Tennity's Guide Service & Fishing Charters

We have been very busy for the past month on several of the Finger Lakes and especially Honeoye Lake. July 24th we took a couple on Seneca Lake and caught a nice mix of smallmouth and largemouth bass. The smallmouth were caught on tubes and the largemouth on wacky rigged trick worms. The next day, a trip to Skaneateles Lake gave up 20+ smallmouth bass, but most were smaller buck bass. A fun time using a spinnerbait and mixing in a Texas rigged green pumpkin baby brush hog.

Early July we spent time on Honeoye Lake and Canandaigua Lake. The little lake produced great numbers of medium sized bass on Zoom trick and finesse worms. When the bass buried up in the weeds, the green pumpkin baby brush hog worked. Mixed in with the plastic baits was a double willow leaf spinnerbait that worked. The first two trips on Canandaigua were a test at best, but now that the water has warmed, it is producing some good numbers using plastic baits. The same Zoom worms being used on Honeoye.

Honeoye Lake has been the producer and the best place to teach people what the “bite” feels like. Very seldom do you feel an actual bite, but more of a pressure, so set the hook. Sometimes it is weeds and sometimes those weeds swim, so do not question whether it is a bass or weeds; snap your wrist and set the hook.

We have had variable conditions on the little lake (Honeoye)  this year, with water temperatures rising then falling several degrees. Water levels are down due to the lack of rain, and we have a slight algae bloom with the weeds growing. Through all of this, I have found the evening bite usually better than a daytime bite. Overcast days and low light conditions seem to position bass so they are easier to locate and catch.

Tennity’s Guide Service is not sponsored by Zoom baits, but I will tell you that they make some of the highest quality baits in the marketplace. Their color selection is second to none, and the price is very affordable. When you can purchase 20 quality worms for less than $4 versus 10 baits for $7, it is a no brainer.

DO NOT TAKE A KID FISHING, TAKE A KID CATCHING. Kids can get bored or lose interest very easy. If you do not know how to fish, the folks at the big box store are not your best source of rods, reels and terminal tackle. Bite the bullet and do an evening fishing trip with your daughter or son so they learn  some basics about fishing. Start them on the right path and make it a family project to expand your angling knowledge and skills.

Good fishing, wear your life vest, and maintain a proper lookout.

Frank

It is opening day of the NYS 2016 bass season and a quick update will clue you into what has happened in the past two weeks. The water temperatures have been going up and down like a yoyo for the past few weeks making bass activity hard to predict. Saturday evening, June 11, the water had warmed and the bass were active late in the day. Sunday, the wind blew and the air temperature dropped. Honeoye Lake water temperature dropped 9 degrees in just a few days, which had a dramatic effect on the bass. The bite became slow, but as the water warmed this week, the bass became more active.

To catch more fish, use a slow presentation, flip weeds, and as the water warms during the day, fish edges with a wacky rig. Both Tuesday and Friday produced good results, but it was important to fish slow. Zoom finesse worms and Zoom Baby Brush Hogs were the proven baits.

Conesus Lake was in the same general condition as Honeoye Lake, the exception being Conesus is deeper and it may take longer for the water to warm back to the temperatures that make bass active. Even though the lake was in a slump, we managed to boat several largemouth and smallmouth bass in the 3 to 4 pound class. Zoom finesse worms were the most productive baits there, too.

This past week has been very busy with our clients from Ohio. On Tuesday evening we had dinner and hit Honey Lake for three hours of bass fishing. John and Susan hadn’t lost their touch, managing to put 31 bass into the Ranger. All bass came on Zoom finesse worms.

On Wednesday we spent the day fishing for bass and huge panfish. The count for total fish caught was 125 with at least 50 to 60 being bass. They used the same Zoom worms for bass and some homemade jig spinners that had a 1/32 ounce jig. We put a 1 1/2 inch Bass  Assassin, a fake type minnow, on the jig as a trailer. The panfish baits were fished on ultralight poles with 4 lb. test Bass Pro mono line.

