Articles and Tips

Articles & Tips

Region 8 Angler Diary Summaries

16 Apr 2021 |

This afternoon I had a chance to read over my NYS DEC angler diary summaries of Seneca, Keuka and Canandaigua Lakes. As most of you know, I have guided Seneca Lake fairly regularly in the past.  As late as in 2012 I did 29% of my trips there, as opposed to 31% at Cayuga – […]

Read More

A few odds and ends…

22 Dec 2020 |

First off, I want to thank whoever sent me the #JIG mug!  I appreciate it.  There was no note or return address, so I have no idea who sent it to me. I have been updating the website when I have time.  When the new site was built some of the “species” didn’t transfer over.  […]

Read More

Region 8 Seneca and Keuka Lake Updates

19 Nov 2020 |

I had a chance to talk with DEC Region 8 personnel.  DEC has been working on updating the Fisheries Management Plans for the Region 8 lakes.  The last time plans were formulated was back in 1980/1981, when Tom Chiotti wrote them up.  I have copies of the old plans for Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles, Otisco and […]

Read More

Seneca Lake Update

11 Aug 2020 |
One of the most frequently asked questions I hear is "What's going on with Seneca Lake?  Why is the fishing so tough over there?"   I've gone over this plenty of times before in my articles and on reports.  I've had a chance to talk to Region 8 fisheries personnel and I think the fishery is [...]
Read More

Maryland Pike Cakes?

25 Feb 2020 |
As somebody who likes to target pike and pickerel as well as eat them on occasion, one of the questions that arises is what to do with those extra scraps and meaty wedges that have those annoying "Y" bones in them.  I don't like to waste good meat but at the same time I want [...]
Read More

Roll with the changes…

14 Dec 2019 |
Great REO song and it pretty much sums up how I approach guiding and angling on the Finger Lakes.   The only constant I see in fishing most area waterways is change.  And while I'm talking 70s to 80s rock music, the other lyric/song that comes to mind is a quote from Scandal's "Goodbye to [...]
Read More

Lake Ontario 2019 onwards – a new paradigm

22 Oct 2019 |
What a wild year on Lake Ontario!  By nearly all accounts, spring King salmon fishing was beyond compare along virtually the entire south shore of the lake, from the Niagara Bar east past Oswego Harbor.   Double digit days were common and some anglers experienced doubles and triples on mature salmon in less than 50 [...]
Read More

Cayuga Lake Levels

14 Jul 2019 |
Here's a link to a chart that shows the lake levels that the NYS Canal Authority tries to maintain during the course of the year.  So as I write this on March 15th, 2019 the lake is below target levels. The main factor that determines the optimal lake level in the winter is the snow [...]
Read More