CaptainEyes

Justin, your fine, there never was any animosity on my end as I am learning this lake and am the type of person who needs to hear it from the horses mouth. Part of my education is talking to as many locals that fish the lake as possible(which may be a bad/good thing) and it is mind bogling the opinions and how they vary on each subject so I am a little apprehensive when it comes to opinions on Otisco lake plus I did ask a biologist though in passing if it was a put and take lake he said no but again that was in passing so I took it to heart.

Agreed, and as long as we keep diaries for the DEC they can better adjust their stocking efforts to keep pace with the fishing pressure...

Many individuals have been posting there fishing success on Otisco Lake which of course has spawned (no pun intended) healthy discussions such as catch & release and in my case the natural reproduction of the lakes walleyes. I decided if for no other reason than my own satisfaction to put the DEC on record as to the status of the lake and their view of a put & take fisheries and natural reproduction. I reached out to NYSDEC Fish & Wildlife Technician Ian Blackburn with a few questions below and you can view his answers in red. (Note: I did not inquire about the Nor lunge as they are a true definition of put&take sense they cannot reproduce) There are many discussions on line as to the fishery status of the lake and wondered where I can find the survey results? The electrofishing survey we conduct each fall is designed specifically to assess the survival of young of the year walleye that were stocked in the lake the preceding spring. We will be taking a look at the data from this survey over the winter and generally will not issue a report on the survey, instead using the information internally as one of our several tools to monitor the fishery in Otisco. The data, however, will be included in our statewide fisheries database, and we will occasionally provide highlights and significant findings on our web page for the lake. Anecdotally we did catch good numbers of this year's stocked fish below the causeway, and for the first time in years caught several of the 2013 fish in the main lake as well - indicating really good survival of this year class - be on the look out for them in 3-4 years...... Also a couple of burning questions that have been popping up without solid answers. 1) Does the DEC look at Otisco Lake as a "put and take" walleye fishery? Otisco is currently managed as a put/grow/take fishery for walleye due to the lack of their natural reproduction in the lake. 2) If yes than why only stock 44,000 as opposed to millions in lakes of similar size? We are currently stocking 50 day old fingerling walleye in Otisco, hence the smaller total numbers of fish compared to a lake like Oneida, which receives millions of 1-3 day old fry (much much smaller fish). The number we stock is derived from a standard # of fish per acre of water based on average carrying capacities of our waterbodies and other factors such as the size of the fish being stocked. 3) Is there natural reproduction of the walleye that are running up the streams to spawn? While the walleyes do run the streams along Otisco to spawn, the survival of newly hatched fry in the lake is minimal to none. For the past couple years we have marked the walleye we stock with OTC (Oxytetracycline), which can be seen in their otoliths (inner ear bones) in the laboratory under a scope, and I am not aware of any young of the year fish we've caught in our surveys that were not marked (they were all hatchery fish). 4) Some feel that the alewives have a negative effect on natural reproduction yet many who have fished the lake for 20-30 years state the number of alewives have decreased and with the introduction of the tiger musky and the explosion of small and large mouth bass makes sense. So what is your take? While the alewives may appear to be down compared to what you've observed in the past (we have not conducted forage surveys to assess this so can't make assumptions about how many are out there), it is still likely that the presence of alewives along with good numbers of white perch severelylimits any successful walleye reproduction in Otisco. Studies have been conducted documenting the detrimental effects of alewife on walleye fry - it's not just a hunch some folks have. We see the same thing in Jamesville Reservoir as well - great spawning stream/habitat there with Butternut Creek, yet no observable natural walleye reproduction. As a side note I had asked the put&take question to a different DEC individual in person and received a slightly different version however, this information is valuable and like many other fellow anglers I will continue to keep legal walleye for the dinner table and my first 45" Nor lunge will go on the wall!

After a long hiatus from the lake due to building a new barn I finally made it out on the water last night. Now I am not one of those outdoorsman who goes out to enjoy the outdoors meaning, when I'm deer hunting I am out there to get a deer when I am turkey hunting I am out there to kill a bird etc. but my gosh (the lake seemed empty of boats and other fisherman) what a beautiful night be out and enjoy Otisco Lake... I was able to net one 21" eye around 10:30pm which I released. I wish I could of stayed out all night but I have this damn thing called work that makes me get up early... I think some of the best fishing is yet to come which is fine with me because I do not get all amped up over the 10/1 start to bow season...

So last weekend was your first weekend of walleye fishing that you didnt catch one? I'm going with you.lol I attended the DEC seminar in February and they defiantley do not consider Otisco a "put and take" walley lake like a Delta Lake they do consider Otisco a "good" walley lake. The DEC even quit stocking Otisco for a 3yr period 5 or 6 years ago but found both the walleye and tiger musky population decreased. They were planning on a full fish survey in 2013 but due to funding they are pushing it back to 2014. I took 9 days off and got back on the water Monday night with a couple of buddies we didnt troll but did manage to catche a 20" walleye and lost another at the boat. What a difference 9 days makes I didnt see another boat on the water and only a few people were fishing off shore.

I took the weekend off but was afraid its getting to be that time of the year on Otisco where you just cant catch a walleye. It's frustrating because the bait fish is still in close to shore but the eyes belly seem to be full.. I'm not sure what the answers are but I am eager for the 2014 DEC fish survey just to find out what is truly going on in the lake... I personally believe that even with the natural reproduction in the lake that 44,000 released fingerlings a year just isnt enough especially when you look at Delta Lake (similar in size to Otisco) receives 5million fingerlings a year.