A long overdue hello to all my fish'in frenz!

    I'm back, it's OctoberCast on Oneida and the walleyes are biting! Let me however backup a bit before I give you the good news on the walleye front.

    First and foremost a huge thank you for all of those who fished with me on Lake Ontario. I know you have missed my weekly reports and would have enjoyed seeing your pictures in my updates. Since mid-July, I have been on a torrid pace with a full schedule of charters clear through the first week of Oct. Usually the weather intervenes and allows me some time to "catch" up. Not so this season. I will however in subsequent emails recap the salmon season with what I call seasonal highlights...special outings, special catches, special people...etc.

    In the meantime "the future will happen and is now". Here are the current conditions on Oneida.  Last night I began OctoberCast for my first Fall outing with Wayne Redmond, Baldwinsville, NY, Greg Ceresko, Baldwinsville, NY and Paul Chayka, E. Syracuse, NY and both walleyes and anglers obliged.

    Their limit catch of nine walleyes came on  Bass Pro Shops XPS Lazer Eye Nitro Suspend Minnow in the Black/Chrome or Blue/Chrome 4" model. To enhance the presentation, I added an occasional spray of Mustad's Activate (walleye pheromone formula). While anchored in 4.8 feet we tossed the stickbaits into 61 degree water. The bite wasn't frenetic but steady from 6:15 P.M. till 8:00 P.M. The largest stretched the ruler to just over 20 inches with the majority over 17 inches. A slow, stop and go retrieve with an occasional sweep triggered the strikes. This was a very happy return to Oneida. My last effort here was on June 30th. 

    The yellow perch bite at the east end of the lake has been quite good. Reports confirm major catches at the "rock pile" off of Sylvan beach. The bait of choice here is the fathead minnow. Today, I'll be on the lake form 1:00 P.M. till 7:00 P.M. chasing "eyes" and perch. Most likely will spend the early hours out jigging the depths for both perch and walleye and then return to the shallows for the night"cast".

    On Oct. 4th. the annual Fish'in with Fools outing on Lake Ontario started at around 8:00 A.M. in 350 feet and the bite continued through 2:30 P.M. After boating a total of 19 salmon/steelhead  and missing another 10 the Fall "Fool"iage group of Keith Sweeney, Liverpool, NY, Randy and Andy Kroll, Nashville, Tenn. and Tim Hunt, Wisconsin had reason to smile and boast of a spectacular catch of two year old salmon and robust rainbows. The group spent the week fishing the Salmon River for the annual run of kings, cohos, browns,  and steelheads and noted the lake outing as the highlight of their trip.

Here is a shot of one of Andy's big rainbows.

"COD" ago fish'in

cap'n tony

(315) 427-2278