As the firearm deer season moves from early to late on the calendar, deer move to hide in the thickest cover during the daytime.
Deer drives, leveraging the natural behavior of deer, using a group of safety-conscious hunters, is an effective hunting strategy.
Brock Windoft, after downing a magnificent buck with deer camp buddies, said, “There’s nothing like going back to our roots. The camaraderie of deer camp and deer pushes (drives) will never get old.”
by Forrest Fisher
Deer camp, a sanctuary away from daily distractions, is where friends and family come together in the heart of nature. The shared excitement of a successful hunt, the laughter over jokes, the thrill of card games, the fun misadventures, and the quiet moments in your tree stand or during a deer drive – these are the experiences that forge a bond, creating priceless memories that last a lifetime.
During a deer drive last weekend, Brock Windoft of Lakewood, NY, downed a magnificent 10-point monster buck that might have been the king of the Chautauqua County woods. Ryan McChesney photo
In Chautauqua County, with thousands of acres of grapes and farmland that are supplemented by thousands of acres of multiple state forest lands – deer (and black bear too) thrive among the diversity of cover types that allow a variety of wildlife species to thrive. Between 8,000 and 10,000 deer are harvested by hunters each hunting season here – in just Chautauqua County. Hunting is allowed on most state forest lands for big game.
Between the state lands and farmlands, hills and forests among the many privately owned lands provide cover for deer to thrive and grow all year. Many of these lands are never harvested for timber, and they are thick with underbrush and cover, even without leaves. The biggest deer find these areas and stay under such cover when the woods become busy during hunting season.
As the season moves from early to late firearm season, the deer hide in the thickest cover during the daytime. This is when deer drives with multiple hunters working together can increase the chances for success. The “drivers” push deer towards the “blockers,” safely positioned to intercept deer on the move. Teamwork helps cover more ground and creates more chances than a solo hunter might have.
During a deer drive last weekend, Brock Windoft of Lakewood, NY, downed a magnificent 10-point monster buck that might have been the king of the woods. Sharing the magical moments after the kill, Windoft said, “There’s nothing like going back to our roots. The camaraderie of deer camp and deer pushes (drives) will never get old. We created our own opportunities, and we can relish the moment when we capitalize.”
Hunting with a group of 10 others, Windoft added, “The 2024 season will be a hard year for us to beat. A huge thanks to Ryan McChesney and the rest of the group for making it happen. My biggest buck to date!” The other hunters in deer camp include Denver and Jeremy Morrison, Jason Preston, Travis and Nick Fisher, Zach Weatherlow, Chris Lanphere, and Craig and Don Hewes.
Deer drives are an effective huntingnstratgey that requires multiple hunters practicing safety to leverage the natural behavior of deer – the results can be impressive. Members of this deer camp included Brock Windoft (2nd from left), Ryan McChesney, Denver and Jeremy Morrison, Jason Preston, Travis and Nick Fisher, Zach Weatherlow, Chris Lanphere, and Craig and Don Hewes (not all are shown in this photo).
Deer drives, leveraging the natural behavior of deer, are an effective hunting strategy. However, it’s crucial for every hunter to prioritize safety, ensuring they only shoot when the target and beyond the target are known. This responsible approach not only ensures the safety of all involved but also upholds the integrity of the hunt.
Most of our state lands and wildlife management area properties allow hunting. For hunters with disabilities, specific roads on these lands can be accessed by motor vehicle after obtaining a special use permit. This easy access is a testament to our commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that all hunters can enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
Some of the Chautauqua County State Lands include Alder Bottom Wildlife Management Area, Panama State Forest, Watts Flats Wildlife Management Area, Chautauqua Gorge State Forest, North Harmony State Forest, Mount Pleasant State Forest, Hill Higher State Forest and several others.
When hunting anywhere, all hunters should remember to practice “Leave No Trace Principles” to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, minimize the impact on the natural resources and avoid conflicts with other users. To learn more about hunting and accommodations in Chautauqua County, NY, visit https://www.tourchautauqua.com.
