Dec 5th Fish Report

[Scott Kitchen]

Jo Jo and I spent most of the day (from about 7 AM till around 3 PM) in the cold west north west wind on the Ontario side of the upper.  The water looked nice, about 5 to 7 feet of visibility and a warm emerald green, but the fish did not want to play.  There where white caps in the triangle for most of the day and we did not see another boat at all.  Still nice to fish with Jo Jo for the first time (he brings cookies and sandwiches, yea me!).

[John Pensyl]

Thank you Tony, I really appreciate you taking the time to read the opinions from a rookie Niagara musky angler and actually give them some thought. The good ole boys club remark had nothing to do with age, so I guess those that took it that way are owed an apology. I'm sorry, I understand that with age comes experience and knowledge as I've shortened my learning curve by years reading and paying close attention to things written, said, and actions taken by many people throughout life and in this club. My referance was more toward the attitude that has come from so many that are dead set in their ways and not willing to entertain a new perspective. There were a ton of boats out today, hammering away at the most pressured part of the river once again. Let's hear some other ideas besides mine on ow to spread out this pressure that is sure to grow in the coming years.

As far as those hooks not being muskies? The one boat that trolled on their heads outside the harbor walls this year convinced 7 of them to hit, put 6 in the boat and all in 4 days. If the same pressure was on those fish that their was years ago we may have seen some big numbers. The rapid water temp drop that occured afterward was unfortunate as that scenario would shut down the bite in any fishery. North gap? Last season there were 6 fish caught in as many trips in Nov by a relative newcomer to the Niagara musky scene. All just outside the harbor walls of the north gap. They never shared water with another boat.

1 degree difference in water temp can be everything in the world of fishing, I've done a lot of reading and asked a lot of questions and it seems the most are in agreement that water temps inside the harbor walls are colder than outside the walls during november in recent years. Don't know about you but I've never looked for the cold water while trying to find bait or preditors on the feed in that scenario. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts. Thank you.

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

Tony, I believe it is time we try to get the NY DEC to do a trap net and shocking study in Harbor in late December to see if the muskies still winter in the Buffalo Harbor and if we have an sizeable numbers left once the Harbor waters become warmer then Lake Erie.Please do not take my persuit to open up the fishery till December 15th wrong.I have looked back at my records from 1990 till now,looking at surface water temps and those temps have risen by as much as 10 degrees at the end of November on some years.In 1994 I caught four muskies that were 48" to 50" in 2 1/2 hours the water temp was 45 degrees on October 29th!The 7 muskies to my boat for a short visit between Nov 14th & 18th were directly associated to wind induced water temp change,cold surface water of Lake Erie being pushed to our end of Lake Erie by high winds replacing the warmer water.That water temp went from 46 degrees back up to 48 degrees and the water cleared up and the fish were all gone.The last 3 days of November the water temps were back down to 43 degrees,dropping 5 degrees very fast.There were large numbers of big muskie hooks present out in the lake infront of the south gap,but they were not feeding.This year the water temps came down just enough to bring the muskies close to the Harbor before the end on Nov 30th.On a normal year,like the past 7 years,we would only be lucky to see 50 degrees by Nov 30th and if we were to have the 15 days of December we still may not see 45 degrees or any fish.I believe that their is still a number of big muskies in Lake Erie,they may not even come into the Harbor anymore or after the season is closed,maybe not till the end of December. I assume the Old Boy position,but I have only been fishing the Niagara river since 1976,you most likely started before me.I also do not guide in December and will not in the future.I'm accually winding down,will do only 35 days in 2013 and any retakes in 2014 and then I will not guide anymore.As being a member of the Erie County Fish Advisory Board I will always take the position on all issues as the NMA membership wants the direction to go,I will never take a different direction on any issue.I'm only voicing my opinion,I could be wrong,but then again I could be right,that is why we have the NMA for open discusion to do what is right for the fishery.I would still like to see the NMA take on building some new habitat areas in the Buffalo Harbor using Cornel Co-Op Student Program to do the work and ask for Power Project Funding.

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

I spent Dec 15th helping with the NY Conservation Council Benefit at Southtowns Walleye Club.Not sure how much overall money they raised for NYCC,but I believe it was a good amount,the Mostly Muskies Charter donated by the NMA raised $160.Were any muskies caught in the last day in the west river?

[cullen veiders]

yea:)

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

Noah Clarke caught 43" & 44" muskies and lost a bigger one on Jakes,suspended fish.

[cullen veiders]

Gabe and went like 3 for 9 on tubes in like 10-14ft of water....dropped 4 ina row Hooked up 3x in on drift. High 30's fish but I dropped a tanker.

[Josh Ketry]

shallow!?  FTFF

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

I really wanted to be able to make the Jan 8th NMA Meeting for the season ending time debate .However the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Assoc. is having an Election Meeting the same night in Silver Creek, NY and I'm being elected President, so I can't miss that appointment.I hope everyone debates the December 31st closing date issue calmly.Sorry to miss the 1st meeting after joining the NMA Board, but as Pres. of E.L.E.C.B.A. I will make sure meeting dates are never to be on the same day as the NMA meetings.
Merry Christmas To Everyone!

Capt Larry D Jones