strikezone31
03-27-2010, 10:30 AM
A lot of us are into saltwater fishing trying to get those striped bass. Let's not forget there is some great freshwater fishing in our state.
http://nyfisherman.net/craigbelesi.jpgThe date was October 20, 2008 when Craig Belesi caught this awesome Largemouth Bass from Oakland Lake in Bayside Queens, NYC. The lure of choice was a Texas rigged 5 inch watermelon Senko. The bass was released immediately after the photo was taken.
What makes this fish so special is it was his first fishing trip after having a pace maker implanted ten weeks earlier. Craig and his brother James went to the local lake just to wet the line. Luck was with Craig this day, because his daughter Rachel and her friend Erika were taking pictures near by and Rachel snapped this one. They did not weigh it, but it is definitely in the 6 pound class. According to Craig he did not need the pace maker when he reeled this one in, because it really got his heart pumping.
Oakland Lake is a leftover reminder of the glaciers that once covered this area. When the glaciers receded they left a 15 to 20 foot deep lake around 15 acres in size that is entirely spring fed. At one time the lake did support a population of trout, but now only supports largemouth bass, crappie, white perch, pickerel, catfish, sunfish, and carp.
Fishing in all freshwater ponds and lakes in New York City Parks is catch and release only. If you fish in and around the five boroughs of NYC, the DEC is looking for volunteers to join the Angler Diary Program. The data from these diaries are used monitor fish populations and are an important tool in managing our fishery.
The date was August 13, 2008, when Kirk Christie of Fort Erie, Ontario caught this monster muskellunge from the upper Niagara River. He was fishing from shore and was using a stickbait as his lure of choice. Kirk is known as the Musky Man and can be found on the river in his spare time looking for the elusive muskellunge.
Two separate strains of muskellunge can be found in New York States waters. The St. Lawrence strain is found in the St. Lawrence River and it's tributaries. They may also be found in Lake Ontario and the Niagara River. The Ohio strain occurs in Chautauqua Lake and the Allegheny River. The New York State record was of the St. Lawrence strain and it weighed in at an incredible 69 pound 15 ounces. This fantastic specimen was caught from the St. Lawrence River by Arthur Lawton in 1957.
http://nyfisherman.net/kirkmusky.jpg
The Niagara River gets it start as the waters of Lake Erie begin to collect up and start a journey of over 30 miles draining into Lake Ontario. On the way the river is divided into the Upper and Lower stretches by the wonderful gift of nature known as Niagara Falls. The river provides a natural border between the USA and Canada. It's waters are used to generate hydro electricity and to provide water for the Erie Canal.
The upper section is a fantastic fishery for perch, bass, walleye and muskellunge. Fisherman can troll with lures or drift fish with live bait. Fish will congregate where ever the current has a break in it. Any dock or pier will give up some nice bass and the occasional muskie. The upper section of river isn't as treacherous as the lower section, but its waters should still be given plenty of respect as the current is still very strong.
The lower section supports a fantastic fishery for steelhead, brown trout, lake trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, bass, walleye, muskellunge, and perch. Most of the fish in the lower section of the river are from Lake Ontario, but find the waters of the Niagara River to be excellent habitat. These fish are able to go upstream as far as the falls. The Niagara River gorge is very steep and most fishing in this section of the river is by boat.
There are many guides who charter trips here all year long and target Trout, Salmon, Bass, Walleyes, and Muskies. If you are intrested in a guided trip on the mighty Niagara River try one of the guides from Niagara River Guides List (http://nyfisherman.net/niagarariverguides.html)
http://nyfisherman.net/richtehan1.jpghttp://nyfisherman.net/richtehan2.jpgThe above photos are of Rich Tehan from Marcy, NY. The photo on the left is a very nice largemouth bass caught from Otisco Lake. It was caught in the middle June 2008 on a watermelon colored Berkley Powerbait in about 3 feet of water. Otisco Lake is the eastern most lake of the Finger Lakes chain but is considered a minor Finger Lake. The lake is 6 miles long and has a maximum depth of almost 70 feet. Nine Mile Creek is the main outlet. Otisco Lake supports the following species of fish, brown trout, walleye, tiger muskies, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegills, rock bass and brown bullhead.
The photo on the right is a Smallmouth Bass caught in early August 2008 on Delta Reservoir, Rome, NY. It was caught on a Texas rigged watermelon YUM "Dinger" in 25 feet of water. Delta Lake is a man made reservoir located about six miles north of Rome, NY. Delta Lake provides fishing for trout, pike, bass, perch, walleye, pickerel, and bullheads. It is also home to Delta Lake State Park (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=18). The park which opened in 1968 has over 100 campsites and covers over 400 acres.
The two primary species of bass inhabiting N.Y. State waters are smallmouth and largemouth bass. Both species may be found in most all of the states lakes and rivers. The average bass caught is between 1 and 5 pounds, but there are many fish taken every year over 5 pounds. Bass fisherman by majority are a catch and release group so that affords this species a bit more protection than they would other wise receive.
The state wide size limit on bass is 12 inches in length and a daily creel limit of 5. Open season on bass is the 3rd Saturday in June through November 30th.The state record largemouth bass was caught by John L. Higbie he was using a spinnerbait fishing in Buckhorn Lake on 09/11/87. This majestic fish weighed an amazing 11 lb. 04oz. The state record smallmouth bass was caught by Andrew C. Kartesz on Jig and Grub Tail from Lake Erie on 06/04/95. This incredible fish weighed 8 lb. 4oz.
Smallmouth bass prefer deeper and colder water than largemouth bass which enables both species to coexist in the same environment without competing directly against each other. In rivers they prefer the faster moving water and will be found around large boulder or bridge abutments. Largemouth on the other hand prefer shallower and more turbid water and are often found in weedbeds and around fallen timber in the slower moving stretches of rivers.
Both species will feed on minnows, crayfish, insects, worms, snails, frogs, or most anything that they can catch and swallow. This is one reason so many fisherman love bass fishing, because they are fairly easy to catch and will hit most any lure that invades their space.
Tackle for bass fishing is as simple as you want it to be, or can be as complex as you want with many tournament fisherman having 5 or 6 rods all rigged with different lines and lures for certain fishing conditions. Most any medium action rod 6 foot in length and spooled with 10 or 12 pound test line would be sufficient for most fishing conditions.
Lake Ontario and Lake Erie offer some of the states most fantastic smallmouth bass fishing. The bays along Lake Ontario also offer some great largemouth fishing, but the best largemouth bass fishing is in the Finger Lakes with Cayuga, Keuka, and Seneca Lake being the number one choices. Lake Champlain, Black Lake, Chautauqua Lake, and many of the reservoirs outside oy New York City offers some trophy bass fishing as well.
http://nyfisherman.net/craigbelesi.jpgThe date was October 20, 2008 when Craig Belesi caught this awesome Largemouth Bass from Oakland Lake in Bayside Queens, NYC. The lure of choice was a Texas rigged 5 inch watermelon Senko. The bass was released immediately after the photo was taken.
What makes this fish so special is it was his first fishing trip after having a pace maker implanted ten weeks earlier. Craig and his brother James went to the local lake just to wet the line. Luck was with Craig this day, because his daughter Rachel and her friend Erika were taking pictures near by and Rachel snapped this one. They did not weigh it, but it is definitely in the 6 pound class. According to Craig he did not need the pace maker when he reeled this one in, because it really got his heart pumping.
Oakland Lake is a leftover reminder of the glaciers that once covered this area. When the glaciers receded they left a 15 to 20 foot deep lake around 15 acres in size that is entirely spring fed. At one time the lake did support a population of trout, but now only supports largemouth bass, crappie, white perch, pickerel, catfish, sunfish, and carp.
Fishing in all freshwater ponds and lakes in New York City Parks is catch and release only. If you fish in and around the five boroughs of NYC, the DEC is looking for volunteers to join the Angler Diary Program. The data from these diaries are used monitor fish populations and are an important tool in managing our fishery.
The date was August 13, 2008, when Kirk Christie of Fort Erie, Ontario caught this monster muskellunge from the upper Niagara River. He was fishing from shore and was using a stickbait as his lure of choice. Kirk is known as the Musky Man and can be found on the river in his spare time looking for the elusive muskellunge.
Two separate strains of muskellunge can be found in New York States waters. The St. Lawrence strain is found in the St. Lawrence River and it's tributaries. They may also be found in Lake Ontario and the Niagara River. The Ohio strain occurs in Chautauqua Lake and the Allegheny River. The New York State record was of the St. Lawrence strain and it weighed in at an incredible 69 pound 15 ounces. This fantastic specimen was caught from the St. Lawrence River by Arthur Lawton in 1957.
http://nyfisherman.net/kirkmusky.jpg
The Niagara River gets it start as the waters of Lake Erie begin to collect up and start a journey of over 30 miles draining into Lake Ontario. On the way the river is divided into the Upper and Lower stretches by the wonderful gift of nature known as Niagara Falls. The river provides a natural border between the USA and Canada. It's waters are used to generate hydro electricity and to provide water for the Erie Canal.
