October 30, 2014

St. Lawrence River: Awaiting reports of some of the river’s big muskie catches, but not hearing much lately. Black Lake: Not hearing a lot on the fishing front now that the Northern Zone big-game hunting seasons are going strong.

Delaware East Branch: Closed above Shinnople. It is low and clear.  It has Olives on the water all the way down to Hancock. The lower half is at an easy nymphing level.  Esopus: Open until Nov. 30. Small Olives and a few Caddis. Spawners are usually caught on nymphs and streamers. Catskil Flies

Some big bears have already been taken in the region. Not hearing a lot from bowhunters looking for whitetails. Plenty of antlerless deer in most units, however.

Nothing on the fishing front, with hunting seasons in full swing and attracting most of the attention of sportsmen.

The best fishing during of late was off Montauk Point, where boat anglers limited out on stripers and sea bass and caught buckets full of porgies and many bluefish on a single trip. Most of the stripers were between 15 and 20 pounds, with a few fish into the high 20-pound class being caught on

Cayuga Lake: Trolling was producing lake trout, with flasher and flies, and spoons working well. Trolling 70 to 90 feet down has been a good starting point. Seneca Lake: Lake trout were being taken 50 to 85 feet down over 100 to 200 feet of water. Canandaigua Lake: Not hearing anything lately. Keuka Lake: Jigging

DEC’s Randolph Fish Hatchery has been conducting its annual fall stocking of broodstock trout in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties. All breeder trout stocked are over 2 years old and are stocked in waters where trout fishing is permitted year round. The following waters were stocked earlier this month: Quaker Lake received 100 brown trout (24