8/16/2023

Water temperatures are starting to drop with cooler weather moving through the region.  Lake temperatures are holding in the low to mid 70s and water levels are normal for this time of the year.  We have been seeing a fair amount of rain lately and inflowing areas on the lakes are dirtied up, but clearing.  

Crappies, bluegills, and perch are being caught on the Corps lakes using live minnows, worms,and a variety of jigs.  Dropshotting with smaller bass baits has been effective for catching some larger crappies on Hammond and Tioga in particular.  Look for offshore structure, rock piles, and weed lines.  

Bass fishing has been a mixed bag of success for most people.  The bite has been tougher and anglers doing best are fishing a mix of offshore spots and weed beds.  There is a ton of bait (gizzard shad) swimming around Hammond and the bass are munching on them.  Crankbaits, and shad imitating plastics are all working well.  Larger baits will catch fish, but to catch numbers, 2-3.5" plastics have been productive for a mixed bag of smallies, largemouth, and panfish.

Musky fishing has been fairly good lately with anglers catching them regularly at Cowanesque using glide baits, medussas, bucktails, and live baits.  Perch, shad, and black colors have been most popular.  

Walleyes and smallmouth are biting on the Tioga River.  Good flows at the spillway has them fired up and eating well.  Strike King Rage Swimmers and Keitech swimbaits fished on a jighead are both working. Stick with shad colors in 3-4 inch models.  Live shiners and nightcrawlers are also working.