Walleye in the North East

Woodstock60

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Are there any walleye fisherman from the NE here, particularly New York or New England?
 

John_S

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Yes, for a week or two in May (after opener), and months of Novemeber and December, (when the bass don't bite as much). Otherwise, just when they seem to be more active than the smallies or other fish.
 

Mark_VTfisherman

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Are there any walleye fisherman from the NE here, particularly New York or New England?

Vermont- and YES! I love trolling for walleye, eating walleye, catching walleye. Not a lot of waters with walleye in the northeast, but there are a few in Vermont.

Planning to come to Vermont? None in NH (except the Connecticut River which borders Vermont), none in Maine. Some in Massachusetts, but I hear stories of walleye, but no one I know in Mass catches them or fishes them:confused:
 

Woodstock60

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Thats great to hear, walleye fishing is one of my favorites, unfortunatly there are none here in RI. Connecticut does stock a dozen or so ponds and lakes and one of them is Beach pond which borders RI so you can use either a Rhode Island or Connecticut license. They started stocking in 2001 so we finally started getting big fish ( 4 to 5 pounders )two years ago. My fishing buddies and I have been taking week long fishing trips to upstate New York for 12 years now. We would go to lake Onterio, lake Onieda and Canadarago lake and primarily fish for walleye or Tiger muskie ( Canadarago has them). This year we go to Canadarago in july, with a cabin and a dock right on the water, can't wait. I'm curious about Vermont, what bodies of water are the best for wallele in youir area? I have a cousin about half way up in Corinth. Ronnie
 

Mark_VTfisherman

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Thats great to hear, walleye fishing is one of my favorites,........I'm curious about Vermont, what bodies of water are the best for wallele in youir area? I have a cousin about half way up in Corinth. Ronnie

Corinth? That's about 45-60 minutes south of here, depending on frost heaves and tourist traffic :)

Where in Vermont? Champlain has 'em, as well as a few impoundments and lakes, and the Connecticut river.

Best bodies of water? Hmmm. That's like secret stuff, protected by our Homeland Security contacts ;)
The last guy that told our fishing secrets was asked, "is there life after death?" when they interrogated him. They said, "tell any more secrets and you'll find out!" JK:D

If you ever get up this way PM me and I will see if I can get the time to take you out. We are pretty successful most days.
 

Chsrlietuna

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Re: Walleye in the North East

I have caught walleyes here in NY. I Lived down by New Paltz for 5 years and caught some nice ones on the Wall kill river. The DEC stocks them there. Since someone already mentioned Oneida lake I will just second that. I now live near Albany and hear about walleyes in Sacandaga Reservoir. That is probably just over an hour from Corinth give or take. I'm sure you will find them in other bodies of water as well.
When I lived in Wisconsin they were everywhere. You would have a bad day if you couldn't catch one. Good luck finding eyes!

-CT
 

Mark_VTfisherman

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Re: Walleye in the North East

I Lived down by New Paltz for 5 years and caught some nice ones on the Wall kill river. The DEC stocks them there. Since someone already mentioned Oneida lake I will just second that. I now live near Albany and hear about walleyes in Sacandaga Reservoir. That is probably just over an hour from Corinth give or take....

Actually about 160 miles from Corinth, probably 190 miles from here. But that's Vermont. Here I mean :)

You got me to look up the lake- 42 square miles, and I see there is a Corinth New York which must be what you were referring to.

If that wasn't 4 hours away, 42 square miles sounds like fun to explore. I may have to research it a little and make it my disappearing act this summer :D Want to know where they catch Walleye and what the contours and bottom look like. If I get the little yellow boat sold this spring will have a new Sonar with GPS and Navionics...:cool: Big space like that will take more than a flash light to find your way back to the launch at night, and it'd be nice to know what I might run into underwater. Wouldn't want to drive 4 hours and stay a few days for little fish either :D I can catch little stuff a lot of places within 30 minutes
 

John_S

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Re: Walleye in the North East

NY DEC has been stocking walleyes into many waters. They harvest the eggs/sperm from their netting of walleyes from Oneida Lake, and process at their hatchery. Otisco is suppose to be the "new" walleye lake that is up and coming. While I have fished it, haven't really tried for walleyes. Reports indicate trolling after dark is what it takes. Heard similiar for Owasko. My experience with Adirondak lakes, that most have a declining walleye population, or just holding their own. Sac Res has been known for good walleyes, and my dad has a 10lber on the wall, from years ago.

