Reports

Got out with my buddy Terry for some bass/pickerel action. Our main goal today was to work some areas that we hadn’t fished this time of year in a long time or under the conditions we have, so we avoided our normal areas for this time of year.

We had a lot of action today. I managed a chunky 18″ largemouth bass. We caught incredible numbers of pickerel today. They are just about everywhere up north. Nothing spectacularly big today – just sheer numbers of fish. My buddy Terry at times had 3 pickerel following in his lure! People should harvest some of these fish. As I’ve mentioned time and time again, they are good eating and make great fish cakes. They do require some extra effort though.

Quite a few perch boats were out today and they were doing well. And they are catching nearly as many non-target pickerel as we were while targeting them. Anglers we talked to also had bonus bass and even a nice pike.

Perch fishing is likely in peak form throughout the region now – from Oneida Lake through all the Finger Lakes and up along the Lake Ontario embayments. This is also the time to nab smallmouths and northern pike. This cool rain we received last night will help a lot. Landlocked salmon action should get underway after the next round of cold weather. We’ll see. Rainbow trout action on Skaneateles Lake should be in full gear now too. It’s a great time to be fishing, especially when the weather cooperates. You couldn’t ask for a nicer day than yesterday.

bass cayuga lake Chain Pickerel Northern Pike yellow perch