The last day of the regular firearm season in the Southern Zone of New York State (includes Chautauqua County) runs from Nov. 16-Dec. 8, 2024. The late archery and muzzleloader season runs concurrently from Dec. 9-Dec. 17 and Dec. 26-Jan. 1. For online license renewals and license sales visit the NYS Portal Online. Visit NYS DECfor regulation and licensing information, as well as specifics on other season dates.
Black Bass fishing competition in Chautauqua Lake attracts anglers from multiple competition circuits on a weekly basis all summer long.
Lake Erie walleye tournaments from Chautauqua County offer $500,000 cash and prize packages…AND MORE!
Expanding Black Bear numbers are attracted to bird feeders and backyard garbage cans.
Photo by NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
By Forrest Fisher
In summertime – anglers, photographers, hikers, bikers, boaters and family campers are attracted to the southwest corner of New York State for many reasons.
Black bears have recently become a secondary common occurrence in Chautauqua County. According to the NYSDEC, early summer is the time for black bears to roam for multiple reasons. The youngest of bears, the “bear cubs,” are growing fast each day and are beginning to follow mom, who is constantly searching for food. DEC says early summer grasses and plants are less nutritious than fall-time nuts and berries. So mother bears roam bird feeders and garbage cans and teach their young to do the same. That’s when most of us can capture a picture, and have, in recent weeks. Some bears are brave and small enough to walk through the pet door and into your kitchen. When that happens, it’s a new world for people and bears.
The intermediate-age bears, the juveniles that denned up with mom over winter, got booted this spring to make room for the new cubs. They are about 18 months old and full of energy, curious, have little fear, and like to explore – but they are still learning. Backyard pickings are their target, as trained by mom, but while these bears are easily confused, they quickly learn what to avoid. Residents can find them close to their homes, but they are warned to leave them alone for their own safety.
Chautauqua Lake offers multiple weekend bass fishing tournaments and is the region’s top inland lake bass fishing destination. Forrest Fisher Photo
I did not realize until recently, learning more about bears, that both male and female bears may mate several times in early summer. It’s not unusual for cubs from a single litter to have a different father. While female bears rarely leave their home range for the good of the gene pool, they let the males come to find them. So, adult male bears may travel long distances through various females’ home ranges. Adult male bears are roaming far and wide in search of a mate. These are the big bears often seen by residents and visitors alike.
That’s the background. A word to residents and visitors is to SIMPLY be extra vigilant right now. Residents are requested to ensure there is nothing around their property that will attract bears. More importantly, the NYSDEC says don’t approach bears, don’t feed bears, and don’t call all your neighbors to come watch. If the bear is headed to a safe space for bears, leave it alone. Call your state wildlife agency if you’re worried it’s at risk because it’s wandering through a densely populated area. And then make sure you and your neighbors have no unsecured food sources, pet food, birdseed or other attractants that would tempt it to hang around. To learn more, visit https://dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/black-bear/bearwise and https://bearwise.org/.
The Chautauqua Lake Bassmaster Association regularly conducts organized tournaments (catch and release), with lake resources and conservation as a primary group focus. Photo by Chautauqua Lake Bassmasters Association
In New York State, bass anglers have quickly moved from the opening day of bass season in NYS (June 15) and into July! With all the local tournament action on Lake Erie for walleye, the black bass is overshadowed, but they are still there and are world-class fish by size. Visitors here are lucky to have two species of bass in WNY: the largemouth bass and the smallmouth bass. Largemouth prefer shallower, weedy water like the Chautauqua Lake south basin, Cassadaga Lakes and Findley Lake.
Smallmouth bass are found in all those lakes, but Lake Erie is the prized resource for abundant large smallmouth bass. The deepwater dropoffs near Brocton Shoal, Van Buren Point, and Point Gratiot are local hangouts for schools of smallmouth bass that can tilt the scales with 5-pound+ fish, that’s huge for consistent smallmouth bass catches. Lake Erie offers the finest smallmouth bass fishing in New York State and, arguably, the entire United States. The smallmouth are found along the NY shoreline. Blade baits, jigs and drop-shot rigs are among the favored local angler rigs.