For myself, it is the NY Susky for my primary walleye fishing, with some at Whitney Pt Res and tributary, some sections of the Mohawk River, and Delta Lake.
 

bouttime007

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Cant help ya with any Maine walleye, but we have a little bit of everything else. :D
 

Mark_VTfisherman

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Re: Walleye in the North East

...........that most have a declining walleye population, or just holding their own. Sac Res has been known for good walleyes, and my dad has a 10lber on the wall, from years ago......

Is there a reason for the decline? Lack of forage? Water not fertile enough? Water too clear? No rocky shorelines or good rivers to spawn?

Just wondering. Walleyes are like rabbits in sufficiently fertile waters with a lot of breeding baitfish in Vermont.

The challenge of fishing in unfamiliar waters and plying my skills at finding fish started becoming intriguing to me last year. I may have to get a NY license and try it out!
 

John_S

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Is there a reason for the decline? Lack of forage? Water not fertile enough? Water too clear? No rocky shorelines or good rivers to spawn?

Probably some of all you have said. I think acid rain, while it has been reduced, still plays a factor. Most of the lakes I try to keep an eye on are within 1 hour of Canada Lake, in the lower Adirondaks.
 

87rocket455

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Are there any walleye fisherman from the NE here, particularly New York or New England?

Well i am not in the Ny area, but PA yes. I love to walleye fish too. Typically at Kinzua. This past weekend just uncovered the boat and started to do some maint on it. Cannot wait for a little after the ice thaws it is time to catch them spawning :)
 

John_S

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Re: Walleye in the North East

I have seen many a large smallie, walleye, and muskie, come from Kinzua. Both PA and NY side. I wish I lived closer to that water.

My motto is, for every hour of drive time, you have lost the equivelent time on the water. :)
 

Woodstock60

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Mark, I had two other guys going with me to Canadarago lake,right next to Cooperstown, NY. We got a cabin right on the water with a dock, one guy backed out so I'm looking for a third. Second week of july the 10th to the 17th. very nice lake, 4 miles long, one mile wide, 40 ft deep. The NY dec takes very good care of this lake stocking walleye and tigermuskie (saw a guy catch a 38#er two years ago) trips pretty cheap, byob ( bring your own boat) PM me if yor interested. trip is for hard core fishermen. We go morning noon and night. Ronnie
 

John_S

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Canadarago Lake, or what the locals call Richfield Lake, like many lakes, have had their ups and downs over the years. It has always had some form of sustaining walleye population, as long as I can remember. In 2007? the lake was flooded for most of the summer, and kept boats off. But we had a colder than normal winter, and probably got hit with a decent amount of ice fishing. Allot of perch, and some walleye fisherman. While the DEC has been stocking tigers for years, to help reduce carp population, the walleye stockings must be only in the last couple of years. My uncle has a place on the south east part of the lake, but he doesn't seem to have a good finger on the pulse of the local fishing. It use to be one of my dad's fishing grounds, living just north in Herkimer. I have heard many of the "old time" stories about the lake. :) Enjoy your trip, and report back on how your party did.
 

Mark_VTfisherman

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Re: Walleye in the North East

Anybody have input on good parts of Canadarago to go trolling for Walleyes? Is it a rocky bottom lake, or muddy/weedy? What about water clarity? I am used to very rocky transitioning from flat/muddy with weeds against shore in both scenarios. Trying to plan ahead... A lot of the lake appears to be somewhat deeper than what I am used to. Are the walleye there running deeper, or do they like it 10-16, maybe 20'? 10-18ish is what I am used to, lots of small ridges covered with rocks, stones, even boulders in a few spots.

Thanks!
 

John_S

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Re: Walleye in the North East

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/canlkmap.pdf

Where my uncles place is (south east side) it very shallow, hard packed sand. Many sections of dock to get the boats at a minimum depth. If I remember right, north end is muddy, south has submerged weeds and gets a fair number of bass boats. Water is clear. I remember some rock, but nothing like what I am used to in the daks. The outer edges around the island, and the sunken island NW of it, is what I hear about.

Good Luck.

PS: You might want to look at Fishfinder.com and watch for reports on the lake.

PSS: The Lake House resturaunt on north east side use to have decent food. It has had a number of owners in the last few years, so not sure anymore. They do have docks.
 
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