MyFishFinder Forum
MFF US Northeast => New York => Topic started by: Bosco on Jul 19, 2019, 03:04 PM
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Anyone know if there's any sort of resident population there? I understand there's some right next door in Blind Sodus. I've got a place for a weekend (my first time on Little Sodus) and wanted to know if I'd be wasting my time or if there was a challenge in the wait that could pay off. Crappie and Perch would be my 2nd preference but I figure I can always hit the bass and pike if action becomes more important than table fare. I've got the generic contour map and I'm not looking for spots or tips. Just...are there any eyes in there at all? Thanks folks.
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Anyone know if there's any sort of resident population there? I understand there's some right next door in Blind Sodus. I've got a place for a weekend (my first time on Little Sodus) and wanted to know if I'd be wasting my time or if there was a challenge in the wait that could pay off. Crappie and Perch would be my 2nd preference but I figure I can always hit the bass and pike if action becomes more important than table fare. I've got the generic contour map and I'm not looking for spots or tips. Just...are there any eyes in there at all? Thanks folks.
Well the answer to your question is yes it's a bay of lake Ontario lake Ontario has walleye so little sodus has walleye not going to say your going to catch them but then again. I fish Sodus bay all the time and I still haven't found them in there consistently so good luck
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If it's anything like the bays on the eastern end, I would look for shallow rock piles (6' -12') with weeds. Yes, that shallow even this time of year and in this heat. Try lipless cranks, chatter baits and A-rigs. Rip the cranks and chatter baits through the weeds when you hit them.
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table fare I'd be after the perch
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table fare I'd be after the perch
Whats Table Fare is that like cab fare but for the dinner table? Lol I would rather target perch and the pan fish on lake Ontario and then walleye on Oneida
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I don’t know what you guys are doing to your Lake Ontario walleyes to make them taste anything other than excellent unless you’re keeping 10+ lbers
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I keep a lot of Irondequoit Bay Walleye, generally in the 18"-22" specifically for eating and, you're right, they're excellent.
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I fish lake Ontario a lot I fish Oneida lake a lot too first I would take a perch dinner over walleyes any day of the week hands down .....that's not to say I don't keep Ontario walleyes 18 to 22 are good but I think Oneidas are better ...my opinion ......I think it's because of alewives .....and if you eat a 10 walleye I'm betting you enjoy ontarios lake trout burbit and gar pike as well
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The best way to settle this would be to send some fillets from 20" walleyes from each place to an independent taste tester. PM me for the address of a randomly chosen professional walleye taster. Maybe not all walleyes from Oneida are the same so multiple samples from there would be best.
I've had modest size walleyes from both Lake O and Oneida. All good but I prefer those from Oneida. I probably agree that the alewives in Lake O don't improve the flavor of the eyes, especially the larger ones. And as trapper said, hard to beat a perch dinner. By the way, I was told years ago by a now retired bait seller that there are a few locals who target eyes in Litttle Sodus. He would not say much else.
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I'll volunteer....just send your walleye and perch fillets to me and I'll do a completely unbiased taste test for you. I'll even cook each several different ways to be sure of my decision. I can do them fried, baked, blackened, poached or pickled.
So be certain to send enough.
Rg
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How thoughtful 😃
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Ok well I might not be as old as some of you hear but I have alot of experience fishing as I've been on a boat with my Papa since before I could walk. I have had walleyes from all over the state. I live 10 minutes from Sodus bay and 1.5 hours from Onieda. I love to fish sodus but I target perch and panfish there. I also love to fish Onieda and hands down no questions asked if I was given the option to go fish for walleyes on Ontario or Walleyes on Oneida I would make the trip to onieda 100% of the time over Ontario. Walleyes in Onieda taste way better
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I appreciate that RG and I will be certain to add your name to my long list of professional walleye tasters. Just to make sure it's all scientific and all we'll make it a double blind study. So the fillets can first be sent to me and then I'll distribute them to all the tasters without them knowing which body of water they came from. Yeah, that's it.
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All simply opinions.
And, just like Elbows, everyone has one.