Chautauqua Lake offers multiple weekend bass fishing tournaments and is the region’s top inland lake bass fishing destination. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass can each provide good action for those fishing in the right spots. Look for rock drop-offs, points, gravel shoals, gravel bars near creek mouths, and the sunken islands in the south basin. The largemouth are found around the dock systems and weedbeds. To learn more about local hotspots and specific lures and baits, visit https://www.tourchautauqua.com/shop/bait-tackle-and-sporting-goods.
One 6-gallon bucket full of walleye will make a tasty dinner table. Forrest Fisher photo
The three major boat launch ports of Lake Erie allow easy access to bass, walleye, lake trout, and steelhead for anglers with trailerable boat rigs. These three ports are Barcelona Harbor (Daniel Reed Memorial Pier), Dunkirk Harbor (Chadwick Bay) and Sunset Bay State Park Marina (Hanover).
From the start of June through the end of September, there are 10 Lake Erie walleye tournaments from these three ports of Chautauqua County. The walleye are big, tasty and easy to catch. How can it get better for resident and non-resident anglers?! The fish and wildlife organizations of Lake Erie estimate the Lake Erie walleye population to be about 150 million. The highest of all time. Fishing methods include rod-in-hand trolling, casting with jigs and blade baits, and the most popular – trolling with multiple lines adjusted to the proper depth to attract the fish at their suspended lake levels near the stratified thermocline layer found here in the summertime. For a list of walleye tournaments, visit https://www.tourchautauqua.com/events/category/fishing-tournaments.
Grab your camera and your fishing pole for Chautauqua Country!
CBS Morning News Videographer Carl Mrozek, with a nice walleye catch from Lake Erie near Dunkirk, NY. Forrest Fisher photo.
We sincerely hope that you and your families are well and that you have enjoyed this unusual Easter weekend more than expected. Yesterday, here in Western New York, it was a gorgeous spring day. As you can see, the daffodils at the end of the vineyard rows are celebrating.
A PERFECT PAIRING – The Dry Rose of Pinot Noir is delicious with Reverie Creamery’s Black Garlic Chèvre (made with locally-grown and produced black garlic from Ramm Garlic Farm) and home-made bread. Yes, this pairing celebrates our “sense of place” with both wine and cheese from Chautauqua County. Reverie Creamery is a small batch artisanal cheesemaker on the west shore of Chautauqua Lake – it is open (SEE website for their hours) and can provide pre-order curbside delivery.
We appreciate, with gratitude, all of the interest and support we are receiving from our customers. Thank you for serving our wines at your tables.
Going forward, we can send periodic updates of activities on the farm (pruning is finished and trellis repairs have begun) and in the winery (secondary in-bottle fermentation has been started for the Sparkling Traminette and our new estate-grown Chardonnay-Pinot Noir Cuveé!) – for neither the vines nor the wines in the tanks understand that there is a pandemic.
We are confident that by the time these sparkling wines are ready to be released that we will be free to enjoy them together.
Need a fresh taste of Spring?
Dry Rose of Pinot Noir
Traditional “French provençal” rosé – perfect with dinner, especially when served not-too-cold. She doesn’t usually pour a second glass, but Jennifer did with this one!
Ruby Dry Rosé Made from Maréchal Foch grapes and bursting with fruity flavors. Don’t tell anyone, but Jennifer said that this wine is the first one that ever made her think of the word “gulp”!
Warm Spring Regards,
Jennifer & Fred Johnson, Johnson ESTATE Winery
To receive our emails to your inbox, please add this email address to your contact list – admin@johnsonwinery.com – as some email providers may divert our emails into your spam folder.
Look for these Critical Elements to assure a great Turkey Hunt:
Woods, Waters, Streams, and Forage Resources
High-Harvest Average
Lots of Public Hunting Land – it spreads out the hunters
Chautauqua County in New York meets the List!
By Mike Joyner
My Hat-Trick Gobbler – thanks to Jake Ensign for this photo.
Ultimate destination – a bold claim for a resource-laden state such as New York. To be clear, New York boasts many vibrant outdoor adventure meccas, but you’ll want to plan your next turkey hunting and spring fishing getaway to the outdoor paradise in Chautauqua County. Hunting and fishing interests are easy to satisfy and that’s the honest goal for every sportsman.
