New record largemouth? Cayuga Lake lunker now awaits official New York State record certification
New York’s Cayuga Lake has a concrete reputation for great bass fishing.
In the 2024 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes, this Finger Lake ranked No. 8 for the Northeast Region of the country. In 2022, Thomas Russell Jr., of Albion, reeled in an 8-pound, 6-ounce smallmouth bass from the lake to take over the top spot in New York as the species leader.
The latest fish to storm the New York bass world is a 12.35-pound Cayuga Lake largemouth bass caught by Jim Britenbaugh, of Fairfield, Pa., while practicing for a bass tournament on July 11.
Jefferson County longnose gar is new New York record
Chuck Zimmerman, of Hilton, was on the quest of a lifetime while fishing Butterfield Lake in Jefferson County, N.Y. – to obtain a mountable fish from the 962-acre body of water.
He finally achieved that feat on June 21 when he reeled in a state record 15-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar. His catch has smashed the previous record set in 2018 from Lake Champlain by one pound, four ounces.
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Bill Hilts, Jr.: Outstanding fishing on Lake Ontario incites debate
“Fishing is off the charts! Incredible, like nothing I have ever seen,” said Karen Evarts at the Tackle Barn and Boat Doctors in Olcott, N.Y. That was a text I received from her on July 5.
“It was insane fishing on the Niagara Bar today,” said an excited John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda. “We caught 40 king salmon today!” That was a recent note from a friend who is addicted to salmon fishing.
Capt. Matt Yablonsky with Wet Net Charters in Wilson exclaimed it has been the best fishing he’s seen for this time of year that he can ever remember. “It’s been outstanding!”
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What anglers and boaters need to know about Harmful algal blooms in New York waters
Harmful algal blooms, referred to by most as simply HABs, seem to be more and more prevalent as we come to understand them.
It seems to be a work in progress – what they are, how they are formed, and how do they impact humans and other animals. There is a serious push to help create a better awareness for HABs, especially within the fishing and boating community.
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Bill Hilts, Jr.: Targeting Sharks (on purpose) during a fishing trip to South Carolina
We needed a break. After going through all the anguish of trying to get our house ready to sell, we were in the final phase of listing the house with a realtor. It was time for a getaway to Garden City, South Carolina.
An invitation from my brother-in-law, Tom Calvert of Lynchburg, Va., and his wife, Kathy, was all it took to accompany them on an ocean getaway, staying in a house they rented in a gated community just a few minutes via golf cart from the ocean. Tom and I agreed that at least one fishing trip was in order.
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Bill Hilts, Jr.: Oswego shines for New York’s spring writers conference
Oswego County truly is a sportsman’s paradise in New York.
Located on the southeast corner of Lake Ontario, it is home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the country. This made it the perfect place for the annual conference of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association as we mix business with, well, business.
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Last-minute salmon nets $15K top prize in New York tournament series opener
It was only fitting that the Spring Lake Ontario Counties Trout, Salmon, and Walleye Derby came down to the wire on the final day of the popular contest. George Prentice of Smicksburg, Pa., caught a 25-pound salmon at 11:30 a.m. on May 12 and needed to rush his prize catch to the Boat Doctors in Olcott, N.Y., to beat the 1 p.m. deadline in order to cash in on the $15,000 grand prize.
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New York’s Erie, Niagara counties dole out annual sporting awards
The outdoor conservation community, including fishermen, hunters, trappers and the like, honor the stewards of New York’s natural resources every year through the county’s federation of clubs. The Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs held its annual gathering at Kloc’s Grove in West Seneca on April 13.
Sportsman of the Year for Erie County was Jeff Jondle, of Marilla, current president of the Erie County Federation, a position he has held since 2018. Under his tenure, the Federation has been more proactive with community support activities. It has also become more financially stable as the group pursues available grant money.
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Bill Hilts, Jr.: New York’s Niagara River surprises lead to a huge walleye, media memories
For more than 25 years, some of the top outdoor media mavens in the country have converged in the village of Lewiston, N.Y., a cast away from the lower Niagara River.
It is a base of operations for all things fishing in western New York — Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River bass and walleye; trout, bass, and walleye in the Lower Niagara River; Lake Ontario salmon and trout. Even when the weather throws the group a curve ball, they can still manage to find some place to get on the water and catch fish. There is always a back-up plan.
