Really? Oneida Lake has pretty strict walleye regs. Most of New York states walleye limit is a 5 fish limit where as Oneida Lake has a 3 fish limit of at least 15 inches. Used to be 18 inches until DEC figured out that most of the fish being kept were females of breeding age which hurt the population more than anything. Seems that they have it figured out pretty good. Not to mention that at least 500-1000 walleyes made it through winter this year with the bad ice conditions due to the mild winter we had. I would say when you go out and catch 40-50 keeper eyes between a couple guys and you release all but six fish that is some serious catch and release and it also shows the walleye population can support the 3 fish limit.
Fish-On, you were in good company with those guys Got out for an hour & a half or so to try out a theory...got 6 then beat feet before the rain hit.
Fished the north shore this evening. It took about an 1 and and 45 minutes for the 3 of us to get our limit. We are very new to the walleye game and surprised to do so well. We spent the whole time jigging 45 fow....
to the catch and release guy... I have no idea why the eyes are biting so well this year, very low winter harvest is one key factor, favorable weather conditions every weekend since the opener is another, but the big easy bite will end eventually, probably after the young of the year shad get large enough to fill there bellies ,or we trim this population back into a normal proportion... who knows, but until then its great for the masses, young and old, average or veteran....... When the populations get back in check or these fish become full, it will get diffacult again and you'll work for your 3, like dead said though, even though were boating sometimes 40 in a few hours, were only keeping our limit. Just not working for them, these eyes seem very thin to me, like there populations need culling., atleast the ones deeper, the shallow fish are fatter and more healthy looking, seen them feeding on wigglers last week and perch fry last night. Who knows, I'd just enjoy it while it lasts, I myself look forward to a harder bite.
Ok Hollywood, the suspense is killing us, was the theory to see if cubby could locate fish going in reverse
The excellent season we are enjoying this year, in my opinion, is still not as good as the fishing was in the 80's, and I think it had more pressure and fish taken from it back then too. This lake has sustained so many changes in the last 20 years it amazes me that we still have such an incredible walleye lake. Take what ever fish are legal to take, but more importantly...USE THEM. If you have a freezer full, give them to people that love 'em, invite the guys for a fry, anything but letting them get freezer burned & wasted. Snagger's probably right though...tougher days will soon be here. But we'll go anyway and have as much fun or maybe even more!