Stick a fork in me. I am all done.
The 2008- 2009 steelhead season is over for me and if I didn't admit that I am burned out and totally fried I would be lying.
Extraordinary fishing made it all worthwhile, but this was my busiest season since the mid nineties and I was a lot younger then.
A huge thank you goes out to the many wonderful guests that have supported our business during these tough economic times. Fishing is a huge release for many and I really do appreciate you thinking about us when you are looking where to spend your hard earned money on leisure activities.
What better way to spend the last week of my season than with veteran steelheader Fritz Becker. Fritz just turned 81 and although we started late most days and quit early, he never missed a beat. He runs a fly rod with the best of them and his hook sets are deadly. Fishing about 6 hours each day, Fritz still managed to tangle with over 50 steelhead during his week long adventure.
These numbers may not match those of some bobber experts but these are true solid hookups on a fly rod. He is still the man at 81!
There are still plenty of fish in the river, but water temp is the key to keeping them here and it is warm. We are reaching 60 plus during the afternoon and they don't like it. You will only find them in the fastest deepest runs and pockets. Don't waste your time in slow water you will only catch chubs and smolts.
Look for things to really wind down in the next week or two. The river really does need a break. It has been used and abused my man and nature over the last eight months.
I will be shutting the web cam down soon to save a few bucks over the summer months. We will have it back up and running by September 15th. Thank you again to the several people that donated. Your support is the only reason it is still there.
Onto the big pond;
Where do I start? Here at home brown trout are always the go to fish run some flat lines with black and silver rapalas and or smithwicks in 6 to 15 feet of water and wait your turn.
But right now the big secret, that I am more than happy to tell everyone about is all the Chinooks that are being caught from Mexico Bay to the Fair Haven.
This I am sure will have everyone's attention. For about a week a handful of captains have been hush hush about their catches, but I am in the promotion and tourism business so I am telling you hang on! The kings are here. For how long we don't know as they generally pull a disappearing act later in the month but right now they are here and they are biting.
Find some bait and cold water and run a good spoon program combined with some flasher and fly combos in a little bit deeper water and you should hook up.
It amazes me that the ones that complain about not having business are the ones that want to keep a good thing like this quiet. Tell the world. We have Chinooks in Mexico bay. We have them in Oswego and of course the western basin is always on fire this time of year.
So I will promote it and I will tell you that I have May 21, 22, 25, 27, 28, 29, & 31 wide open just waiting for someone to book them.
Even more good news!
I recently stopped on the river to talk to two DEC guys that were doing the wild Chinook seine netting. The word so far is the numbers are off the charts This is there 9th year conducting this survey and although last year was a bust the early nettings show a huge increase over all other years.
What does this mean? Guess we will know once the tagged stocked fish return next year and they can evaluate the numbers of stocked and wild fish. Stay tuned for more
The future is exciting for Lake Ontario!
Too see photos just log on to our site, www.lakeontariooutdoors.com
