Syracuse.com - Central NY ice fishermen enjoying banner year -- and it's not over yet

[HuntingNY-News]

Scientists, anglers and bait shop owners who've been watching the local waterways for years say the season still has at least another week or two to go -- or possibly more. Watch video

It's been a banner year to go ice fishing in Central New York - and it's not over yet.

Scientists, anglers and bait shop owners who've been watching the local waterways for years say the season still has at least another week or two to go -- or possibly more -- depending on the conditions of the ice. As of today, every lake in the area, with the exception of Lake Ontario, and Cayuga and Seneca lakes is still completely frozen over.

 

Despite warmer temperatures earlier this week, today's expected winter storm accompanied by freezing temperatures should continue to preserve the ice cover.

Mark Kratz, fishing manager at Bass Pro Shops in Auburn, said two years ago at this time of year he was out in his boat on Otisco Lake casting jerkbaits for bass.

"Right now, at that same spot, there's 18 inches of ice," he said.

Kratz was his store and others didn't anticipate the lengthy season. He said the Auburn store ran out of ice augers and auger blades in late January or early February. The store's last tip-ups in stock were sold a couple of weeks ago.

"We tried to get more from companies, but it didn't matter. None of the companies have any because it has been such a good year," he said.

Each year, the most popular lake in this area for ice fishermen has been Oneida Lake. That lake froze over Dec. 17 and is still completely covered with thick, fishable ice. Randy Jackson, associate director of the Cornell Biological Field Station in Bridgeport, said several staff members went out on the ice in front of the Field Station Tuesday afternoon.

"It was 23 inches thick," he said.

Don Spaulding, 72, owner of John's Grocery in Moravia, has been selling bait to anglers for more than 40 years. He grew up in Moravia and said the last time he can remember the ice fishing being this good was when he was a kid.

Contact Tuesday afternoon, he said Owasco Lake "was covered today" with anglers, at the northern and southern ends and around Ensenore. Those at the two ends were focusing on catching perch and pike, while those around Ensenore were getting some nice lake trout.

Fred Marty, of Elbridge, holds up a monster northern pike he caught recently through the ice on Cayuga Lake. Marty said at the time he was jigging for perch, using 6-pound test line. He said the pike weighed 20.3 lbs and measured 45 1/2 inches.Submitted photo 

He said bait sales, including fathead minnows, medium-sized shiners and large pike minnows (6 to 7 inches in size) have gone through the roof this winter.

"Last year, I can remember two week periods during the winter where I didn't have a customer," he said. "This year, I've been getting deliveries every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday."

Some of the fun, though, will have to end after Saturday. That's when the season ends for walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskies. In addition, the state Department of Environmental Conservation requires the removal of permanent ice shanties from the ice. The latter regulation, shouldn't affect too many as portable shanties are more the rage in Central New York.

James Daher at Mickey's Bait and Tackle in North Syracuse stressed that as the season progresses, anglers should exercise extreme caution on the ice - particularly when there's a stretch of warm, sunny days. He said the ice around the shorelines is the first ice to go.

"You may walk out on the ice in the early morning and find you may not be able walk back the same way unless you have waders on," he said.

HAVE AN ICE FISHING PHOTO FROM THIS SEASON? REMOVING YOUR PERMANENT ICE SHANTY THIS SATURDAY?

Send your photos to [email protected]. If you're removing your shanty from the ice Saturday, contact me in advance at the same email address.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog