**Chautauqua Lake BS**

[FrankM]

The terms jack perch and grass perch are local folklore and don't really apply to specific species. A large perch is called a jack perch and a small perch is called a grass perch.  At least that's what they call them in this area.  When they are babies they are grass perch and when they grow up they are jack perch.  Personally I think the perch in Lake Erie are a different genetic strain than those in Chautauqua.  Perch from the Allegheny River drainage have more of a snub nose than Lake Erie perch.  Perch from Cuba Lake, The Allegany River and Chautauqua  all appear to me to have that snub nose characteristic.  I hope that doesn't make me a perch racist.

[Frankie Bags]

The terms jack perch and grass perch are local folklore and don't really apply to specific species. A large perch is called a jack perch and a small perch is called a grass perch.  At least that's what they call them in this area.  When they are babies they are grass perch and when they grow up they are jack perch.

Frank is correct "catchin perch". It could be that there are too many perch and not enough food for them to get to the "jack" perch size.

[Deadhead88]

To the guys in the orange hut on the Burris bay webcam....... u guys are nuts be careful out there. Extended forecast showing 40s and above. I hope I at least get out a couple times. It's looking like it's gunna be a while

[jrp123]

Saw a pic of a 3.69lb crappie caught at long point in the buffalo news today

[dave_p.]

Didn`t see it but that`s impressive to say the least! State record??? 

[Killiansred]

The crappie was one ounce shy of the state record. Still a slab.

[Mknott]

What's the average  ice thickness at Chatauqua lake? Thinking about making a trip from Pennsylvania!

[IceFever74]

Pic of the monster crappie on the DEC website too. Its on the fishing hotline page.

I think technically their all yellow perch.

[FISH4WISH]

About perch size,fish size is dictated by how large their body of water is,there are also variable factors such as structure,forage,weeds and more.Invasive species also play a role but if all these factors are minimal then more often than not all fish species should be above average size.Take the goldfish as an example,in their fish bowl they basically grow to the proportion of the bowl,however the same species will grow much larger than in the bowl when in a pond or lake.I think the fact that so many weeds are removed from Chautauqua,that the perch has less plankton and insects to feed on under cover.The perch take longer to reach larger size due to the fact that their always being hunted by larger fish that feed on them and they have nowhere to escape.This is what I've read anyway,it sounds plausible to me.


          F4W

[Game Hog]

51 out with a steady rain and high winds. Recipe for disaster. Stay safe if you venture to the lake the next few days. Going to take a walk at daylight to see how bad the shore got.

[vicfish]

me and a bud fished long point yesterday had 11 crappies over twelve inches=many on honey worms my personalfavorite panfish bait from berkley look just like wax worms but you can catch fifty fish on the same one and they need no refrigeration.wouldnt leave hone without them

[mikey ice fish]

Congratts to the dude that landed the big crappie. Even though he waited a day before a official weight and , it's a state record any way you look at it

[Bobbyh80]

Anyone know what the ice at long point looks like with this rain ?

[FISH4WISH]

Was it a white or black crappie?,is one bigger than the other?

        F4W

[bassman2003]

Anyone going out on Saturday? 

[TyroneJenkins]

tooks a drive down to fish. i aint going out on the ice after the warm

[Chuck66]

Whites are bigger then blacks, did the ice hold up guys.

[perch chacer]

Was it a white or black crappie?,is one bigger than the other?

        F4W

White crappie are slightly bigger then Blacks.  Whites have 5-6 spines in the dorsal fin whereas blacks have 7-8 spines in the dorsal fin.  Whites have black spots in vertical bars on their sides whereas the black have black spots randomly spaced on their sides and the dorsal fin is further back from the head on the white crappie.

[hammer44]

 Fished Chautauqua  many years ice fishing until catching nothing but dinks . 5 or 6 years ago caught keeper 8 -9 1/2 perch .They used to be loaded withfresh water schrimps. ( at lease thats what i thought they where ) wondering if that bait is not there any more causing the lack of size ? does anyone see that bait in the fish any more ?

[RyanG716]

All the fish I've caught this year have been pushing up bloodworms. Perhaps those are what you're thinking of.

[Game Hog]

From my point of view this am a guy could make a good buck with a grill and cooler at long point.  Shanty Ville.

[RyanG716]

From my point of view this am a guy could make a good buck with a grill and cooler at long point.  Shanty Ville.

I often thought about how much money I could make pulling a cart out there selling hot dogs and burgers...

[FISH4WISH]

I'd also bring a rod and a auger for when you run out of food The grill will keep you warm!


          F4W

[trebblehook]

Fished Long Point for the 1st time this year..ice was apprx 4.5 inches. It was making a lot of noise out the with all the cracking of the ice. Lots of huts and people. Many people without creepers, and many of them fell. Hope everybody is OK. Fishing was great...if you like 5 inch perch! It was a nice day on the ice, to bad the results weren't better.

[realtree77]

New to the walleye fishing through the ice. What type of jigs do ya use? Is jigging or tip-ups more productive and what's the bait of choice for them. I fished all weekend out of long point and guys where saying they where catching them but I caught nothing but perch. That was fun but no real size to them

[don519]

New to the walleye fishing through the ice. What type of jigs do ya use? Is jigging or tip-ups more productive and what's the bait of choice for them. I fished all weekend out of long point and guys where saying they where catching them but I caught nothing but perch. That was fun but no real size to them

you should check out the walleye section of ice shanty lots of helpful tips

[Chuck66]

Hey guys how's ice holding up with this warm rain. I now shore ice was getting bad had to go out off docks. Like to go in am , any info would be good , thanks be safe

[RyanG716]

Hey guys how's ice holding up with this warm rain. I now shore ice was getting bad had to go out off docks. Like to go in am , any info would be good , thanks be safe

Chautauqua county sheriffs office has warned anglers to stay off the ice last i heard. haven't heard of anybody out the past 2 days.

[Chuck66]

Ok rynn thanks , just came back from new abion Amish guys fishing catching big blue gills thanks for info

[RyanG716]

Ok rynn thanks , just came back from new abion Amish guys fishing catching big blue gills thanks for info

Those gills are gonna be a distant memory soon... I'm 10 minutes from there. Lake had just started to come back hope the bigger gills can make it through this season. It's gotten so much pressure already this year. Way more than usual for some reason. Wish I could give a report for Chautauqua. But I'm gonna wait until the cold returns. Stay safe if you go out.