CAPTAIN TONY BUFFA FISHING CHARTERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing Report #11

07/01/09

 

Hello all you fish'n "fin"atics:

 

    Again, yet another report from both ponds. Let's start with the little "o" albeit the largest lake totally within the boundaries of NYS. Oneida continues to please with both quality walleye and bass angling. Walleye's are still deep (24-40) feet and responding to jigging and trolling. As for the trolling effort, an early start does help. Just before daybreak with the option of either a worm harness or a stickbait trolled at 1.7 to 2 mph in the vicinity of buoy 109 will put you within "eye"shot.  

    The jig is not Up it is Down; as in make sure to keep contact with the bottom whether you are using a bucktail with nightcrawler or a blade bait. Successful jigging is the result of letting your presentation hit bottom every time before lifting. The jig and nightcrawler is presented with a deliberate stroke whereas the blade bait is fished with a more vigorous stroke. In both cases let your lure free fall. DO NOT follow the falling lure with your rod. Drop the rod every time as the lure plummets. Enough technical stuff!

    Here are my recent charters with accompanying catches.

    Just back from a successful African Safari trip to South Africa, landscape client Jack Mitten was invited to go fishing with renowned landscaper and good friend Jim Sollecito as well as fellow West Genesee grad and legendary  lacrosse Coach Mike Messere (8 national and 16 state championships). They boated a wide variety of species, Jack shared stories about his recent hunt, and Mike revealed that he has absolutely no plans for retirement, he still has the passion for coaching. You share a lot more than just bending a rod with time spent on the water among friends. Jim gave up golf years ago because it just isn't as friendly, and besides, it is hard to eat a golf ball at the end of an outing. Here are the three amigos with their catch.

The Heimermanns Evan, Mark, P.J. and patriarch Bill former Bridgeport, NY residents returned from Nashville, TN. to reminisce and enjoy some quality walleye fishing on Oneida Lake. Back in the 80's Bill and his two boys frequently fished Oneida. Quite often we would drift side by side while jigging the structure at Shackleton Shoals and Eel Island. Bill now a determined 82 years young fisherman makes an annual outing with the boys. Grandson Evan is now an integral part of the tradition. Their mixed bag of walleyes, yellow perch, catfish, and sheepshead all came on the north side of the Hogsback Mound off Lakeport shoals. 3/4 oz. Mad River Sports  Vertical Jigging blade took the lion's share of this catch in mostly 30 feet.

Tom and Rosemary Smith, residents of Rochester and frequent visitors of Oneida Lake at their cottage in Sylvan Beach enjoyed a morning of jigging for walleyes. Again the 3/4 oz. Mad River blade enticed a few walleyes to the boat. The early bite at the Hogsback provided the best action. The "tight lip walleye syndrome" set in around 9:00 A.M. In the far right of the photo is the gold 3/4 oz. blade.

 

 

Team Buffa once again convened on lake Ontario to participate in this year's Mustad Challenge out of Oswego Marina on Sat. June 27. Fifty one teams competed in the trout and salmon tournament which started at 5:00 A.M. and ended at 1:00 P.M. We boated one eight pound Lake trout which did not quality (no lakers or atlantics allowed), a seven pound steelhead and two kings. Our catch put us in 15th place. Two lost fish to break-offs on the copper and the wire would have helped boost us in the standing. Out of the 51 teams, only two teams entered a limit of 6 fish. A 24.8 lb. king salmon by team Tall Tails took big fish award and Team Screamer from Oswego Marina won the event.

    Here are the team members: Dick Culkin retired West Genny principal, Capt. Scott D'Agata mate, Frank DeGenero, retired major NYS Troopers, Chuck Nojaim, contractor and former bait shop owner, Capt. Uncle Don D'Agata head chef and master electrician and Mike Lynch retired police officer, East Syr.

The Ontario thermocline is finally setting up and the fishing has improved. As we go through July the king salmon fishery will kick into high gear and the bigger browns will show up in good numbers. Bass and walleye continue to entertain on the Oneida side and I'll be bouncing from one pond to the other.

    A last minute cancellation came in for this Friday morning July 3. If anyone is interested in either an Oneida or Ontario outing, I am available.

 

I "COD" ago,

 

cap'n tony