8)
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I will donate my taste buds to this sampling
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I 100% agree the big Ontario eyes don’t taste very good. I’ve only kept a couple due to a bad hook down the throat or something like that. Usually I don’t keep anything over 22” for eating. One thing that I don’t think compares and what constantly draws me to the Ontario eyes and is their fight and their size. Oneida eyes taste excellent and it’s a fun fishery for sure I make many trips there myself but they just don’t do much for me compared to Ontario and st Lawrence eyes size and fight
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Catching 10-12# Ontario eyes through the ice aren’t much of a fight , compared to a 5 lb laker or a 4 # LL
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So for a little context (from the fella that started this thread and hopefully not an online dust-up) I live a mile from Irondequoit Bay. I can pull out of my garage, launch, and have a line in the water in 15 minutes (literally) so the Oneida point is moot for me. I've been there a handful of times over the years and caught at least 1 eye every time. Definitely an awesome Walleye lake. Not an issue or even debatable. For me, convenience and proximity wins out over catching fish that are even MORE excellent tasting than the already excellent tasting fish on my doorstep. I fish Perch on I-Bay from October through May and, I agree that they taste even better than Walleye. However, Walleye are a much greater challenge for me and they're the best tasting of the game fish (as opposed to panfish) in my opinion. So as all of that relates to my original post about Little Sodus Bay Walleye, I want the challenge of targeting eyes on a body of water brand new to me. I will, however, keep and thoroughly enjoy any Perch I should happen to incidentally catch while targeting eyes. I'll be at Little Sodus because of a family and friends arranged getaway. Were it strickly a fishing vacation I'd choose Oneida, hands down (or maybe a Quebec fly-in trip). And lastly, thanks for all of the input from everybody. WHEW!!
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No real dust up Bosco, all in fun really. Little Sodus (or Fair Haven Bay) is an interesting body of water. Much of it has a depth in excess of 30 feet and the water seems relatively clean. My brother fishes I-Bay regularly for walleye and does well. I don't know why Little Sodus could not be as good a walleye fishery. There seems to be a good forage base. Maybe it does not have what walleye require for natural reproduction. On the other hand both I-Bay and Little Sodus seem to primarily have a silty bottom. I am not sure if the DEC has attempted walleye stocking there as they have done in I-Bay. In any case good luck to you and let us know how you make out.
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Thanks man. And you're right about the stocking. I-Bay benefits tremendously from bi-annual Walleye stocking. DEC website is pretty transparent in that regard. They mention nothing about Walleye being in Little Sodus or stocking. It looks like they're using that Bay as a Chinook stocking release point. Anyways...it's fun to banter and I'll be taking a stab at it just the same. Worse that could happen is I catch other species in search of a fish that just may not be there in any significant numbers.
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I have had many walleyes from both Oneida and Ontario, some sizable ones too, up to 23'' and they are equally as delicious. Just more consistent fishing on Oneida.
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I have eaten eyes up to 27" out of the SLR and I really didn't notice a difference, other than the fillets are so thick I cut them in half horizontally!
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If my fridge is empty and I've been on a losing streak I'll keep a bigger eye or two as well. No issues whatsoever. Tastes fine. But this time of year when I'm fairly confident I can get 5 to 10 fish in a night, I'll opt for keeping the smaller ones. Not just for taste but also for throwing back the larger breeders. I don't think natural reproduction in I-Bay is particularly successful but I'd still rather not actively work against that potential.
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Bleed them, get them on ice, and trim them good when cleaning and the 10+ eyes eat just like a small one.
And as reeleyz said, cut the pcs smaller so the oil temp doesn't plummet when frying them.
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:rotflol: :rotflol: I don't think so
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Yes trim them for sure! I even trim the small ones by taking out that blood line on the tail.
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Yes trim them for sure! I even trim the small ones by taking out that blood line on the tail.
We just cut the throats once we are limited and headed in by the time we get to shore all bleed nice clean fillets then
(https://i.postimg.cc/c6v0zJQt/10073.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/c6v0zJQt)
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That's what I do too. I keep them alive in the livewell and then before I head in I cut their throats, let them bleed in the livewell for a few minutes, and the motor off. The livewell drains all the blood water out. When I get to the dock it fills up again. When I pull out the livewell drains again leaving it nice and rinsed out. 2 minute drive home and on the cutting board. I trim all the fat and remove the lateral line like Mac Attack said and all is well in Walleye World.
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That's what I do too. I keep them alive in the livewell and then before I head in I cut their throats, let them bleed in the livewell for a few minutes, and the motor off. The livewell drains all the blood water out. When I get to the dock it fills up again. When I pull out the livewell drains again leaving it nice and rinsed out. 2 minute drive home and on the cutting board. I trim all the fat and remove the lateral line like Mac Attack said and all is well in Walleye World.
We never did it up til a couple years ago now I will never not do it
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if you have to go threw all that trouble let them go and go catch a perch or blue gill :rotflol: ya all crack me up
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Bleeding the eyes is an incredible difference in the meat I started doing it last year and I’ll do it every time now. Trapper I don’t understand your comment. If you had a way to better the quality of any meat from any fish wouldn’t you do it as well? Walleyes are fantastic at the end of the day. This is all preference talk, I think everyone in this thread would agree their favorite walleye is the one on their plate
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Trap just likes to stoke the fire
8)
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It's really no trouble. Just a process of taking a little extra care to draw out the optimal taste from the best tasting fresh water gamefish KNOWN TO MAN!! Perch and Bluegill are really no challenge. And they fight like...well...Perch and Bluegill. I like Perch for the numbers early spring, late fall, and then add Bluegill to the mix through the ice. Winter is the only time I find Perch and Bluegill challenging and really that's because I can't be as mobile as in a boat. And honestly, I'm most apt to fish Crappie through the ice because...well...again...the challenge.
