Spring 2017 Fishing Report
May 6
Solid brown bite. They wanted spoons with 2 split shot out a bit deeper. Nice class of fish too. Our boat released as many as we kept. Pulled the boat today- Sodus docks in a precarious place….
May 3- the weather has been terrible. High water and high winds are the issue. Most of the launches are not usable, and the bay is still in a “state of emergency”. Remember if you do get out that the entire bay is “idle speed no wake”. I expect that the fishing is very good if you can get out.
On a happier note, Greg Switzer tells me that the next stocking is going to happen may 9th. They are looking for help, if anyone is interested.
April 29-
Brown fishing in close is slow ( we did one in about an hour) but offshore bite is decent. A nice mix of cohos and steelhead on top to about 50 down, with lakers easy to get on the bottom. Small spoons and flasher/atommik’s did decent damage for us.
Apparently Browns will be stocked Monday from the pier, and they might need help. Contact Greg Switzer if interested!
April 23, 2017
The near shore fishery has been spotty. One day, guys are doing well, the next it stinks. Browns and coho dominate, if you find the green water. My brother is out now and beating up lakers in 90 fow +. Remember, the bay is no wake, idle speed only- that is for the ENTIRE bay!
April 19, 2017
The fishing for browns has been inconsistent, and though the lakers are there it hasn’t been fast and furious. The big story is the water level… Sodus bay is now at “flood level”. There is an emergency order in effect, restricting all boat travel to idle speed, with no wake. It doesn’t look like this is going to be better until mid may at the earliest. This new ijc plan 2014 is disasterous for the south shore!
April 14, 2017
Kind of a strange week. Not a great week for fishing, despite good conditions. Weather looks garbage for the weekend as well. It has been a slow pick of browns near shore and a few lakers off shore. Bullhead and perch are both being caught in the bay.
April 9, 2017:
An armada out today to the west… so I went east. Fishing was slow, had a handful of Browns in the diiiiirty water (too dirty), then we beat up on lakers in 120 fow for some more action. The Browns wanted natural stuff, despite the filthy water. Try to be considerate in the skinny water, give guys space (especially the charters… this is their living).
April 5, 2017:
Good fishing still to be had, but the weather looks absolutely aweful till early next week now. May be able to troll a few up in the bay, or chase after perch…
April 1, 2017:
Did our shakedown today. Good brown trout fishing from maxwell and west. Ended up about 15 for 20, a mix of cookie cutters with a few nice ones mixed in. They wanted jointed chartreuse rapalas and black/gold bay rats in the green water just outside of the midline. Late nite today- all fish caught between 8 and 10:30. Had 2 triples and 2 doubles.
No ice at all in the bay or lake, and relatively little debris, surprisingly…
I talked to Russ from honey hole charters who did pretty much the same!
March 28- the bay is losing ice fast. It is mostly open with a bit of ice in the center. Hopefully this weekend it will be clear! Not Sodus, but I fished long pond yesterday and caught some perch.. a bit early yet, and no big spawners in, but that should happen soon.
March 25- gnarly NE blow today. Sodus bay is still covered in ice, but it’s melting fast… The lake shore has lost most of it’s ice, and pultneyville IS open. The streams are all running high right now… trout in the streams is pretty much the only game in town.
March 2017- Spring is on hold for a bit. About a week ago, the bay was free of ice, and guys were getting out in small boats to catch some browns in the lake. Perch and crappie were also being caught from shore and boats. However, the snow pack and new ice make it impossible to boat fish currently. The projected temps into the 40s this week and next should take care of that, and I hope that in 2 weeks we will be splashing the big boat. Every year, we shoot for a april 1st splash, but only if the projected forecast doesn’t have any temps below 30… Time will tell.
Thanks, great article.