Thursday, the Ohio folks took a break from fishing. This allowed another couple vacationing from PA to fish. The weather was marginal in the morning, but overall it played into a great day. Pennsylvania can be proud of Dean and Jennifer as they caught approximately 40 bass. The weather was overcast and the bite slower than I had anticipated. They were using the same worms that had worked previously, but I made a color change to a darker worm and the bass seemed to be able to see the worm better. The number of bites came faster and the size of the bass increased.

Susan and John wanted to try a different lake, so I checked the weather forecast and Friday was going to be perfect to fish Conesus Lake. We started fishing at the north end and worked our way south. As we drifted along with a slight breeze, we changed from worms to Bass Pro Stikos, and the bass were more inclined to bite the green pumpkin. At days end, the bass count was 30 and the panfish about the same. The biggest largemouth was a 5.49 and the largest smallmouth was 4.44. There were several largemouth in the 3-4 pound weight range and some of the smallmouths in the 2.5 to3 pound class.

Saturday was a surprise day for me. I took Susan and John to the southern part of Honeoye Lake and the bite was slow. We moved several times, always catching bass, but not in the numbers I expected. After a break for lunch, we fished the northern section of the lake, and when we quit for the day, the bass count was at 30 and panfish just about the same. Zoom finesse worms and Bass Pro Stikos both worked.

In all, the week was successful for all four of our clients.

Good fishing,

Frank

Bass fishing started off a little on the slow side May 18th. The water temperature had dropped again and the bass were in a negative mood. We managed a mix of bass and pickerel, but it was a day when you earned every bite.

By Sunday May 22nd, the water had climbed several degrees and the bass were active. We managed 42 bass in a five hour trip with a gentleman from California. Monday was a carbon copy and 39 bass were fooled by a group of three repeat clients.

On May 27th, a lady from Rochester along with her mom and dad from the Keystone State, put 47 bass in the boat during a five hour trip.
The following day a family from Mt. Morris took home a nice mess of panfish.
Sunday, I had a trip to help a new resident and his long time friends get acquainted with Honey Lake. We used his party barge, but his depth finder was not working. This made it difficult to find the proper depth and structure, but they had a good morning and learned several new methods for catching Honeoye bass.
Various baits worked with Zoom trick and finesse worms the top producers.

My wife and I left New York for the Sunshine State of Florida on October 23. The trip went smooth until I had a trailer tire problem when we were just south of Jacksonville. I noticed a bulge in the side wall and figured the tire was separating. A quick tire change in a rest area put us back on the road and to our winter home in Lake Wales.

October 29th, I fished a night tournament with my friend, Dale Johnson. We fished on the North Winter Haven Chain of Lakes where we normally do quite well, but not having fished there for several months, conditions had changed and we did terrible. My friend was running a Triton that he had recently purchased, and it was not getting up on plane very well. I contacted Triton Boats and they gave me the height measurements that the motor should be mounted, which holes to use, and the best prop for this set up. We adjusted the motor height and ran some other tests. Now the boat planes great, with the rpms, top end and water pressure excellent. If you are experiencing problems, call your boat manufacturer for the right set up. Make sure to have your motor, jack plate and prop information ready when you call them.

November 8th, we fished a tournament on the same Chain of Lakes. We managed to catch a few good fish on toads, chatter baits and plastics. By mid morning the bite had slowed, so we moved to another lake in the Chain, culled all of our fish and upgraded our weight. Zoom trick worms worked on this lake and our total catch for the day was 15+ bass.

November 16th, we fished the South Winter Haven Chain of Lakes. Our idea was to fish a few lakes we hadn’t tried before. We managed four bass in a six hour day, which was not going to help us on tournament day. Tournament day, the 22nd we went to Lake Winterset first and spent the majority of the morning washing baits. Four bass were boated with one making the 14″ size limit, so we made the run to Lake Summit. It took only a few minutes to dial in the bite, and we caught another 20-25 bass. Our problem was the lack of one big fish, but we did cull up several times. A fun day anytime you manage to catch that many bass. A mix of plastic baits worked, but Zoom Finesse Worms outfished the other baits.

