sandwick50

Ice...I'm in central NY. This time of year the local geese do alot of moving around. Also, the molt migrators (non-breeders which go to northern Quebec to molt) have not showed up here yet. Usually by the middle of the month they start trickling in. In my opinion the best part of the early season is always toward the end of the month as more and more birds start appearing.

Chowder...I'm corning my goose breasts. If you like corned beef, you'll love them this way. Here's the recipe I use: http://senecawildharvest.blogspot.com/2 ... goose.html

BH...You're not alone. Did have a decent day Friday but it doesn't seem there are that many birds around. Not to worry. It always picks up in the last 2 weeks as the non-breeders start showing up from their molt run to northern Quebec.

The only thing I can think of is a Yo-zuri Pin Minnow, which is a stickbait, not a spoon.

Panfisher... Everything I've read says sunfish are not active at night and just sit on the bottom. Obviously not true according to you and DeafFisherman. The lake I want to try is 35' in the middle so should I focus on the 6-10' areas where I catch them during the day? I tried yesterday morning and they would come up and look at the small dry fly I was using but not take it. Sounds like they're alot more aggressive on the surface at night. Can't wait to give it a try.

Its a put and take fishery as far as I'm concerned. Natural reproduction only accounts for a small percentage of the population, esp. brown trout. Besides, the small browns are the best eaters in my opinion.

Buckboard...attheoak website has that depth/lat info: http://www.attheoak.com/taylor/lat-depths.html

Here's one I use: http://www.sailflow.com/windandwhere.iw ... meoffset=0

DF.....I too love to fish for panfish with a flyrod. I use a 3 weight - what a blast fighting a big sunny or bluegill on that little rod. Did you catch your fish with a surface popper or were you fishing a streamer or nymph?

Bear...I have relatives that live right near the public boat launch. I was thinking about coming out for a visit and bring my small boat. Weather permitting, I need some help as to what depth to start. Thanks.

Nice fish, Ed. Save a hot date for me. Better get working on those decoys - duck season will be here before you know it.

Way to go, Ed. Maybe we can hook up late this week. John

Dave...When you say Abu Garcia lures do you mean the Tormentors? Also, what kind of depth were you fishing? John

Capt. Dave...Nice fish!! I was out yesterday afternoon from 3-6 p.m. in front of Nine Mile. Never got a touch. It was tough trolling with my little 16' boat what with the north winds switching to NW and building. I thought maybe that the good in-shore fishing might be over or that the bright sun and clearer water might have been a factor. Just curious if you did most of your damage early before the sun got up or if you're fishing deeper now. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. John

My cousin lives on Newco Dr., just west of Sandy creek. Also, My aunt has a camp right right at the mouth of Johnsons Creek. Both have said I am welcome to stay as long as I like if I want to come out and fish. I'm considering doing that next week. Any recent reports from either place would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. John

This Bud's for you!!

Ed, great fish. I wish I was there.

Thanks, guys. I have the small Church boards and feel the same way as Spoonfed. I watched a video clip of a guy fishing alone with these boards and it didn't look that difficult to set the rod butt down, unclip the board and continue to fight the fish. One other question - how far behind the boards do you run your lure? Thanks.

I have a mast and planer boards for my 16' Starcraft. However, when fishing alone I figure it will be much easier to put out a couple rods with small in-line planers. For those of you that use these, which do you prefer - having the board release clamped tight and reel it up to rod and take off by hand or have them release and slide down to a swivel ahead of the lure? Do you loose more fish using one vs the other? Thanks, John

Thanks Squirrel. I'm getting on in years and would love to shoot a redhead or two before I leave for the great beyond. My brother-in-law lives just outside Ithaca so I have a place to bunk. He is also retired but not a duck hunter so I'll try and enlist him to drive the tender boat and pick up the dead ducks (if I can hit them). Good luck on the final 2 days if you're hitting the lake again this weekend.

Seasquirrel...Lets not let this great post degenerate into a p#**ing match and focus on the hunt. I am a newby diver duck hunter and built a layout boat last year. Got to use it for the first time this year and shot a few bluebills, which was awesome. Just a general question on Cayuga Lake. Do you think a layout boat would be effective there? Obviously I wouldn't be out on a day like you showed in the photos but would like to try it next year. I know the lake gets deep quickly once off shore in most of the lake making anchoring and decoy placement impossible but was thinking that the north and south ends might be do-able. Thanks for your opinion - if you'd rather not offer any advice I understand that. Not looking to horn in on anyone.

Awesome, Paul!!!!

Lund...Waterfowl Works out of Ohio http://www.waterfowl-works.com/

Hunted Oneida on Friday. Hundreds of bluebills in big rafts but we did manage to get 3 and a hen goldeneye out of the layout boat I built last year. I'm new at this, approaching 60 years old, and all I can only ask is one question - why didn't I get into this about 20 years ago? What a blast out there in the open water with ducks right in your face. Puddle ducks are fun but this is better. Alot more work but well worth the effort.

Its that time of year. Who's shootin' divers? I would think by now some of you on Lake Ontario have had some success. Lets hear the details.