Hello again and again fishtoids & fishtoidettes:

    If you enjoy hunting and fishing in central NY then you probably had a fun filled weekend chasing "toms", tackling trout, and pick 'in "eyes". I can at least claim two out of three. Ever since I caught my first fish, a bluegill, on a hand line and bobber at the innocent age of 7, I have never stopped pursuing the finny creatures for both sport and food. On Saturday my charter targeted brown trout on Lake Ontario. Twenty knot offshore southeast wind on both Friday and Saturday fractured the inshore temperature profile, resulting in cold clear water and scattered fish. I confined my effort to Oswego Harbor where at least the temperature remained stable and the water stained. Our catch of 4 browns, and two smallmouths are what was left after two losses at the net and three other noncommittal strikes. Definitely not a stellar day on the big pond but our options were negated by the wind. 

    Jeff Wilson, Glenville, NY, Nick Macherone, Scotia, NY, Ken Shumway, Glenville and Chris Buff, Burnt Hills, NY enjoyed their time with me and Capt. Scott D'Agata trolling for the stubborn browns.

On Sunday my charter focused on walleyes and Oneida lake. We left the dock at 6:20 A.M. and by 8:30 A.M. had a full limit of 9 walleyes with the best one measuring 20.5 inches and the rest were 16 to 18.5 . We decided to release the ninth one in order to legally fish for a derby worthy walleye. The first drift started at the Hogsback on the east tip of Lakeport Shoal and with a northeast wind moved us southwest from 20 into 14 feet. Two full drifts armed with Bass Pro Shops Lazer Blade 1/2 oz. gold blade baits enhanced with Mustad's Activate walleye pheromone is all we needed to entice the eyes. I dubbed this the "wet ass walleye trip". It rained from the moment we left the dock until around 10:00 A.M. The remainder of the morning was spent in 40 and 30 feet of water to no avail. We didn't win the derby but we sure had our way with the walleyes.

    Eric Stickles, Oneida, NY and brother-in-law Scott Coles, Baldwinsville, NY didn't waste any time finding the jigging rhythm. It was a wet "butt" worthy exercise.

I'll be giving final exams the week of May 12; after which I am available on a daily basis for charters either on Lake Ontario or Oneida.

O "fish" lly yours,

cap'n tony