Ontelaunee.... 2018

[z]

Thanx for the report, looks like rain again today so maybe next weekend will be better

[icemole]

Yeah we had steady rain most of the morning.... the good news is that it didn't screw with the lake... the bad news more rain on the way(dosen't look too bad)

[z]

Peter's 4-8pm 4 small but very fat healthy bass 15-16 inches,water level high, good news is lillys are begining to go away. Another 2 weeks and no rain should make it better

[icemole]

You know it's "offically" hurricane season now right ....LOL.

[z]

Yes I know, do you think it's safe to try again this weekend or should we wait?

[icemole]

Depends on how much rain we get... I don't think it's hurricane remnants so unless it hovers over us like last months rains I think we'll be OK.

Did you notice that they opened up a little more of the "restricted zone"? I haven't checked it out yet and will probably stay out except on Sundays now to avoid hunters. (Sept goose starts on the 1st - archery the 15th)

   P.S.  Disregard the first part of my post.... It's been pouring up here since around noon .... Flood watch in effect .... AGAIN  

[z]

Here we go again,lake refilling in progress

[z]

Icemole, please tell me when it's safe to take that long ride, I think the time is soon ? Talk to me

[icemole]

It should be OK level wise we didn't get much rain from the hurricane. I'll head over either tomorrow or Friday for a "hands on" report... Bow hunters are out now too.

[z]

Thank You Sir

[icemole]

Water was fine this morning. Lake level is up compared to what is usually is this time of year. The lily's are starting to die off on the fringes. No signs of life other than a few carp jumping, ducks, geese and two ospreys. Tried topwater, frog(in the pads), crankbait, Rat-L-Trap and Senko. Finally got one on the Senko about 16" but real skinny...tuff morning... again.

[z]

Fished for 4.5 hours today, many bass caught 10 or more , range 15 inch to 24 , nothing bigger than 3lbs although some very fat. At one point as I was bringing my lure back something exploded in front of me maybe 5 feet away ( scared the #### out of me ) as I floated the fish to the top looked to be a Tiger Musky or Northern Pike about 3 feet long , I wanted to bring the fish closer to shore to land it and take a picture but my line was no match for the critters teeth. I have never heard that those fish are in this lake ?? Not a bad outing, I still would like to have lower water and no lillys

Replys welcome  

[icemole]

The last musky(tigers) were stocked in the lake in 2001. They did stock some in the Maiden Creek in 07 so there may be a few of those still alive but I doubt any from the 01 stocking are living yet. In any case any left should be bigger than 3'. However they did a one time stocking of pike in the late 80's and it seems like there are a few that have survived and been spawning ever since. They also stocked pickerel(also some spawning) a few times in the 90's. Both are caught mainly by ice fishermen anymore and not in great numbers.

Stinks you couldn't get a positive ID but at least you got a glance I've lost my share of "bite offs" that I never even got a glance at.... LOL. Still you had a better day than my last outing.

[z]

After some reserch I do belive it was a Tiger? I got him to the top and saw him about 3 times something they don't like to do,seems like they like to go deep after catch.
What can you tell me about Peter's creek, we walked to the spring one day and at the middle of it there is a small water fall with markings 1942, the whole creek is stone lined, who and why that was done? can't find any info on the web. Water coming out of it is sure clear and very cold.

[icemole]

Pretty sure it is named for the Peter's that had a farm there way back in the 1700's. There is an old family burial plot along the woodline near the modern cemetery. There is a Peter's grave that states he was in the revolutionary war(If you can still read it). Don't know who stone lined the creek or who put in the little dam at the water fall. There used to be a pretty good population of "native" brook trout in the creek. Until hurricane Agnes there were signs posted(propagation area) no fishing in the creek or the ponds - sadly they were not replaced. Don't recall seeing too many on my last walk through the area, lots of trash from "fishermen" from the falls down.

I've caught my share of tigers... had some stay down(wouldn't say deep) while others tail walked across the surface. Smaller fish are generally more frisky once they hit 45" they tended to stay down(but not all of them) in my experience.   Case in point my buddy with one(about 42") out of Peters area during the drought back in 09 -- turn down the volume they are a little goofy together LOL... Great camera work(me)  .....  www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUol-Hf6ZJ0    Bob claims it was a purebred but I don't think the state was stocking pures anymore at that point