My recent hat-trick getaway to Chautauqua was memorable and was just what the doctor ordered to decompress and rejuvenate my busy business life. The excursion found me spring turkey hunting in the mornings with Jake Ensign, followed by an afternoon of fishing with Captain Frank Shoenacker of Infinity Charters. In the evenings, after the outings, I could choose from a smorgasbord of places to visit and explore. My base of operations would be at the Comfort Inn Hotel in Jamestown – it was close to Chautauqua Lake and the turkey woods. Perfect for the extra minutes of sleep needed when chasing gobblers.
I met up with Jake Ensign, a supreme hunting friend that lives nearby.
Jake provided an eye-opening personal tour of his game room, as he is one of only a few dozen archery hunters to successfully hunt all of the North American Big Game Species. It was evident to me, Jake had spent many years of dedicated preparation to be so successful. Jake goes the extra mile, the extra 10 miles, in making each hunt an exercise in due diligence. It is impressive even to a veteran turkey hunter like myself.
Jake Ensign hosted us on a private tour of North American Big Game critters that he took with his bow.
My introduction to the Chautauqua County turkey woods came early the next morning and did not disappoint. We started out just above a vineyard on a ridge top with plenty of roost trees. Plenty of sign was present. Feathers, tracks, scat and dusting bowls were scattered about during our walk in and out. With the exception of two clucks further up the ridge behind us, we were greeted with a whisper quiet, yet beautiful morning. You could hear every sound and if a turkey gobbled, we could easily locate the bird and make an approach.
As the sunrise greeted us, a chorus of trains blasted their air horns providing shock gobble inspiration from nearby highway crossings far below us. The gobblers, however, opted to be of the strong and silent types. We gave it some time to let the place reveal itself and after several setups, we backed out to not disturb the location. Running and gunning was not the game plan that so many engage in when the action is at a lull. Jake had mentioned they have had many successful hunts in that spot. Assessing the area with such ample sign, I would agree. Of course, when you have plenty of Intel on an area, courtesy of Jake, you conduct each hunt more patiently.
Collin Voss, a young local outdoorsman, is sizing up this giant bear. He did admit, “Geez, he’s huge!”
After checking a number of properties in the southern region of the county we came upon a parcel not far from Route 86 and got an eager gobble in response to our pleas. With a flat ridge top that lay between us, we settled in to see if we could persuade him across. The wind had come up and it was a solid “maybe” as to whether or not the bird answered us after that. Thirty minutes later a report of something lesser than a 12ga shotgun rang out ahead of us, but much lower on the ridge on another property. We decided to back out. Consistent with other properties we checked, we would come across plenty of turkey sign including sets of gobbler tracks. We were in the middle of great turkey country
The first morning concluded with sightings of a few hens out bugging in the fields, as we searched for more gobblers to keep track of for the next hunt tomorrow.
Having hunted gobblers in nearly half of New York’s 62 counties, I would point out that the turkey woods of Chautauqua County are among the nicest woods I’ve ever set foot in. A quick review of the past 10 years of harvest data reveals Chautauqua as #1 in New York for turkey hunting harvest. In any given season, Chautauqua is always in the top echelon. With over 20,000 acres of public forests and a mix of land types and food sources, it would be a sound recommendation to add Chautauqua County to your annual spring and fall gobbler chasing vacations.
Before heading out for an afternoon of fishing with Captain Frank Shoenacker on Chautauqua Lake, Jake suggested that we have the best sandwich to be had anywhere (i.e. North America) for lunch. I naturally agreed. My sampling verified his suggestion. A trip to the Ashville General Store is must do stop during your time in the area. The “Jester” spicy turkey sub served hot is a turkey hunter-approved menu item (https://ashvillegeneral.com).
After that great lunch, I met up with Frank at the Bemus Point boat launch. The launch was easy to find and not far from the exit off Route 86 for Bemus Point. With eight boat launch sites available on Chautauqua Lake, there is ample access for all boaters (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/23907.html). The Lund Tournament Pro-V was perfect on this beautiful, sunny afternoon. The Lund had a heavier hull and was stable, even in the slight chop we had.
Perfect boat for our day on Chautauqua Lake.