The upper section is a fantastic fishery for perch, bass, walleye and muskellunge. Fisherman can troll with lures or drift fish with live bait. Fish will congregate where ever the current has a break in it. Any dock or pier will give up some nice bass and the occasional muskie. The upper section of river isn't as treacherous as the lower section, but its waters should still be given plenty of respect as the current is still very strong.
The lower section supports a fantastic fishery for steelhead, brown trout, lake trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, bass, walleye, muskellunge, and perch. Most of the fish in the lower section of the river are from Lake Ontario, but find the waters of the Niagara River to be excellent habitat. These fish are able to go upstream as far as the falls. The Niagara River gorge is very steep and most fishing in this section of the river is by boat.
There are many guides who charter trips here all year long and target Trout, Salmon, Bass, Walleyes, and Muskies. If you are intrested in a guided trip on the mighty Niagara River try one of the guides from Niagara River Guides List (http://nyfisherman.net/niagarariverguides.html)
http://nyfisherman.net/richtehan1.jpghttp://nyfisherman.net/richtehan2.jpgThe above photos are of Rich Tehan from Marcy, NY. The photo on the left is a very nice largemouth bass caught from Otisco Lake. It was caught in the middle June 2008 on a watermelon colored Berkley Powerbait in about 3 feet of water. Otisco Lake is the eastern most lake of the Finger Lakes chain but is considered a minor Finger Lake. The lake is 6 miles long and has a maximum depth of almost 70 feet. Nine Mile Creek is the main outlet. Otisco Lake supports the following species of fish, brown trout, walleye, tiger muskies, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegills, rock bass and brown bullhead.
The photo on the right is a Smallmouth Bass caught in early August 2008 on Delta Reservoir, Rome, NY. It was caught on a Texas rigged watermelon YUM "Dinger" in 25 feet of water. Delta Lake is a man made reservoir located about six miles north of Rome, NY. Delta Lake provides fishing for trout, pike, bass, perch, walleye, pickerel, and bullheads. It is also home to Delta Lake State Park (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=18). The park which opened in 1968 has over 100 campsites and covers over 400 acres.
The two primary species of bass inhabiting N.Y. State waters are smallmouth and largemouth bass. Both species may be found in most all of the states lakes and rivers. The average bass caught is between 1 and 5 pounds, but there are many fish taken every year over 5 pounds. Bass fisherman by majority are a catch and release group so that affords this species a bit more protection than they would other wise receive.
The state wide size limit on bass is 12 inches in length and a daily creel limit of 5. Open season on bass is the 3rd Saturday in June through November 30th.The state record largemouth bass was caught by John L. Higbie he was using a spinnerbait fishing in Buckhorn Lake on 09/11/87. This majestic fish weighed an amazing 11 lb. 04oz. The state record smallmouth bass was caught by Andrew C. Kartesz on Jig and Grub Tail from Lake Erie on 06/04/95. This incredible fish weighed 8 lb. 4oz.
Smallmouth bass prefer deeper and colder water than largemouth bass which enables both species to coexist in the same environment without competing directly against each other. In rivers they prefer the faster moving water and will be found around large boulder or bridge abutments. Largemouth on the other hand prefer shallower and more turbid water and are often found in weedbeds and around fallen timber in the slower moving stretches of rivers.
Both species will feed on minnows, crayfish, insects, worms, snails, frogs, or most anything that they can catch and swallow. This is one reason so many fisherman love bass fishing, because they are fairly easy to catch and will hit most any lure that invades their space.
Tackle for bass fishing is as simple as you want it to be, or can be as complex as you want with many tournament fisherman having 5 or 6 rods all rigged with different lines and lures for certain fishing conditions. Most any medium action rod 6 foot in length and spooled with 10 or 12 pound test line would be sufficient for most fishing conditions.
Lake Ontario and Lake Erie offer some of the states most fantastic smallmouth bass fishing. The bays along Lake Ontario also offer some great largemouth fishing, but the best largemouth bass fishing is in the Finger Lakes with Cayuga, Keuka, and Seneca Lake being the number one choices. Lake Champlain, Black Lake, Chautauqua Lake, and many of the reservoirs outside oy New York City offers some trophy bass fishing as well.