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New York => Ice Fishing New York => Topic started by: mikvia46 on Jan 25, 2013, 06:31 PM

Title: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikvia46 on Jan 25, 2013, 06:31 PM
I fished Otsego lake 1st time 2 years ago. Caught some huge Lakers. Last yr we had no ice. I'm praying we have a shot at it soon. Don't see
any posts about Otsego. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places. I'll post pics if I can figure out how. I'd love to hear some stories.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 25, 2013, 06:47 PM
When you have 3 posts you can go to the NY Conditions board and read all about it!
 Just got off Otsego after 8 hours today, slow day 4 lakers landed. It was a great day out there though! The fish just did not co-operate!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikvia46 on Jan 25, 2013, 06:52 PM
Thanks Big Jim, maybe this is 3 posts for me. Glad to hear your fishing. It's been cold but a friend told me they were fishing there from shore 2 weeks ago. I was getting worried. I think me and my son will head out there tomorrow.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 25, 2013, 09:06 PM
I was fishing from shore last weekend! Thank goodness for some ice!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Unclebob on Jan 25, 2013, 11:37 PM
Is there any easy place to park on the lake?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: arcticicejigger on Jan 26, 2013, 02:24 AM
i searched 30 pages for a otsego post! found nothing! this has to be the only one!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikvia46 on Jan 26, 2013, 06:26 PM
OK, anyone have any luck today?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: adkRoy on Jan 26, 2013, 06:28 PM
i searched 30 pages for a otsego post! found nothing! this has to be the only one!

Did you check the reports and conditions board?

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=13665.0 (http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=13665.0)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: adkRoy on Jan 26, 2013, 06:28 PM
Is there any easy place to park on the lake?

Glimmerglass state park.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 26, 2013, 06:47 PM
i searched 30 pages for a otsego post! found nothing! this has to be the only one!

Here's 32 pages of everything you ever needed to know about Otsego Lake! Almost!

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=155417.0

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: sweetwater on Jan 26, 2013, 07:08 PM
I remember throwing a 2x6 across the open water by shore to get on the ice two years ago. I really hope we get some ice as that lake has some big fish in it.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: adksguy on Jan 26, 2013, 07:10 PM
I remember throwing a 2x6 across the open water by shore to get on the ice two years ago. I really hope we get some ice as that lake has some big fish in it.
x2 love this lake when fishable
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: yarn em in on Jan 26, 2013, 07:16 PM
Here's 32 pages of everything you ever needed to know about Otsego Lake! Almost!

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=155417.0

BIGJim223Hey jim I fished goodyear last week did ok with about 20 -25 perch & gills.Havent been to otsego yet.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Jan 26, 2013, 07:33 PM
i'll let you guys now how things are on Monday when I get home.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Jan 26, 2013, 07:36 PM
Was thinking of heading out tomorrow but my buddy bailed on me...anyone else going to be out there? I hate fishing early ice alone.

-Zach
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 26, 2013, 08:01 PM
Was thinking of heading out tomorrow but my buddy bailed on me...anyone else going to be out there? I hate fishing early ice alone.

-Zach

I'll be out there for day 3! I going to try to stick to finding walleyes though. My goal for this ice season is to figure those elusive fish out! I get 'em in the summer, but can't even find them in the winter!
    I know I am smarter than a walleye!  :o :o ;D At least I think so!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Jan 26, 2013, 08:08 PM
Where do you park Jim? Public landing? I'm hoping to get out fairly early. Is the bait at Tom and Kelly's worth stopping for or should I go somewhere else?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 26, 2013, 08:23 PM
Where do you park Jim? Public landing? I'm hoping to get out fairly early. Is the bait at Tom and Kelly's worth stopping for or should I go somewhere else?

I usually go out of Glimmerglass, but as far as I know, tomorrow we are going out of Public Landing. I did Glimmerglass the past 2 days and have only seen 1 walleye caught. And he was fishing for lakers!
  Tom's bait is good, it is what I have. Very hardy, he only has medium shiners right now along with spikes and he did have mousey's and wax worms (I was told) last week. I don't buy much bait, so I don't know the current going price elsewhere, but his shiners are $4.95 a dozen and spikes are $2.59 a tube. He is "usually" there after 6am, but doesn't really open until 7. If he is there, (blue Dodge Ram/plow) he will take care of you.
Maybe I'll see you out there.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: AugustWest on Jan 26, 2013, 08:26 PM
Where do you park Jim? Public landing? I'm hoping to get out fairly early. Is the bait at Tom and Kelly's worth stopping for or should I go somewhere else?

Great question CBH...The only person I know that has a good grip on those Walleye is the one and only Ol' Crawdad ;)
Aw
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Jan 26, 2013, 08:29 PM
Sounds good! I'll be in a one man Clam, with a red Ice Armor suit. Haven't decided where I'll park yet, probably go out of Glimmerglass. And work my way out of the bay, towards the northwest.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 26, 2013, 09:04 PM
I will keep my eyes open for you. I also have a Clam one man Kenai, red/black bibs/jacket.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: AugustWest on Jan 26, 2013, 09:45 PM
Me too, what a small world ::)
AW
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Jan 27, 2013, 04:13 PM
What a beautiful day to be out. Ended up parking at the Public Landing, what a zoo that place turned into. Hit the ice about 7:00 and headed south towards Hyde Bay. Ice was a beautiful 6". Black everywhere. Ended up fishing in 50-60 FOW. Would have liked to have gone deeper, but I chose to stay away from the nasty looking pressure crack that ran from the northern edge of the bay, straight across to the west shore. Fish were weird...they would charge up on the jig and turn away. I could work them quite a ways up but they would eventually give up the chase. Eventually, I got a pattern that seemed to work:
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/r270/148301_545794178053_2066767177_n.jpg)
Got a couple nice 23" lakers.  Really looking forward to getting out on the lake often this winter. Used to fish here quite a bit, but it's been a few years. Hopefully I can get some friends to make the drive, only issue today was I kept talking to myself.  :P ::)

-Zach
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Jan 27, 2013, 04:29 PM
nice catch Zach. hope they are hungry tomorrow.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 27, 2013, 05:38 PM
Zach: Sorry we didn't meet up today. The guy I was fishing with could not be there until later in the day, so I waited for him. Man, what beautiful afternoon! Everyone I talked to was catching fish!
   I have never seen anything like that zoo at PL today! That is the way it is on Forth of July weekends. Unbelievable! The town will shut that down before you know it. When the highway super came down with the plow truck and had to back out, I said to my buddy that they will shut it down within the week. I left after dark and there was still 8 or so trucks in there.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: matthews88 on Jan 27, 2013, 06:12 PM
What a beautiful day to be out. Ended up parking at the Public Landing, what a zoo that place turned into. Hit the ice about 7:00 and headed south towards Hyde Bay. Ice was a beautiful 6". Black everywhere. Ended up fishing in 50-60 FOW. Would have liked to have gone deeper, but I chose to stay away from the nasty looking pressure crack that ran from the northern edge of the bay, straight across to the west shore. Fish were weird...they would charge up on the jig and turn away. I could work them quite a ways up but they would eventually give up the chase. Eventually, I got a pattern that seemed to work:
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/r270/148301_545794178053_2066767177_n.jpg)
Got a couple nice 23" lakers.  Really looking forward to getting out on the lake often this winter. Used to fish here quite a bit, but it's been a few years. Hopefully I can get some friends to make the drive, only issue today was I kept talking to myself.  :P ::)

-Zach
zack let me no when u are fishing i live in davenport not far from otsego and would fish next week also want to head to lake george for some perch i think u used to work at conv store in davenport
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kowboyup on Jan 27, 2013, 06:36 PM
Finally got to get back on the ice after last yrs no ice, and me and the girlfriend enjoyed every minute. Parking lot was full and the sun was shining, alot of action in shallower water, didnt mark many in the 150ft range. We moved around alot looking at some of my previously good spots, so i figure its going to be real good the next time i get out on the lake. Ice was clear and asolid 5 everywhere we walked. It seemed like the ice was shifting at times and im wondering if its because of all the people on the lake that have bubblers going so shores are open in those spots hmmmmmm
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Jan 27, 2013, 08:36 PM
Jim, have you been up to 3 Mile yet? Had some guys asking about it.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 27, 2013, 09:30 PM
Jim, have you been up to 3 Mile yet? Had some guys asking about it.

No, but one of the guys that I fished with today drove by there this morning. Said it looked like a Wal- Mart parking lot. Said there were cars parked up on St Rt 80. He said there were quite a few at 5 Mile also.
  That was nuts today at Public Landing! All those guys with the ice boats blocking the launch didn't help things. I heard yesterday that the fishemen have run them off Cando after some close calls with people and equipment. At least 3 of those boats belong to a guy from Richfield who lives right next to the Cando boat launch.
     I have already heard the town busybodies have been b***hing about it. They will be closing it down to non residents I am sure. Too bad, as access is so limited on Otsego, and that is a good spot because it is level with the lake. Not my favorite place to fish, but it works.

Jim
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: captin bill on Jan 28, 2013, 02:57 AM
Thats what happens with www.[world wide web] :'(! 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: dabu556 on Jan 28, 2013, 06:51 AM
Just saying hello to future friends. I've been hangin' around reading posts for a couple years... thought I would become a participant.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kowboyup on Jan 28, 2013, 06:56 AM
Welcome aboard dabu. Yes 3 mile is open and it was full, got out about 9ish and i didnty see anybody parked or fishing at 5 mile all day as i left at 4pm
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ceoutdoors on Jan 28, 2013, 12:09 PM
Can I get some info where the nearest bait shops are to Otsego - I saw "Tom's" mentioned but couldn't find it listed in near Cooperstown?  Thanks, Chris
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 28, 2013, 12:32 PM
Said it looked like a Wal- Mart parking lot. Said there were cars parked up on St Rt 80. He said there were quite a few at 5 Mile also.

Its like I can see into the future or something

Quote
Quote from: Neversink Jimmy on Dec 21, 2011, 04:47 PM

    Some ponds just don't deserve to be tossed under the proverbial bus...

    I think more then a few of us 518ers have learned that lesson in the past few years  :'(


unfortunately there's gonna be more that have to learn that lesson the hard way.   Sucks for the rest of us.

Quote from: afwrestler1986 on Dec 22, 2011, 08:47 AM

    That is too bad. No body wants to bother with the small ponds and small lakes until they see someone catching good fish from it.


Even medium sized lakes can take a bad hit.  Canadarago is a great example of that.  Its neighbor Otsego seems to be next
.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TimK on Jan 28, 2013, 01:48 PM
You are so wise lance, like a miniture buddah, covered in hair. ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 28, 2013, 01:55 PM
You are so wise lance, like a miniture buddah, covered in hair. ;D

Listen to you mister Im-too-good-to-live-in-NY,  go back to your ELK and gorgeous Rainbow Trout you infidel LOL ;D



but seriously, it is a tough lesson most of us get to learn the hard way when we find crowds where there previously weren't.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Jan 28, 2013, 02:12 PM
No doubt about it Lance. As much as I enjoy this site, its definitely responsible for the downfall of some local hot spots. A local spot out that I know you're familiar with is a good example (think “V). People all over that place... panfish are getting increasingly tougher to come by. I like to think that Otsego, with its size and one fish limit, will be immune but I just don't know. Everything I catch there is C&R, unless its injured or a walleye...

-Zach
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: captin bill on Jan 29, 2013, 02:41 AM
Trust me its happend already, only thing to do now is can the hard water fishing like years ago. Listen to big red and heed those posts, Otsego deserves our quite respect @)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Jan 29, 2013, 06:25 AM
I drove by the south end on Sunday afternoon in the village of Cooperstown and for the first time I seen several guys out on the ice just out from the state boat launch. I don't have a clue how they got on because it of the bubblers by the docks and launch. Not to mention that these guys were sandwiched between two huge pressure cracks with one of them spilling water.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Jan 29, 2013, 08:00 AM
Actually the open water fisherman hurt the fish more than ice fisherman because they bring fish up from 150 ft of water into warmer shallow water on surface lake trout can't tolerate that drastic temp and pressure change
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kowboyup on Jan 29, 2013, 04:37 PM
Anybody make it out today or yesterday? hope the ice makes it thru the rain, dont think it will hurt but only help after it gets cold again, what do you think
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 29, 2013, 04:53 PM
Actually the open water fisherman hurt the fish more than ice fisherman because they bring fish up from 150 ft of water into warmer shallow water on surface lake trout can't tolerate that drastic temp and pressure change
Mohawk:  I disagree on part of your statement.
They handle the pressure change just fine. They are one of the few fish which will "burp" air from their air bladder as the pressure changes. This is one reason not to winch the fish up fast from the depths, fight the fish and they will release the excess air. I have never had a lake trout bloat up due to the pressure change, I always let them burp it out. Walleyes on the other hand do bloat very severely when I have caught them even as deep as 45-50', as well as Otsego Bass. It's pretty much a given that they will not make it back down.
    I do agree with you on the drastic temperature change though. I try to release as many as I can without removing them from the water, if possible. This also protects their slime layer.
  The best thing any Otsego fisherman can do is release the bigger lake trout. The smaller ones eat way better anyway. I personally think that a slot limit would be a better means of letting a fisherman keep an occasional meal, and still protect the breeding size fish.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Jan 29, 2013, 04:57 PM
i was out today ice was melting pretty good as they day went on..good half inch of water on top of ice where i was when i left. Be careful of pressure ridges..i drilled by a few to find maby 2 inches of soft ice. didnt trust the ice going back at all so i was wondering all over the place trying to avoid a few of them.hopefully it will freeze back up good this weekend tmrw might put a damper on things for a day or 2
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Jan 29, 2013, 05:00 PM
Spot on BigJim, I don't know anyone who would argue that a 16" lake trout would taste a whole lot better than a 25"LT, and those littler fish aren't breeding anyways, so no long term loss.  Speaking of which, I'm starting to feel illness coming on, I can probably tough out a couple more days, but by the end of the week I don't know if i'll be able to make it to work. .
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 29, 2013, 05:02 PM
Yea, I hear Jager61 and Butch are coming down with a flu or something...... Must be going around! Hope you DON'T feel better!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 29, 2013, 05:09 PM
Oh yeah, System, don't forget the hot dogs! Nothing makes a sick guy feel better than a couple dogs on the ice!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Jan 29, 2013, 07:47 PM
Slot limit would be good I agree
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Jan 29, 2013, 08:27 PM
I'm not gonna be the lunch bi***h this time!!  I'm gonna run with the Trout Dream Team
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Jan 29, 2013, 09:07 PM
hope the warm rain doesn't ruin the shoreline for you guys on friday
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Jan 29, 2013, 09:18 PM
Think I'm coming down with a case of the White Pimples!  ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: eduard on Jan 30, 2013, 03:54 PM
How's the ice lookin now is it bad
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Jan 31, 2013, 12:05 PM
Thinking I might ho chase Lakers up north somewhere this weekend. Not quite sure where yet but I don't feel like Otsego will be safe all over. Not sure where I want to go yet, but like Jager said, I've got a terrible case of the white pimples. Anyone want to take a trip up north somewhere?

-Zach
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Jan 31, 2013, 12:11 PM
Me and my buddy were planning on otsego for lakers this weekend but it all depends on the ice.we might head north aswell chenbasshead if you would like some partners
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: wec on Jan 31, 2013, 12:30 PM
Goddam, wish I could get sick Mike.  Good luck this weekend.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: SchrnLker on Jan 31, 2013, 12:37 PM
Think I'm coming down with a case of the White Pimples!  ;D

LOL
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: eduard on Jan 31, 2013, 01:55 PM
i think that the water on the ice will frezze so it might be sturdy enough
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Jan 31, 2013, 02:04 PM
I'm sick tomorrow, already told the boss.  BigJIm and Jager I'm gonna give you about an hour or two head start on me to give you fair chance to catch some fish before I hook em all up.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Jan 31, 2013, 02:19 PM
Throwing up White all over the place right now!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Jan 31, 2013, 02:21 PM
whatever you guys do, don't post the pics of what you catch on here! some on here consider it "spot burning". good luck tomorrow guys hope you hammer them.

Steve
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 31, 2013, 02:42 PM
now now RMK, no need for negativity.  :nono:  We are all happy people here, right  ;D  Lets see the pics of the white pimple brigade and the slaugherfest! :tipup:   Should be a big party out there, like an iceshanty getogether! :icefish: 

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Jan 31, 2013, 02:49 PM
I'm only after one fish in that lake - the biggest one!  All the rest are goin home
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 31, 2013, 02:52 PM
I'm only after one fish in that lake - the biggest one!  All the rest are goin home

can't blame ya, the lakers in that lake taste like garbage anyway, compared to those out of smelt based lakes.   Oh yeah, FYI, if you do catch that big one, you could let it go, they make some great replica mounts of lakers these days.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Jan 31, 2013, 03:37 PM
Agreed, I'm totally on board with the replica approach.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 31, 2013, 03:38 PM
i was never really into them, but I've seen some real nice ones lately, i would have never believed this one is a replica

(http://www.fibertechproductions.com/images/lake_troutlg.jpg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Jan 31, 2013, 04:06 PM
WOW that looks more like a Laker than the ones I've caught in real life!  I guess you just gotta know who's really good at doing the replicas and who is not.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Jan 31, 2013, 04:08 PM
no negativity here Bigred. all in sarcastic humor. lol oh by the way very nice looking laker mount.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BCSHANTY on Jan 31, 2013, 04:14 PM
Throwing up White all over the place right now!
"Sucks" I really am sick (broncitis) wish I had a case of the white pimples-otherwise I would be right there with you guys.                                    Good luck tomorrow


                                                                                    Bc
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Jan 31, 2013, 04:16 PM
Lance, do you have the taxidermist info on that mount? It is by far, the nicest laker mount I've ever seen! Stunningly lifelike!

Thanks!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: eduard on Jan 31, 2013, 04:54 PM
does anyone have the ice report for otsego lake as of today want to head out inthe morning want to know if it is safe
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Feb 01, 2013, 11:25 AM
Any of you guys headed out tmrw(saturday)? travelin out from westerlo..i guess im just gonna take a chance that i can get on the ice. i was there tuesday been wanting to go back just hopin there will be some other guys out there
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: oldbikeman on Feb 01, 2013, 12:31 PM
When you have 3 posts you can go to the NY Conditions board and read all about it!
 Just got off Otsego after 8 hours today, slow day 4 lakers landed. It was a great day out there though! The fish just did not co-operate!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 01, 2013, 12:36 PM
Was just wondering how you the "white pimple attack pack" was making out?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ol crawdad on Feb 01, 2013, 01:34 PM
i was never really into them, but I've seen some real nice ones lately, i would have never believed this one is a replica

(http://www.fibertechproductions.com/images/lake_troutlg.jpg)

Freakin' gorgeous!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 01, 2013, 02:00 PM
The lake trout are done by a company called fibretech, they make the best fibreglass mounts I've ever seen.  whoever does their paint is a master

 http://www.fibertechproductions.com/gallery.html (http://www.fibertechproductions.com/gallery.html)


Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: SchrnLker on Feb 01, 2013, 02:46 PM
Gorgeous, bookmarked, thanks
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 01, 2013, 03:20 PM
The lake trout are done by a company called fibretech, they make the best fibreglass mounts I've ever seen.  whoever does their paint is a master

 http://www.fibertechproductions.com/gallery.html (http://www.fibertechproductions.com/gallery.html)

Thanks Bro! Will def use give them a try!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 01, 2013, 03:30 PM
Was just wondering how you the "white pimple attack pack" was making out?

LOL! The conditions were brutal today, sustained winds of 30 mph+ and snow squalls all day. No socializing today just hunkering down in the shanty's! That being said, you saw Big Jim's report, I managed 9 fish and prob lost at least a dozen. Lots of short strikes. Biggest was 7lbs on the Boga. Butch got 3 fish, I  know of at least 3 that The System got and I know of at least one nice one (27") that Ship of Fools got and I know he got more fish but we just couldn't congregate much because of the conditions. He'll have to pipe in and let us know! Despite the crap conditions, the fishing was awesome as usual. The slam of a laker on your jig rod NEVER gets old!

Back at it tomorrow!

Mike
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 01, 2013, 03:37 PM
Sorry forgot to mention that the ice was 4-5" all around, good clear black stuff! Snow covered patches here n there but good sled pulling. Wouldn't suggest a machine just yet.

Mike
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Feb 01, 2013, 05:20 PM
Hell of a day, IF you could tough out the wind!  If I wasn't catching fish I wouldn't have stayed out even as long as I did!  It is SO COOL to see a laker charging up from the murky deeps to SLAM a lure and then get to watch him swirl around from 30' all the way up through the hole.  WAY cooler than watching perch from 8 FOW!  Great seeing all you guys today, but I'm not gonna find a more sheltered place tomorrow.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 01, 2013, 05:22 PM
Just a brutal day! The wind was relentless, total whiteouts from time to time. I have to say I personally had no fun today. The drag out was not too bad, but conditions just went down hill from there! It was a fight just to stay on the ice with the flipover. I worked my way to 130FOW, there were fish down there, but getting them to commit was the trick. I probably hooked 12 fish, got one and that was in my first hole. A lot of chasers for me, but few hitters! Ice was slippery as all get out, fell down once with my sonar in my hand, has not worked correctly since. That has me pi$$ed right off, but what are you gonna do? TheSystem fell 4 times, it was just tough out there. And yes we had creepers on! On the drag back to Glimmerglass, my Smitty Sled actually passed me the wind was so bad!  Not a great day for me!
  Sorry guys, I had food/and beverages with me, just no way to deal with it in the wind. Maybe tomorrow will be better!
Team White Pimple will prevail!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Mr.Esox on Feb 01, 2013, 05:47 PM
The Jagermeister is back watch out !!!!!!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 01, 2013, 05:51 PM
You guys must have been the group I saw out from Glimmerglass today. YES the ice looked good in that area but for the rest of the lake south from there it's pretty much done until the next sub zero freeze. 5 mile point was all open water, NO way to get onto the ice even with planks. 3 Mile gate is locked and the entire shore line is open water. HECK you might do well fishing from shore on 3 mile. lots and I mean lots of open pressure cracks south of glimmer glass. Lots of holes and some the size of in ground swimming pools.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 01, 2013, 05:59 PM
Someone just told me that 3 Mile was locked off. Strange the ice was very good north of 5 Mile, no issues at all. I only measured 1 hole today, measured 5.25" and the bottom of the hole was blown out, so it was probably more like 6". Strange there would be so much open water down south of where we were.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: wish4fish on Feb 01, 2013, 06:21 PM
Jim does Kelly's deli have 1 lb. LP bottles ?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 01, 2013, 06:29 PM
Jim does Kelly's deli have 1 lb. LP bottles ?

Seems I have seen them there, but not 100% positive.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: wish4fish on Feb 01, 2013, 06:49 PM
Thanks. I thought I had seen them too.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kowboyup on Feb 01, 2013, 06:59 PM
After working 16hr shifts all week finally go to the lake and 3 mile is gated off and open water next to shore and 20ft or so out, alot of water showing in pressure cracks between 3 and 5 mile. Decided to drive around the lake and see if there was fishing anywhgere and i did see u guys out, or should i say coming in. Me and the girlfriend will be out tomarrow ill b the one pulling the 2 man clam, hope to meet some of you guys. Was suprised to c open water as its been cold, but after last yr ill take fishing anywhere on Otsego
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Mr.Esox on Feb 01, 2013, 07:15 PM
Look out for Esoxman he is the Great Laker Taker !!!!!!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: beerbellybob106 on Feb 01, 2013, 07:23 PM
be out tommorow vex is charged ready to go look for 2 clam nanooks that will be me  havent been down in over 2 years im itching!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lil_coondog on Feb 01, 2013, 08:54 PM
Nice to see some of you guys had luck today in the miserable conditions. Props for going out. Good luck to all this weekend.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: wec on Feb 02, 2013, 04:42 AM
Sounds like a good day Mike.  I'm going to the spot we were at in the wind and snow two weeks ago.  Good luck today.  Maybe after the Lake Eaton Derby, we can hit up some tigers or pike.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kowboyup on Feb 02, 2013, 05:10 PM
We had agreat day today out on the ice, was with some good friends that i and the gf enjoy fishing with, alot of laughs and calls on the cell phone because we were moving alot. Ice was 5 plus everywhere we were. Alot of people were out as well and seemed to be having agreat day.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 02, 2013, 06:37 PM
Another great day on Otsego! Hoofed it all the way out to the 145 FOW range from Glimmerglass. Had plenty of company. Ice was a solid 5" all around. Went 15 for 23 jigging lakers, biggest was 24". Good action all day! Also caught this goofball! When it buzzed the hole the first time I thought for a second it was a nice Brown! LOL! Learned later it was an Otsego Bass, aka Lake Whitefish and is apparently pretty rare these days! Harmlessly released to get bigger!

Mike

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/Jager61/3425CA81-F711-4F96-A373-B7D0FB7F50BE-5496-000005826DDCFC26_zps25f1fdb7.jpg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 02, 2013, 07:37 PM
That thing is a pig! Glad you released! That is one rare catch, especially one that big. Here is the link to the local paper article I told you about:  http://thedailystar.com/localsports/x32752766/Otsego-bass-are-a-thing-of-the-past (http://thedailystar.com/localsports/x32752766/Otsego-bass-are-a-thing-of-the-past)
  Was not the best of weekends, but you guys had the stamina to stay out there in those winds on Friday and it wasn't the best of days Saturday. Hope You and Butch enjoyed your trip.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bassinbrian_on_ice on Feb 02, 2013, 07:42 PM
Quote
Also caught this goofball! When it buzzed the hole the first time I thought for a second it was a nice Brown! LOL! Learned later it was an Otsego Bass, aka Lake Whitefish and is apparently pretty rare these days!

I caught one a few years back and had no idea what it was, i was like  :unsure:.... had to call my buddy over, he knew it was a whitefish, 1st and only one i have ever seen in person. It was 21" er (also released mine).

BB
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 02, 2013, 07:56 PM
That thing is a pig! Glad you released! That is one rare catch, especially one that big. Here is the link to the local paper article I told you about:  http://thedailystar.com/localsports/x32752766/Otsego-bass-are-a-thing-of-the-past (http://thedailystar.com/localsports/x32752766/Otsego-bass-are-a-thing-of-the-past)
  Was not the best of weekends, but you guys had the stamina to stay out there in those winds on Friday and it wasn't the best of days Saturday. Hope You and Butch enjoyed your trip.

BIGJim223

Thanks for the link Jim. Interesting article! Had a great time fishing with you and The System! Otsego never disappoints! Will be In touch during the week!

Mike
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Feb 02, 2013, 09:49 PM
I'll be out tomorrow, out of Glimmerglass. If anyone sees me out there, alone in a Clam Trapper, red Ice Armor suit, stop by and say hi. Would love some company.

-Zach
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lil_coondog on Feb 02, 2013, 09:51 PM
Hit up Otsego today. Great day on the ice. Bunch of flags and some action on the jigs. 5" of ice where we were. Caught a bunch of Lakers, the best being just over 24". C&R all. Had a blast reeling them in. Nice to see a ton of people out having fun.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: wec on Feb 03, 2013, 05:53 AM
Nice Whitefish Mike.  Sounds like you had a great day.  I had one flag in west bay, then moved to the other side of the Island, nothing there.  Nothing for Jamie either.  Did not see one fish jigging, but saw more smelt around than usual, so that's a good sign.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mbertram on Feb 03, 2013, 07:18 AM
Great area
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 03, 2013, 05:21 PM
thats definatly a nice otsego bass been a while since iv seen one was out on good year today got some nice blues
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 04, 2013, 03:37 AM
the only problem I have with Otsego lake is that my vexilar is only good to 120 ft. I guess if the fish are suspended within that range I'd be ok.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 04, 2013, 10:20 AM
the winds are hollowing out there to day!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 04, 2013, 10:24 AM
hey mike the next time you and anthony head out to otsego let me know its Nick.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 04, 2013, 10:25 AM
hey mike the next time you and anthony head out to otsego let me know its Nick.

Nick from WF?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 04, 2013, 12:43 PM
Delhi NY
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: dabu556 on Feb 04, 2013, 04:18 PM
Some friends and I are headin' to Otsego for Presidents Day weekend ( we rented a house on Hyde Bay) and none of us has really ever fished for Lakers. I have spent some time on this forum tryin' to get some ideas about preferred jigs,water depth and anything else that might help us have a good trip. Actually, were gonna have a good trip regardless because fishin' and friends works for me!!  We are all husbands and wives( great women) and I was hopin' to get some help and guidance from some of you guys who are more familiar with the lake. Not lookin' for your honey hole, just some info. Thanks
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fcaramadre on Feb 04, 2013, 08:54 PM
anyone catch any perch or walleye out of this lake?  I have never gone for lakers and don't have the tackle needed, but i would like to try for perch of walleyes.
someone I know said they were catching them near glimmerglass beach.  Any input would be great.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: adkRoy on Feb 04, 2013, 08:55 PM
I have caught some really nice perch out from glimmerglass park. Icicles worked the best on tip-ups.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: beerbellybob106 on Feb 05, 2013, 06:25 PM
Some friends and I are headin' to Otsego for Presidents Day weekend ( we rented a house on Hyde Bay) and none of us has really ever fished for Lakers. I have spent some time on this forum tryin' to get some ideas about preferred jigs,water depth and anything else that might help us have a good trip. Actually, were gonna have a good trip regardless because fishin' and friends works for me!!  We are all husbands and wives( great women) and I was hopin' to get some help and guidance from some of you guys who are more familiar with the lake. Not lookin' for your honey hole, just some info. Thanks
lake trout are pretty simple to catch on this lake run tip ups with suckers or hunts get in water over 20 foot and catter them from just off bottom to just below the ice jigging you are going to want a flasher and get out into the deep water 100+ ill leave the jig up to you all i will say is white
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 05, 2013, 06:56 PM
lake trout are pretty simple to catch on this lake run tip ups with suckers or hunts get in water over 20 foot and catter them from just off bottom to just below the ice jigging you are going to want a flasher and get out into the deep water 100+ ill leave the jig up to you all i will say is white

^^^^^^^^
Good Advice!  ;)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: dabu556 on Feb 05, 2013, 07:58 PM
Thanks - appreciate the feedback .
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 06, 2013, 01:48 AM
hey I was wondering if any of you guys fishing lakers in otsego have herd or used hogy 10 inch jig iv seen some good footage of these in action
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: DrGreene on Feb 06, 2013, 09:53 AM
No but I got 1 on a blue and silver Cleo 3/4 once  yesterday
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Feb 06, 2013, 04:38 PM
Whoever lost two perch Tuesday don't worry we found them so they didn't go to waste
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Feb 06, 2013, 06:10 PM
we fished 80 to 95 ft range today with tip ups and jigging. Very slow and too windy to even leave shanty..that was for us anyway,a few other guys landed a few.no one did that great that we talked to.Maby we were in the wrong depth who knows.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lil_coondog on Feb 06, 2013, 09:52 PM
Fished today in 30-50 fow. Tip-up action was a little slow. Most of the day was spent making wind blocks for each tip-up. The wind was brutal, shanty was shaking all day. Got one 25" laker on tip-up and lost a bigger one at the hole. C&R. Jigging in 30 fow could see lakers near bottom and 10 feet under ice, pretty cool watching them chase the bait.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: smarge42 on Feb 07, 2013, 03:52 PM
Going to give it a shot this weekend for the first time on the ice. I was wondering whats working for minnows on tipups? Going to try for a little bit of everything.  Perch, waleyes, and lakers. Thank you for any advice.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: matthews88 on Feb 08, 2013, 11:05 AM
Had good day on otsego yesterday nice perch and my buddy caught a 24inch walleye.guys beside us landed a 28 inch brown huge was nice looking fish. Hope this snow doesnt wreck it been having a blast.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 08, 2013, 01:12 PM
Just drove by the lake a little earlier. Looked to be plenty of guys out on the ice. 3 Mile Point is now open and had its share of shanties off from it. There was one group of guys fishing a good distance north of 3 mile towards the east shore. Cant imagine they walked all that way. If your looking for bait I just picked up some spikes and mousies at Kellie's Deli just north of lake at the light.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kowboyup on Feb 08, 2013, 08:17 PM
RTF that was me my buddy and afew followers and yes we did walk all that way lol, put on the miles today, drilled alot of hole from 160 to 100ft looking for the agressive ones. We found afew and it was agood day out there today. Not sure id want to drag my sled that far with alot of snow though im beat lol
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 09, 2013, 04:43 PM
RTF that was me my buddy and afew followers and yes we did walk all that way lol, put on the miles today, drilled alot of hole from 160 to 100ft looking for the agressive ones. We found afew and it was agood day out there today. Not sure id want to drag my sled that far with alot of snow though im beat lol

More power to you. LOL
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 09, 2013, 04:52 PM
Well I fished off from Glimmerglass today. I was the first car in the west lot, followed by a mini convoy of other eager anglers. We had to wait a few for the state to plow out the lot and we all watched him go round and round and round until it was all plowed.  ;D I tried to get into the park under dark and that didnt work out too well for me. We fished from 7 to 50 FOW. Nodda nothing, a few chasers and that was that. Wind was brutal!!!!  >:( On the way out I talked to a husband and wife team (or boyfriend girlfriend) who parked next to us and the same story for them. It was a very disappointing day. 8 to 10 inches of ice every where I drilled. Snow depth varied from a few inches to over a foot. The lake was making ice all morning long. Will be back at it tomorrow morning. look for the "black" Ice Cube.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Feb 09, 2013, 05:46 PM
I'll be out tomorrow as well. Hope they're in the mood to eat. Will be out all day. Plan on hoofing it towards deeper water. Should I just bring my snow blower with me?  :roflmao: If anyone spots me, stop by and say hi. All red ice armor, one man fish trap.

Zach
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: matthews88 on Feb 09, 2013, 05:54 PM
Zach are u going after lakers or walleye i would love to get into those walleye just never really fished for them looking for someone to give me some pointers.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Feb 09, 2013, 06:21 PM
Zach are u going after lakers or walleye i would love to get into those walleye just never really fished for them looking for someone to give me some pointers.

Id say for walleyes try in hyde bay toward glimmerglass point. 10-35 ft. nice weedy bottow throughout there,perch for them to feed on. good variety spot,i personally dont fish around there because i like to spread out and dont like dealing with the crowd on weekends..
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 09, 2013, 06:25 PM
that's why you gotta get there early and set your spread. nothing I like fighting over more than someone cramping my space!!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 09, 2013, 07:54 PM
I hear ya!!! Gotta love crowders
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Feb 09, 2013, 09:11 PM
Had a group of four set next to me the other day literally 10 yards away its a big lake
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchfilet on Feb 10, 2013, 07:06 AM
I may be an "odd Duck", but it never bothered me when people set up close to me. I always looked at ice-fishing as a social activity, and not a
competition.  As long as someone didn't drop a line down the hole I was fishing in, I never cared how close someone fished near me.  I swear
that listening to some fishermen that they must have a deed for part of the lake; "chill out" and enjoy the company of fellow fishermen.  I can understand
someone being upset hunting if someone is too close, but really what harm does it cause ice-fishing?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: crazyhockeydad on Feb 10, 2013, 07:49 AM
Couldn't agree more Perchfilet.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: AugustWest on Feb 10, 2013, 08:29 AM
Well said...I have had some of the best laughs of my life listening to other fisherman run their tip ups
AW
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 10, 2013, 09:41 AM
Not that I dont like talking with people I know or meeting new people and just chewin the fat, but come on there is some etiquette that comes with fishing. Especially when fishing for fish that make big runs If your to close thats when tangles happen. Would you anchor up next to a boat close enough to drop your bait in their boat when you cast?? This isnt a small lake there is plenty of room.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RPudney on Feb 10, 2013, 10:15 AM
I may be an "odd Duck", but it never bothered me when people set up close to me. I always looked at ice-fishing as a social activity, and not a
competition.  As long as someone didn't drop a line down the hole I was fishing in, I never cared how close someone fished near me.  I swear
that listening to some fishermen that they must have a deed for part of the lake; "chill out" and enjoy the company of fellow fishermen.  I can understand
someone being upset hunting if someone is too close, but really what harm does it cause ice-fishing?
Depends on what you are doing, last week on scroon I had a small group of younger people who slinging a jet sled with a passenger
in it around and all over the ice atround them (probably 150 yards away from me). I did not see them or the group next to them get a single flag
most of the day. If you are fishing the bottom in deeper water, I don't think the noise hurts, but salmon fishing? Definitely does hurt! I never set up
right next to anyone just because i want it as quiet as possiblr around my gear. Ever notice when checking baits or walking out past your tip ups
you get a flag? I truly believe that the fish can hear you on the ice in shallower water.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchfilet on Feb 10, 2013, 01:18 PM
Fishing on the ice and fishing from a boat are two different things. Boats move around with wave motion and the wind, the ice doesn't. I still think
that people on the ice sometimes get very territorial. I've had people give me the "evil eye" when I've set up 50 yards away. Come on, how many
times has someone setting up next to you tangled up your line? I've ice-fished for 45 years and I don't think it's happened more than once or
twice. Relax and enjoy yourself!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 10, 2013, 05:47 PM
Ok thanks for your opinion, I have mine, had guy drop a tip up in between two of mine last wed. Let me know where your fishing next time I see him I'll send him your way
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: AugustWest on Feb 10, 2013, 05:56 PM
My take on this matter is...just don't use tip-ups, it's cheating :P
Just kidding fellow fishers ;)
AW
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Feb 10, 2013, 06:07 PM
No one wanted to walk out and fish near me.  ;D
Not a fan of the fresh snow on the ice. It made for some sore mussels tonight.
Stopped and shot the breeze with a few people on the way in, Slow seemed to be the common report.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: slymer83 on Feb 10, 2013, 06:36 PM
What r these tip ups ????
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 10, 2013, 07:34 PM
listen, yes nobody owns the lake but I HATE when I have a group of us out there and someone decides to set up 10 yards away. today we had a group of 5 and had couple more join us and ASKED if we minded they join us( thanks System and Ryan? I think?) totally cool dudes!! if I'm alone I don't mind so much but if I'm with a group I came to fish with them and not some stranger/s. no I haven't had that many tip-ups go off by a fish taking a run, but when you fish on Otsego the lakers like to take big runs and this is a lake I WANT my space.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Feb 10, 2013, 07:45 PM
Great fishing with you guys today, couldn't have asked for a nicer day on the water.  It really speaks to the camaraderie of the Shanty that complete strangers would let us set up right there and share their hot lunch!  That bay was getting a little crowded for sure, and if the fish were really biting they could have made one big tangle of the whole thing quick as a hiccup.  I guess we were lucky the lakers weren't very aggressive!  Hope to see you guys on Cando in a week or so.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Feb 11, 2013, 08:11 AM
listen, yes nobody owns the lake but I HATE when I have a group of us out there and someone decides to set up 10 yards away. today we had a group of 5 and had couple more join us and ASKED if we minded they join us( thanks System and Ryan? I think?) totally cool dudes!! if I'm alone I don't mind so much but if I'm with a group I came to fish with them and not some stranger/s. no I haven't had that many tip-ups go off by a fish taking a run, but when you fish on Otsego the lakers like to take big runs and this is a lake I WANT my space.

I agree haha . i dont like fishing bymyself,but when out with my dad or a couple friends i usually make the extra treck so we have room to set up with space. Its a little more peacefull to me,plus i like to spread out a bit,not into putting tip ups 20 ft apart. always had better luck when ya cover a little ground. Yesterday for example..we trecked over an hour to have some space and spread tip ups 50 ft apart. In mid morning i had nobody within a half mile,by the time i left i had 4 or 5 guys surrounding my few hot tip ups. SOME even fishing my two jigging holes a drilled next to them. Just saying personally,i like my shanty to be closer to my tip ups than other peoples lol. I understand some people want to chat and dont mind fishing 20 30 ft away. not saying im antisocial,im all about talking to some fellow fisherman on the ice. just saying some people have no respect for other fisherman on a 9 mile lake.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Feb 11, 2013, 08:14 AM
Fishing was great yesterday for us. Which is good bc the treck throught that snow wass brutal
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 11, 2013, 09:20 AM
I agree haha . i dont like fishing bymyself,but when out with my dad or a couple friends i usually make the extra treck so we have room to set up with space. Its a little more peacefull to me,plus i like to spread out a bit,not into putting tip ups 20 ft apart. always had better luck when ya cover a little ground. Yesterday for example..we trecked over an hour to have some space and spread tip ups 50 ft apart. In mid morning i had nobody within a half mile,by the time i left i had 4 or 5 guys surrounding my few hot tip ups. SOME even fishing my two jigging holes a drilled next to them. Just saying personally,i like my shanty to be closer to my tip ups than other peoples lol. I understand some people want to chat and dont mind fishing 20 30 ft away. not saying im antisocial,im all about talking to some fellow fisherman on the ice. just saying some people have no respect for other fisherman on a 9 mile lake.

Well said, wish I could have worded it like that but guess I will have to be that guy. We each have our views on this and not everyone is gonna agree with the other. In the end you have guys that will work for fish and find them, then guys that will watch what your doing and move in to get in the action. Nature of the beast I guess, been dealing with it for years and have to keep dealing with it.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 12, 2013, 11:45 AM
im all about talking to some fellow fisherman on the ice. just saying some people have no respect for other fisherman on a 9 mile lake.

no way...on otsego of all places!  Thats a real shame that its getting to be that way, especially this year for some reason...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Feb 12, 2013, 04:46 PM
Just wondering if kellys bait store usually always has plenty of bait and any med-large baits there? have a long drive and dont want to get stuck up there with no bait. thanks. kinda of late in the day  for me to try anywhere else.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 12, 2013, 05:01 PM
there shiner seem to be on the smaller side.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: paul23 on Feb 12, 2013, 05:11 PM
no way...on otsego of all places!  Thats a real shame that its getting to be that way, especially this year for some reason...

Thats strange.  So much deep water laker heaven.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Feb 12, 2013, 06:18 PM
Ya we had guys watch us last week and before we were 150 yards from where we were fishing they we on our holes
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 12, 2013, 06:20 PM
must be from "all the action" out there? ::) that's ok, rumor has it public landing is going to be closed down.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lakerdave on Feb 12, 2013, 06:56 PM
I had some hot action today from 8-9 . I landed 4 for 7 . With the biggest being 30. I also got a 27 ,a 23 ,and a 18 .. wicked wind out there . 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: hot tuna on Feb 12, 2013, 06:59 PM
must be from "all the action" out there? ::) that's ok, rumor has it public landing is going to be closed down.

Loosing public access is never good.. Always remember "we" are the public..
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 12, 2013, 07:01 PM
the "public" landing is actually for Springfield residents only.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: hot tuna on Feb 12, 2013, 07:04 PM
That's all cool but without the public , buying fishing licences , there would be no fishery..
I dislike private waters, esp when the public supports them..
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 12, 2013, 07:09 PM
totally agree Tuna.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 12, 2013, 07:09 PM
Loosing public access is never good.. Always remember "we" are the public..

It was historically called "Public Landing" because it was a ferry boat stop on the lake in the late 1800's and early 1900's. It is actually privately owned and on a "Perpetual Lease" for the use of the Town of Springfield residents. If non-residents are using it, the land can be taken back by the "owning" family. And trust me, that piece of land is worth a WHOLE LOT OF MONEY to the owning family. I am sure that they would not mind having it back in their portfolio.....

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 12, 2013, 07:17 PM
Little off the subject but 3 mile during the summer, we went over there wanted to throw the canoe in for the last couple hours of light and fish for smallies, they wanted me to pay to put the canoe in, what ever the day pass was or I could buy a season pass for some stupid fee only wanted to fish for at best 2 hrs. I think we are lucky they open it for the winter and dont charge.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: matthews88 on Feb 12, 2013, 07:21 PM
We r actually lucky they plow out glimmerglass or otherwise would b a very hard lake to access in the winter for those of us who enjoy the hardwater, just my two cents but just seem harder every year to keep access.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 12, 2013, 07:23 PM
Little off the subject but 3 mile during the summer, we went over there wanted to throw the canoe in for the last couple hours of light and fish for smallies, they wanted me to pay to put the canoe in, what ever the day pass was or I could buy a season pass for some stupid fee only wanted to fish for at best 2 hrs. I think we are lucky they open it for the winter and dont charge.

Kind of the same deal at 3 Mile. The land was "Given" to the Village of Cooperstown for their residents use. They can enforce the resident use rule (and have!) during the winter months, but usually don't as long as the parking does not get out of hand too bad. And don't ever park your rig on Rt 80, you will be ticketed/towed by village police. They also lock it down if the Village decides that the ice is not safe, in their opinion, as they did 2 weeks ago.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 12, 2013, 07:35 PM
Oh yeah they did with me that day (enforce the rule) thats when the big fee come out. 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: hot tuna on Feb 12, 2013, 07:38 PM
 Milford/Maryland line  was a local milk run over the mountain. I can look at goodyear lake from my tree stand..
What once was public will never be again in my life time.. Maybe someday it will be a relapse but still its a heck of private property now.. Why , why else $ Shame but true ..
 
Jim you are 100% correct and I know little about Ostego lake. Big Lake big dollars and with that becomes BIG responsibilities when all of us are involved..
The Best thing for everyone is to be the stewarts of what we have.. Keep it clean, keep it as low impact as possible, be courteous and friendly to neighbors and show respect for our privilege..

This comin weekend I hope to have the privilege of fishing otsego lake again and meeting nice people..   
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 12, 2013, 07:46 PM
if I didn't have contests with my son sat/sun I would look you up Tuna. good luck out there!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Fin on Feb 13, 2013, 09:08 AM
Nice--I used to go on at five mile point.  Can someone tell me another place to get on? Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 13, 2013, 09:35 AM
Nice--I used to go on at five mile point.  Can someone tell me another place to get on? Thanks in advance.

There is public access at 3 mile point and glimmerglass state park.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 13, 2013, 09:39 AM
We r actually lucky they plow out glimmerglass or otherwise would b a very hard lake to access in the winter for those of us who enjoy the hardwater, just my two cents but just seem harder every year to keep access.

Its amazing, folks blow the lake up on here and now everyone is worried about access?    HA!  Great job guys!  You can't have it both ways.



Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 13, 2013, 10:01 AM
its a lake that has always gotten a lot of attention from ice-fisherman. and when it doesn't freeze for a year or 2 of course its going to be the "lake to go to". with out any baitfish in there for the fish to eat, its better to take some out so there isn't and abundance of long skinny fish like we are currently catching. just my opinion though.

Steve
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 13, 2013, 10:13 AM
its a lake that has always gotten a lot of attention from ice-fisherman. and when it doesn't freeze for a year or 2 of course its going to be the "lake to go to". with out any baitfish in there for the fish to eat, its better to take some out so there isn't and abundance of long skinny fish like we are currently catching. just my opinion though.

Steve

so your telling me it has always been as crowded at Glimmerglass as it is this year with guys setting on top of other guys?   Sure  ;D 

And Springfield landing, wow, common sense would dictate that access like that should NEVER be mentioned publicly on here - along with the walleyes...and look what happened when it did.  ::)

And yeah, Otsego's gonna need to lose the majority of its laker population if it wants to have anything sustainable now that the fish have nothing to eat but baby perch.


Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 13, 2013, 10:23 AM
yes I remember 4-5 years ago it didn't freeze and the following year is was a circus. yes I agree the public landing is private and should be treated that way. it wasn't revealed on here where the walleye were hitting until someone got upset. truth be told I have also heard of some coming from various other locations on the lake, possibly many more, but my lips are sealed now ;) and for the lakers I have never seen anything like it, calling them skinny doesn't even do them justice they look like there dyeing to get out of the water than live there and starve to death.

Steve
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ziggy6 on Feb 13, 2013, 10:36 AM
Big Red, coming from Uitica which spot, 3 mile or glimmerglass would be closer? ( gonna make a break from the inlaws house) :)  thank you for any help in my escape plan.   
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mpexcell on Feb 13, 2013, 10:53 AM
Ziggy6, Coming from utica takes about 50 minutes to three mile point and the walk is short to your spot, take 28 to 20 then then take 80 to three mile. Very convenient parking there and less walk out.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 13, 2013, 11:05 AM
Ziggy6, Coming from utica takes about 50 minutes to three mile point and the walk is short to your spot, take 28 to 20 then then take 80 to three mile. Very convenient parking there and less walk out.

Closer walk to deep water, but usually parked up by 6-630 am, and the deep water isn't what it used to be.   and parking along the road is not an option.  Glimmerglass state park has been busy too, but alot more parking over there, and more variety of water to fish.  If you are going to join in the crowds, make sure you leave plenty of space between your area and others.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Feb 13, 2013, 11:25 AM
I remember in years past there was nobody in Hyde Bay, but lots of guys in the 90-120 range in front of the bay...now you have almost the opposite. Guys really crowding...I may take my laker fishing elsewhere... Its ridiculous. I can't stand crowds like this. Typically I will hike way away from the crowds but it seems that if one guy is in a spot for awhile, others soon crowd him. Its a big lake...give some space.

-Zach
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 13, 2013, 11:53 AM
I remember in years past there was nobody in Hyde Bay, but lots of guys in the 90-120 range in front of the bay...now you have almost the opposite. Guys really crowding...I may take my laker fishing elsewhere... Its ridiculous. I can't stand crowds like this. Typically I will hike way away from the crowds but it seems that if one guy is in a spot for awhile, others soon crowd him. Its a big lake...give some space.

-Zach
:clap:i agree. think my next trip is going to be up in the adirondak's
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Feb 13, 2013, 12:02 PM
Want some company?  I promise I won't crowd you!  ;)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 13, 2013, 12:09 PM
Where you guys wanna go? Count me in!  :)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 13, 2013, 12:13 PM
never mind company as long as im warned, lol. anytime you guys wanna go shoot me a pm. this weekend my son has me booked for contests. and Tuesdays are out. like I said shoot me a pm and we'll set up something. indian, fourth wherever!

Steve
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 13, 2013, 12:55 PM
champlain!!  with its burgeoning population of alewives, huge population of lake trout, and 278k acres to play with...well...anyone can see why that should be a destination!

I just can't understand why more haven't already!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bassinbrian_on_ice on Feb 13, 2013, 01:25 PM
Boy by the sounds of things, i am kind of glad i haven't ventured out to the "O" this year  :-\ :P   
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mpexcell on Feb 13, 2013, 01:49 PM
Personally did better at glimmer glass for lakers and ice was much better. The walk was worth it for me. Fished 3 mile point yesterday and had 2 inches of hard crust slouch over 4-5 inches black ice. Caught several short lakers and few keepers. Glimmer was better for me last week and caught few eyes there at least.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 13, 2013, 02:15 PM
champlain!!  with its burgeoning population of alewives, huge population of lake trout, and 278k acres to play with...well...anyone can see why that should be a destination!

I just can't understand why more haven't already!
and heck while we're monkeying with the flashers I can set out 15 tip-ups to boot. lol
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: riderlow23 on Feb 13, 2013, 02:33 PM
Catch and release?? Ummmm, you need to go the opposite and let people keep more, maybe even go back to a slot limit. The problem there now is the alewives have crashed and there's not enough food for the fish that are there. The trouble with just letting them keep more is it takes a while to change the regs and by that time the bait population may be phenomenal.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 13, 2013, 03:03 PM
champlain!!  with its burgeoning population of alewives, huge population of lake trout, and 278k acres to play with...well...anyone can see why that should be a destination!

I just can't understand why more haven't already!

Planned on that last year and never made it got a place to stay and everthing, fished open water up there what I saw made me wanna hit the hard water.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Feb 13, 2013, 05:59 PM
Im game! Have Vex, will travel. Doesn't matter where. I can think of more than a few ADK lakes that would be worth the trip.  ;)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jperson22 on Feb 13, 2013, 06:22 PM
I have fished 3 mile point in the past and had great luck .. people have have seemed to real good off of glimmerglass this year how far is the walk off to get into a mix of eyes and lakers or should i just brave it and hit 3 mile up
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Feb 13, 2013, 06:29 PM
Wow.........A lot of negativity on here.
Well here's my thoughts on things. I remember when this lake was CLOSED to Trout fishing from Sept 30Th to April 1st and there was only a remnant population of Walleye in the lake. So the lake was devoid of fisherman during the Winter except for the few diehard Whitefish snatchers and Perch fishermen in the know.
Now, as an average Joe, you can take advantage of fishing for the fish that your tax dollars paid to stock. This is what you got in lew of a boat launch at Glimmerglass State Park. For anyone on this forum to complain because its crowed is beyond my comprehension.  I can understand getting pissed off if someone sets up on top of you. But the fact that there are lots of people on the lake tells me that the plan for access is working....kind of.
Parking will always be an issue that's tied to fishing here and access is limited so it just compounds the matter. ***** ******* was never considered in the equation for access. It's for town of *********** residents only......and Big Red is right, it never should have been mentioned here.
Glimmerglass will continue to be the primary access for this lake with 3 mile point as a smaller 1st come, 1st serve destination.  If your like me and don't have a machine you should plan on walking if you want to get away from the crowds.
Sorry if I sound all preachy, Just trying to keep it real!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Feb 13, 2013, 09:11 PM
Rider

Exactly right a lot of fish no forage when's the last time u saw a small lake trout because of lack of forage lakers and walleyes have canibalized whole age classes forage needs to be replaced to improve our lake
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Feb 13, 2013, 09:25 PM
I feel crowds are up on the lake compared to past years because of chatter about little yellow fish and fifty percent of the groups are there for that and are catching the trout as a result of lack of a forage base
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: DrGreene on Feb 14, 2013, 06:02 AM
Where is the sign up sheet to have a 9 mile long lake to your self ? You guys are joking right. My fishing license says I can fish here.it does not say this lake is private you don't own it get over it or go fish some where else
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bassomatic on Feb 14, 2013, 06:12 AM
Where is the sign up sheet to have a 9 mile long lake to your self ? You guys are joking right. My fishing license says I can fish here.it does not say this lake is private you don't own it get over it or go fish some where else


 :clap:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: paul23 on Feb 14, 2013, 06:30 AM
Keep mentioning that launch, Im sure it will help.  ???

Or you could go back and use the delete button on the handful of posts regarding it.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: yarn em in on Feb 14, 2013, 06:37 AM
 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Feb 14, 2013, 06:45 AM
If you don't like the crowd go somewhere else. We all buy the same license. I never fished there but plan on it and don't really care how many people are there. There's millions of fish swimming in billions of gallons of water in NYS. I don't live anywhere around big lakes with such good fishing. I do fish a small local reservoir. There's quite a few people on it for the size. I let people drill right next to me. The fish aren't yours.....Get over it!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 14, 2013, 08:50 AM
Wow.........A lot of negativity on here.
Well here's my thoughts on things. I remember when this lake was CLOSED to Trout fishing from Sept 30Th to April 1st and there was only a remnant population of Walleye in the lake. So the lake was devoid of fisherman during the Winter except for the few diehard Whitefish snatchers and Perch fishermen in the know.
Now, as an average Joe, you can take advantage of fishing for the fish that your tax dollars paid to stock. This is what you got in lew of a boat launch at Glimmerglass State Park. For anyone on this forum to complain because its crowed is beyond my comprehension.  I can understand getting pissed off if someone sets up on top of you. But the fact that there are lots of people on the lake tells me that the plan for access is working....kind of.
Parking will always be an issue that's tied to fishing here and access is limited so it just compounds the matter. Public Landing was never considered in the equation for access. It's for town of Springfield residents only......and Big Red is right, it never should have been mentioned here.
Glimmerglass will continue to be the primary access for this lake with 3 mile point as a smaller 1st come, 1st serve destination.  If your like me and don't have a machine you should plan on walking if you want to get away from the crowds.
Sorry if I sound all preachy, Just trying to keep it real!

sounds like some people are getting jealous because there seeing others get fish. "AMERICAN GREED AT ITS FINEST"  Glimmerglass is a state park its our tax dollars that paid for it,we paid for the fish. Public access not private property. If your a true sportsman you should be happy to see people out there enjoying themselves thats what its there for. or you can keep on with your libral mind set and drive people away and give the state another reason to divert our conservation funds towards something else. I will be out on otsego this weekend so if you dont want to be bothered please hang a do not disturb sign or go around and lift your leg on your tip ups so I know its your area. I always thought of fishing as a social sport.
"CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG" ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: rugermag on Feb 14, 2013, 09:15 AM
I have no problem with friends or family sharing the ice near me. But, I sure as the devil don't want strangers camping
on top of my tips or where I am jigging! Wouldn't do it to them. The key is courtesy. Something those type don't have!!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: regaffed on Feb 14, 2013, 10:06 AM
Well said fishslapped!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 14, 2013, 10:46 AM
sounds like some people are getting jealous because there seeing others get fish. "AMERICAN GREED AT ITS FINEST" 

simply speaking the truth.  :afro:  The greed/jealousy part though, that is so far off base, its AWOL. 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchfilet on Feb 14, 2013, 02:54 PM
This is ice fishing, it's not panning for gold or digging for diamonds. You don't get to stake-out an area on the lake and drive away intruders. I love
 it when people say it's alright for friends or family to fish near them, but not strangers. Grow up! What harm is done by people fishing close to
you, unless you have something to hide. I fished Otsego today out of Glimmerglass and the only thing that disturbed me was the garbage left on
the ice. P.S. I did see some tipup fishermen who had their tipups strung out for a couple of hundred yards. Is this now their private fishing grounds?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bassinbrian_on_ice on Feb 14, 2013, 03:54 PM
I have no problem with other peeps fishing near me, as long as they are friendly  :) ... but if they are grumpy or disrespectful A-holes than it's a diff story.  >:(    ... and the jealousy thing is a non-issue with me.



Quote
and the only thing that disturbed me was the garbage left on

THIS is one of the problems with having more people fishing any body of water.  :-\
You have regulars who have fished there for years and try to keep the place clean (more people = more garbage) sad but true, a few slobs can ruin it for everybody  !!



Limited access is another issue with more guys

Last time i went to 3 mile (3-4 years ago) ... i got there well before 1st light (like an hour prior) and there was 1 spot left, i got lucky having just drove 2 hours !! The cars that followed me into the lot were S.O.L. ... When i left there were guys parked on rt80 and the cops were there too  ;)


Glimmerglass can be a very long walk in good caonditions, but add deep snow/slushy conditions :P forget it. Unless you have a machine but that's a diff story, not every body does.  :P


As for the other private parking areas, if this year shenanigans keep up in those places, they will be shut right down !!


And now the issues with many starving/skinny lakers ... doesn't make we want to venture out that way this year. I'll head north.  ;D


Nice to see a few fatty lakers (and the eyes seem to be thriving  :o ).



That's my 2-cents
Peace out



Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 14, 2013, 04:04 PM
I fished out of Glimmerglass today, 24 vehicles in the lot at 8:15, yesterday at 8:30 there was a counted 34 vehicles. Guess what? I still got a place to park! And fishing today, I did not have anybody near me by at least 500 yards! Here's something else- I caught fish! And I wasn't in the "city" off of Clarke's Point! I did walk a bit, but it paid off and I did not infringe on anyone's private claim! In fact, I only talked to one other fisherman and that was on my way in, and we had a very pleasant conversation!
    You guys need to chill out just a bit! The lake is 9.2 miles long and 170 feet deep, I am sure there is a spot out there to drill a hole and catch a fish! It was a beautiful day out there, maybe a little walking would do us all good!
  Just my two cents, but this thread is just too over the top on some of the opinions...

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: matthews88 on Feb 14, 2013, 05:33 PM
I agree big jim if u dont want to fish around a crowd move down the lake. We are all there for same reasn to catch fish if we all keep  on here next thing there will b no access for any of us, i thing there is enough fish for all of us to enjoy we are not in a competition to see who can get and who cant.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: AugustWest on Feb 14, 2013, 06:02 PM
Great words Big Jim :thumbsup:
AW
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 14, 2013, 06:28 PM
Nice to see you speak up Jim and give your two cents on a testy subject. . Glad u had a great day. In all honesty, a bunch of fish need to be taken out of the lake with the dramatic shift in forage base we've seen.   Maybe you guys can all help out and keep your one lake trout.  It can only help the walleyes.  Gonna be a fun weekend out there, good luck y'all.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Feb 14, 2013, 06:52 PM
You guys need to chill out just a bit! The lake is 9.2 miles long and 170 feet deep, I am sure there is a spot out there to drill a hole and catch a fish! It was a beautiful day out there, maybe a little walking would do us all good!

BIGJim223

Amen to that!

I'll probably be out there this weekend myself and I'm always willing to hang out and shoot the breeze with some of my fellow sportsmen. You just better be prepared to walk to the GOOD SPOTS.  ;)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Feb 14, 2013, 07:12 PM
Amen to that!

I'll probably be out there this weekend myself and I'm always willing to hang out and shot the breeze with some of my fellow sportsmen. You just better be prepared to walk to the GOOD SPOTS.  ;)
He isn't kidding...I thought Marty was crazy when I saw where he hiked last weekend. Have to be willing to do it though.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: reddot on Feb 14, 2013, 08:30 PM
The point is, if you have done your research and put in your time to find a productive spot on the lake and set up early you should'nt have to deal with the lurkers to just show up cause they heard it was decent the day b4 and set up right next to you and thru your setup.  Put your own damn time in and figure it out.  Everyone wants to catch fish with as little effort as possible.
Its to the point on this lake the limit of lakers should be more than 1
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Feb 14, 2013, 09:25 PM
He isn't kidding...I thought Marty was crazy when I saw where he hiked last weekend. Have to be willing to do it though.

Who me? Crazy? lol  I paid for that hike for 2 days afterwards. It was a lot easier 20 years ago.

There are lots of spots on this lake that are good. Every weed line, bar, shelf and rock pile will hold fish at one time or another. I will gladly walk a mile or 2 to hit a piece of structure that has been kind to me in the past.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 15, 2013, 03:40 AM
I fished out of Glimmerglass today, 24 vehicles in the lot at 8:15, yesterday at 8:30 there was a counted 34 vehicles. Guess what? I still got a place to park! And fishing today, I did not have anybody near me by at least 500 yards! Here's something else- I caught fish! And I wasn't in the "city" off of Clarke's Point! I did walk a bit, but it paid off and I did not infringe on anyone's private claim! In fact, I only talked to one other fisherman and that was on my way in, and we had a very pleasant conversation!
    You guys need to chill out just a bit! The lake is 9.2 miles long and 170 feet deep, I am sure there is a spot out there to drill a hole and catch a fish! It was a beautiful day out there, maybe a little walking would do us all good!
  Just my two cents, but this thread is just too over the top on some of the opinions...

BIGJim223

Amen to that Jim. This past Saturday I was the first car in the lot followed by a convoy. On Sunday morning I was there well before light and was about the 10th car. When I left Sunday the lot was completely full and other cars were trying to find a spot to park. A few of the drivers trying to find a spot to park were furious about the situation, BUT guess what? They weren't fishermen but in fact cross country skiers.

I must give BIG thank you to the guys with snow machines as they made walking so much better on Sunday by packing down some great trails across the lake.

Saturday was bad for us without one bite. Sunday was totally opposite as we nailed them one after the other. It was unbelievable. And no it was not trout, we were into perch big time. YES we want to catch trout but the perch were way too fun. As long as my boy is catching fish he don't care.

This thing about parking along RT 80 at 3 Mile Point, is there signs up along the highway that say "No Parking" ? I have to ask because I am constantly seeing cars parked along RT 80 there and I see no evidence of enforcement. And how can Cooperstown Village PD enforce anything out that far as they are out of their jurisdiction???
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: eduard on Feb 15, 2013, 05:47 AM
What are the ice conditions ,thickness and is there snow or slush on the ice
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: papacoondog on Feb 15, 2013, 12:47 PM
went out on Wednesday there was a lot of slush out there.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Iamtrip on Feb 15, 2013, 07:22 PM
Did anyone fish today? If so how was the ice?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Feb 15, 2013, 10:15 PM
Went wends day ice was 6to9inches on Hyde bat was like walking on an orange peel pretty cool slot limit
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 16, 2013, 08:00 AM
A buddy of mine lost a box of various laker jigs off 3 Mile Point Wednesday. If you or anyone hears about finding a tackle tray of jigs, he would be very happy to get them back. We all know how much it costs to replace our gear, so hopefully someone found them and will get in contact with me and I will hook you up with the guy that lost them. Send me a PM if you hear anything.
Thanks!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: curtile024 on Feb 16, 2013, 07:37 PM
how is the ice this weekend?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kowboyup on Feb 16, 2013, 09:11 PM
was out at 3 mile today ice is hard and you can walk along way very easy. It was arough day for us today as we went from 160ft down to 45 ft spudding holes every 100yds or so and only marked 3 fish. I was hoping this was just aphase, but think things have really changed on Otsego
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 17, 2013, 07:32 AM
We all have seen the skinny lakers this year and it is being blamed on the forge decline. I also have seen some very nice healthy looking lakers this season, we had two on the ice yesterday one great looking fish big fat belly about 24", and one 25" skinny as a rail looked like a basesball bat big out of proportion head down to nothing at the tail. Along with this the walleyes do not appear to be starving and looking all skinny like the lakers.
Just a thought and question could the lakers have some kind of diesease maybe??
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikvia46 on Feb 17, 2013, 09:41 AM
It probably didn't help the health of the Laker population that there was no ice fishing last year. I think more fish need to be taken or it will get worse. Maybe  there will be more fishing pressure here April thru September? 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: trouter on Feb 17, 2013, 10:18 AM
The population is not the problem, it is the avalaible food sorce.Normally you would see clouds of alwives thruout the lake but the last 2 years, that has not been the case. Usually during the winter ice months the lakers are in the deepest part of the lake because of the desired temperature and thats were the bait was too. No bait no lakers. Now the lakers are forced to go into shallow water looking for whatwver they can find to eat even if it is not their comfort zone. Walleys are fat so maybe they ate all the alwives. Dec stocked thousands upon thousands in there or maybe the alwaves cant reproduce because of alga problems.One thing is for sure and that is the lakers need some food. Hoping the dec will stock smelt. Im no expert, just an opinion.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 17, 2013, 10:35 AM
One thing is for sure and that is the lakers need some food. Hoping the dec will stock smelt. Im no expert, just an opinion.
I totally agree that they need some food and think smelt would help ALL species in there stay healthy.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lakerdave on Feb 17, 2013, 11:48 AM
Smelt use to be in there so its deff posible .
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchfilet on Feb 17, 2013, 12:34 PM
Smelt were in the lake for a short time before, but then disappeared. What happened to them before, and what makes you think they will succeed in
the lake this time? Just a thought. Also, the alewives are an invasive species; they are an ocean fish not native to freshwater lakes. Because of this
they are sensitive to factors such as changes in water temperature and population die offs. I don't believe the walleyes wiped them out because for
most of the year the walleyes are in different parts of the lake. Years ago the lake had a substantial population of whitefish and lake ciscoes. These
served as a food source for the lake trout and they occupied the same areas in the lake so it was easier for the trout to feed on them. Something
happened to the whitefish because they are now seen very rarely in the lake. I don't believe there is a simple solution to what has caused an
imbalance in the lake between the forage base and the game fish population. Hopefully the state is studying the situation and can offer some
sort of solution. Until then, it is what it is.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 17, 2013, 12:38 PM
I believe(though i'm not a biologist) that the illegal introduction of the alewives wiped out the smelt. 10 years ago when we went down to 3-mile it wasn't out of the question to bring up good numbers of 10+ lb lakers and even saw some beauty browns being caught. I think in time if the DEC restocks the lake with smelt(as I have heard they are going to do) the lakers will again thrive along with the rest of the fish.

Steve
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Feb 17, 2013, 01:44 PM
There are still at least a few big browns in there...Last weekend I hooked a monster. Watched it hit my swim bait right below the hole, after swiping at it several times. Finally struck and I fought him to the hole, but he broke me off while I was trying to grab him. Easily 30" and thick, probably 12 pounds.  :sick: :%$#!:Oh well, that's fishing. Anyway, the potential is still there. Restocking some smelt would do wonders for this lake.

-Zach
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 17, 2013, 03:27 PM
There are still at least a few big browns in there...Last weekend I hooked a monster. Watched it hit my swim bait right below the hole, after swiping at it several times. Finally struck and I fought him to the hole, but he broke me off while I was trying to grab him. Easily 30" and thick, probably 12 pounds.  :sick: :%$#!:Oh well, that's fishing. Anyway, the potential is still there. Restocking some smelt would do wonders for this lake.

-Zach

Zach, so sorry ya missed that Brown! I share your pain! Been fortunate enough to have also jigged a few up but I'm sure you'll agree it's not an easy thing to do! Can only imagine what a rush that was hooking it! Wish you luck on the next one!

Mke
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 17, 2013, 04:29 PM
Guys, Gals here is some good reading that may answer some of your questions on the lake trout population in Otsego Lake. You might be surprised to learn that the absence of alewives in Otsego lake is most likely not attribute to skinny lake trout.

http://www.oneonta.edu/academics/biofld/PUBS/ANNUAL/2003/%28131%29Diet%20of%20Lake%20Trout%201.pdf

http://docsfiles.com/pdf_lake_trout_in_otsego.html

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/69252.html

Quote
If the catch of small lake trout remains very low in the 2012 netting, it will be recommended that the year round salmonid fishery, primarily lake trout, be ended and the season changed to the statewide April 1-October 15 trout season.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Floatman on Feb 17, 2013, 04:49 PM
The last reference has an interesting ending:
If the catch of small lake trout remains very low in the 2012 netting, it will be recommended that the year round salmonid fishery, primarily lake trout, be ended and the season changed to the statewide April 1-October 15 trout season.
  So, enjoy it while you can because ice fishing for lake trout on Otsego may be coming to an end. 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 17, 2013, 05:52 PM
Not sure I subscribe to the idea that alwives induce sterility in trout. All of our DEC reservoirs down here in lower NY have robust populations of sawbellies that the trout feed on. One in particular, Kensico Res apparently has sufficient enough laker reproduction that the DEC is reportedly reducing the annual stocking of lakers. I do agree with your other observations about the merit of reintroducing smelt into Otsego.

Mike
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: AugustWest on Feb 17, 2013, 09:47 PM
Smelt were in the lake for a short time before, but then disappeared. What happened to them before, and what makes you think they will succeed in
the lake this time? Just a thought. Also, the alewives are an invasive species; they are an ocean fish not native to freshwater lakes. Because of this
they are sensitive to factors such as changes in water temperature and population die offs. I don't believe the walleyes wiped them out because for
most of the year the walleyes are in different parts of the lake. Years ago the lake had a substantial population of whitefish and lake ciscoes. These
served as a food source for the lake trout and they occupied the same areas in the lake so it was easier for the trout to feed on them. Something
happened to the whitefish because they are now seen very rarely in the lake. I don't believe there is a simple solution to what has caused an
imbalance in the lake between the forage base and the game fish population. Hopefully the state is studying the situation and can offer some
sort of solution. Until then, it is what it is.

Very nice post and it makes sense...
AW
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 18, 2013, 03:14 AM
We are getting ready to head out to the lake now. First stop is Stewarts in C' Town then up to Glimmerglass. All I know at this moment is that it is dark, breezy and 0 degree's out. What am I thinking  :o  2 guys wit a Black Ice Cube  ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 18, 2013, 06:10 AM
hope you have some cables to anchor RTF. good luck!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 18, 2013, 07:27 AM
Smelt were in the lake for a short time before, but then disappeared. What happened to them before, and what makes you think they will succeed in
the lake this time? Just a thought. Also, the alewives are an invasive species; they are an ocean fish not native to freshwater lakes. Because of this
they are sensitive to factors such as changes in water temperature and population die offs. I don't believe the walleyes wiped them out because for
most of the year the walleyes are in different parts of the lake. Years ago the lake had a substantial population of whitefish and lake ciscoes. These
served as a food source for the lake trout and they occupied the same areas in the lake so it was easier for the trout to feed on them. Something
happened to the whitefish because they are now seen very rarely in the lake. I don't believe there is a simple solution to what has caused an
imbalance in the lake between the forage base and the game fish population. Hopefully the state is studying the situation and can offer some
sort of solution. Until then, it is what it is.

If I remember correctly the smelt went away when the alewives came in, when I was a kid there were a lot of smelt we used to net them at ice out each year. The intro of the alewives killed the smelt in this lake and Canadrago
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kowboyup on Feb 18, 2013, 07:53 AM
Some great reads and insight from you all on what you thinks going on in Otsego. I remember saying at the beging of the year to my gf i hope Otsego doesnt turn into a dissapoinment like Canadarago has become. Having fished both my whole life and living so close to both really was nice to fish both now im driving farther to fish. It is what it is though just hope things get better. I do believe it comes in waves though as my uncle tells me if you only knew how good it was when i was young, hopefully it will return to both lakes
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: trouter on Feb 18, 2013, 08:17 AM
I remember when otsego was fantastic fishing and that was only 5 years ago and also before ice fishing for lakers was allowed. From 5 years ago less and less decent fish have been caught. I only know of 1 this year so far. I do believe the majority of the breeder lakers have been elimanated. A hundred guys on the ice every day for 5 years has taken its toll and now no food for the remainder. The internet has ruined many lakes.2 years ago on cando there were litery hundreds of shelters out there. They came from all over and out of state in groves to catch the jacks. NOW, no jacks and just dinks. Thank the internet and greedy fisherman. How many perch do you need for a meal. Then there is the guys that sell them. I guess i better quit.Have fun fishing and enjoy what we have left.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bautochkaj on Feb 18, 2013, 08:22 AM
Looking to go ice fishing on Otsego Lake - newbie to this lake.

Anyone go out of three mile point? - how far out - water depth, island locations, etc.

or Glimmerglass - looking for lake trout

I live within 30 minutes and want to try this lake - not sure where to go...
 

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 18, 2013, 11:11 AM
Looking to go ice fishing on Otsego Lake - newbie to this lake.

Anyone go out of three mile point? - how far out - water depth, island locations, etc.

or Glimmerglass - looking for lake trout

I live within 30 minutes and want to try this lake - not sure where to go...

Read the threads here! Everything you ever wanted to know about Otsego, and more. Take the time to actually read, not just the last post!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 18, 2013, 04:04 PM
hope you have some cables to anchor RTF. good luck!

Wish I read this before I went out today  :'(

Whoa!!! baby  ;D What a hoot that was.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 18, 2013, 04:27 PM
OK so I was out today. Was the first one on the lake. Out from Glimmerglass and towards Clark Point we went. 9 to 10 inches of ice every where we drilled. Not a single hit today. Marcum cam told me no perch or any type of fish for that matter in 15 to 20 FOW off Clarks. same spot last Sunday (Feb 10th) we nailed them. Later in the morning we went into 50 FOW  and immediately had a chaser come in suspended at 30 FOW. 2 more chasers to come in moments later. That was it for the entire day. We packed up at around 2PM. Very windy and creepers are mandatory.  No slush and very little if any snow.

That lake freaked me out today.  :o :o :o :o :o  Very loud with thumbs and bangs and crackitee crack crack crack, thump thump thump. Non stop!! I have never heard SO much ice music in my whole life.

Gonna hang it for a few days. Good luck out there.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lowe budget outdoors on Feb 18, 2013, 04:43 PM
I like the lake and we have had lot of action on this lake this year justwish the ppl that fish glimmer glass would show sum respect on it when u c sum one catch a fish u should come within 5 feet of ther hole and drill then start jign that is not cool in a sportsmens eye just asking for real sportsman to show a lil common courtesy to the others that do thank you
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 19, 2013, 09:39 AM
when u c sum one catch a fish u should come within 5 feet of ther hole and drill then start jign that is not cool in a sportsmens eye just asking for real sportsman to show a lil common courtesy to the others that do thank you


Ouch!  thats tough on a big lake like that!   What did you say?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: cporter on Feb 19, 2013, 09:53 AM

Ouch!  thats tough on a big lake like that!   What did you say?

Wat do u meen?  :cookoo:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 19, 2013, 10:11 AM
Wat do u meen?  :cookoo:

I was wondering if he said something to the person.     
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: cporter on Feb 19, 2013, 10:26 AM
I was wondering if he said something to the person.     


Sorry, I thought you meant his English. My bad.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lowe budget outdoors on Feb 19, 2013, 11:38 AM
To bad for u if u don't like my English yes I said something guy good thing for him I respect my elders. I don't care who u are if u Gota drill a hole 5 foot from some one else's tipup that u don't even know is pretty sad thats all

Ouch!  thats tough on a big lake like that!   What did you say?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 19, 2013, 11:54 AM
I don't care about your english, i was wondering if you said something to the person that moved in on you. 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lowe budget outdoors on Feb 19, 2013, 12:33 PM
Like I said I did u know as a  fisherman it's disrespectful to do that too ppl. He was saved on me having respect for my elders. But the next guy mite not b so nice to u. From now on I think I stick to 3 mile lot off ppl don't like to fish the deep water for sum reason but it pays off my friend caught a 9 pound walleye the other day around 60 foot of water
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: cporter on Feb 19, 2013, 02:46 PM
To bad for u if u don't like my English yes I said something guy good thing for him I respect my elders. I don't care who u are if u Gota drill a hole 5 foot from some one else's tipup that u don't even know is pretty sad thats all


Sorry fella, it reminded me of a post in the Grumpy Old Men Shanty,  ;D, http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=250005.0 (http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=250005.0)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Feb 21, 2013, 03:30 PM
Hey just think now that the perch have been beat down maybe there won't be buses coming to Hyde anymore couldn't believe it last week first time in my whole life saw buses at Hyde bay and yes I had guys put 20 tip ups 10 yards from me this year
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: papacoondog on Feb 21, 2013, 04:00 PM
if u don't like crowds, just move away far enough so when u set up nobodies around u. its a big lake that's all I do
and have will good luck no matter where i set up. 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Feb 21, 2013, 06:09 PM
if u don't like crowds, just move away far enough so when u set up nobodies around u. its a big lake that's all I do
and have will good luck no matter where i set up.

x2
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: beachshanty on Feb 21, 2013, 07:50 PM
Does anyone know what the hours for access to Glimmerglass (i.e., do they close the gate after a certain point in the evening)?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 23, 2013, 04:00 PM
Anyone else see that guy driving his car onto the ice from Glimmerglass this morning?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 23, 2013, 04:21 PM
yeah I saw that, what was up with that it was still parked there when I came off at noon, is that even legal? it was the only excitement I saw on the ice today dont even know why I brought my rod and tip ups out.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: adkmountainken on Feb 23, 2013, 04:25 PM
heading there in the morning.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Feb 23, 2013, 04:39 PM
4 or 5 years ago, I was fishing out of Glimmerglass on Maybe 7" of ice, I looked towards Cooperstown and thought I saw headlights coming up the lake. Sure enough a few minutes later some fool came speeding past my shanty in a small car heading toward Springfield. I figured him for a gonner for sure. They must have lived because I never heard about anyone going through.

It takes all kinds I guess.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 23, 2013, 07:12 PM
Yeah I've seen that on the north end several times. One day a guy came from c-town got off at Springfield the course of the day he made 3 trips back and forth doing bout 60 mph down the lake
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Feb 23, 2013, 07:28 PM
AN of those stories happen involve a blue Ford Ranger with orange flames down the doors?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lakerdave on Feb 23, 2013, 07:51 PM
Two years ago I seen a (min van) taxi driving up and down the lake picking guys up
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 23, 2013, 08:29 PM
AN of those stories happen involve a blue Ford Ranger with orange flames down the doors?

Wait a minute! I NEVER had my Ranger on the ice! Many other of my vehicles have been out on Otsego, but never the Ranger. ;D ;D ;D

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 23, 2013, 08:30 PM
hey Jim has the bite slowed out there yet? got my back to work orders and gotta get my ice fix in while I can.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 23, 2013, 08:48 PM
Sounds like the bite is pretty good. I have not been out since the 14th due to work, but reports are good. TheSystem and MrsSystem had some nice fish this morning, and I was told the perch are hitting real good if you can stay on them.
  I may go out for a couple hours tomorrow, but have to be back for a Daytona 500 party at 1pm.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Snowrd on Feb 23, 2013, 10:11 PM
Any word on how the ice conditions are down at 3 mile? I am planning on hitting it on Thursday. I normally fish off of Glimmerglass, looking to try something new.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 24, 2013, 03:08 AM
Sounds like the bite is pretty good.  TheSystem and MrsSystem had some nice fish this morning, and I was told the perch are hitting real good if you can stay on them.
BIGJim223

I'm glad somebody did good. Both times this week out there, it royally sucked. Couldn't even find the perch! And 2 weeks ago we caught and released 2X our limit on perch.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Feb 24, 2013, 07:28 AM
All kinds of ice around 3 mile, just a skim of snow on top, easy walking.  If you're reading this now, you've already missed your parking spot!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 24, 2013, 08:18 PM
heres a liitle info on alewifes from the NY bait fish book. I read this and though some of this info might pertain to otsego im no expert but mabe this is what happened.

Alewife(alosa pseudoharegus)
 
            The alewife is an anadromous species, leaving the marine environment to spawn in freshwater in the spring. sea-run alewifes may grow to 12 inches in length. There are some landlocked populations, most notably in the great lakes and some finger lakes. fish from these populations tend to be smaller, reaching an average of 6 inches in length. The alewife has a vertically compressed body, relatively large eyes, and a serrated belly, which accounts for its other common name the saw belly. They are greenish gray on the back and silver on the sides. They are an open water species that primarily feed on plankton throughout there lives.
 
             Alewifes are considered a critical forage species for pacific salmon in lake ontario and lake trout in some finger lakes (and obviously food for lake trout in Otsego) They are also a popular baitfish for a variety of large game fish. However non native landlocked alewife populations may also negatively affect aquatic ecosystems in a number of ways. Alewifes may become so abundant that they can affect a lakes plankton community and ultimately disrupt the ecology of the system. They also may directly affect sportfishing and other native fish populations by eating their eggs and fry and by competing with these species for available food resources Alewifes contain high levels of thiminase, an enzyme that limits thiamin, which is critical in the development of fish embryos. WHEN ALEWIFES CONSTITUTE THE PRIMARY PREY OF LAKE TROUT AND SOME OTHER PREDATORY SPECIES, THE RESULTING THIAMIN DEFICIENCY DIMINISHES THE PREDATORES ABILITY TO REPRODUCE SUCCESSFULLY.

               ALEWIFES ARE PRONE TO ANNUAL, SOMETIMES MASSIVE DIE-OFFS; TYPICALLY IN MID WINTER, EARLY SPRING AND SUMMER. WHEN LARGE SCALE DIE OFFS OCCUR, THIS CAN AFFECT THE POPULATIONS OF PREDATORY FISH THAT RELY ON ALEWIFES AS A PRIMARY FOOD SOURCE. In addition, the large numbers of dead and dying fish on shorelines that may result from these events often cause fish and public health concerns.

                After I read this I thought of a few points from the summary ,
A: If Alewifes feed on plankton and now there are zebra mussles in the lake and they also feed on plankton, did they have a direct effect on the alewife population?

B:Did the alewife population just have a massive die off like the summary say they are prone to?

C: Has the lake trout population suffered because of thiamin deficiency.( I thought of this from an article I read about the loss of lake trout spawning in otsego lake.


   So in my conclultion After seeing pictures of the lake trout and lakers Iv caught this year on otsego ( 25-30inch lakers that dont weigh 4 lbs) I say you better get after them now who knows how long it will take if ever they will rebound in the lake.   ??? :-\ :-\ :'( ???

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 24, 2013, 08:38 PM
Interesting post. Thanks!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 24, 2013, 08:39 PM
guess i'll be down on Tuesday to see what I can find. ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Feb 24, 2013, 09:17 PM
Kept 1 for the Smoker! A 26" Laker that hit before that little front went through. Overall a SLOW day.
(http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj157/Baitfisher/IMG_1820.jpg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lakerdave on Feb 24, 2013, 10:23 PM
Some of you guys are crazy. No body ever said anything about the trout dying .  They said the alewife are dead .  And the trout  are just adjusting from eating meat to Eatin plants ,Like they use too . before alewifes were introduce . The only thing people were talking about was how there were not as many 15in and smaller trout in the nets . But one of the reasons is because they were eating alewife,  if you look up the grow rate  it  is twice as fast  as it use to be when they ate mostly plants .so fish that would apear to be older by size . Would actually be a year or years younger. Than they are.  this would make them seam to apear to be starving , while they wait for the rest of there body to catch up . Just like a person would if the swithched from Eatin meat to plants , u would lose weight .  I don't think a fish like a lake trout would starve in a lake full of fish . When people start to say they see trout dead then we should start to worry . Hope fully Dec will figure out some kind of bait situation. Like smelt .befor any did die  . Now there's not as many  alewife smelt would do good . Cause  competition for food and they actually eat smaller smelt and the eggs . Alewife Can get so bad they can take up to 95%  of the fish mass in a lake .
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 25, 2013, 10:37 AM
Lake trout eating plants??
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Feb 25, 2013, 11:30 AM
Lake trout eating plants??
But some of the other people here are crazy?  ::) Lake Trout eating plants...that's  good..
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 25, 2013, 01:35 PM
Lake trout eating plants??

should I stop by the store and grab a head of lettuse before I go out next time. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: sounder211 on Feb 25, 2013, 02:21 PM
 ::) I've been told the Alewifes may have been taken out of the lake by DEC... :-\
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchfilet on Feb 25, 2013, 03:47 PM
How would the DEC take them out?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: yarn em in on Feb 25, 2013, 03:52 PM
Some of you guys are crazy. No body ever said anything about the trout dying .  They said the alewife are dead .  And the trout  are just adjusting from eating meat to Eatin plants ,Like they use too . before alewifes were introduce . The only thing people were talking about was how there were not as many 15in and smaller trout in the nets . But one of the reasons is because they were eating alewife,  if you look up the grow rate  it  is twice as fast  as it use to be when they ate mostly plants .so fish that would apear to be older by size . Would actually be a year or years younger. Than they are.  this would make them seam to apear to be starving , while they wait for the rest of there body to catch up . Just like a person would if the swithched from Eatin meat to plants , u would lose weight .  I don't think a fish like a lake trout would starve in a lake full of fish . When people start to say they see trout dead then we should start to worry . Hope fully Dec will figure out some kind of bait situation. Like smelt .befor any did die  . Now there's not as many  alewife smelt would do good . Cause  competition for food and they actually eat smaller smelt and the eggs . Alewife Can get so bad they can take up to 95%  of the fish mass in a lake .
huh? ??? :cookoo:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Feb 25, 2013, 08:42 PM
Some interesting reading from 1996 on the history of the fishery..........

http://www.oneonta.edu/academics/biofld/PUBS/SOL/sol33.html

Sorry, no help for the vegetarian Lake Trout theory.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lakerdave on Feb 25, 2013, 10:16 PM
Haha not acuually plants  but bugs .  . Invetabrates and sculptins .
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 26, 2013, 07:37 AM
Some interesting reading from 1996 on the history of the fishery..........

http://www.oneonta.edu/academics/biofld/PUBS/SOL/sol33.html

Sorry, no help for the vegetarian Lake Trout theory.

I hope everyone takes the time to read that.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: sounder211 on Feb 26, 2013, 08:32 AM
How would the DEC take them out?

I would think either by netting or a targeted kill but I don't know for sure. It's obvious that suddenly they are gone and the trout are thinner ???.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Feb 26, 2013, 11:29 AM
I would think either by netting or a targeted kill but I don't know for sure. It's obvious that suddenly they are gone and the trout are thinner ???.

That is about the most far-fetched thing I have EVER heard.

1st question: Why?

2nd question: How?

Alewive populatioins are a volitile, cyclical thing, they simply suffered a massive die-off coupled with increased predation.  End of story.

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 26, 2013, 12:32 PM
That is about the most far-fetched thing I have EVER heard.

1st question: Why?

2nd question: How?

Alewive populatioins are a volitile, cyclical thing, they simply suffered a massive die-off coupled with increased predation.  End of story.

 :clap: :thumbsup: ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 26, 2013, 07:12 PM
Well I gotta say that out of the last dozen Lakers that I put on the ice I have only seen a couple that were "skinny". Today two were landed and they were well proportioned and some of the better coloring I've seen they had that dark skin with dark spots compared to the skinny silver ones. Makes me wonder how there can be two totally diffrent looking fish of the same species, there is more to it than starving fish IMO.

Also today the guy I fished with and I witnessed probably hundreds of suckers moving through our holes, this took place for well over an hour so how many of them were there, every time we looked down the holes today the bottom was moving with these BAITFISH hmmm??? 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Feb 26, 2013, 07:22 PM
I hope everyone takes the time to read that.

It's definitely time well spent! I remember reading the "State of the Lake" report when it 1st came out.
I haven't always agreed with some of the positions taken by the BFS, but the fisheries portion of that report was some nice work. 
   
 

 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: robbie321 on Feb 27, 2013, 03:17 PM
have been fishing on otsego lake a lot this year I'm getting 1 or 2 walleye a day but mostly lakers is any one limiting out, Ive tyred all kinds of jigs an lures just minnow are working
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jjankuv on Feb 27, 2013, 07:53 PM
can some one tell me what to use for a jig and bait i would like to hook on  a lake trout?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 27, 2013, 08:21 PM
can some one tell me what to use for a jig and bait i would like to hook on  a lake trout?

There are lots of great choices in jigs and lures.  Here are my three favorites:

Swedish Pimple, #7, White
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/Jager61/BDA0F81C-8959-416B-A4E5-05F970CFCE32-1990-0000096D67DC458B_zps3c71303e.jpg)

3/4 oz Buck Shot Spoon in Rainbow Color
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/Jager61/B1194BB2-50F0-4B0E-8AF9-F4D7E832AF35-1990-0000096D5BBB1CF3_zps814b1001.jpg)

White Tube Jig
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/Jager61/C15F2108-4DC8-4B21-9D2D-A8F9ED5323F8-1990-0000096D74C99C9D_zps474b5fba.jpg)

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Mike
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: troutslayer97 on Feb 27, 2013, 09:40 PM
Hows the ice holding up after this rain crap?  Me and my grandfather may make the 1 1/2 hour drive to try to get our first lakers if the ice looks good.  Any tips to get a laker or two? 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mohawkmonsters on Feb 28, 2013, 06:17 AM
Trapper there are two strains of lake trout in the lake different looks for each strain also different looks among same strains
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 28, 2013, 08:46 AM
Trapper there are two strains of lake trout in the lake different looks for each strain also different looks among same strains

That explains it, wasnt sure if that was the diffrence or not. Seems the silver colored ones are the ones that are in rough shape.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 28, 2013, 09:55 AM
Hows the ice holding up after this rain crap?  Me and my grandfather may make the 1 1/2 hour drive to try to get our first lakers if the ice looks good.  Any tips to get a laker or two?

scroll up the page, or read through the thread  good luck ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: tatoice on Feb 28, 2013, 10:20 AM
I fished otsego a few weeks ago and got skunked.  I was wondering if i could get some tips on fishing this lake.  We fished the cooperston end and couldnt even catch a perch.  i was wondering if the glimmerglass end would have better luck.  my brother is new to ice fishing and we get skunked everytime i take him so i just wanna get some fish on the ice.  Any help would be greatly appreciated
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Glimmerglassking on Mar 01, 2013, 06:14 PM
fish there a lot in warmer weather. always wanted to ice fish there.  How deep were you fishing - thought it would be good there.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Mar 01, 2013, 07:19 PM
Lakers have been all over the water column this year. I've hit fish everywhere from 10' to 90'. I'm not sure how the boys fishing the deeps just north of 3 mile have been doing, but the deeper water out of Glimmerglass has produced.
 
Spread your sets from top to bottom if your fishing Tip ups. I like the top 3' to 5' feet under the ice for at least 1 or 2 of my sets. Brown's, Salmon and even Lake Trout sometimes like to cruise just under the ice. 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 01, 2013, 07:29 PM
I'm a rookie at Lakers and I'm going to Otsego in the morning. With tip-ups is it on with a #8 treble and 3-4ft of 8lb flourocarbon for a leader? And with Lakers do you usually let em take it for a minute or two or hit em as soon as you can? And how do you stop bigger minnows from tripping the tip-up? Went to Fish307 in Lake George and picked up some hunts. They said they will work good. They're probly 4 inches long. Any info would be great. Thanks...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 01, 2013, 07:34 PM
Sorry for being a rookie but I was also told to space the sinkers out. Like 1 ft apart. Is this ok, or just go with 1 sinker a foot up? Thanks again...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Mar 01, 2013, 07:43 PM
I set the hook when they stop also use #4 red octopus or #6 red eagle claw with 4" 8lb floro leaded with sinker a foot up. My t/u's have tenison adjust w/o that not sure how to keep the min. from trippin. Good luck was dead for me out there today
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Mar 01, 2013, 08:47 PM
Sorry for being a rookie but I was also told to space the sinkers out. Like 1 ft apart. Is this ok, or just go with 1 sinker a foot up? Thanks again...

I use a single sinker 12" above my bait. For a leader I use 6 lb Fluorocarbon with a #4 or #6 Baitholder or a #8 Treb. I know guys that swear by 10 lb. but I have always preferred lighter line. You can lose more fish, but you get more runs. Just remember to play them soft when you bring them in.   

I have never tried spacing sinkers on a tip up rig, so I can't say how well it works.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 02, 2013, 04:15 PM
Well I finally made it to Otsego with 3 friends of mine. We fished off Glimmerglass. My buddy was the only one to catch anything. 1 Laker 20 inches, and the 1 in the picture 31 inches. Both off the same tip-up. 25 ft of water but only 7 ft down. No flags anywhere else. Seen a couple other anglers catch a couple Lakers too. I got plenty of fillets so it didn't really matter cause I know I'll be back. Good times. Anybody got a hit of where the chance of catching a good walleye in the lake would be? PM me if needed. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks
(http://i49.tinypic.com/w9y8ow.jpg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 02, 2013, 04:16 PM
Wow. I guess I should of resized it or something lol. Sorry. Not sure how to do that.....
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Griffin1661 on Mar 08, 2013, 09:02 AM
Anyone know the conditions of Otsego?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Mar 08, 2013, 01:42 PM
yea i was kind of wondering how shore and everything is at glimmerglass?tthanks for any input
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Mar 08, 2013, 08:09 PM
Going tomorrow. Not looking forward to dragging the portable with the snow on the ice!
Last weekend to try and figure out the Walleyes before the closer.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: trimmer on Mar 10, 2013, 01:21 PM
Fished this lake for the first time.We landed 6 lakers 18 to 25 inches and lost a bigger one at the hole.Great day for a new lake.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 10, 2013, 02:31 PM
Finally persistence prevailed. Caught 3 Lakers 20-22 inches jigging in 100 ft of water, 20 ft down. First Lakers I ever caught. The first one was landed on a ML Shanty Stik. Took me 5 minutes of sticking my pole down the hole..lol..That aint happening again. I immediately put that one away and used my Jason Mitchell Med. for the other 2. Awesome fight, and to see them using my MarCum......Definately have another outdoor addiction going on....

(http://i47.tinypic.com/kd5r4j.jpg)(http://i45.tinypic.com/161al5f.jpg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 13, 2013, 06:21 PM
Anybody been out to Glimmerglass lately? How the ice? Want to get out Friday and Sunday hopefully...Thanks
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: captin bill on Mar 17, 2013, 05:13 AM
Sounds like the extra pressure has taken its toll, give it 15yrs.  ::) ::)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: adkRoy on Mar 17, 2013, 07:33 AM
I went to cooperstown yesterday. As I drove by the lake I saw people out there still fishing. Lucky dogs.  ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pot-belly-perch on Mar 17, 2013, 11:20 AM
yes thats for shore
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Mar 17, 2013, 12:19 PM
It was beautiful but all I could find were lookers and chasers, no takers!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 17, 2013, 02:48 PM
Was at Glimmer for an hr, caught this one and left. I hate being out in the middle of the lake by myself, even tho there's 11 inches and growing. Mark a few more. Had another bite. Seems like I keep landing on bait fish. 75ft of water but 15 ft down. Last time I went they were in 95 ft of water but only 20 ft down. I am totally addicted to my Marcum and jigging Lakers. Can't believe I never did it before!! 26 inches....(http://i48.tinypic.com/21edd1t.jpg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: AugustWest on Mar 17, 2013, 08:12 PM
Great Job :thumbsup:
They are certainly addicting...
AW
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Patr on Mar 18, 2013, 09:58 AM
3-17-13
Ice was 9 inches off of 3 mile edge still good. Pressure crack from south end of 3 mile all the way across.
Crack has refroze. Fished in 134 FOW blowing 18 mph. We caught one jigging and one on tipup. Both fish on the bottom. It was very slow.
 Fish on the finder but not many they wouldn't hit.
Hope to make it up one more time.
Please post condition thru out the week. Again please post conditions.
Thanks !!!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 18, 2013, 09:30 PM
Went out of Glimmerglass this morning for probably my last trip on 2013 ice. Walked straight out to a spot I had GPS marked at 124FOW, 2.1 miles from the shore. Drilled my hole (14" of ice), put on a chartrues pimple, sent it to the bottom.
30 feet above the bottom, the bottom came alive on my graph! A nice fat 25" fish charged up and inhaled the pimple! Life is good! Even better, more fish followed it up the water column. Unhooked, measured, picture, released, lure back down!
  35 feet below the ice-SLAM! The game is on again, on the second drop. Smaller 23" fish. The graph screen now is loaded with a bait cloud and numerous lake trout 30-45 feet down. 3rd drop- BAM! Another 23". I lose the next (#4) fish at the hole.  Ended up hooking 7 and landing 5. Not bad for the first hole of the day!
  I wish I could report that the next hole was as good, or the next, or the next. Nothing but an occasional sniffer/chaser the rest of the day. Not another strike for the next 4 1/2 hours. I tried every jig color, size, shape, material in the box.
Notta......  Called it quits at 1:30 and made the 5 mile walk back to GG.
  It was a nice day, though started cold at 8*, saw 2 eagles first thing feeding on something off of Clarke Point, and easy walking/dragging ice. I was the only fisherman out of Glimmerglass all day. I believe March 18th may be the latest I have ice fished on Otsego, and there is still a lot of very good solid ice out there, but I think I am calling it for the season!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Mar 19, 2013, 09:04 AM
do you think those are clouds of baby perch or alewife?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 19, 2013, 10:24 AM
do you think those are clouds of baby perch or alewife?

To be honest they looked like the bait clouds of alewives from a few years back, but I am just guessing. I doubt that they were perch suspended 30-45' over 124fow in the middle of Otsego, but you never know.
   I should have kept the 25" laker, a friend of mine wanted one for the smoker. He was a fat one and I would have gutted him to see what he was chowing on. But seeing how it was my first fish of the day I figured there would be more opportunities to get him one.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Mar 19, 2013, 10:35 AM
Excellent.  One can only hope its alewife.   Have you or anyone you know seen any baitfish getting spit up by the lakers this year?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 19, 2013, 10:58 AM
I'm guessing they're alewives too. The last 2 times I went out the baitfish were 10-20 ft below the ice in 75-100 ft of water. Don't think they would be perch. The 26 incher I kept had an empty stomach. I found it strange that most times I wouldn't see baitfish til I dropped my spoon. Does the spoon attract the bait? Kinda works pretty good....lol
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Mar 19, 2013, 02:10 PM
Kind of off topic but was just wondering if someone wouldnt mind sending me a p.s as to where i could maby lauch a rowboat ice out. i know glimmerglass campsites dont open until may and i head the launch at the south end is tough..any help would be appreciated. it wont be long
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Mar 19, 2013, 02:21 PM
Kind of off topic but was just wondering if someone wouldnt mind sending me a p.s as to where i could maby lauch a rowboat ice out. i know glimmerglass campsites dont open until may and i head the launch at the south end is tough..any help would be appreciated. it wont be long
with a foot of ice still, it will be longer than you may want.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 19, 2013, 03:26 PM
Excellent.  One can only hope its alewife.   Have you or anyone you know seen any baitfish getting spit up by the lakers this year?

No lake trout I've caught this year, hard or soft water, has puked up bait. It used to be virtually every lake trout, summer or winter puked up alewives. Good jigging bait! ;D ;D

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 19, 2013, 03:31 PM
Kind of off topic but was just wondering if someone wouldnt mind sending me a p.s as to where i could maby lauch a rowboat ice out. i know glimmerglass campsites dont open until may and i head the launch at the south end is tough..any help would be appreciated. it wont be long

You can launch a "rowboat" in Glimmerglass anytime after ice out, the campground does not have to be open. You will have to pay admission to the park after they open for the season in May, though. Very primitive launch, no trailers. Very muddy at the launch site. Better suited for canoes and kayaks. You have to be able to carry or drag your boat in or out of Shadow Brook. It is also very shallow in there.

BIGJim223 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Mar 19, 2013, 05:12 PM
Launch at 3 mile, real easy spot for a car top launch
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 19, 2013, 06:59 PM
Launch at 3 mile, real easy spot for a car top launch

During the off season! Not a good place to go during the summer months, as a rule!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Mar 20, 2013, 04:27 AM
Yeah couple summers ago at 3 mile they wanted me to buy a pass (because I am not a C-Town res.) for like $75 to throw the canoe in for about the last two hours of daylight, after a few minutes of back and forth they let us go.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Mar 20, 2013, 09:06 AM
Good jigging bait! ;D ;D

SSSSHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!   ;) ;D ;D


Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 21, 2013, 05:32 PM
Is anybody going out tomorrow afternoon? I won't be there until about 12:30 and I hate going out in the deep by myself.....but I always do cause my love of jigging Lakers is greater than my fear   ;D Also Sunday morning I will be going. Won't get there til about 8:30. If anybody wants any company either of those times inbox me your phone number. This will be my last hurrah on Otsego. Would like to hit it a few times this spring/summer tho....
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Mar 22, 2013, 08:47 AM
I'm heading out Sunday morning for probably the last trip of the year. Put my stuff away but now I'm taking it back out. Looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Mar 22, 2013, 07:59 PM
Heading out on Sunday too. One last run, one last shot at a decent Brown through the ice.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: yarn em in on Mar 22, 2013, 08:30 PM
me too :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Mar 23, 2013, 06:58 AM
Heading out on Sunday too. One last run, one last shot at a decent Brown through the ice.

Ever have much luck with the browns there? Ive caught more than my fair share of lakers this year,even an occasional walleye..but havnt seen a brown pulled out yet. even when i set my lines right under the ice i only get lakers.  i know there are some big browns in there though
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 23, 2013, 10:40 AM
Ever have much luck with the browns there? Ive caught more than my fair share of lakers this year,even an occasional walleye..but havnt seen a brown pulled out yet. even when i set my lines right under the ice i only get lakers.  i know there are some big browns in there though

(http://www.myfishingpictures.com/data/500/medium/IMG_10232.JPG)

6.25Lb

I have personally seen a 12.5 and a 10 pound brown. They were caught on open water though. There was a rumor of a 32" brown being caught this winter in very shallow water off Clarke Point, though I did not see it. They are in there!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikerudy on Mar 23, 2013, 11:27 AM
Pretty Fish!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 23, 2013, 11:45 AM
How do you target Browns? With tip ups or jigging? If jigging, spoons? Tube jigs? minnows? Thanks Nice Brown too..
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 23, 2013, 11:58 AM
How do you target Browns? With tip ups or jigging? If jigging, spoons? Tube jigs? minnows? Thanks Nice Brown too..

The one in the picture was caught on a jigging spoon. The 12.5 pounder on a floating Rapala, the 10 pounder on live bait. Most of the brown I have caught have been on tip ups in shallow water over rocks. Set them and get out of the area, they are very spooky and I think noise drives them away from the shallow areas. Fish somewhere else while watching the tipups. This year you will probably catch lakers in the skinny water. I got three nice 19-23" browns one day in 6' off Clarke Point.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 23, 2013, 12:25 PM
Thanks BigJim. You are the man. Another thing I noticed with catching Lakers. Are there 2 different strains? Some have swiggly lines and some have a lot of dots. And one more thing (don't mind me...lol). When I drill a hole I never see baitfish until I sink my spoon/jig. You think the lure attracts the bait which attracts the Lakers? It's amazing sometimes when ya drill a hole and see nothing, then as your lure drops the top 15-20 ft come alive with bait...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Baitfisher on Mar 23, 2013, 01:46 PM
Ever have much luck with the browns there? Ive caught more than my fair share of lakers this year,even an occasional walleye..but havnt seen a brown pulled out yet. even when i set my lines right under the ice i only get lakers.  i know there are some big browns in there though

I have 2 Browns out of Otsego on the wall, one 11 Lb and one 12 Lb, both were caught trolling on the east side. My best through the ice here is only 21", that one was out from Glimmerglass.
Browns can be very skittish. Like Jim said, put in your sets early and stay away from them. Shallow water near stream mouths and just under the ice near points are a good place to start!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Mar 23, 2013, 02:11 PM
I LOVE Big Browns!  :)

Nice fish Jim!

MK
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Mar 24, 2013, 06:37 PM
Been a few years since I hooked a brown there but most of the time like has been said shallow water on t/u the furthest away just under the ice. Last one I got out of there was 24" didnt weigh it though, weight estimator in the reg booked put it around 5 1/2-6 lbs. They seem to be as scarce as the salmon, last time we caught salmon there we had 6 guys fishing and 5 of us caught one each 4 years ago would love to see a day like that again
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: paul23 on Mar 25, 2013, 09:06 AM
Slow afternoon trip yesterday.  Managed this slimer at last light. 10" ice out of glimmerglass.  Didnt check shoreline ice.  27"er
(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff388/pballs/ED6BE65C-70FD-48A4-BC74-2A62528163D2-150-0000000368D1B7ED.jpg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikerudy on Mar 25, 2013, 07:40 PM
Nice looking fish....Congrats
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 28, 2013, 07:07 PM
Just wondering if anyone's been going out and how the ice is holding up at Glimmerglass. Another thing I was wondering, does anyone use the Gulp minnows to dress up the lure/jig instead of a real minnow? I have a bunch of Gulp minnows. Kinda think they would work, but probly not like the real deal.. Thanks..
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TheSystem on Mar 28, 2013, 07:14 PM
I use 1" chart gulp minnows to tip my pimples - have caught several that way.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: SpoonyLuv on Mar 29, 2013, 08:12 PM
Heres a few from the past couple weeks,  biggest was 29"+, a 26" and a few 23".  The 26" ended up having some plastic lures in its stomach, pretty cool
 (http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u657/evanstone21/20130321_153705_zps30cec8c4.jpeg)
(http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u657/evanstone21/20130328_110152_zps675cf0f0.jpeg)
(http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u657/evanstone21/20130328_182858_zpsb9d9dce3.jpeg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: scout57 on Mar 30, 2013, 06:43 AM
the poor things are so skinny they'll eat anything
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 30, 2013, 04:30 PM
Went to Glimmerglass today, for the last time this season. Marked a lot of Lakers. Caught 2 and dropped 2 more at the hole. Sure am gonna miss that place til next winter.........
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: chuckrudy on Mar 30, 2013, 04:58 PM
Does anyone fish the same area in the summer with good results.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 30, 2013, 08:13 PM
Does anyone fish the same area in the summer with good results.

3+ times a week, usually!!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: paul23 on Mar 30, 2013, 08:18 PM
Nice meeting you ejp last weekend. Howd the shoreline look today?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikerudy on Mar 30, 2013, 08:20 PM
Big Jim, are you fishing out of GG area and are you trolling with downriggers? Have never fished during the warm months and wondering where to launch etc. Any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pot-belly-perch on Mar 30, 2013, 08:25 PM
Ive caught a  perch   that had  a plastic  worm in its gut  to
so dont know  whats up

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Mar 30, 2013, 08:34 PM
Nice meeting you ejp last weekend. Howd the shoreline look today?
Same here Paul23. Shoreline's getting soft. Everything's getting soft. By the time I left today there was quite a bit of slush. Did see a couple guys walk all over the lake today, but I think the clock is tickin on safe ice. I'm done. Can't wait til next 1st ice....Good luck to all. Stay safe!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 30, 2013, 09:08 PM
Big Jim, are you fishing out of GG area and are you trolling with downriggers? Have never fished during the warm months and wondering where to launch etc. Any help would be appreciated.

Only public launch on Otsego is in C'town. GG has a very primitive launch for kayaks, canoes, and small cartoppers.
  I have downriggers, but seldom use them for lakers. I can jig up 10 fish for every one caught on riggers, plus I am not driving around using gas all day! You will need a <LOT> of anchor line if you are going to jig deep water lake trout! Or a very calm day.....

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikerudy on Apr 01, 2013, 12:12 PM
Thank's  Jim
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Apr 02, 2013, 03:31 AM
Does that creek that runs into the lake out of Glimmerglass hold any trout in the spring?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Apr 02, 2013, 10:24 AM
Does that creek that runs into the lake out of Glimmerglass hold any trout in the spring?

That creek- Shadow Brook- probably gets some trout up in it, especially when the suckers and walleye are spawning, though I have never caught one. I have fished it for years and have never caught a trout from it, though it is listed as a trout stream by DEC, and a friend of mine has caught a couple small browns in the head waters north of East Springfield 15 or 20 years ago. When I was very young (6 or 7 or so, I'm 56) people used to fish it on opening day of trout season at the pools and bridges out of E. Springfield, and my father told me that the state stocked it back then, but I have not heard of anyone catching one in years.
  If it did get any lake run fish, I doubt that they would run very far upstream, as it is very muddy and silty above Glimmerglass. Very slow moving water most of the time. Walleyes, suckers, lots of carp, and large/smallmouth bass spawn in the stream through the spring, though DEC keeps a very good watch on it through the spawning season.

BIGJim223

PS added: The small stream just north of my house is actually called Trout Creek, which runs into Shadow Brook, just south of E. Springfield. No trout in it though, in the 30+ years I have been living next to it.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Apr 02, 2013, 11:17 AM
Does that creek that runs into the lake out of Glimmerglass hold any trout in the spring?

I electrofished trout out both hayden creek and shadow brook in college, wild rainbows out of both. But I would be carefull fishing those creeks.  DEC has been keeping an eye on things over there after a bunch of walleyes have been taken out of there illegally during spawning the last couple years.  Apparently some locals have taken to netting Otsego's spawning walleyes. 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ship of fools on Apr 02, 2013, 11:36 AM
  Apparently some locals have taken to netting Otsego's spawning walleyes.

must be because they shut down the catskill creek  :o
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Apr 02, 2013, 04:11 PM
must be because they shut down the catskill creek  :o
They didn't shut down the Catskill Creek. I called the Lt Encon officer on March 15th just to make sure. It never went thru. Unfortunately at this very minutes there's probly some scumbag down their jackin walleyes.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ship of fools on Apr 03, 2013, 06:02 AM
They didn't shut down the Catskill Creek. I called the Lt Encon officer on March 15th just to make sure. It never went thru. Unfortunately at this very minutes there's probly some scumbag down their jackin walleyes.

it's an inside joke  ;D

some scumbag that bigred and i both know got busted last year poaching big fat waldos there and was trying to say he was perchin   .... despite being watched by DEC for a few hours and they watched him and his gang walk them back to their car  ....  wonder what a big fat waldo from the hudson tastes like anyway?  ::)

same scumbag posted here on IS about how to use tipups then went and fished the alcove and came back on and posted pics of monster waldos and pike he caught
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Apr 03, 2013, 09:53 AM
it's an inside joke  ;D

some scumbag that bigred and i both know got busted last year poaching big fat waldos there and was trying to say he was perchin   .... despite being watched by DEC for a few hours and they watched him and his gang walk them back to their car  ....  wonder what a big fat waldo from the hudson tastes like anyway?  ::)

same scumbag posted here on IS about how to use tipups then went and fished the alcove and came back on and posted pics of monster waldos and pike he caught

Yep, claims he was only ticketed for tresspassing there  :cookoo:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Apr 03, 2013, 12:19 PM
Yep, claims he was only ticketed for tresspassing there  :cookoo:
Ahhh ok. Ya, I live in Coxsackie and know one of those idiots too. He doesn't know that I know...But I know....  ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ship of fools on Apr 03, 2013, 03:51 PM
Ahhh ok. Ya, I live in Coxsackie and know one of those idiots too. He doesn't know that I know...But I know....  ;D

i think a lot of people say the exact same thing you do  ;)   ::)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikerudy on Apr 03, 2013, 07:11 PM
Second that.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikvia46 on Jan 26, 2014, 08:07 PM

Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
« on: Jan 25, 2013, 05:31 PM »

 

I fished Otsego lake 1st time 2 years ago. Caught some huge Lakers. Last yr we had no ice. I'm praying we have a shot at it soon. Don't see
any posts about Otsego. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places. I'll post pics if I can figure out how. I'd love to hear some stories.

1/26/2014
Another year has gone by.Well I did get out once last season. Only caught 2 lakers and they  were  pretty much on the thin side. I hope to get out fishing soon. there should be good ice by now,it sure has been cold.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Snowrd on Jan 30, 2014, 06:39 AM
Personally I like to fish lakers deep 120' to 150'. I jig about 10-20ft off the bottom. (seems to be about the best starting point for me) To be consitant in catching fish jigging you really need a flasher. once you see the fish on the flasher just reel right up to him and FISH ON!! It is not always that easy, but you get the idea.
Good luck
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Jan 30, 2014, 10:42 AM
Last weekend I got them fast at sun up in 15fow.wish it was so windy as I would have followed them out.i would say start at 15 in am when they are hunting perch and move out if you are a nomad like me.if your a camper go out to 30 to 80 for and you'll get them coming through all day
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: troutslayer97 on Jan 30, 2014, 05:35 PM
What were you jigging with? 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: troutslayer97 on Jan 30, 2014, 05:41 PM
And where is the closest place to get bait?  And when do they open?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Jan 30, 2014, 08:55 PM
Jigging rap will get the job done.spoons with a piece if meat works good too.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: regaffed on Jan 30, 2014, 09:54 PM
u can get bait at kellys deli at the corner of 20 and 80.heading out to the sunken island in the am.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Jan 31, 2014, 07:15 AM
As am I regaffed.green wheeler pulling frabill ambush with 2 guys in red suits
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: troutslayer97 on Jan 31, 2014, 02:27 PM
When do they open???  And is there anywhere else?  Someone aid something about Tom's on  the conditions board.  I cant find anywhere to get bait early and im not going up if we cant find bait
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Jan 31, 2014, 07:10 PM
Tom & Kelly's Convenient Corner, corner of Rt20 and Rt 80, Springfield Center , NY. 2 miles north of Otsego. Opens at 7am, but was there 6:15 this morning. Shiners, fatheads, suckers, spikes, sometimes wax worms, tackle, beer, and everything else a corner store sells.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishpalal on Jan 31, 2014, 08:40 PM
Just want to post so I can see other areas on this site. Went to canadarago today and what a wash. Not much fun when its all work and no fish. Anyways just want to post on a thread Big Jim may read. Thanks for your courteous and friendly response to my own and others who have posted here trying to find a decent spot to enjoy fishing. As you and a few others I have never hesitated to guide others to enjoyable places to catch fish or find game. I guess the selfish self centered of this nation who don't know the one who grants us the breath and blessings of our day don't know the rewards of seeing others have a great memory to carry with them through their days of toil and hardships waiting for us all when we return home to serve the masters of greed and lies. God bless those of you who share and dry lines to the rest of you.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BeenFishin on Feb 05, 2014, 07:16 AM
Are the lakers still hanging in shallower water in the AM. I want to take my son out this Saturday and get him into his first laker. Is the ice good in the glimmerglass area of lake. Thanks in advance to anyone who can let me know.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Feb 05, 2014, 07:51 AM
There are always fish that hang shallower so you always have a decent chance.just a matter of whether u want to be surrounded by people ten feet away from u on the weekend. We personally can't stand it and found more pressure=less action.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Feb 05, 2014, 11:29 AM
Last Saturday I found them in 40 ft in the morning and 60 in the afternoon. I'd go out deeper right in the morning
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: regaffed on Feb 05, 2014, 12:44 PM
we got them in 10foot of water in the am and 40ft in late morning-afternoon.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jigasol on Feb 06, 2014, 07:46 PM
anybody catch any landlocks through the ice on otsego , have got em mixed in with the smallies in spring and fall
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: WALLEYES INC. on Feb 06, 2014, 07:50 PM
They don't stock browns or landlock salmon anymore.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 06, 2014, 08:13 PM
They don't stock browns or landlock salmon anymore.

According to DEC stocking reports 5500 landlocks were stocked in Otsego in 2012 and 9880 brown trout. It is true that no trout were listed for 2013 on the DEC website, but then again there are no listings for any lake or any species of fish in 2013.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7739.html

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: WALLEYES INC. on Feb 06, 2014, 08:22 PM
According to DEC stocking reports 5500 landlocks were stocked in Otsego in 2012 and 9880 brown trout. It is true that no trout were listed for 2013 on the DEC website, but then again there are no listings for any lake or any species of fish in 2013.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7739.html

BIGJim223
Call region 4 if you don't believe me.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 06, 2014, 08:32 PM
I didn't call you a liar...... just pointing out the info from the stocking reports available on line. Or not available on line.....

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jigasol on Feb 07, 2014, 06:36 AM
thanx bigjim for sharing your knowledge on otsego.is this just a bunch of trials gone wrong on this lake?70s otsego bass now gone   80s 90s smelt now gone  alewives now dissapearing.too many trout species at one time??are the walleyes suffering same problem as lakers??probably my favorite all around local bass lake,have done well in pleasure and tourney fishing   LM 6lbs  SM4 pluslbs but they too are changing.smallies are now being caught regularly all summer shallow when in the past we figured they would suspend with the trout in deep water.weights are down also  used to take 14 to 16 lb average now closer to 12 to 14 for 5 fish.is this a natural evolution or havent they figured out the forage base yet??
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: WALLEYES INC. on Feb 07, 2014, 07:14 AM
According to DEC stocking reports 5500 landlocks were stocked in Otsego in 2012 and 9880 brown trout. It is true that no trout were listed for 2013 on the DEC website, but then again there are no listings for any lake or any species of fish in 2013.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7739.html

BIGJim223
What do you mean no trout were listed for 2013? Arnold lake, Gilbert lake Basswood pond  don't count. I never said they didn't stock in 2012 They are not stocking anymore. And the DEC didn't put smelt in that lake bait bucket biologists did and they out competed the whitefish then someone thought alewives would be great to throw in and then they out competed the smelt. Whitefish and lake trout thrived for thousands of years till people put invasive species in.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 07, 2014, 07:20 AM
he is talking about Otsego Lake stockings not lakes in Otsego Co.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: WALLEYES INC. on Feb 07, 2014, 07:27 AM
Because they suspended Brown and landlock stocking indefinely like I said just call region 4 and ask.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 07, 2014, 07:44 AM
Nope, no more Whitfish in Otsego!  ;D

MK

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/Jager61/3425CA81-F711-4F96-A373-B7D0FB7F50BE-5496-000005826DDCFC26_zps25f1fdb7.jpg) (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/Jager61/media/3425CA81-F711-4F96-A373-B7D0FB7F50BE-5496-000005826DDCFC26_zps25f1fdb7.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 07, 2014, 07:51 AM
I knew we would be seeing someone with a pic of a whitefish. lol great job Mike. that from today? or old photo?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Raquettedacker on Feb 07, 2014, 08:05 AM
Nice "Otsego Bass" Mike... ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: WALLEYES INC. on Feb 07, 2014, 08:08 AM
DEC got like 12 white fish in there nets this fall nobody said they were gone. We have always got a few every year but now they have a chance populate more unlike the native burbot that has not been seen in like 15 yrs.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Feb 07, 2014, 08:19 AM
I knew we would be seeing someone with a pic of a whitefish. lol great job Mike. that from today? or old photo?

LOL!  No it was from last year out in 140 FOW in Hyde Bay! Surprised the heck out of me.  Didn't even know what it was until Jim explained it to me!  I released it not knowing how good they taste.  Thought it was a big creepy shiner! Haha!

All kidding aside, I'm not too optimistic over the chances of seeing Browns in Otsego either and I've tried every trick in the book to get one through the ice.  I think the last one I saw from Otsego was the excellent fish Jim caught shore casting a few years ago off 3 Mile. 

Mike
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Feb 07, 2014, 08:44 AM
I heard of a nice brown being caught off Clarke Point 2 weeks ago, but no confirmation. You would think that as many fishermen that are out there that at least a few browns would be reported. They do seem to be a rarity. I used to get them fairly often in the shallow rocks off the point on tipups, but it has been a while. Also used to get them flatline trolling Raps right after ice out.

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: wish4fish on Feb 07, 2014, 10:51 AM
Man that is a beauty of a Whitefish!! What is their main food source? Are they not affected by the Alewife decline?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Feb 07, 2014, 11:49 AM
JAGER61, don't hear much on Whitefish at all, that one sure looks like a nice one though. Congrats!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bassinbrian_on_ice on Feb 07, 2014, 12:18 PM
Here is another (obviously from 09')... i had No idea what it was  ???   Had to call call a freind LOL


(http://www.myfishingpictures.com/data/500/medium/0124.JPG)

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: touge30 on Feb 07, 2014, 12:58 PM
Big jim saw a huge brown last summer flopping around on the surface fish was dieing.I put it in my net big fish then put it back in the water.Probably 8lbs.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Feb 07, 2014, 01:33 PM
Smelt were stocked in Otsego in 1880 according to this new York Times article.i found the entire article somewhere but can't locate it at this time
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70710F83C5B1B7A93C1A81788D85F448884F9
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: eyesfishing on Feb 07, 2014, 01:41 PM
I had no idea Otsego had whitefish! I'm from the Albany area and only made the trip out there once last year and got absolutely skunked. I definitely want to go back out there again this season but it's a bit of a drive, so I want to be prepared and not waste my time ice fishing a skate rink. Any recommendations for an approximate location that would be a good bet? I'll be using tipups with shiners and marmooska jigs with worms. Not asking for a spot burn, I know the dangers, but I tried off Glimmerglass last year and walked forever and still ended up in like 20 FOW...

Any help would be appreciated..
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 07, 2014, 01:51 PM
you want deep water 3 mile is your best bet. and plan to get there early.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 07, 2014, 03:16 PM
Speaking of white fish this is one of 6 caught in January of this year where Otsego empties into the Susquehanna. Yes that is my son with his fly rod.


(http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/16/5e/55/165e55a48df1180e933fa2807af2c81c.jpg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Feb 07, 2014, 03:19 PM
I'd say it's probly 400 yds to get into Lakers at Glimmerglass. I walked out of there plenty of times last year and caught quite a few Lakers. Anything over 75 ft is good.....
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Fishmongerlyndon on Feb 07, 2014, 03:42 PM
Speaking of white fish this is one of 6 caught in January of this year where Otsego empties into the Susquehanna. Yes that is my son with his fly rod.


(http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/16/5e/55/165e55a48df1180e933fa2807af2c81c.jpg)



that is in fact a fallfish and not a whitefish, though the locals often call them whitefish
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Raquettedacker on Feb 07, 2014, 03:56 PM
that is in fact a fallfish and not a whitefish, though the locals often call them whitefish


    Yup, sure is....   ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Feb 07, 2014, 03:59 PM
Put a big hook in it's back and send it down a hole   ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Feb 07, 2014, 04:30 PM
I was wondering just how much ice and are machines on the ice, Wanted to try out Otsego Lake this year and maybe even get that Lake Trout on my Bucket List...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: yarn em in on Feb 07, 2014, 04:58 PM
There's been plenty of ice where I've been on my sled.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: DrGreene on Feb 08, 2014, 07:54 AM
Ice is great 12 plus inches everywhere buddy,  get some suckers from bait shop on the corner

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: RTF on Feb 09, 2014, 03:40 AM

    Yup, sure is....   ;D

What is the dead giveaway because I cant tell the difference.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Feb 09, 2014, 05:13 AM
Thanks, just gotta give it a shot! ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Feb 09, 2014, 08:33 AM
I tried off Glimmerglass last year and walked forever and still ended up in like 20 FOW...

Any help would be appreciated..

When off Glimmerglass if you walk out far enough to see back north of the point that is where the water will start to get deeper
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jigasol on Feb 09, 2014, 02:38 PM
anybody targeting walleyes at otsego or gettin em by accident with the lakers  ??sucker minnows for the eyes???headin up off pecks point and work back into bay next week,tx
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: WEREGEL on Feb 10, 2014, 04:19 PM
Lose something this afternoon? Found in parking lot at Glimmerglass near where a dark Silverado was parked in the morning.


(http://imageshack.com/a/img594/4248/wfzg.jpg)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: WEREGEL on Feb 10, 2014, 04:32 PM
What a brutal day out there! Wind howling, total whiteout at times. Drill a hole and water comes up out of the hole. Snow weight pushing the ice down?

If the wind keeps up though it may clear off the ice.

I dragged out through the snow to where I thought if was in 50' and found I was only in 15'! Didn't have the energy to pull farther so I fished there and found zip. Based on the fish lost in the parking lot someone was on fish.

Did try the bait shop at Rt 20/Rt 80 "Convenience Corner" ? on the receipt and found them friendly and reasonable. They also advertise ethanol free gas.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: captin bill on Feb 13, 2014, 04:25 AM
Nice fish looks thin www. there goes the neighborhood ::) :tipup: :tipup: Still swimmin?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: yarn em in on Feb 13, 2014, 06:09 AM
Uh ooo
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ejp419 on Feb 13, 2014, 06:50 AM
Nice eye!! GPS coordinates, lure, depth, line, reel, pole, and what did you have for lunch please?  ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 13, 2014, 10:24 AM
There aren't EYES in Otsego ;) ;) Thats just a myth!!! :woot: :woot:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 13, 2014, 10:54 AM
didn't take long for that to disappear.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Feb 13, 2014, 11:13 AM
There is only lake trout and chain pickerel in otsego.theres used to be alewives.they died so now Lakers are eating pickerel.catch a 20 inch pick and put it on a tip up... ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Feb 13, 2014, 12:54 PM
didn't take long for that to disappear.

too much back ground not enough fish  :woot: :woot: :whistle:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Fishmongerlyndon on Feb 14, 2014, 03:01 PM
What is the dead giveaway because I cant tell the difference.

the mouth on a fall fish is very large where the mouth on a white fish is small, also whitefish have an adipose fin like trout, and are only found in deep water, where fallfish are generally river fish, hope this helps!!! fallfish are one of my favorite species on the fly!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: HybridHunter on Feb 14, 2014, 03:32 PM
Is there a place to park and walk out on Blackbird Bay?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Feb 14, 2014, 05:07 PM
I wanted to try Otsego this Sunday, any ice conditions after this snow would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Feb 14, 2014, 05:37 PM
Deff a tough walk if u don't have a snowmobile
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: HybridHunter on Feb 15, 2014, 08:03 AM
Deff a tough walk if u don't have a snowmobile
I have a snowmobile and would like to hop on the lake on the Cooperstown end somewhere around Blackbird Bay if possible. If there is another location some where close by to park the truck that would be awesome.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: yarn em in on Feb 15, 2014, 07:50 PM
Fished today Iced 14 lakers between 3 no keepers.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: DrGreene on Feb 15, 2014, 09:22 PM
Fished from 11 till 230 today 1 chaser no takers for me just sweat from head to toe walk is hard work
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: poor man fishing on Feb 17, 2014, 09:02 AM
I would like to get some info. on fishing for walleyes. Does anybody target  eyes on Otsego?  I was there Sunday and it was a drag! I couldn't even get one bite. PMs would be great thanks
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pikeman on Feb 17, 2014, 03:54 PM
Mid winter is tough for the eyes on otsego. Especially w the pressure
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 17, 2014, 03:58 PM
I would def agree. I would not go to Otsego just to target the eyes. you will be disappointed. I was there today and the conditions are not pretty unless you like 1'+ of snow and 6" of slush. 14" of ice though
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Feb 17, 2014, 04:34 PM
I would def agree. I would not go to Otsego just to target the eyes. you will be disappointed. I was there today and the conditions are not pretty unless you like 1'+ of snow and 6" of slush. 14" of ice though






Those conditions are definitely not favorable for this older gentleman, sled or no sled. Thanks for the heads up.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: yarn em in on Feb 17, 2014, 04:47 PM
I would def agree. I would not go to Otsego just to target the eyes. you will be disappointed. I was there today and the conditions are not pretty unless you like 1'+ of snow and 6" of slush. 14" of ice though


How did you do?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Feb 17, 2014, 05:32 PM
1 perch
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: poor man fishing on Feb 22, 2014, 04:46 AM
Heading for Otsego this morning ....I hope the water doesn't go over my boots.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: poor man fishing on Feb 22, 2014, 09:12 PM
walk out wasn't to bad. On my way out I see a flag and no one else there but me. Walked over and chipped it out of the ice. Some one must of forgot it the day before. I will try to look them up but if you are on ice shanty pm me and maybe we can meet up there.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: yarn em in on Feb 23, 2014, 06:07 AM
How much slop and what did you get?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: walleyerondack on Mar 04, 2014, 10:30 AM
Looking to go out this Saturday 2/08/14, off of Glimmerglass, how safe? Does any one know thickness of the ice ?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: walleyerondack on Mar 04, 2014, 10:33 AM
oooppps meant 3/08/14  I must be frozen brain
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Mar 04, 2014, 10:43 AM
Looking to go out this Saturday 2/08/14, off of Glimmerglass, how safe? Does any one know thickness of the ice ?



I was out of Glimmerglass Saturday, ice conditions were ideal for all modes of transportation, foot, sled or wheelers. 18+ inches of ice everywhere we drilled. We went 3 for 7 on the Lakers (21", 21", 24"), not bad for our first time on Otsego or Lakers through the ice. Good luck out there!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: walleyerondack on Mar 04, 2014, 11:55 AM
Thanks Bart , bringing a friend that has not been there , he has never hooked a laker thru the ice ,hope we do well ,thanks again
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Mar 04, 2014, 12:23 PM
Fished out of glimmer as well.went straight on a laker hunt deep.16 inches of ice over 120fow.were set for a while.i highly suggest jigging here I stead of tipups.saw guys get skunked
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: icepic on Mar 07, 2014, 10:50 AM
what happened to the perch in Otsego. fished last year did real good this year o keepers
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Mar 07, 2014, 11:04 AM
you kept too many! lol all kidding aside I think they are there just not where you typically find them.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: stringer01 on Mar 07, 2014, 01:54 PM
They are hiding from the predators cousin was put on north end said the pickerel have made their appearance again
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Mar 07, 2014, 03:24 PM
of all the trips this season(3) we haven't had 1 pickerel. maybe Sunday that will change ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Mar 07, 2014, 03:43 PM
Perch is what's for breakfast lunch and dinner in otsego
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lakerdave on Mar 07, 2014, 05:20 PM
Otsego has perch . Hard to find the schools of them but when you do its hot and heavy till they move . Me and my buddy got in to them good one day . About 20 - 30  Nice jumbos each in about an hour and a half .
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: piscesman on Mar 07, 2014, 05:44 PM
I remember reading here that the Lake Trout are very skinny due to lack of forage. Guys were catching them in shallower water that attributed them to chasing perch. Just trying to connect the dots.........
      Kim
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Mar 08, 2014, 09:07 AM
Same here have not seen a perch or a pickeral this year yet and I have plenty of time on the ice there, Friggen laker fest though. Have had tip ups from 8 to 40 feet and catching lots of short lakers
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lakerdave on Mar 08, 2014, 05:46 PM
Yeah your right . I Didn't get any perch  this  year . But I didn't try . I'm into Lakers
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Mar 09, 2014, 06:43 AM
I set my tip ups for the mixed bag, rarely jig for lakers not a fan of the mud shark, if it allows get one tip up in under 10' and set the rest accordingly and see what pans out. Past couple years could catch perch on the reg not one this year ??? ??? and 3-4 years ago pickerel were normal with at least two three a day none so far and one last year about 12"  Good luck gonna head out midday today.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Mar 11, 2014, 05:14 AM
Wanted to post a question...I have a Jason Mitchell 36" Mackinaw rod with a Quantum QD310 graphite reel(my bass reel). The reel failed, striped gear, with a nice Laker on! While everyone is here fishing for the Lakers, I need some recommendation for a new reel for next year? This was my first year targeting Lakers, I do like the feeling of the  low profile reels. Any recommendations/info would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Mar 11, 2014, 05:20 AM
I went with an abu black.i find they have the largest line guide on the reel.could always go with the better models like silver or pro max for more strength
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Mar 11, 2014, 06:15 AM
I have checked them out, kinda leaning towards one of them... :-\
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JAGER61 on Mar 11, 2014, 08:19 AM
Wanted to post a question...I have a Jason Mitchell 36" Mackinaw rod with a Quantum QD310 graphite reel(my bass reel). The reel failed, striped gear, with a nice Laker on! While everyone is here fishing for the Lakers, I need some recommendation for a new reel for next year? This was my first year targeting Lakers, I do like the feeling of the  low profile reels. Any recommendations/info would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Bart, check out Daiwa Procyon reels in the 2500 series. I use them on my laker rods from med to heavy action with Fireline from 4-8 lb test. The drags have an ENORMOUS adjustment range and are capable of fine tuning throughout a wide line poundage range. I've found that a smooth and highly adjustable drag to be a critical factor in jigging for the predators.

Good luck Bro!
Mike
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Mar 11, 2014, 08:31 AM
I can't find a procyon bait caster for sale jager
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Mar 11, 2014, 08:47 AM
Found one site, not sure if it is 2500 series?

http://www.rivermarinesupply.com/xcart/catalog/product_11315_Daiwa_Procyon_Series_Baitcast_Reels.html (http://www.rivermarinesupply.com/xcart/catalog/product_11315_Daiwa_Procyon_Series_Baitcast_Reels.html)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: icepic on Mar 13, 2014, 01:14 PM
has anyone been having any luck with the eyes on Otsego or goodyear would love to get into them just never had luck on Otsego icefishing for them
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kc_ on Mar 13, 2014, 02:13 PM
has anyone been having any luck with the eyes on Otsego or goodyear would love to get into them just never had luck on Otsego icefishing for them

you had better do it soon. The season closes Sat.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchtrapper on Mar 13, 2014, 03:31 PM
Don't want to sound like one of those guys but,,,
I don't think if I wanted to get into eyes I would go to either of these lakes, yes you catch them but to go out and target them through the ice slim chance. If you "never had any luck with them" in the past then it isn't going to be any better for you now.     

Just an honest opinion
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Mar 13, 2014, 03:44 PM
X15
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bart on Mar 19, 2014, 07:39 AM
Wanted to get back out one last time. So I grabbed a Abu Garcia Pro Max. I spooled up with Fireline, Fluorocarbon leader and hit the ice, Lakers didn't cooperated. Still looking for a spare Laker rig or new primary depending on what I get?
(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg22/bart607/P1010005_zpsa927c7d4.jpg) (http://s244.photobucket.com/user/bart607/media/P1010005_zpsa927c7d4.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ChenBassHead on Mar 22, 2014, 10:30 AM
Hows it looking for tomorrow? I'm looking to get out at least once more this year. Been a tough year, between moving and starting a new job, I haven't been out since early February. Would love to get into some lakers. Thanks.

Zach
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: BIGJim223 on Mar 22, 2014, 12:06 PM
Hows it looking for tomorrow? I'm looking to get out at least once more this year. Been a tough year, between moving and starting a new job, I haven't been out since early February. Would love to get into some lakers. Thanks.

Zach

Conditions were fantastic Wednesday, Slick ice, no snow, some crunchy snow/ice. I would say the ice averaged 20-21 inches thick. I drilled within 8 feet of open water at a bubbler on Five Mile and the ice was over 12 inches thick.

 If you head out, please keep your eyes peeled for a black HT tipup case we lost Wed. Five black wooden tipups inside with name and address. No real monetary value, but lots of memories. Bounced out of my JetSled between Five Mile, Gravely Point, Sunken Island, and Glimmerglass.

 Thanks!

BIGJim223
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Mar 25, 2014, 08:49 AM
Conditions were fantastic Wednesday, Slick ice, no snow, some crunchy snow/ice. I would say the ice averaged 20-21 inches thick. I drilled within 8 feet of open water at a bubbler on Five Mile and the ice was over 12 inches thick.

 If you head out, please keep your eyes peeled for a black HT tipup case we lost Wed. Five black wooden tipups inside with name and address. No real monetary value, but lots of memories. Bounced out of my JetSled between Five Mile, Gravely Point, Sunken Island, and Glimmerglass.

 Thanks!

BIGJim223
Sego slayer back I  action? I knew you wouldn't be able to stay off the hard stuff.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Rugburn on Mar 25, 2014, 08:58 AM
  Where u been slaying Mbrown4 ?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: MBrown4 on Mar 25, 2014, 09:34 AM
Lurking.I haven't fished in 2 weeks.last time I went I fished 4th lake to try for a landlock but ended up with a girlfriend with a wet boot (she got too close to an inflow) 2 frozen heaters, a broken flasher, a snapped pull cord on the auger and 20 inches of snow to drag my shanty through. Set out 12 traps woth only one flag but we did jig up a measley 25 smelt between 3 of us though  ;D ::) Been getting some work done at home so I can have a free spring to run around like a maniac.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Rugburn on Mar 25, 2014, 10:22 AM
  U R tough on the equipment !  Same here on getting stuff done. May fish local HW a few more times. Keep at it, take her to the home stretch.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mikvia46 on Jan 10, 2017, 02:40 PM
I haven't been up to  Otsego Lake for over  2 years now. How's the ice fishing been. I'm sure last year there was no ice. Anyone been out there yet?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: touge30 on Jan 10, 2017, 03:56 PM
Put your trolling plate down go about 2 mph but thier running small.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Floatman on Jan 10, 2017, 04:39 PM
Touge.....hahaha!  Good one.  I was down there yesterday.  Checked out both glimmerglass and public landing.  Ice on both but 'glass looked worse.  No one out on either.  You couldn't get me to try it, but then I'm an old geezer and take no chances.  May be a short to non-existent season therethis year.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Cases459 on Jan 10, 2017, 07:20 PM
The "reports and conditions" thread for Otsego said 2" at glimmerglass on Sunday, and a guy in a flip over out on it.  Not enough for me, but the past 2 days should have built a bit more.  If it holds up to this weeks warm, it might be safe in a week or two with some cold weather.  Made it out last year on one weekend,  fishing was great.  Hoping we get more than one weekend this year.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: youngmook500 on Jan 31, 2017, 11:54 AM
Any good ice out there yet?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Tightliness on Jan 31, 2017, 12:01 PM
Not a chance
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lil_coondog on Jan 31, 2017, 12:44 PM
absolutely not, keep wishing
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ldurham90 on Feb 03, 2017, 10:35 AM
Darn I was hoping to go there this weekend, how is Canadarago looking for Ice i bet it is in the same boat
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Rugburn on Feb 03, 2017, 10:47 AM
 Cando should be doable. Freezes much sooner/shallower. Get 3 posts and you can check the conditions board.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Rabbitman on Feb 03, 2017, 02:37 PM
what else do they have? landlocks?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Yotecatcher on Feb 03, 2017, 02:40 PM
 ::)
what else do they have? landlocks?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: JDWMD on Dec 27, 2017, 08:34 PM
are these "landlock" salmon also called Kokanee?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Dec 27, 2017, 08:38 PM
are these "landlock" salmon also called Kokanee?
No, landlocks are all Atlantic salmon, not Kokanee. But you have to check the regs, you can't keep LL salmon in the winter. Only lakers, and only 1 over 23".
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: TimK on Dec 27, 2017, 09:03 PM
are these "landlock" salmon also called Kokanee?

Kokanee are landlocked sockeye  salmon.  Typically stocked in reservoirs west of the continental divide as laker forage and human table fare.  LL salmon around here are of the Atlantic variety.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ship of fools on Dec 28, 2017, 01:33 AM
Caught 2 nice lakers today about 22-23 inches.

Congrats!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: icehunter11 on Dec 28, 2017, 07:08 AM
How much ice did you find?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Tightliness on Dec 28, 2017, 09:16 AM
Hunter I’m sure he caught those from open water. Otsego doesn’t freeze this early
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ship of fools on Dec 28, 2017, 09:17 AM
Hunter I’m sure he caught those from open water. Otsego doesn’t freeze this early

It has to be very close ..... parts of Lake George are literally icing over as you watch the camera.

It will be interesting to see if Otsego is still way off or if the fishery has rebounded.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Dec 28, 2017, 09:21 AM
It has to be very close ..... parts of Lake George are literally icing over as you watch the camera.

It will be interesting to see if Otsego is still way off or if the fishery has rebounded.

I'm anxious to try my hand on her in the winter. Fished it a bit in the summer, and the fishery is A-OK  ;)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Dec 29, 2017, 03:15 PM
The lake is slowly coming back into form as the forage base rebuilds.  The SUNY kids found a bunch of fat and sassy whitefish in their surveys a couple weeks ago.  Great sign.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ol crawdad on Dec 29, 2017, 03:18 PM
The lake is slowly coming back into form as the forage base rebuilds.  The SUNY kids found a bunch of fat and sassy whitefish in their surveys a couple weeks ago.  Great sign.

Hi bigred.  What is the forage base consist of now? 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Dec 29, 2017, 03:55 PM
Hi bigred.  What is the forage base consist of now?

I know that smelt and even cisco i think are starting to make a comeback.   Next time I talk to them, i will find out whats going on with the alewives lately.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jxh25 on Dec 29, 2017, 06:18 PM
I've only been been there once. Is there a hot spot or a hot time of year?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ol crawdad on Dec 30, 2017, 06:36 AM
I know that smelt and even cisco i think are starting to make a comeback.   Next time I talk to them, i will find out whats going on with the alewives lately.

Cool, thanks.  Tight lines man...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Dec 30, 2017, 07:32 AM
I've only been been there once. Is there a hot spot or a hot time of year?

I highly doubt this will be answered....
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: perchinmybucket on Dec 30, 2017, 07:33 AM
I fished otsego last year and caught 12 lakers tip up fishing and they all were as skinny as pickeral... massive heads on them but looked like they havnt been eating very much... every single one. I was catching them in 15-25 fow hard rocky bottom with suckers.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: knowledge on Dec 31, 2017, 08:41 PM
Come on otsego lock up!  I haven't been in 2 seasons because the ice conditions really weren't good by what i was hearing.  Would love to get back on it this year.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jerry brown on Jan 01, 2018, 05:12 AM
Im sure with the temps this week we should be fine this coming weekend
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jerry brown on Jan 01, 2018, 12:20 PM
Took a ride around otsego and canadarago  fishing on cooperstown end one fella headed out on glimmerglass also people at bakers beach canadarago :
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ship of fools on Jan 01, 2018, 12:28 PM
Is the whole lake locked up?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jerry brown on Jan 01, 2018, 01:00 PM
She,s all iced over only seen people at village end and one fella headed out of glimmerglass
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jigger273 on Jan 02, 2018, 11:20 AM
There were 8 / 10 shanty off of Springfield boat launch this morning..
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 02, 2018, 12:29 PM
ol crawdad:  The alewives are gone almost completely.   The pelagic fishery is nothing like it once was, but there are still trout present in numbers.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: CNYice96 on Jan 02, 2018, 04:00 PM
What's the best way to get on the ice near the boat launch since the docks have bubblers going.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: youngmook500 on Jan 02, 2018, 08:44 PM
Is the perch bite off the Otesaga usually early in the afternoon?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Tommy_ADK on Jan 03, 2018, 10:49 AM
Spent my entire life hardwater fishing the "The Dead Sea" aka the Great Sacandaga Lake, but looking forward to making a trip out to Otsego. Might as well put my time in now so I can be better prepared when things rebound over the next few years.  ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: youngmook500 on Jan 03, 2018, 07:45 PM
The lakers look much better than they have in recent years. I caught 3 shorts today but the body thickness was the same as 25 or 26 inchers last time I caught them.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mkiburz on Jan 03, 2018, 09:06 PM
Be careful on otsego. There are place that only have skim ice.    Spud spud spud.   
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 04, 2018, 09:43 AM
The lakers look much better than they have in recent years. I caught 3 shorts today but the body thickness was the same as 25 or 26 inchers last time I caught them.

thats very good news!!!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lil_coondog on Jan 04, 2018, 09:44 AM
The lakers look much better than they have in recent years. I caught 3 shorts today but the body thickness was the same as 25 or 26 inchers last time I caught them.
nice, good to hear
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: captin bill on Jan 06, 2018, 04:57 AM
How many years does it take for them to reach 23" or upwards? Groups with electronics knocking off 30 or more per day must be figured in www. ::)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: stringer02 on Jan 07, 2018, 08:05 AM
 as big red said no bait starving fish alot of them look like pickeral and u can catch them in ten feet of water looking for food
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Jan 07, 2018, 09:14 PM
Don't know what you're talking about unhealthy. I caught him this summer.
(https://s10.postimg.cc/mkl4z9aqt/IMG_20170618_115542634_HDR.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/mkl4z9aqt/)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 08, 2018, 03:30 PM
the deepwater fish used to look like this, for what its worth the lake trout that have figured out to eat perch up shallow are doing well in the lake

(https://i.imgur.com/xZjeFYc.jpg?1)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 08, 2018, 03:34 PM
How many years does it take for them to reach 23" or upwards? Groups with electronics knocking off 30 or more per day must be figured in www. ::)

the first couple years we had it to ourselves were amazing, as the pressure increased our ratio of 32"+ fish dropped dramatically, but the fish were still really healthy until around 2008, by 2011 we were catching so many fish each time but they were getting skinnier and skinnier.   One of my last trips out there my dad jigged up a 32" fish that wasn't even 5lbs  :sick: .

Luckily, a number of other NY lakes have laker populations that are more robust than tiny Otsego Lakes', so we can bide our time until she's back at full capacity.

*not sure about those years, i need to look at my logs
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: trouter on Jan 08, 2018, 04:04 PM
The great idea from higher up to introduce walley to take care of the alwives was the killer. No food - no fish. Of course the internet didnt help. Ive got memories and lots of pictures anyway. Just a xxx shame. Leave nature alone and it will take care of itself. Im done, Have a great season and please dont litter on the ice.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Jan 08, 2018, 04:07 PM
the first couple years we had it to ourselves were amazing, as the pressure increased our ratio of 32"+ fish dropped dramatically, but the fish were still really healthy until around 2008, by 2011 we were catching so many fish each time but they were getting skinnier and skinnier.   One of my last trips out there my dad jigged up a 32" fish that wasn't even 5lbs  :sick: .

Luckily, a number of other NY lakes have laker populations that are more robust than tiny Otsego Lakes', so we can bide our time until she's back at full capacity.

*not sure about those years, i need to look at my logs

That one was just over 28" and was pushing 8 lbs.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ol crawdad on Jan 09, 2018, 05:54 AM
The great idea from higher up to introduce walley to take care of the alwives was the killer. No food - no fish. Of course the internet didnt help. Ive got memories and lots of pictures anyway. Just a xxx shame. Leave nature alone and it will take care of itself. Im done, Have a great season and please dont litter on the ice.

Not introduce walleye, RE-introduce walleye.  And the lake has a history of crashes.  Walleyes disappeared.  Pickerel seem to go through huge cyclical crashes (last 5 years is the latest).  Alewives did not 100% disappear because of walleyes.  Some other natural phenomena did that.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Jan 09, 2018, 07:36 AM
Not introduce walleye, RE-introduce walleye.  And the lake has a history of crashes.  Walleyes disappeared.  Pickerel seem to go through huge cyclical crashes (last 5 years is the latest).  Alewives did not 100% disappear because of walleyes.  Some other natural phenomena did that.

And the alewives are what is actually killing the eyes in Rago. People don't realize that alewives are a predator fish and eat the fry of all the other fish. Yes, big eyes and big trout LOVE to eat alewives. But Alewives decimate the YotY of everything. Big lakes (and yes, Otsego would certainly be a big lake) go through natural fluctuations of all fish species. A bad year can knock down a population of one fish and a new one takes it place, then a cycle of the fish being dominant happens, then something will knock that down and so forth. Natural systems are ALWAYS in flux. We try to control everything and make it consistent, but that just isn't how nature works.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kjcroote on Jan 09, 2018, 11:25 AM
Can anyone report on the depth of the ice? We're hoping to make it up there this weekend but I see warm temps and rain in the forecast this week. Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lil_coondog on Jan 09, 2018, 11:31 AM
Can anyone report on the depth of the ice? We're hoping to make it up there this weekend but I see warm temps and rain in the forecast this week. Thanks in advance!

couple more posts to see the conditions page. welcome to IS
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 09, 2018, 11:34 AM
(and yes, Otsego would certainly be a big lake)

compared to the other lakes we fish for Lake Trout like george, champlain, seneca, cayuga, keuka, canandaigua & ontario, otsego is tiny.

Also its amazing with all the damage that alewives do to walleyes, that a lake like Oneida can even exist.   Blaming the alewives for the low numbers of walleyes in Canadarago is interesting...the alewives were in there well before the walleye numbers peaked...   also, maybe the rise and fall of the adult yellow perch in 'rago might have played a role?  like you said "Natural systems are ALWAYS in flux"
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: bigredonice on Jan 09, 2018, 11:46 AM
heres some factual reading on the subject

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07438140209354150?src=recsys (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07438140209354150?src=recsys)

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00028487.2011.639265 (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00028487.2011.639265)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Jan 09, 2018, 11:58 AM
compared to the other lakes we fish for Lake Trout like .... ontario, otsego is tiny.

Well you can't include Ontario on that list :P Everything is tiny compared to Ontario except the other great lakes and maybe Lake Winnepeg. lol. But yes, compared to the other more popular lake trout lakes it is smaller, but that doesn't make it a small lake. Small lakes don't even have lake trout!

I wouldn't blame the alewive population on the walleye crash, but the reports on the lake are that they're whats preventing the walleye from rebounding. Stocking efforts are failing because the alewives are eating all the stockers and native born. It's why they upped the size this past year to 18". They're trying to help get an age structure with more larger fish to keep more of the alewives in check and hopefully increase survival rates for the smaller stocked fish and native born ones. The other effect of all this is the smallmouth population, and big smallie population, is loving the alewives. They're taking over as a top tier predator. I'm sure that's also having an impact on the perch populations. But in 5 years who knows. Maybe the walleye will come back, decimate the alewives, the big bass numbers will drop, and summer bass fisherman will be b***hing about the loss of the bass. I'll just fish for whatever is there.

But this is an Otsego thread, so back on topic.
Can anyone report on the depth of the ice? We're hoping to make it up there this weekend but I see warm temps and rain in the forecast this week. Thanks in advance!
You can now check the report page with just one post so go over there. North and south are fully locked. people are fishing with mixed luck. Middle of lake has ice but thickness varies so take caution. I might venture out this saturday myself. If I do, i'll probably be testing the ice off 3 mile. This little rain/warmup is only 2 days, so it's not enough to make a big impact on ice thickness.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: papacoondog on Jan 09, 2018, 12:01 PM
Does anybody know off lake access near the opera house or sunken island.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Fontona19 on Jan 09, 2018, 12:42 PM
Small lakes don't even have lake trout!



C'mon man. This isn't even close to true. There are so many small lakes with lake trout throughout this state.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Neversink Jimmy on Jan 09, 2018, 01:23 PM
I used to camp at Glimmerglass SP for a week every summer when I was a kid in the late 70's up through the late 80's.

We'd ride our bikes around the lake, including a stop for breakfast in Cooperstown before returning to Glimmerglass on the west side of the lake.

Back then, there was a little tackle shop on a corner on Main Street.  Right across from the Hall of Fame.

They used to have some MASSIVE mounted Brown Trout on the wall of that place.  From Otsego Lake. 

Whatever happen to those gigantic browns?  Seems like I never hear anything about Browns and LLS in Otsego Lake any more.  Weren't Browns the go-to sportfish in that lake before the Water Chestnuts, etc arrived?

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Fontona19 on Jan 09, 2018, 02:08 PM
I used to camp at Glimmerglass SP for a week every summer when I was a kid in the late 70's up through the late 80's.

We'd ride our bikes around the lake, including a stop for breakfast in Cooperstown before returning to Glimmerglass on the west side of the lake.

Back then, there was a little tackle shop on a corner on Main Street.  Right across from the Hall of Fame.

They used to have some MASSIVE mounted Brown Trout on the wall of that place.  From Otsego Lake. 

Whatever happen to those gigantic browns?  Seems like I never hear anything about Browns and LLS in Otsego Lake any more.  Weren't Browns the go-to sportfish in that lake before the Water Chestnuts, etc arrived?


Holy crap! Look what the cat dragged in. Whats up Jimmy!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Jan 09, 2018, 02:39 PM
C'mon man. This isn't even close to true. There are so many small lakes with lake trout throughout this state.

Guess that all depends on your def of a small lake! To me a small lake is under 1,000 acres and shallower than 30'.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Neversink Jimmy on Jan 09, 2018, 02:53 PM

Holy crap! Look what the cat dragged in. Whats up Jimmy!

Hey Buddy!

I have been killing time at work today...  At one point I was jigging up Walleye on an ice fishing game on my phone...

Then I saw a photo online of a massive 45"+ Northern Pike (26lbs) caught on Cranberry Lake last weekend...

Next thing I know, I'm on IceShanty telling stories about Otsego Lake in the 1980s, lol...

Life is weird like that.

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lowaccord66 on Jan 09, 2018, 07:16 PM

Holy crap! Look what the cat dragged in. Whats up Jimmy!

Same to you...your posts are rarer than a LG walleye  :o
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lakearch on Jan 09, 2018, 07:59 PM
fished at 3 mile point Sunday morning and only 3 cars at 6:30
fished until 11:00  Had 4 flags and got 3 fish all keepers about 25 inches
and also got one jigging 18"   All fish looked good   there was a good 8" of new ice
even with a couple of warm days this week, there should be enough ice on the weekend
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Fontona19 on Jan 09, 2018, 08:08 PM
Guess that all depends on your def of a small lake! To me a small lake is under 1,000 acres and shallower than 30'.


So a 25-acre lake that's 90 feet deep is a big lake?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Fontona19 on Jan 09, 2018, 08:11 PM
Hey Buddy!

I have been killing time at work today...  At one point I was jigging up Walleye on an ice fishing game on my phone...

Then I saw a photo online of a massive 45"+ Northern Pike (26lbs) caught on Cranberry Lake last weekend...

Next thing I know, I'm on IceShanty telling stories about Otsego Lake in the 1980s, lol...

Life is weird like that.

Haha! Life is weird. You two need to come visit us. Anytime in the next few months and we can make some new ice fishing memories.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Fontona19 on Jan 09, 2018, 08:12 PM
Same to you...your posts are rarer than a LG walleye  :o

This place does fine on its own without me stirring the pot.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: youngmook500 on Jan 11, 2018, 08:24 AM
If anyone finds an orange 16' tape measure at 3 mile in about 115 fow could you pm me? I kind of need it
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: shawn sponable on Jan 11, 2018, 06:16 PM
Headed there in the morning - will keep an eye out , maybe it will float by me.........   
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Walleyes killers on Jan 11, 2018, 06:36 PM
How do you access 3mile?parking?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mkiburz on Jan 12, 2018, 09:30 AM
3mile point has a parking lot. 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Walleyes killers on Jan 12, 2018, 05:02 PM
Thank you
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: dthrckt on Jan 12, 2018, 07:27 PM
C'mon man. This isn't even close to true. There are so many small lakes with lake trout throughout this state.

I caught a +10lb laker in an adirondack lake that is under 150 acres.  There are more, but there's so much life in the lake that they're picky.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Brandon Broat on Jan 13, 2018, 10:02 AM
Fished 3 mile yesterday. 3 to 5 inches black ice 1/4 inch water on top. Nice day in between rain stopped.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jxh25 on Jan 13, 2018, 08:35 PM
Anybody know if Glimmerglass is still locked up? I'm 2 hrs away and don't want take a scenic drive to not fish lol!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: brokentipup on Jan 15, 2018, 07:27 AM
Anybody fish Otsego Lake in the past 24 hours?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: wbvitari on Jan 15, 2018, 10:14 AM
I know of some guys who fished off Glimmerglass yesterday... Said it was slow... Water was stained. But ice was good solid7+
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Jan 15, 2018, 04:59 PM
my buddy and I had a decent day with lakers, landed 20 between the both of us all jigged 4-5 inches of ice over deeper water all jigged with a decent amount of them looking normal not lizards. one my buddy kept had 3 6-7 inch walleye's in its stomach :( and a smelt!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: brokentipup on Jan 16, 2018, 01:40 PM
i ended up going there yesterday with my kid we caught a couple one keeper twenty is quite impressive i need to find a bait shop with some jumbo shiners from the sound of it when i gutted mine it had six inch shiners in its gut
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishslapped on Jan 16, 2018, 04:32 PM
honestly I don't think it matters what type of minnow your tipping your jig with I was using med buckeyes Sunday, there hungry just got to find the spots there cruising through you can catch them shallow but will find better numbers deeper just my two cents.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Walleyes killers on Jan 16, 2018, 05:18 PM
I find 4”/5” suckers stay alive  longer in deeper water then the shiner would
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: brokentipup on Jan 17, 2018, 06:37 AM
what bait shop has suckers and thank you for all this information i prefer fishing deeper water it was a little cold monday for the wife and kid so i stayed in close and still caught fish i was amazed really hoping for another trip out soon
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: big_guy_13021 on Jan 17, 2018, 07:03 PM
Ok crazy crazy question .....how many of you guys that fish otsego either summer or winter have seen...ready...jellyfi sh...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: builder on Jan 17, 2018, 07:59 PM
not crazy. I fish mauch chunk lake in pa and they're all over the place in deep water. when I saw them the first time I thought I was seeing things. I read up on them and it says they came from the Yangtze river in china go figure. they will be found in all states except montana and have only been found in a few lakes in Canada. they will only be found in deep lakes with clearer water. they figure they got spread around by attaching to geese. they can sting but are to smallto hurt humans. they are only about the size of a quarter. ok schools out!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: big_guy_13021 on Jan 17, 2018, 08:13 PM
Yea otsego lake is deep in places and clear just wondering if the guys that fish have seen them..so im not crazy anyways ..they are small tooo
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ol crawdad on Jan 18, 2018, 05:54 AM
Ok crazy crazy question .....how many of you guys that fish otsego either summer or winter have seen...ready...jellyfi sh...

I wonder if that is what happened to the alewives in Otsego.  Some info:

https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=1068 (https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=1068)

Impact of Introduction: The impact of this widespread jellyfish is unclear.  Dodson and Cooper (1983) proposed Craspedacusta sowerbyi's preference for predatory zooplankton, such as the rotifer Asplanchna, could influence relative zooplankton species structure.   Spadinger and Maier (1999) agreed with theorized affects on zooplankton communities finding that C. sowerbyi hydromedusae prefer larger zooplankton (0.4–1.4 mm) and vigorous prey such as copepods.  Under laboratory conditions and in 4 mm of water, C. sowerbyi polyps apparently killed and fed on striped bass larvae (Dendy, 1978).  Dumont (1994) speculated that C. sowerbyi may consume fish eggs, but Spadinger and Maier (1999) note that it is generally not considered an important predator of eggs or small fish . Crayfish are considered the only important predator of the hydromedusa phase (Pennak, 1989; Slobodkin and Bossert, 1991).
Remarks: Freshwater jellyfish is not considered dangerous to humans.  Although its stings can paralyze macroinvertebrates and small fish, its small nematocysts are not likely to penetrate human skin (Peard, 2002).
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: LT.89 on Jan 18, 2018, 02:08 PM
Anyone ever fish Otsego at night?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Shantypanty on Jan 18, 2018, 02:27 PM
Ive heard some very healthy walleyes can be caught at night in some of shallower coves.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: big_guy_13021 on Jan 18, 2018, 02:49 PM
Maybe the jellyfish did eat the alewives ..sound like it...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ol crawdad on Jan 19, 2018, 06:33 AM
Maybe the jellyfish did eat the alewives ..sound like it...
DEC is going to check them out this summer.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Tommy_ADK on Jan 19, 2018, 09:55 AM
It may have already been posted but this article (2016) really gives me a lot of hope!  :tipup: :tipup:

http://www.thedailystar.com/news/local_news/rainbow-smelt-see-resurgence-in-otsego-lake/article_57854871-8f86-5be1-bdac-6e25f99012c3.html
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Floatman on Jan 19, 2018, 11:17 AM
From what I’ve read the field station has been well aware of the jellyfish for several years.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: icedauber on Jan 19, 2018, 01:39 PM
We were fishing south end of lake last June.  Had bait balls on finder that ran from 35' mark to 10'. Looked like 10 yrs ago. How is  the access from Fairy Springs Park?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Kfish1 on Jan 19, 2018, 06:57 PM
Got some pearch and a 20 inch walleye today. Ice is 9 inches by glimmerglass.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Lakertaker11 on Jan 21, 2018, 06:43 PM
Any luck this weekend 20/ 21?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: SSmokinn SS on Jan 21, 2018, 08:17 PM
There are several scuba diving videos on YouTube from divers on otsego recording those freshwater jellyfish. Pretty cool.

I fished the lake for the first time ever this year, only because I had a bass tournament scheduled there. Ended up targeting largemouths and caught a boat load... but the quality is low there for sure...

As far as primary forage goes there, I have a friend that is in the SUNY class that does all the testing there and he claims the main forage are perch.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Kfish1 on Jan 22, 2018, 10:29 AM
Is there anyplace to park when fishing at night on ostego. I would like to try it for walleye but not sure if the state park gates close at night.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Jan 22, 2018, 11:01 AM
everyone looking to fish Otsego to target walleye in my opinion is wasting their time. I don't believe the numbers are there to successfully target them. it seems as though more and more people are getting them, but only happening upon them 1 at a time..... I also haven't fished for them at night either. buddy of mine and myself went Saturday and were on the lake by 6 and set up along a 18'--35' drop and only caught lakers........
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lowaccord66 on Jan 22, 2018, 12:21 PM
I don't think anyone could have a valid opinion on how someone else spends their time. Not your place to have such an opinion. You can judge what is a waste of time for yourself but you'd be hard pressed to tell me what a waste of my time is.  Some people fish for the adventure not just the catching. 

Suggesting that a fishery isn't viable with a short anecdotal story doesn't mean anything.  Come back with a survey report that says there is 5 eyes in there and that would be actual fact....
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Jan 22, 2018, 01:45 PM
I don't think anyone could have a valid opinion on how someone else spends their time. Not your place to have such an opinion. You can judge what is a waste of time for yourself but you'd be hard pressed to tell me what a waste of my time is.  Some people fish for the adventure not just the catching. 

Suggesting that a fishery isn't viable with a short anecdotal story doesn't mean anything.  Come back with a survey report that says there is 5 eyes in there and that would be actual fact....

Well said! And I know in the summer there's many people fishing there for eyes so it's a viable enterprise. It might not be the most productive walleye lake around, but that makes it all the better when you do get into a few. "Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time".
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: basshunter12748 on Jan 22, 2018, 01:53 PM
he said 'waste of time' in his opinion lol.  You are allowed to have opinions haha
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: stringer01 on Jan 22, 2018, 02:02 PM
02 rmk hey steve whats up they dont get it let them find out the hard way i too have fished many times for walleye yes they are there can u catch them maybe i have tried after dark before dark in dark and daytime i fish the lake in summer also yes u can get one if your lucky but candarago is better if thats says anything u want eyes go to onieda or the dead sea oh and yes i have caught them but no consistency  good luck!!!!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ol crawdad on Jan 22, 2018, 02:05 PM
I think what was meant was, if you want to CATCH a limit of walleyes, it might be a waste of time.  It is not a lake like Oneida with a ton of 'eyes.  And it can be hard to find them, unlike Oneida.  You need to really know the lake. 

Waste of time??  That is watching the Hallmark channel.  Walleye fishing, whether you find them or not?  Never a waste of time, especially with a few beers in the cooler.  ;D
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: o2rmk800 on Jan 22, 2018, 02:16 PM
02 rmk hey steve whats up they dont get it let them find out the hard way i too have fished many times for walleye yes they are there can u catch them maybe i have tried after dark before dark in dark and daytime i fish the lake in summer also yes u can get one if your lucky but candarago is better if thats says anything u want eyes go to onieda or the dead sea oh and yes i have caught them but no consistency  good luck!!!!

ive learned to let things like this roll off the shoulder..... this site has lost its luster on speaking the truth......I go to fish for the pure surprise of not knowing what's on the other end at Otsego.... its a great fishery....but again to go and SOLEY fish for walleye, I would rather go to Oneida....we have a shanty on GSL, its just a place to go hang out and have fun with buddies, oh and on the rare occasion catch some fish, LOL
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: stringer01 on Jan 22, 2018, 04:31 PM
u guys still do that tupper lake tourney
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: FLAGGGG1114 on Jan 26, 2018, 02:02 PM
I have never fished Otsego, but will be towards the end of February.  I was wondering if some regulars could help a brother out with successful lures/bait to target Lakers and Walleye with?  Do you use spoons? tubes? jigging raps? etc...

Any help would be much appreciated!  Thanks and tight lines!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Tightliness on Jan 26, 2018, 06:13 PM
I aswell have never fished otsego. I’m familiar with the area i just don’t have a boat to put on and it’s hasnt froze up good in a few years. My question is if I access from glimmerglass and walk out a bit what types of fish would I be looking at for tip up fishing?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: adkRoy on Jan 26, 2018, 06:21 PM
I aswell have never fished otsego. I’m familiar with the area i just don’t have a boat to put on and it’s hasnt froze up good in a few years. My question is if I access from glimmerglass and walk out a bit what types of fish would I be looking at for tip up fishing?


http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/otlkmap.pdf (http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/otlkmap.pdf)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: piscesman on Jan 26, 2018, 08:21 PM
If you want lakers you will walk a ways to them in deeper water. Starting at 40'. Check DEC website for topo map of lake and go from there. I drive 1+ hours to there and never have been skunked. Yes undersize but never skunked. GREAT perch to boot...........
      Kim :tipup: :icefish: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: icedauber on Jan 29, 2018, 11:36 AM
How is the shoreline at 3 mile?  tks
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kayak2fish on Jan 29, 2018, 01:15 PM
I used to camp at Glimmerglass SP for a week every summer when I was a kid in the late 70's up through the late 80's.

We'd ride our bikes around the lake, including a stop for breakfast in Cooperstown before returning to Glimmerglass on the west side of the lake.

Back then, there was a little tackle shop on a corner on Main Street.  Right across from the Hall of Fame.

They used to have some MASSIVE mounted Brown Trout on the wall of that place.  From Otsego Lake. 

Whatever happen to those gigantic browns?  Seems like I never hear anything about Browns and LLS in Otsego Lake any more.  Weren't Browns the go-to sportfish in that lake before the Water Chestnuts, etc arrived?

I caught a 22-inch brown in Otsego about 10 years ago in my kayak Also caught an 18-inch LLS that same day. Haven't fished it much in recent years, but been out there four times so far this year on the ice, mostly catching short lakers.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kayak2fish on Jan 29, 2018, 01:18 PM
How is the shoreline at 3 mile?  tks

No idea, but conditions at Glimmerglass were great yesterday. Locked up right to shore, very little water on the ice, which is probably all frozen back up now.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: icedauber on Jan 29, 2018, 03:46 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: tigerking94 on Jan 29, 2018, 07:52 PM
Hey guys I live in syracuse an have been wanting to try for lakers through the ice was if it would worth it to come down for the day an if any one could lend some tips or pointers it would be much appreciated
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: hot_spot18 on Jan 30, 2018, 08:46 AM
Hey guys I live in syracuse an have been wanting to try for lakers through the ice was if it would worth it to come down for the day an if any one could lend some tips or pointers it would be much appreciated

Haven't fished it in a couple years, but deeper is generally better for lakers.  Rig up with braided with a mono or flouro leader.  If you just use straight mono it will stretch on the hook set and you'll lose a lot of fish.  It's not a bad idea to switch out your hooks to gamakatsu some other brand of very sharp strong hooks.  Lakers will often let you get them to the hole and then take a deep long run.  I usually stick my rod tip in the hole when this happens to prevent them braking me off on the sharp edges of the hole. hope this helps! best of luck!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: tigerking94 on Jan 30, 2018, 09:36 AM
Thanks for the info hot_spot 18 my plan is to go out of glimmerglass an stay between 20 to 40 fow an go for perch an maybe some lakers I would like to hear some opions of this plan
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: kayak2fish on Jan 30, 2018, 11:56 AM
The area right off Glimmerglass has been absolutely hammered so far this year. The DEC cop I ran into Sunday said there were about 100 people in that area on Saturday and there were at least 50 there when I was there Sunday. I am sure there have been literally thousands of tipups set out in the last month within a half mile or so from the beach. I would suggest getting as far away from the beach at Glimmerglass as possible. It's really shallow for a few hundred yards off the beach anyway.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: tigerking94 on Jan 30, 2018, 12:49 PM
Thanks kayak2fish is there maybe a different launch site u could recommend I try?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: icedauber on Jan 30, 2018, 04:36 PM
9" of ice off 3-mile. Easy walk. Smallies on fire today. Only problem, afternoon snow started at 8 am.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Pike Paralyzer on Jan 31, 2018, 12:41 AM
We did very well off 3 mile in about 100 fow fishing right off the bottom.  This is going back 15-20 yrs ago or so when 10-15lb lakers were common.  Now I wouldn't even waste my time with the lake...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: snelly on Jan 31, 2018, 09:27 AM
We did very well off 3 mile in about 100 fow fishing right off the bottom.  This is going back 15-20 yrs ago or so when 10-15lb lakers were common.  Now I wouldn't even waste my time with the lake...
i Agree we hammered the big ones years ago, I wouldn't waste my time driving there now better places out there
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: tigerking94 on Jan 31, 2018, 06:24 PM
Was able to get out at 3 mile only had a few hrs to fish no luck wondering maybe my tip up set is wrong for the lake any tips much appreciated
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Tommy_ADK on Feb 05, 2018, 09:34 AM
Was out on 3 mile on Sunday 2/4 from 9am-2pm. Slow day! Wind was wicked but the Frabill held up alright. Anyone else have luck? Marked nothing in 40 FOW.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Feb 05, 2018, 09:46 AM
I was out north of 3 mile (private access) Saturday 8-3. Was on about 10" of good clear ice. Was marking fish in 45 FOW all day. Had a few flags (45-55 FOW), lost what I think was an eye (fought like a wet sock) at the hole on one tipup. Hooked into a bunch jigging, mostly smaller ones. But landing a laker solo on a 38" rod inside a 1 man flip over through a 6" hole is quite the tricky rodeo. Did manage to put this 24" on the ice tho.

(https://s9.postimg.cc/kk8e63k8r/IMG_20180203_125836551.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/kk8e63k8r/)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Dawg05 on Feb 05, 2018, 11:44 AM
Fishing Sunday too, defiantly shanty weather. No flags and nothing on the jig stick. We marked a bunch but we were not offering what they were looking for.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: wish4fish on Feb 05, 2018, 12:41 PM
We caught a couple of Smelt while jigging in 45 fow... big fatties too
(https://s17.postimg.cc/92e05pdnf/44792_D77-_FEEB-4_D76-8_CCE-_A43_B90778354.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/92e05pdnf/)
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: pmac3 on Feb 05, 2018, 07:42 PM
We caught a couple of Smelt while jigging in 45 fow... big fatties too
(https://s17.postimg.cc/92e05pdnf/44792_D77-_FEEB-4_D76-8_CCE-_A43_B90778354.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/92e05pdnf/)

That is an awesome sign. Hopefully she’ll come back around in a few years.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: DTube on Feb 08, 2018, 08:27 AM
Any Walleye out of Otsego??
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: FLAGGGG1114 on Feb 08, 2018, 01:30 PM
Can any locals point me in the right direction to the closest bait shop to Otsego?  I checked the bait shop map on shanty but it didnt show any near the lake at all.  Any help would be appreciated! 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: icedauber on Feb 08, 2018, 01:37 PM
Kelly's deli at 20 & 80 has live bait. The bait shop in Schoharie is on the way.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Tommy_ADK on Feb 08, 2018, 01:42 PM
Kelly's hasn't had suckers in a few weeks it seems. Shiners and fatheads, and worms and spikes if interested.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Dawg05 on Feb 08, 2018, 05:05 PM
"Off the Beaten Path" bait shop in Central Bridge always has good bait.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Yotecatcher on Feb 08, 2018, 05:33 PM
There's one in Oneonta NY. Sportsman Adventure. Has about everything you'll need.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: piscesman on Feb 08, 2018, 06:07 PM
FLAAAAAGGGG,
Your best bet would be Off the Beaten Path. From Schenectady take I-88 to Schoharie exit. Take right and quick left. Follow road approx. 1 mile and take right at gas station. About another 1.5 miles you  will see white building on right with red truck in driveway. Bait tanks around back but go through front door to see if Jeff is there. Has beard. Very nice guy. If not walk around back to these big tanks. Get your bait and receipt. Continue on that road to Rt 20 at another gas station and take left. Head to Otsego from there. Good Luck.......
      Kim :tipup: :icefish:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: harpoonlocke on Feb 08, 2018, 08:32 PM
Thanks for the bait recommendations in the area. Has anybody been out off of 3 mile how are the ice and snow conditions?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mkiburz on Feb 08, 2018, 09:33 PM
I was out today.  Water and slush around the edge becuase of the snow pressure.  8" of snow on the ice
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mkiburz on Feb 08, 2018, 09:35 PM
Can any locals point me in the right direction to the closest bait shop to Otsego?  I checked the bait shop map on shanty but it didnt show any near the lake at all.  Any help would be appreciated!

Where are you coming from?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: harpoonlocke on Feb 08, 2018, 11:05 PM
I was out today.  Water and slush around the edge becuase of the snow pressure.  8" of snow on the ice

How thick was the ice?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Budbucket on Feb 09, 2018, 05:49 AM
There's one in Oneonta NY. Sportsman Adventure. Has about everything you'll need.
Yeah ....and not open until 8. Ridiculous
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: mkiburz on Feb 09, 2018, 06:31 PM
How thick was the ice?

10+
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Krocodile on Feb 09, 2018, 06:44 PM
Measured 14in on the north end, perch bite has died for me and my buddies, a few lakers chasing. Snowshoes made the drag easier.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: just1moredad on Feb 13, 2018, 08:44 AM
Over foot of good ice under a bit of slush and snow.Spent two plus hours north of Hyde Bay.Only bites were two digits on my left hand,compliments of Jack Frost.It was the time available,so it was the "best"time to fish for me.Cured the cabin fever.Looking to be back at it next monday. Bright and early.The breeze and snow flurries help with the cure.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: FLAGGGG1114 on Feb 14, 2018, 01:29 PM
FLAAAAAGGGG,
Your best bet would be Off the Beaten Path. From Schenectady take I-88 to Schoharie exit. Take right and quick left. Follow road approx. 1 mile and take right at gas station. About another 1.5 miles you  will see white building on right with red truck in driveway. Bait tanks around back but go through front door to see if Jeff is there. Has beard. Very nice guy. If not walk around back to these big tanks. Get your bait and receipt. Continue on that road to Rt 20 at another gas station and take left. Head to Otsego from there. Good Luck.......
      Kim :tipup: :icefish:


Thanks i really appreciate the info!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: GitRDone on Feb 14, 2018, 03:26 PM

Thanks i really appreciate the info!
If you just drive down Rt 20 you come to the same gas station he told you to take a left at and they sell bait there. Not sure of the cross road want to say rt 80 maybe. I drive down all the time from Guilderland. Takes me aprox 1hr to get to the gas station. Get my bait and on the water in 10-15min depending where you want to go. Good Luck. i think there is a tournament there this Sunday to benefit the Vets.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: piscesman on Feb 14, 2018, 06:12 PM
Off the Beaten Path is in Central Bridge area. The gas station I was referring to is at the corners of 30A & 20 where you turn west toward Otsego Lake. There is a gas station that sells bait at rt 80 & rt 20 near Otsego. About the 1 hour drive Flagggg is talking about. It's that OTBP gives good bait and extras. Very healthy. Hope this helps..............
      Kim :tipup: :icefish:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: harpoonlocke on Feb 15, 2018, 06:45 PM
How are the conditions on the ice after today’s warmth is there still a lot of snow and slush? Also this is a super long shot but we caught a laker last week that was dragging a broken heritage trap with the initials “D. Crowell” on it any one know anyone by that name that may fish there? I know it’s a huge shot in the dark
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Budbucket on Feb 15, 2018, 06:50 PM
How are the conditions on the ice after today’s warmth is there still a lot of snow and slush? Also this is a super long shot but we caught a laker last week that was dragging a broken heritage trap with the initials “D. Crowell” on it any one know anyone by that name that may fish there? I know it’s a huge shot in the dark
Are you craptin me?? That's the best!!!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: harpoonlocke on Feb 15, 2018, 07:32 PM
Are you craptin me?? That's the best!!!

Haha no joke we got a flag and when we pulled it up we had another line wrapped around our line. We pulled that up and one end had a laker the other a busted trap it was broken in half missing the cross pieces.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lil_coondog on Feb 15, 2018, 09:48 PM
Hit the ice this afternoon. Had 13" of ice, slushy with standing water, snow all gone.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: FLAGGGG1114 on Feb 16, 2018, 09:42 AM
If you just drive down Rt 20 you come to the same gas station he told you to take a left at and they sell bait there. Not sure of the cross road want to say rt 80 maybe. I drive down all the time from Guilderland. Takes me aprox 1hr to get to the gas station. Get my bait and on the water in 10-15min depending where you want to go. Good Luck. i think there is a tournament there this Sunday to benefit the Vets.


Thank you!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: harpoonlocke on Feb 16, 2018, 09:50 AM
Hit the ice this afternoon. Had 13" of ice, slushy with standing water, snow all gone.

Thanks for the update! I’m glad all that snow is gone
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: icedauber on Feb 21, 2018, 08:21 AM
Lets us know if the shoreline held up off of 3 mile , thanks.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: FLAGGGG1114 on Feb 21, 2018, 10:46 AM
If anyone could post a ice report off Glimmerglass in the next couple days I would appreciate it.  Traveling there on Friday for the weekend, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that i can get out and fish!  Thanks and Tight Lines!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fowlhookedny on Feb 21, 2018, 04:54 PM
Shore line off glimmerglass is not holding up well.  Gonna need knee boots at least to get on unless the weather changes cold quick.  Still about 8-10 inches of ice inside the bay, but the ice out over the deeper water was very unhealthy.  Started with 8 inches over 100ft ended with 6 inches of white grainy ice.  Wind and water on the surface ripped it up quick!  Stay safe out there!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: FLAGGGG1114 on Feb 22, 2018, 04:04 PM
If anyone could post a ice report off Glimmerglass in the next couple days I would appreciate it.  Traveling there on Friday for the weekend, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that i can get out and fish!  Thanks and Tight Lines!

Thank you for the update! 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Vinny1892 on Jan 23, 2020, 06:15 PM
Anyone know if it has locked up/has safe ice on it?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: fishpalal on Jan 23, 2020, 10:05 PM
Be interested to know myself. Living here in Little Falls has really curbed my appetite for fishing since I used to live in ST. LAWRENCE  county and there were always places where the fish were, not just places to go out on the ice. I have caught some fish on Otsego, but one keeper and a few perch isn’t exactly much success considering the number of lines used while ice fishing.      I am thinking about placing 5 treble hooks on each tip up { within the regulations} and give that a whirl.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Gravel Lizzard on Jan 24, 2020, 12:04 PM
Guys... the lake isn't safe. The bays are starting to freeze, but this warm weather and rain is going open it back up. Hopefully soon!
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Vinny1892 on Jan 24, 2020, 01:31 PM
Thank you saved me a hr drive
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: lowaccord66 on Jan 24, 2020, 09:05 PM
Guys... the lake isn't safe. The bays are starting to freeze, but this warm weather and rain is going open it back up. Hopefully soon!

Thanks.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Craveman85 on Jan 30, 2020, 09:43 AM
I just drove by to check out glimmerglass. There's still water in the bay even. Mostly froze but still some water in spots. I didn't bother walking out. Probably a couple more weeks for me
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Vinny1892 on Feb 03, 2020, 05:05 PM
Any update as to if its locked up/ice thickness?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Yotecatcher on Feb 03, 2020, 05:15 PM
Seen a few guys out at Glimmerglass Saturday can't tell you the thickness of the ice or how it faired after today's temperature.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Vinny1892 on Feb 03, 2020, 07:26 PM
Crap hopefully someone will chime with a  thickness thank anyhow
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: wish4fish on Feb 04, 2020, 07:48 AM
The bait guy in Central Bridge said he had a report of 5-6 inches 300 yds out to the mouth of Hyde bay... but out further over deeper water ice thins out to 1.5-2 in...
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: troutslayer97 on Feb 04, 2020, 08:26 AM
Crap hopefully someone will chime with a  thickness thank anyhow
about 6in. Can only get out to 10ft off of glimmerglass. New ice is pretty obvious. Seem two shacks in town not far off shore in town. New ice at 3mile was about an in. On sunday
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ol crawdad on Feb 04, 2020, 08:38 AM
Getting closer, hope we don't lose any this week, but everyone, BE CAREFUL!  Spud as always at early ice.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Vinny1892 on Feb 04, 2020, 09:11 AM
Hopefully i can get on it by end of feb
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Greatoutdoors1979 on Feb 17, 2020, 10:28 AM
Does anyone know the ice conditions on Otsego Lake?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Harper on Feb 21, 2020, 07:41 PM
Saw reports of 10" on Glimmerglass in 10' of water. Going there tomorrow to see for myself.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Iceman1899 on Feb 22, 2020, 12:37 PM
Thanks for info. Heading there tomorrow as well. I’d like to make it off 3mile to deep water but glimmerglass is a good back up. Got the laker itch but chasing perch will do if need be. I’ll post conditions as well
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Greatoutdoors1979 on Feb 22, 2020, 10:41 PM
Thanks for the info. I'll be heading there soon
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Iceman1899 on Feb 23, 2020, 06:00 PM
Fished off 3 mile point this AM. Went basically East to opposite shore off the point found good consistent 7”. Good steady action on lakers all morning was never on fire at any point
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Gt1224 on Jan 29, 2021, 06:36 AM
Any ice on the bays yet? Haven’t had the time to drive out there this past week
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Tommy_ADK on Jan 30, 2021, 04:40 PM
Any ice on the bays yet? Haven’t had the time to drive out there this past week

Saw a video uploaded 6 days ago where it shows a bit of ice on the shore and the entire lake open. Not sure if it was filmed the same day of course. I haven't been able to confirm in person. Really hope this cold snap locks her up and people can get out there safely 👍👍

Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Greatoutdoors1979 on Feb 01, 2021, 05:52 PM
Checked it out yesterday.  Didnt look safe most of the lake not a soul until 3 mile. 7 shantys out not far from shore. Pulled in and talked to a group coming in who told me there was 2-3 inches of black ice. I didn't go out.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ol crawdad on Feb 02, 2021, 06:20 AM
Checked it out yesterday.  Didnt look safe most of the lake not a soul until 3 mile. 7 shantys out not far from shore. Pulled in and talked to a group coming in who told me there was 2-3 inches of black ice. I didn't go out.

My nephew was at 3MP Sunday.  4 inches near shore, 2 inches a little way out.  Only 3 turns with 8" hand auger.  Not safe.  Hopefully it did not get a lot of snow.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ship of fools on Feb 02, 2021, 06:54 AM
Checked it out yesterday.  Didnt look safe most of the lake not a soul until 3 mile. 7 shantys out not far from shore. Pulled in and talked to a group coming in who told me there was 2-3 inches of black ice. I didn't go out.

Was there any open water?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Greatoutdoors1979 on Feb 03, 2021, 08:05 AM
Yes there was open water by glimmerglass
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Greatoutdoors1979 on Feb 26, 2021, 09:53 AM
Can anyone tell me the current ice conditions on otsego?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: donald krutz on Feb 26, 2021, 10:19 AM
Glimmerglass and Springfield Landing both have at least 8 inches of ice. Snowmobiles and wheelers both on lake.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Cowboys#1 on Feb 26, 2021, 10:57 AM
3mile is good. Wheelers going all the way across.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Greatoutdoors1979 on Feb 26, 2021, 11:05 AM
Thank you for the responses I appreciate it
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: troutslayer97 on Feb 28, 2021, 07:09 PM
Left behind two augers today at 3 mile at 10am. Didn’t realize I forgot them until this afternoon..
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: piscesman on Mar 04, 2021, 06:17 PM
Hope you get your stuff back. A good bunch on here wouldn't think twice. ''''''''''''''''including myself. If it's not yours get it back to who's it is.
      Kim :tipup
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: NBK on Mar 13, 2021, 10:51 AM
Any reports on ice, I would like to get out tomorow morning in the springfield area
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: iloveacrappiedinner on Mar 13, 2021, 01:52 PM
Any reports on ice, I would like to get out tomorow morning in the springfield area
Satellite imagery from today looks like the lake has busted up and is pretty open.  Pretty sure the season is over there.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: jiignut on Mar 13, 2021, 02:52 PM
Where do you get current satellite imagery?
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Iceman1899 on Jan 19, 2022, 04:33 PM
Anybody getting out deep yet? Chasing perch and eyes oneida Saturday might take a drive down to Cooperstown Sunday. Hopefully chase some lakers. Backup plan chase perch out from GG
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Gnarfish on Jan 21, 2022, 04:22 PM
i might go swimming with you
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Iceman1899 on Jan 21, 2022, 05:22 PM
Lol so what’s the best dinner in town?  I don’t mind burning one in the parking lot saying we tried and headin for breakfast
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Gnarfish on Jan 21, 2022, 06:43 PM
haha sounds good, cant give up secret diners on here tho
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: ship of fools on Jan 21, 2022, 07:37 PM
Lol so what’s the best dinner in town?  I don’t mind burning one in the parking lot saying we tried and headin for breakfast

sent you a pm. 
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Yotecatcher on Jan 23, 2022, 11:53 AM
Took a ride around the lake this morning. From what I observed there were guys on the ice in front of the marina in town. Then there were guys on the ice at 3 mile Point and I CLD see guys out on the ice at Glimmer glass. Be safe if you venture out there somewhere as it just froze last week.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Iceman1899 on Jan 24, 2022, 07:07 AM
Thanks for the update yote. Me and couple buddys ended up off 3 mile yesterday early afternoon to dark. Found 3”-5” good ice everywhere we went but like ya said you can tell she just froze and there are still some open spots around the lake. Very slow afternoon. Had some chasers no takers.
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: piscesman on Feb 07, 2022, 04:47 AM
Glimmerglass is iced over good. 12"+  Lots of people too. Wife and I put 7 tip ups in and jigged others. In 36' down to 14' and nothing marked. Didn't see any action from anyone from where we were. Driving out there appeared to be some "carnival" type thing going on. Not sure what that's about...
      Kim :tipup:
Title: Re: Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, NY
Post by: Mr.Esox on Feb 07, 2022, 06:29 AM
My nephew was at 3MP Sunday.  4 inches near shore, 2 inches a little way out.  Only 3 turns with 8" hand auger.  Not safe.  Hopefully it did not get a lot of snow.
Hey big daddy craw still fishing Goodyear ?