On this outing, Frank and I would both fish and that set the table for a relaxing time on the water. We fished simple, drifting live worms along weed beds and enjoyed lots of fun conversation. As Frank spends more time guiding than fishing, I invited him to fish too and our trip became perfect fun. We were using a killer rig, a homemade double-hook worm harness with a butterfly spinner made by Frank. It’s sort of a secret rig.
We were one of just a handful of boats on the water as you might expect at mid-week of the early season. We caught walleye, perch and a surprisingly large bullhead. A perfect afternoon.
Captain Frank Shoenacker with his secret troll/drift rig to catch walleyes.
In his larger boat, Frank also guides on Lake Erie: Infinity Charters https://www.infinitycharters.com/. It is a fantastic way to plan an essential part of your Chautauqua Hat Trick.
Having fished Lake Erie in the past, it is also on my ‘A’ list to visit frequently. I plan to return with my bride of nearly nineteen years to modify the hat trick concept, this time, to be a fishing and lazy-tourist combo. Lee, my wife, loves to fish, and I have promised her to revisit the region.
For the evening, I needed to visit the Southern Tier Brewing Company for a craft beer tasting and a pulled pork sandwich. Accompanied by their “Nitro Stout,” a great beer product, they earned my attention for another “must-do” stop while in the region. Their friendly staff and personal service were 5-star.
I caught up with Jake after dinner to plan the morning hunt and received good news. As Jake scouts at sunset periods, he has endless energy, he found two different turkeys roosted. This is the best kind of news to get when chasing gobblers. Again, another short night, but I would wake up 10 minutes before the alarm clock sounded. Excited? A little bit.
One prime spot we found in Chautauqua turkey country.
This last morning of my hunt, I would come to appreciate the dedicated strategies that Jakes executes. Our walk to the first roosted bird was in total silence, not a twig nor a dried leaf to reveal our progress. Jake routinely rakes and grooms his paths for stealthy approaches to known roosting areas. It is this extra effort that ups the odds for a successful hunt.
As daylight approached, a hen began to yelp on the limb, not sixty yards from where I sat. Jake mimicked her and I would also respond with muted tree yelps. No gobbling nearby, but one volley of gobbles came from the second location that Jake had marked the night before. It was a little over 250 yards from us. Once the hen flew down, she walked right past Jakes’ location as he sat motionless. She fed away. Once she left, we moved up about 100 yards toward a low swampy area where we had heard the gobbling.
We got a quick response from four different gobblers once we sat down and began calling from our new position. They had closed the distance, spotting them moving to my left around the swamp at 80 yards. They were circling and closing fast. As seconds seemed far too long, the most aggressive and vocal of the birds marched in and would stop within range to survey for the hen. The brilliant red, white and blue heads of the gang of four was impressive. The boom that followed sent the other three back as quickly as they came. Maybe a little faster, as I think of it.
The turkey woods was picturesque with a lush green canopy newly emerged. It was a great hunt in a beautiful hardwood forest. It also reaffirmed the wisdom for scouting, roosting, letting the hunt play out, and having patience. All of these hallmark attributes describe Jakes’ approach to turkey hunting.
My hat-trick gobbler was right on time, thanks to the good scouting of my buddy, Jake Ensign, who snapped this photo. Jake Ensign Photo
We concluded the hunt with a hearty breakfast which always tastes a little better after a successful hunt! We’ll catch up again in the near future to hunt next year when I am sure to return!
There are so many places to visit here. Great eateries, wineries, breweries, entertainment venues – something for everyone.
I have planned a returned visit for next year, stay tuned!
Families: It’s Maple Syrup Time and Late Winter Adventures
Brock Windoft of Lakewood, NY, with a beautiful winter musky caught and released from Chautauqua Lake ice.
