ONEIDA LAKE DIEHARDS

[choo choo]

Sure thing. As far as the surgeons go, they are still stocking 500 in the lake each year. The older ones are beginning to reproduce naturally so numbers are steadily increasing, but it will be a long time (20+ years) before anyone is confident enough to allow for an open season.  The largest sturgeon was caught just last summer at 139 lbs!
Yellow perch numbers have been increasing since 2014, and the population now is higher than it was predicted to be back in 2000. White perch numbers, however, are decreasing.
The most common mayfly on the lake that you are probably encountering is Hexagenia limbata. While there are accounts of them being insanely abundant in the 1800s their numbers crashed a few decades ago. Since then they are showing signs of recovery and we are almost sure that the numbers are increasing. The reason is unknown. 
Hope that helps.

thanks for the answers and information Edwards99. Keep up the good work there at the Cornell Bio Station on Oneida.

[reeleyz]

I don’t think you will these 😉

Looks fine to me Fred.

[choo choo]

 Edwards66...thought you might like this picture I took this year of one of the many wind rows containing uncountable numbers of those mayfly shucks on the surface , north shore Oneida lake.
 Wind , waves and current concentrated them into these wind rows. Looks like an oil slick, but it is actually mayfly shucks packed together for hundreds of yards long.

[trapper2000]

I don’t think you will these 😉

I am interested  in knowing what your taste  tester  says  Freddie ... I honestly  never tasted a laker I liked  but I never seen  them that color either

[reeleyz]

The 8-14 Day NOAA forecast is slowly getting better but not a major cool down.

[reeleyz]

I am interested  in knowing what your taste  tester  says  Freddie ... I honestly  never tasted a laker I liked  but I never seen  them that color either

Just like browns, some have a nice orange color and some are very pale. I know some people that like trout just as much as perch and eyes. I take it in moderation. maybe 1 or 2 grilled trout meals a year. Then we pressure can some and use them for fish patties and that is really good.

The one thing that drives me nuts is how much of that fish gets wasted. I look at charters with full racks of salmon and trout and you know half of that meat is getting freezer burned and tossed in the trash.

[filetandrelease]

 
 
, Bruce I to hate when food is wasted
 
 

[PerchEyes]

Just checked the Sylvan Beach web cams. Six brave lads out there today.

[choo choo]

The 8-14 Day NOAA forecast is slowly getting better but not a major cool down.

Darn, I sure hope it freezes up soon.

I took it to the next level of being an Oneida Lake Diehard last April. I got a boat slip on the north shore , and got in over 60 fun fishing trips on Oneida from late april to October and paid for the slip for this year 2020 already. It is amazing how many productive " spot on spots" you can find on that lake.
 Been dying to ice fish some of those spots, but mother nature has not cooperated yet.

Just like browns, some have a nice orange color and some are very pale. I know some people that like trout just as much as perch and eyes. I take it in moderation. maybe 1 or 2 grilled trout meals a year. Then we pressure can some and use them for fish patties and that is really good.

The one thing that drives me nuts is how much of that fish gets wasted. I look at charters with full racks of salmon and trout and you know half of that meat is getting freezer burned and tossed in the trash.

I used to waste a lot of fish myself...freezer burnt etc. I just release All Lakers now, and give away any salmon I catch to friends and family that like them. I do enjoy the browns and rainbows, along with the walleyes , perch and panfish.... no waste on them!

[Catchthis44]

I never cared for lakers but this year I gave it one last shot with a couple 18-20" fish out of Owasco during open water.  Wrapped them in tin foil with lots of butter, fresh lemon, and herbs then threw them on the grill and they came out amazing.  As for the lakers over 20" they get a free pass from me. 

[Edwards99]

Edwards66...thought you might like this picture I took this year of one of the many wind rows containing uncountable numbers of those mayfly shucks on the surface , north shore Oneida lake.
 Wind , waves and current concentrated them into these wind rows. Looks like an oil slick, but it is actually mayfly shucks packed together for hundreds of yards long.

