Reports and Pics
In-Season Fishing
Reports 2007
Fishing Season Report #8
Yeah, I know it has been too long between reports,
and I truly am sorry. It is just
that as we cruised into August we got busier and busier, and on many days we
were on the water from 5AM till dusk.
That is one gaggle of fishing trips and my routine of awake at
3AM, fish all day, head back to my lake house to shower, eat, and
sleep left little time for my web site updates. (So much to do, and so little
time.)
I promise that it will not happen again.
In 2008 we will have a
personal computer on board with an internet connection that will allow us to be
on line in cyber space while we have a fish on line off the stern of the Dixie
Dandy. This is going to be a very
functional addition to our charter service, especially with regard to up to date
weather happenings as we will be able to address specific lake conditions via
access to million dollar Doppler radar real time images. The internet now
becomes an integral part of our fishing arsenal. How great is that?
Our overall fishing season was super, except on the days when winds
dictated the” pro or con” movement of fish.
It is always that way on
Lake Ontario as winds move the preferred water
temperatures in and out, shallow and deep, making the fishing puzzle quite
complex on certain days. Anyhow, we did catch plenty of fish with sensational
early season brown trout fishing that segued to a terrific summer season with
kings being the mainstay. Add to this numerous chunky Cohoes, and a bunch of magnificent Steelhead
providing the cherry on top of the fishing sundae. The season was good. REAL
GOOD!!!
Fishing Season Report #7
Our 2007 fishing season continues on its merry way and on
most days serves up some real fine fishing. King Salmon have moved into the area
in greater numbers and these tremendously gallant creatures provide angling
battles that thrill even the most experienced anglers.
On July 14th, the 1st
Annual MUSTAD Challenge Team Tournament was held out of the
Oswego
County
area.
The one day event drew 31 teams and from what I heard, a great time was
had by all. The events “radio
silence” format makes it unique and certainly adds to the suspense as
contestants weigh in their 6 fish limit catch to learn who the winner will be.
Team Water Wolf topped the scales and took home the first place trophy. Just
about all participants commented on how well the first year event was conducted
and promised to return in 08. Look for more news on the 2008 event real soon.
Fishing Season Report # 6
As the song says….”The Beat Goes On”… Lake Ontario
the angler’s theme song is “The Bite Goes On.”
Fishing remains stupendous, or spectacular, which ever you prefer.
Whether it’s salmon or brown trout our 2007 season is proving to be one of the
best on record. As the lake stratifies into its normal pattern of horizontal
temperature layers, the fish hang in
their preferred water temperature range and cooperate
nicely when the chosen lure presentation passes by. It is this stratified water
that allows us to target a specific area, and stay in the “bite” zone. The
abundance of chubby bait fish is providing a healthy dose of growth energy with
the result being bigggg fish. Want to catch a big one? A really big one???? Come
fish with us.
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Fishing Season Report #5
The absolutely colossal brown trout fishing continues to impress even the most
seasoned anglers. 2007, has so far proven to be one of the most productive
seasons in the last ten years. To make matters even better, the abundance of
bait fish provides plenty of energy that translates to big fish. It is great to
be a Lake Ontario
troller, especially this year. Want to catch a big one?
Give us a call.
Fishing Season Report #4
Fishing out of
Oswego, NY, we continue to put together great catches of
traditional Lake Ontario “football” brown trout. These
bruisers are getting bigger by the day as they feed on the plentiful supply of
energy rich plump alewives. They make one little mistake, just one, and
they are captured aboard the Dixie Dandy. Keep them, or release them, it is your
choice. Keep in mind that our Lake
Ontario fish stocking
program is based upon a put, grow and take, methodology.
It is shaping up to be a fishing season dominated by big
salmon and trout. You can catch them if you hop aboard the Dixie Dandy.
Fishing Season Report #3
Amazing
Lake
Ontario is up to her old
tricks once again, providing another spring, filled with outstanding fishing
opportunities. Shoreline fishing for brown trout is off to a great start with
limit catches almost every time out. Further offshore, salmon are becoming more
abundant with each passing day. Already this year we see brown trout
growth, as the smaller footballs continue to inflate after gorging themselves on
the tons of alewives that swim in their path
The salmon and trout that are currently housed in the Oswego net pens are getting
bigger and bigger. In a matter of days these fish will be towed out into the
lake for release and the beginning of their free range life cycle. Net pens have
certainly proven to be an efficient stocking method as is evidenced by the
improved fishing since their introduction.
It certainly is amazing!
Fishing Season Report #2
We are on the water and I am happy to say that our
first few trips have been very, very good.
