New York
State has a jewel called the Finger Lakes Region, which consists
of 11 lakes across the middle of the state. All of these lakes are
loaded with fish and just waiting for you to fish them.
Larry, the
owner of Sports World Outfitter on the East Lake Road of
Canandaigua Lake tells me they are catching browns, rainbows and
lakers on sawbellies fished under slip bobbers in 70-140 feet of
water. A 17 ½ lb. brown trout was caught just the other day.
At 4343 State
Routes 5 & 20 in Canandaigua is the Finger Lakes Inn where you can
rent a clean, comfortable room for a very reasonable price and
they have plenty of parking room for your car and boat. Call
585-394-2800 or toll free 800-727-2775 for reservations or check
www.fingerlakesinn.com.
Down towards the south end of Canandaigua Lake on the west side at
6454 State Route 64 just north of Naples is Bristol Bait & Bow.
Owner Dave Grove has all the live bait and tackle needed for a
days fishing on any of the local lakes. Stop in today.
Over on
Seneca just south of Geneva on State Route 14 is Roy’s Marina
where owner Larry Japp has a launch, rental boats and live bait.
He can tell you where the fish are and what to use to catch them.
They are having their annual spring outboard sale and you can save
a bundle. Stop in and pick out your new outboard.
Down at the
South end of Seneca Lake at Watkins Glen, John at the Seneca
Marine Bait-N-Tackle tells me they are catching browns rainbows
and salmon while trolling Rapalas in silver/blue & white/blue
colors, in F-7 and J-9 sizes, also Challenger Miro Minnows & Jr
Minnows and Yozuri Crystal Minnows and Pin Minnows. They are also
catching lakers on sawbellies about 5 feet off the bottom under
slip bobbers while drifting on Seneca Lake. John further advised
me they killed the rainbow trout over on Keuka Lake drifting
sawbellies under slip bobbers, depth unknown.
Just down the
street at 135 E. Fourth St is Tobe’s Breakfast House where you can
get a super breakfast and have them pack you a great lunch to eat
while out on the water.
Travel south
out of Watkins Glen on State Route 14 and just past the P&C Market
is Curly’s Family Restaurant where fast and pleasant waitresses
bring you great food.
Just south of
Montour Falls on State Route 14 is Wild Wolf Hollow where you can
purchase Native American and wildlife collectibles, leather goods,
hunting & fishing supplies at reasonable prices.
Just over the
Penn border is the Tioga Boar Hunting Preserve where you can hunt
Wild Boar and many other exotic animals’ year around. Call
570-835-5341 for reservations.
>From Watkins
Glen go up the west side of Seneca Lake on State Route >414 and
turn onto State Route 96A at Ovid and proceed north past Samson
State Park to Kendaia Kabins & Campgrounds. Here is a great
campground, In addition to tent and trailer sites, there are
rental cabins including a camp store, recreation hall and lots of
hiking trails. If you are a fisherman, there is a bait & tackle
store and many fish stories. Call 315-585-2244 for reservations.
On State
Routes 5 & 20 between Geneva and Waterloo, right on the
Seneca-Cayuga Canal is Barry’s Bait & Tackle Shop. They have live
bait and tackle, and information for the fishing conditions on all
the local waters. The Seneca County Chamber of Commerce will hold
their 15th Annual Cayuga Lake Bass Tournament on
Saturday, June 21st, 2003 at the Cayuga Lake State Park
Launch Site. Prizes will be awarded for the largest Smallmouth or
Largemouth Bass. Entry fee is $100.00 per boat. Late Registration
will be from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at the Cayuga Outdoor Word &
Campgrounds located at 2540 State Route 89, Seneca Falls, NY, just
north of the Cayuga Lake State Park. The above tournament is
sponsored by Barry’s Bait & Tackle, Cayuga Outdoor World, J-N-T’s,
Inc. and Marina’s Restaurant & Marina. Down at the south end of
Cayuga Lake and just 2 miles south of Taughannock State Park is
the West Shore Gas and Grocery where owner Steve sells gas, oil,
groceries, ice, soda and snacks. All you need, for a day at the
park, or on the water. Steve tells me they have been catching a
few browns on jigs fished from shore at the park.
Over on the
east side of Cayuga Lake, Barney of Barney’s Baits, 131 Myers
Road, Lansing, tells me his 9th Annual Spring Fishing
Derby was a success. They registered 140 adults and 17 kids. Herb
Hess of Elmira, NY caught the largest Lake Trout at 9lb-7oz. Greg
Micitno of Vestal, NY caught the largest Brown Trout at 11lb-14
oz. In the kids div. Billy Lindsey of Berkshire, NY caught a 5lb-6
½ Lake Trout. Congratulations to all the winners. Well, Bass
Season opens on June 21st and all the game fish in the
state will be fair game. The fishing season has gotten off to a
good start and it can only get better from now on. Good fishing
and have a nice summer.