That is awesome! I remember my first summer at the field station seeing our buildings go from white to brown in one night because of those guys. We aren't to the point of shoveling them out of the streets yet but it's great to see them coming back so strong.

Thank you all so much for the support. My portion of the study wraps up in May and I will be sure to keep you updated on the results. Happy fishing

[trapper2000]

I had lakers fromowasco skinny and Ontario i didnt like any of them however i never seen laker fillets look like those i would try them

[scout57]

Just checked the Sylvan Beach web cams. Six brave lads out there today.

was one the brave souls this morning......4" of ok ice.......only went out to 21 fow.......scooted at 10 before the heavy stuff started......spudded my way out with no issues........appeared to be pretty uniform in thickness where I was.......last day out there until next freeze up....top was getting very wet when I left.......decent meal of perch with a half dozen short eyes....typical beach bowl

[dog4up7]

It would be nice if someone local could tie a piece of survey ribbon on to one of the posts at Sylvan Beach, in the view of the Sunset cam. We could see if the wind is plowing and get an idea of just how hard and direction. This would also help to know your looking at a live picture. There are 3 posts on the right that look like snow fence stakes that would work well. Just an idea...

[oneida1]

well scout sounds like you did ok, im still waiting but the itch is getting bad lol....

[PerchEyes]

was one the brave souls this morning......4" of ok ice.......only went out to 21 fow.......scooted at 10 before the heavy stuff started......spudded my way out with no issues........appeared to be pretty uniform in thickness where I was.......last day out there until next freeze up....top was getting very wet when I left.......decent meal of perch with a half dozen short eyes....typical beach bowl

Scout,
Thanks for the report.
Let’s hope the ice makes it to next Thursday when temps finally turns in our favor.

[pimplepounder]

ED99 survey completed....i just stopped up to camp this afternoon to fill propane and go thru all my ice gear we are good to go...stopped into Apps to grab a few things and said hi to Dave and Peg they are fully stocked and have everything u need and what works on the lake...ice at camp out to the islands hope it blows off so we can start with a new sheet...now at the casino with the wife hope she wins big so she can cover my bar tab seeing we can't fish

[pimplepounder]

[pimplepounder]

Close enough

[filetandrelease]

 Nice

[hunts2long]

PP, maybe you can buy some perch...Congrats...h2l

[BeenPerchin315]

Did she pick up the bar tab?

[reeleyz]

Good work PP!

[pimplepounder]

She won a little over a grand got zoned in like I do when my Vex is light up

[trapper2000]

that's  awesome  man  .....

[cnypanfisher]

Holy white caps, it's blowing like hell out there this morning.

[filetandrelease]

Holy white caps, it's blowing like hell out there this morning.

Head to the canal I’m sure some sonar fishermen will be there 😉

[goonboy]

Head to the canal I’m sure some sonar fishermen will be there 😉

I'm sure they can get a good cast today down there 

[choo choo]

That is awesome! I remember my first summer at the field station seeing our buildings go from white to brown in one night because of those guys. We aren't to the point of shoveling them out of the streets yet but it's great to see them coming back so strong.

Thank you all so much for the support. My portion of the study wraps up in May and I will be sure to keep you updated on the results. Happy fishing

Glad you liked the pictureEdwards66. It was really cool to see mother nature at work like that.

Looking forward to seeing the results of the study .

[FishinHank]

That is awesome! I remember my first summer at the field station seeing our buildings go from white to brown in one night because of those guys. We aren't to the point of shoveling them out of the streets yet but it's great to see them coming back so strong.

Thank you all so much for the support. My portion of the study wraps up in May and I will be sure to keep you updated on the results. Happy fishing

They still trawling for walleyes on Oneida? Last time I was there they were trawling walleyes checking for gametes. 4 coolers full of dead walleyes were going to get thrown into the dumpster. I was not amused.