In-Season Fishing
Reports 2008
In Season Report #6
(Jun 17, 2008)
As the inshore waters warm we have moved to the 40 t0 80 foot
depths and big browns are cooperating. However before we moved out Bud Maxwell
nailed a nice brown in the Harbor. Best fish in the past week was a 16 lb.
football brown caught by Dan King. As summer approaches the browns are gaining
weight rapidly as alewives become more abundant in Oswego waters. Oswego is
providing some wonderful fishing adventure. .
In Season Report #5
(May 28, 2008)
Wow it has been cold out on the water. So much for our global
warming ploy. While the temps have been cool, the fishing has been warm to hot.
The brown trout get bigger by the day and they have cooperated to our liking.
Billy and his daughter Tia show off their hefty browns. Tia’s fish was nearly 12
pounds and Dad’s was close to 11. Sheephead are biting in the harbor waters and
put up a really good battle. It is hard to beat the good fishing out of the Port
of Oswego.
In Season Report #4
(May
19, 2008)
The 08 fishing season has started off in grand fashion. Pot
bellied browns have been plentiful with some nice steelhead and king salmon
mixed in. Basically we have been fishing east of Oswego around 4 mile point and
in front of the nuke complex. We have found it very rewarding to start fishing
early. The early bird not only catches the worm, he also catches plenty of fish.
These photos show some nice browns and a couple of sizeable steelies. Guess
which steelhead just entered the lake from a tributary flow. By the way, the
walleye tipped the scales at nearly 12 pounds.
In Season Report #3
(May
7, 2008)
I read my camera instructions, reviewed my “How To Catch
Brown Trout” book and set out to catch fish and take good photos. We did pretty
well in both departments. As the trout feast on bait such as alewives and gobies
they sure do grow fast. You can see that we landed some nice fish especially
after west wind blew in some warm stained water. Notice the last photo ---
I guess I need to read the camera book again...
In Season Report #2
(Apr 30, 2008)
I goofed and did not take photos of Skip Vezzetti
and gang, sorry Skip. Continued to goof with a blurry photo of young Nick and a
real nice 11 pound Brown. I did not goof when I took the photo of Dan and a real
nifty 8 pound steelie." No paparazzo here.
In Season Report #1
(Apr 22, 2008)
Our first 3 trips were spent trolling for Lake Ontario
Eastern Basin brown trout. We had plenty of success as chunky brown trout chased
and eventually caught up with our lures and ate them. Smithwick Rouges ,
Fishlanders, and Michigan Stingers were our lures of choice on our recent
charters. Calm Lake Ontario waters provided some great shallow water trolling
east of the Oswego Harbor all the way to 4 Mile Point. Our desire for a change
of scenery took us to the Nine Mile Point Nuclear plant’s buoy line for our
Sunday outing. We landed some real nice brown trout including a couple just
under 10 pounds. THE 2008 LAKE ONTARIO FISHING SEASON IS OFF TO A GREAT
START!!!! Stay tuned or post a comment at www.captainexperience.com
In-Season Fishing
Reports 2007
Fishing Season Report #8
(November, 2007)
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
(Jul 26, 2007)
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
(Jul 17, 2007)
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
(Jun 14, 2007)
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
(May 28, 2007)
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
(April
24, 2007)
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
(April
24, 2007)
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
(April
7, 2007)
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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