We have been fishing the shoreline from the
Oswego River east to just past 4 mile point.
Brown trout have been extremely cooperative along with a few chunky rainbows
mixed in. The water is warming and we expect fishing to continue to be great.
There is nice color to the water and that makes things even better. As we had
expected, our early season catches clearly indicate that 2007 fishing should be
very special indeed. Plenty of baitfish will provide the energy necessary to
produce some truly bulging brownies. Things are looking good, real good.
Call us if you want to partake of some productive May
fishing. We have a few days open.
Our Oswego net pens are filled
with chinooks and steelhead. They were delivered April 14th.
Volunteers are busy tending the pens and feeding the fish several times a day.
The net pen program has proven to be a very effective
method of growing bigger, healthier fish. Ah yes, the future is bright.
2007 Season Report #1
LET THE GAMES BEGIN
Even though, as I write this update, it is miserably cold and still
snowing, it will not be long till the Dixie Dandy is in the water and fully
rigged for the 2007 fishing season. Today I finished the bottom paint trim and
even painted the bilge area platform between the two engines. The power plants
have been tuned, and general spring maintenance is complete. Keeping her ship
shape is the only way to go.
It
looks like we will be in the water early next week. Then I will reinstall the
electronics, load my generous assortment of tackle on board, and motor the Dixie
Dandy out for a shakedown cruise or two, weather permitting.
Once I complete those tasks, I run the
boat some 13 miles to the Oswego Marina where she will remain till the end of
September.
Fishing out of Oswego offers several
advantages to both my customers and me. The Oswego area translates to short runs to
quality fishing waters. Short runs equate to more time actually spent fishing.
Off Oswego, the
early season fishing is enhanced by the tremendous flow of the Oswego
River
as it pours into Lake
Ontario. The River brings
plenty of warmer, nutrient rich water into the lake. Early season inshore
fishing is enhanced by the warm, murky tributary run off, making for some great
light tackle brown trout action. As the season progresses we take advantage of
the bottom contour of the Oswego
area that drops down about 100 feet per mile. Head out 3 miles and you are
trolling in 300 fee of water. Again, as the lake warms and fish follow the bait
to cooler, deeper waters short runs are still the norm, meaning more time with
lines in the water. Having fished the south shore of the lake for many years, I
can tell you that Oswego
fishing is at the top of the chart.
Oswego net pens will be in the water shortly,
with the salmon and trout to be delivered on or about April 13th.
Volunteers are standing at the ready to raise the critters to optimum stocking
size in hopes of maximizing their survival rate when released into Lake Ontario
depths. If you are in the area in the next few weeks stop by and watch the
feeding exercise. These little guys have big appetites. I am sure any of the
volunteers would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
One of my favorite times of the year starts when boats are rolled from
the dark confines of winter storage shelters, to await spring primping activity
under the sometimes early season sun lit sky. Old friends return, new friends
are made and another wonderful fishing season starts to roll. It is a good life
and I am darn lucky to be a part of it.
Several years ago I attended a
Lake Ontario fishery meeting about the status of the fishery. As the meeting
progressed I was shocked to learn that not all in attendance had the same
fishing interests. My jaw just about hit the floor when a person told how he
could care less about the trout and salmon fishery. He wanted better perch
fishing. This wasn’t an ogre looking guy with green hair and a persistent drool;
no, he looked like me, except for the green hair.
What I am attempting to point out
is that within our sporting community there are many differing factions with
many different interests and desires. I like to troll; well actually I love to
troll. I would not go fly fishing ever. Not interested in it, think it is boring
and would never shop at Orvis. (Just kidding) Bass fishing is not for me,
but you could get me to throw out a worm and bobber, sit back with my feet
propped up and a cool one standing by. Sometimes one fishing faction will get
”in the face” of another, causing rifts that have a tendency to divide. It is
this division that can be exploited. This could be the case with proponents of
catch and release and catch and eat. One should not be favored over the other.
Both should be considered as acceptable fishing philosophies.
Now one thing is for sure, while
there are many ways to fish and many opinions on which is most revered, the
common denominator is that it all falls under the category of fishing. If you
are a fisherperson, (politically correct terminology) who cares about your
method of choice. Anglers are what we are! We practice our sport in many
different ways, but when you take off our boots we all are the same. (Sort of).
That is how we must defend and
look to improve various fisheries. It is a series of give and take gestures that
are based on sound fishery management science. A dab or two of emotion is OK,
however, science based decisions must prevail. Want to keep fishing a sport as
we know it today? Then look at the whole picture! Be an angler first!
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