Got out here on my own from around 11:45 am until dark (around 4:45 pm.) My goal today was to scout the areas around the park both north and south on both sides of the lake. I'm trying to see if the abundance of round gobies in the lake has caused any significant shallow movement of trout/salmon (or other species for that matter.) I brought tube jigs, perch rigs, pike set-ups, blade baits and more.
Thus far, I have not seen anything out of the ordinary here on Seneca Lake. I scanned a lot of areas with my electronics, hoping to find some perch schools and/or significant marks representing gamefish, but did not have luck. Eventually I just decided to fish and drifted a nice flat. I did find some perch but no real motherlode. It was a good sign though! In another area, I hooked a good fish on a green pumpkin colored tube jig (this color is a great goby imitation!) The fish made a strong initial run, but it was short, then the fish "juked" a bit. At first I thought big brown trout, but then I was thinking pike. Sure enough, it was a chunky 32" northern, which I kept for dinner(s.) I was lucky to land it with just a 10lb flourocarbon leader. I kept working along the area and did not encounter any more pike. This fish was just laying along a drop-off in around 15' of water. There are very few weed beds on this lake, so the pike have to make due.
The lake seemed fairly lifeless in other areas. I encountered one other boat on the day, which was likely locals (having a place on the lake) that were in a well-known deep perch area. I'm guessing that they were doing fairly well. With so much food available to yellow perch in Seneca Lake - between Mysis shrimp, round gobies, sculpin, alewives and more - you never know where a school will turn up.
My pike had a large round goby in its stomach along with 2 other fish that were likely small gobies. Some fish are clearly roaming the shallows and mid-depths gobbling gobies. The majority of gobies are probably pretty deep now with the cold water, so who knows what's going on out deeper. Stay tuned - I will keep checking on this lake, fish or no fish.