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Bleeding the eyes is an incredible difference in the meat I started doing it last year and I’ll do it every time now. Trapper I don’t understand your comment. If you had a way to better the quality of any meat from any fish wouldn’t you do it as well? Walleyes are fantastic at the end of the day. This is all preference talk, I think everyone in this thread would agree their favorite walleye is the one on their plate
truth no bs I grew up in Oswego catching 10 pound plus walleyes they suck plain and simple as honest as can be I keep walleyes under 22 ....bleeding a fish is the stupidest thing I ever heard I never had a bloody walleye fillet .fillet it rise it off no blood ....and I 100% stand by what I say big walleyes taste like mush and Oneida lake has better eating fish now that's my honest opinion and my personal preference.... I rather eat a 16 inch walleye from Oneida....or a perch...not stroken the fire big Ontario walleyes as table fare suck,eat em if you want I'm not going to
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Yup. And I agree. I'd take Oneida eyes an hour and 15 minutes from my house over I-Bay/Lake Ontario eyes any day. Except I-Bay is 2 minutes from my house. Going out tonight, in fact.
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I don't get 10+ pounders here either. A lot of 18-22" and throw in a bunch 25-26" with a few 27" plus over the course of the season.
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Bleeding the eyes is an incredible difference in the meat I started doing it last year and I’ll do it every time now. Trapper I don’t understand your comment. If you had a way to better the quality of any meat from any fish wouldn’t you do it as well? Walleyes are fantastic at the end of the day. This is all preference talk, I think everyone in this thread would agree their favorite walleye is the one on their plate
Trapper is the kind of guy you tell him you need a little kindling and he brings back a 5 gallon can of gasoline. He just like to throw a little gas on the fire that all. :rotflol: :rotflol: :rotflol:
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bosco nothing wrong with that I fish Oswego and Oswego river most days ...same as you 22 and under is in my opinion best eating walleye there is as far as water Oneida is fantastic ... first the water quality is much better second the food base is better ..... equals better eating fish
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Absolutely. No doubt I have to compensate for the Alewife diet in my neck of the woods.
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Absolutely. No doubt I have to compensate for the Alewife diet in my neck of the woods.
Now I love walleyes taste and fishing for them but fish for perch way more often as limit is 10x and almost 20x on Onieda. I have 4 kids 2 feed as well though so I try to stock the freezer mostly during the winter as kids love ice fishing
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you live next to pretty good perch water brad :thumbup_smilie:
I guess my whole point here is this why keep a 10 or 12 pound walleye that is mushy that you are going to bleed and cut down and spend all that effort on ? let the trophy fish go unless you want it on the wall and target smaller better eating fish
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you live next to pretty good perch water brad :thumbup_smilie:
I guess my whole point here is this why keep a 10 or 12 pound walleye that is mushy that you are going to bleed and cut down and spend all that effort on ? let the trophy fish go unless you want it on the wall and target smaller better eating fish
Trapper I'm well aware of what is pretty much in my back yard. But you have mail sir so please check you inbox
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Hi Bosco, is the I bay launch open now? Drove over the bay bridge yesterday and saw a lot of boats on the bay. Thanks.
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I don't know whether to kiss the county executive, the town supervisor, or a parks Dept official but YES!! the launch is open...sort of. One of the ramp docks was outfitted with a wooden riser and an aluminum bridge to accommodate boat launching. Just one though. The other ramp dock is still inaccessible (unless you bring waders...which might not be a bad idea if you go down during the busy time. I'm usually not launching until 9:30 and usually only weeknights so one ramp is plenty... hallelujah!
Also, the park entrance that is the official entrance for vehicle with watercraft in-tow is still barricaded off because of high water but you can access at the entrance by the swing bridge and then walk over to the kiosk and purchase your launch ticket.
Tonight I had my first cast at 9:58 and had my 3 by 10:28. 18", 18" & 20". Fished another hour and went 4 for 7. I lost 2 that hit right at the boat and then one shook off out quite a ways so I put the hook file to the lure and stuck 4 more. Gorgeous flat quiet night. An absolute joy to be out.
This hasn't been a banner year but I'm SOOOO far ahead from last year. I still can't account for why but last year was my worst year in probably 11 or 12 years.
(https://i.postimg.cc/SJcmTS42/IMG-20190722-222731140.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SJcmTS42)
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Congrats on a great night. Must have been fun. Thanks for the update on the launch situation!!
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Great job Bosco! I sent you a PM.
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^5 bosco
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Nice bite Bosco and nice fish ,
I to like eating perch over eyes ,
Big fat gills are super tasty 😋
Everyone enjoy what ever makes you happy
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Nice fish 👍🏻