Chautauqua, New York – Feb. 22, 2018: Winter Fishing – Anglers on Chautauqua Lake have enjoyed one of the finest ice fishing seasons in several years. Huge crappie over three pounds, walleye over 10-pounds, lots of toothy musky – some better than four feet long, as well as bluegills and yellow perch, all have been testing the lightweight winter fishing lines of anglers from Mayville to Jamestown. Hard ice off the north side of Long Point has provided excellent fishing, though anglers accessing the lake from the Mayville Town Park parking area have enjoyed good catches as well. With spring warming trends, the once solid ice of 10-12 inches thickness will thin quickly. Open water flows from tributary creeks will soon begin and runoffs from warming canals will initiate the onset of early crappie fishing for hardy anglers, well ahead of the usual calendar start. For the latest fishing news, check with Skip Bianco at Hogan’s Hut, www.hogans-hut.com/, 716-789-3831 or Mike Sperry at Chautauqua Reel Outdoors, www.chautauquareeloutdoors.com/, 716-763-2947.
Shotgun Hunters: Canada geese – they abound as a golden Chautauqua opportunity for 5-bird daily bag limits with the nine-day late Goose Hunting Season that runs March 2-10. Cackling geese and white-fronted geese may be taken as part of the Canada goose daily and possession limit. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Snow geese season is open now too, they may be taken by special Conservation Order through April 15, daily limit is 25 birds. The geese species, possession limit is three times the daily limit, except for snow geese. Use of non-toxic shot required and hunters should remember that the possession limit is the maximum number of birds with you in the field, at home, in transit or in storage. For special hunter regulations visit: www.dec.ny.gov.
Maple Syrup Family Adventures – the sunny winter weather has been with us, maple tree sap is flowing in Chautauqua County. Maple weekends are just ahead: March 17-18 and March 24-25, 2018. There are three Sugar House Sites that will offer free, family-oriented events to learn about maple syrup making, each site offering different “See & Do Fun,” many with free samples. Mmmm! Learn about boiling tree sap, filtering, bottling, packaging and making maple sugar candy. Enjoy horse drawn wagon rides, hiking tours, other activities. Events run no matter rain or snow or shine. Wear boots. Add these stops to your schedule: Big Tree Maple, 2040 Holly Lane, Lakewood, NY,14750, www.bigtreemaple.com, 716-763-5917; Clear Creek Farm, 5067 Morris Road, Mayville, NY, 14757, www.clearcreekfarms.us/, 716-269-2079; Fairbanks Maple, 9265 Putman Road, Forestville, NY, 14062, www.facebook.com/FairbanksMaple/, 716-965-4208.
For any of these outings, spend the weekend at a bed and breakfast, a warm winter cottage or a deluxe winter water playground hotel. Some options: http://www.tourchautauqua.com/where_to_stay.aspx.
Outdoor Media Contact: Dave Barus – Fishing & Hunting Promotions Associate, Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 1441, Chautauqua, NY, 14722; email: dbarus35@yahoo.com; Cell: 716-597-4081. Visitors Bureau Travel/Accommodations Contact: R. Andrew Nixon, Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 1441, Chautauqua, NY, 14722; Office: 716-357-4569; email: nixon@tourchautauqua.com; web: http://www.tourchautauqua.com; www.Facebook.com/Tour.Chautauqua.
Jan Adair (left) landed this nice walleye, her first walleye ever, while fishing Chautauqua Lake, then caught five more walleye before the noon hour while fishing with Captain Frank Schoenacker (right).
By Forrest Fisher with guide, Frank Schoenacker (Infinity Charters)
When great guides and charter captains talk, honest anglers that don’t always catch fish listen. So I listen very well. I’m as honest as they come. One thing I’ve discovered, when anglers share life through the gift of a fishing charter, good things can happen!
During a recent Chautauqua Lake fishing trip for one client couple, there came lasting memories and lots of fishing fun.
The client contacted my friend and local guide, Frank Schoenacker, in December, as she had purchased a charter fish trip as a Christmas gift for her boyfriend. Frank said, “They both fish, but haven’t done much walleye or musky fishing. So last week, they had a couple of firsts. She landed her first ever walleye, which was a nice 17-inch fish, then she followed up with 5 more! That’s not all, her boyfriend caught his first musky while fishing for walleyes.”
Frank added, “I teach my clients to fish simple. It all starts with meeting them at a common place. At Chautauqua Lake, for many guides and for me too, that place is the Bemus Point boat launch. The next thing is not overcrowding the action and the people aboard. On Chautauqua, I limit clients to two people maximum and I don’t fish when I have clients. I provide equipment and have it setup before the trip.”
