MyFishFinder Forum
MFF US Northeast => New York => Topic started by: Gino@Rondout on Nov 27, 2014, 09:35 PM
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Hey Guys! I was wondering if any of you knew how to population of landlocked salmon and brown trout is in Otsego Lake near Cooperstown. I know lots of guys get plenty of lakers out of there, but I haven't heard any reports of salmon or browns being caught in recent years, even though I know they have been stocked. Not looking for any secret spots on the lake or what you guys get them on,just wondering about the status of the population. Thanks
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I have not heard of a "Confirmed" landlock catch in some years. DEC did stock 5500 landlocks in 2013 according to their stocking reports. I truly believe they became bait for the starving lake trout. I did not hear of any this year but have not checked the stocking report. The last salmon I personally witnessed was a 5.25 lb fish taken through the ice 4 or 5 years ago. Back in the late 80's, it was not unusual to catch dozens of hammer handle landlocks while ice fishing. It was so bad sometimes that I would move just to get away from them. You could not even get a tipup set before they would hit it right under the ice. I personally have never caught a legal size one.
DEC has stocked a lot of browns in the lake in the past few years, but they just don't get caught very regularly. I have caught a few through the ice a few years ago and a very nice 7.25 lb fish in February 2012, the year Otsego didn't freeze over.
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myfishingpictures.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FIMG_10232.JPG&hash=18181ccfd2b8155d38686d3687c216e7)
They do get caught by some guys who actually target browns in the early spring right after ice out, usually while fishing for lakers or with planer boards dragging stick baits.
I would think more would be caught on a regular basis, but don't hear of many.
BIGJim223
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Thanks for the info Jim!
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By the way I caught the brown above while open water jigging for lake trout. I had caught 2 24-26" lakers before this fish and then got slammed by this brown. A total different strike and fight. I knew it wasn't a laker immediately.
BIGJim223
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We had quite a few good trips out there casting hardware off the different points in late fall, wind and clouds was a big plus. Never got any bombers, but we used to get one or two every trip. We got a few small salmon doing this too. Haven't done it in a few years.
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otsego has been dropping like a rock the fish i mean the stocking is a joke just like the walleyes there is no bait the fish for the most part are starving salmon used to be hot troll light spoons up top at like 2.5 but not worth the gas money now the browns are there but not plentiful walleyes the same lakers are starving you can find them any where from six feet to one sixty talked to dec they put walleyes in to get rid of the alwives and then was told the were going to try to get smelt back there is no bait around cause they go in cycles like rabbits i was told believe what you want there are others who can verify better im sure!!!
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Easy, slow down, take a breath, use a period.
8)
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Smelt would be very nice
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http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq238/laker-chaser/landlockosg.jpg
Otsego is dead now but this is what the lanlocks used to look like. This particular one was caught off 5 mile on a sutton 44. I feel for the poo lakers if there are any left.
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(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi451.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq238%2Flaker-chaser%2Flandlockosg.jpg&hash=b5cbb2f5699a288e312cd3292a823776) (http://s451.photobucket.com/user/laker-chaser/media/landlockosg.jpg.html)
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Wow that's a pig .
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That's the biggest landlock I've ever seen. What did it weigh?
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Landlock weighed 10.6. Those were the days! What a fight.
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That is a dandy to bad there are so many restrictions on this prime lake that the state was pushed from even installing a launch . I guess i shouldn't blame the state with the stocking program thats really messed up cause these fish were there they survive well just don't get put in anymore same as the browns . the lakers are still put in as far as i know but this lake had the potential for so much more , oh and don't forget make sure your boat is spotless to launch but overlook all the chemicals the golf course uses every year!!! they have fined them just not enough in my opinion
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Awesome fish.too bad I wasn't fishing otsego until about 4 years ago right after the crash.when was that pic taken may I ask?
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Dont know the date for sure but must have been in the eightys since im 73 now. Back then you couldnt fish for lakers through the ice, only otsego bass and regular panfish. Im sure ice fishing has taken many breeder fish and also some of the DEC's poor decesions havent helped any. Right now, no bait = no lakers, especially the big boys. Wallys ate all the sawbellys so now what lakers are left to have to scavenge for perch. Big Jim could probably give us some history of the lake. Enclosed is a picture of a 17 pound laker which i caught off 5 mile also. big fish were not a fluke back then.(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi451.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq238%2Flaker-chaser%2Fotylaker.jpg&hash=6055e958890064997c88ac6d5db0e912) (http://s451.photobucket.com/user/laker-chaser/media/otylaker.jpg.html)
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Nice fish Trouter! Those were the days....... I have not seen a Landlock in years, DEC did stock 5500 a couple years ago.I am sure that they became candy for the lake trout!
By the way that is the biggest LL I have seen out of Otsego! Used to see a couple 5-6 lb fish a year, but that one is a hog!
BIGJim223
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the lake has gone through such drastic changes over the years from a whitefish/cisco forage base to smelt then to alewives, now...baby perch? Very difficult situation all the way around. Tough for the predators to survive when there is nothing left to eat. Lake sure used to have some monsters. That salmon is incredible!
It will get back to that point eventually. Its the same lake, same water...just need some help with its population dynamics.
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(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi451.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq238%2Flaker-chaser%2Flandlockosg.jpg&hash=b5cbb2f5699a288e312cd3292a823776) (http://s451.photobucket.com/user/laker-chaser/media/landlockosg.jpg.html)
good mother of god that is a mule landlock! That'd be on my wall
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Lakers were not only thing eating browns and landlocks. Tough to manage a lake like Otsego with 2 apex predators, walleye and lake trout. Once a problem in food chain occurs you have a lot of predators demanding food from somewhere. Last I knew DEC stopped managing lake for browns and landlocks and will not stock any more. Changed regs on browns as well.Will take many years for lake to come back. Hope it does though. Would like to see those 17 pounders again.
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dont forget the bald eagles
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Two beauties! ;D ;D ;D