Hello again, time for some "Pulp Fish'n":
Since I last communicated with all of you, Oneida has definitely shown improvement. Walleyes are being taken in the deep water (30 to 38) on the east end at buoys 109 and 111 by the trollers with leadcore and stickbaits. The Rapala Hot Steel floater seems to be a favorite among the fraternity of trollers. North of Messenger Reef, jigging with black/purple 1/2 to 5/8 oz. jigs tipped with a crawler is also taking a fair share of "eyes".
Recently I have had a few good outings with the blade baits; particularly the Lazer Blade (gold/black) 1/2 oz. by Bass Pro Shops. The midge hatch is in full force now so walleyes are concentrating over the soft bottom to get a mouth full of these insects while they are floating to the surface to shed their casings. Ralph Moore, Matt and Tom Dolansky all from the New Hartford, NY region, jigged 11 "eyes" to keep these seven. The majority were on the Lazer Blade (gold/black) 1/2 oz. seen in the foreground.
On Tuesday morning, May 25 Tim McKernan, Baldwinsville, NY, Bill Garrett, N. Syracuse, NY and I jigged our way to a limit of "eyes". All but one was caught on the Lazer Blade. We had to move around quite a bit to get this catch in virtually a no wind situation. The preferred depths were 32 and 33 feet wherever it transitioned into 38.
Oneida Lake is now in its 15th. year of the lake sturgeon program and has already far surpassed any statistics on record for any other lakes in the U.S. Earlier this week the researchers at the Shackleton Point Cornell Biological Field Station on Oneida lake netted this 85 lb. big boy. So far this is the biggest sturgeon netted to date. So if per chance you hook into one of these water giants while jigging the depths and wonder why you got spooled, now you know.
Have a safe Memorial Day weekend and if you get a chance to fish, have a special prayer of thanks for all those soldiers who fought so that you can enjoy freedom.
Have "porpoise" in life,
cap'n tony
