guff

Another vote for Keuka Lake state park. I fish there all the time. Got 45 lakers jigging on the north end June 1st a couple years ago (60 fow). Really need some sharp jigs for lakers (Hermit has them). North end is normally good laker jigging in June (60-120fow). I believe they now have a kayak rack right next to the water near the swimming area. If your wife likes shopping she definately should go to the Windmill (few miles south of Penn Yan) on Saturdays. Keuka is just full of lakers (most 18-22") which are usually hungry. High south winds can make it pretty rough though. There is a small boat launch near the Swiss Inn on the east shore near the end of the bluff. Less problems if do have high south winds. Usually good laker jigging there also. Nice little flat-water stream (Sugar Creek) at the north end. See a lot of kayakers on Keuka. Now if we could only get DEC, NYS Health Dept. to drop the "no lakers to be eaten by women under 50 and kids under 15 " advisory."

Might want to google "marylakeoutfitter.com". Is the ultimate in wilderness fishing. Many smaller lakes with only one boat on them (no cabins). Logging roads (would advise going in a pick up truck) go right to isolated lakes. No plane needed. Is a 500 mile drive from Penn Yan, NY. Have been going there for 28 years at least one week per year. One caution- new owners have just taken over. We had good luck with them last year. Having a guide for at least one day would be a good idea and watch out for black flies in June and early July.

As of 1 hour ago the state park is open. Is ice free except for some ice frozen on the dock pilings just above water level. Might want to bring a sledge hammer to knock it off if it does not melt tomorrow. Also, because the lake level is down, watch out for your boat going under the dock and taking a beating, especially in south winds. Stopped at the south end (Hammondsport) ramp at the motel. It is wide open too and they are just now finishing extending the dock 10 feet. It has bumpers almost to water level so no problem with boat going under the dock. State park needs to do the same. The motel ramp has a $10 launch fee but much less bouncing around with south winds than the state ramp. Quite a few guys fishing from shore at the south end. Only ice I saw on the lake was between Penn Yan and Keuka College. A number of ice fishers at the Penn Yan end. Hope this helps.

One trip with JohnGaulke on Keuka and you will be off and running. On the other hand, dropping a sharp 1 oz. jig with a white Linker City Shaker to the bottom 90-110 fow and reeling back to the surface should get you some mighty tasty lakers right now. Lot of hungry lakers around the end of the bluff this time of year. Google cayugafisher for excellent jigs and Linker City Shakers.

Not sure about Seneca but the "word on the street" (or is it "on the boat") is Keuka lake trout jigging is HOT on the Branchport end (80-110 fow and at the tip of the bluff)

Bad primer bulb???

On jigging in the wind. While drifting, try casting your jig downwind far enough such that it hits bottom near the back of the boat (under the transducer). Jig on the bottom a couple of times then reel up fast or slow, whichever the trout want that day. If you have the right setup, you can see your jig and the attacking Lake Trout on your screen. Start reeling in just before the trout gets to your jig. Definitely a blast.

Thanks for the info. Probably means more activity at the old Chamber ramp (one I use) which is already affected by the nearby construction.

If you find schools of sawbellies (alewife) near the surface might want to try casting into them for BIG Smallmouths this time of year. Too bad you do not have a fish finder. It is VERY useful on the fingers.

Just a thought. You might want to Google "Cayuga fisher". This web site has an excellent tutorial on jigging in the Finger Lakes and "Hermit" (Alec) has some great jigging equipment for sale cheap(jigs and plastics). Lake Trout jigs need to be VERY sharp, especially in Keuka with its smaller trout. If you have trouble getting to the site I can pm you his phone number.

Might want to launch just north of the Swiss Inn and jig between there and the end of the bluff also off the end of the bluff. 90 to 120 fow best. White tubes are good.

Was wondering when the lake trout start moving out of the north end to their spawning areas. Had some nice fish finder screens yesterday, especally in 130-140 fow area. Lot of suspended marks but I figure I will see fewer and fewer of them as they get closer to spawning. Any thoughts on this? Also I believe they feed heavily just before spawn. Would you agree with this?

Gosh. I hope it is not the same thing that almost completely wiped out the pike in Seneca Lake a few years ago. I never heard what caused that. I love catching pike and planned on having a great time catching them the following year (not sure what year) but they diappeared almost over night and have not recovered yet as far as I can see. If you find out anything will you let us know.

Thanks Pete - Jeez. Did not know you could find old posts that way. Being the computer expert I am (ha, ha, ha, ) I should have known that. - Al

Hi Pete - Gosh, no. I have not seen your jigging reports. Never check LO report, just Finger Lakes. Where do you report? LO (south) maybe? Do you know when your last jigging report was(date)? Like to check it out. - Al Hi Huntyraws. That is very interesting. Finding senkos in LT. Makes me feel better knowing they can survive (for a while anyways) with plastics in their stomach.

Like new@this wrote recently there have not been many jigging reports it seems this year. I for one have not had a lot to brag about, especially in June and early July. Doing better since mid-July but not too many trips because of a weeks fishing vacation in Quebec earlier this month. Anyways, 3 of us did get out to the north end of Seneca yesterday. Bite was slow but did end up with 10 lake trout including a 32 incher. One of the fellows with me had never caught a lake trout so he was pretty pumped. Caught fish in a lot of depths from 75 to 130 fow. Charteuse paddletail seemed to be what they wanted. At one stop all three of us had hard hits probably within a 2 minute time period. 2 of us lost the tail off our jigs. We thought jokingly that maybe that trout liked the taste of the paddletail so much he hit all 3 of us. Of course he must have had a serious case of indigestion last night if he actually swallowed the tail. Missing Hermit's jigging reports. Think he had other priorities this summer.