When Frank talks, he explains juicy details, “On my boat, I use an 8-horse kicker to troll weed edges at slow speed (1 mph or so), mostly using a very simple, old-fashioned, spinner/worm harness. Small beads, a small spinner blade and small hooks are essential when fishing Chautauqua.Lots of reasons why, they have to do with catching your targeted species.Boat control and using electronics to see the weed edge is critical. My boat is a tiller steer, so I have direct contact with my motor and boat direction. I tie my harness with small hooks (size one), then use a small copper or fire-tiger blade (size 2) off a clevis, then I usually add small red beads as attractors – or whatever fish think those are!They work.”
Schoenacker uses a sliding-sinker for weight on his 6 to 8 lb braid as mainline. He adds, “Pretty much an old school setup. Normally I’m anywhere from 8 to 14 feet of water depth depending on the weed edge where we fish. Early in the season when water is cool, I’ll use nightcrawlers (sometimes half-worms are better than whole ones) and I start to use a rubber worm soon after, as white perch get pesky and they won’t touch a plastic worm.” He was smiling with a big grin.
“Starting at the tail end of June, I fish a rubber worm instead of a live worm pretty much all the time. When the bite slows at mid-morning, I have one client go to a live worm. Sometimes we can get an extra bite or two. “
What if the fish aren’t biting?Franks says, “I move around and pre-fish before guided trips so I have a plan based on wind and weather for the day. Generally, during the early season I’m in the lower lake mostly (south of Route 86 bridge). This year (2017), the channel in Bemus was good early.”
Even in summer, it pays to bring an extra jacket when the weather send a chilly breeze at sunrise.
“It’s not as simple as I’m making it sound, you need to adapt and you know when that needs to happen after a few decades of fishing, ”Schoenacker says.“Weed lines off the creek mouths are good, so I look around Prendergast Bay, Dewittville Bay, Goose Creek, etc. The fish tend to be active at different places and at different times, so this is where the knowledge of the guide comes in.Add the varying style of fishing we can do and add the potential to change position, “run and gun,” from spot to spot, we find them most every day we try.”
If you live on or near the lake, that is a bonus.He adds, “Pre-fishing helps me have several spots planned. Any angler that fishes today needs to have pretty good electronics so they can see the fish for as many times as they work the weed line. I have also seen that when walleyes are active, the white perch are less of a problem. I’m seeing several good year classes of walleyes in the lake now, lots of 13-14 inch throwbacks, then there are numbers of 17 inchers and then a class of 20 inch-plus fish. “
Anglers are pleased that the walleye population is doing well in the lake and folks are also very pleased that the DEC lowered the walleye minimum size limit to 15-inches in 2017.Schoenacker adds, “I do some musky trolling, but my primary focus is on fishing for walleyes.”
“I’ll fish the weed lines until the water warms and fish move deeper. At that point I move to open water trolling and snap-jigging. Snap-jigging works for me right on through the fall. I like the weedline and jigging programs best because you hold the rod and feel the fish hit. Hard to beat that for sure,” says Schoenacker
Schoenacker adds, “I want to help people have more fun finding and catching fish, so I’m sharing some of my program plan with walleye anglers everywhere that plan to fish Chautauqua Lake sometime soon.This gives you the background on my simple walleye program, but don’t forget, you can always call me for a hands-on trip.”
Lastly, Schoenacker has two boats, he uses the smaller one (Lund Pro–V Tiller with 60hp Yamaha and 8hp Yamaha) for that up-front experience on Chautauqua Lake, but he is also a licensed Lake Erie Charter Captain and member of the Eastern Lake Erie Charter Boat Association and National Association of Charter Boat Operators. He will also share his fish–catching secrets while aboard his Pro-Line 25 (powered by Evinrude 225hp ETEC and 9.9hp Yamaha kicker). You can reach Capt. Frank Schoenacker by phone at 585-406-5764, email: fcs49@hotmail.com, or on his website at: http://www.infinitycharters.com/.
You know, we never stop learning when people that know way more than we do are willing to share.Hat’s off to Captain Frank!
