Cayuga Lake out of Myers Park 10/23

Reports

It’s a great feeling when everything comes together on a trip – a great group of guys, great fishing, great weather and an overall great time!  Today was one of those days.  Over the past couple years I’ve been taking advantage of some terrific post-spawn aka “drop-back” laker fishing on Cayuga Lake.  This is year three, and like clockwork, the bite is back on.  Joining me today was Chris (whom I’ve guided a handful of times before – most recently on Keuka Lake this summer for a tutorial trip,) and his friends Daryl and John.

We had a very solid double-digit day.  I’m not a huge fan of eating most species of fish post-spawn.  They are often beat-up, thin and many times not as tasty as they would be earlier in the season.  We’ve all seen these fish of various species – whether trout, salmon, pike or others.  John wanted to keep a few fish for the table, so I suggested keeping rainbow trout and younger lakers (that likely didn’t spawn this year.)  Chris managed two nice eating-sized rainbows on his white tube jigs – a 19″er and a 20″.   He had a bigger fish take a shot at his jig boatside as well. The guys did boat a few smaller lakers so John was good to go.  He also had the hot hand early on the lakers, nabbing 5 or 6 in short order.  However Daryl really got the mojo going when I slipped the net under a 35″ slob!  All in all, it was a terrific day of fishing (or catching) with very few lulls in action and everybody catching their share.  We used Money Minnows and Lunker City Shakers as well as some other plastics.  Around 120′ out to 140′ was the best range for us.  Foliage remains at peak.  Surface temp was around 61 degrees today – it is still warm on Cayuga Lake.   I’ve seen years with 48 to 50 degrees on the surface during the first week in November.  We’ll probably be closer to 55/57 by then.

John with a fish

Chris with one

Another...

Daryl - yowsa!

I just had a cancellation for Sunday, which looks to be a nice day.  Saturday is also open as is this coming Tuesday, then we’re into November!  Fishing throughout the region is in top form.