours ago and brown water extends out well over 100 yards from shore along the West side. If hitting the lake this weekend watch out for debris.