December 1, we went to Kissimmee at the new park by Grape Hammock. Six hours of fishing produced four boated bass and a few missed opportunities. Our presentation and bait selection changed to target bigger fish. Some adjustments are still needed, but the overall result was encouraging. Swim baits and 10 inch Berkley Power Worms both worked.

Water temperatures are dropping and the crappie bite is picking up fast. Bass are quite aggressive and willing to bite. If you are not getting bit, change lures, and if that fails, change locations. Grass offshore has been holding good fish.

Trophy time is approaching fast, so book a trip (centralfloridabassinwithfrank.com) early to lock in your date.

Be safe, wear your life vest, and maintain a proper lookout.

Frank

It is the 20th of August and over the weekend, Honeye has changed from clear to green with an algae bloom. Fishing is still excellent and clients, Mike, Sara and Peter did well on Monday. Darker colored worms worked early, and when the sun was high we switched to a green worm with flecks mixed into it. My advice is to fish slow and move the bait in small increments. Water temperatures are creeping higher, clarity is reduced and the bass are spread out over a wide area. When you find the bass, slow down and fish the  location thoroughly.

Keuka Lake was typical on my last visit. Some fish were active and other areas seemed void of any bass. Both largemouth and smallmouth bit, but it was a slow day.  A variety of baits worked, with Zoom trick worms  taking top honors. As we head into fall in the next few weeks, the activity should pick up.

Conesus Lake is producing some great weights for tournaments. During the Tuesday night contests, it will take between 12 and 14 pounds for a three fish limit to place. Weekend tournaments with a five fish limit of bass are producing  20-25 pound sacks. Bass are located from one end of the lake to the other and along both sides. Fish slow and thoroughly once you locate them. Jigs and Zoom trick worms have been a very good choice of baits. Change colors with the water clarity, but right now Conesus is very clear.

I had a father and two teen age boys out on the 25th, and they have been having problems catching bass. I worked with them on the speed at which they were moving their baits. I spent a considerable amount of time working with the dad, and he still was working the bait too fast, so I purposely distracted him and he let the bait sit still. I then told him to twitch the worm a couple of small movements, and he had a strike that resulted in a nice bass. This was an eye opener for him and the boys. Their bites increased along with the number of bass caught.

If you are having trouble catching fish, slow your retrieve and then slow down more.

Frank

Honeoye has been producing some nice fish, but the numbers are not as good as I would expect them to be at this time of year. We have fished depths and used different lures, along with several colors, and there does not seem to be a consistent pattern. Greenpumpkin centipedes have done the best. Two trips early this week have put smiles on the faces of Matt, Mike and Izzie. They all caught many nice bass with grandpa and grandma also being in on the action. Zoom trick worms were used Monday and Wednesday with colors adjusted to match water clarity.

Conesus has been a carbon copy of Honeoye. I believe the turbid water along with post spawn bass has been a major cause of the drop in fish activity. A mix of baits has worked on both lakes, but the bites have been scattered. The bass are also running smaller than they were three weeks ago. Chatter baits with craw type trailers and Zoom trick worms produced on Saturday the 11th.

Seneca was also a test. We fished the main lake areas where we have caught fish over the years and it was slow. We managed a few in the lake, then came back into the canal to finish out our limits. Wacky rigs fished very slow was a key to success. Watermelon Red Zoom trick worms fooled some nice bass.

Water clarity on these lakes has influenced color selection. Use lighter colors in clear water and darker colors as the clarity changes. Wind, waves and boat wakes will loosen dirt that has attached to weeds, making the water dirty. Help the bass find your bait by using a bait with a vibration, like a worm rattle, or shake the bait to send out vibrations. If what you’re using doesn’t work, keep experimenting.

Wear your life jacket and maintain a proper lookout.

Frank

Sorry friends. We found out that there’s been a problem receiving emails sent through our Contact page form. We apologize if there was any lapse in communication with you. We always make every effort to answer both e-mails and calls on our answering machine.

Our webmaster is fixing the problem. In the meantime, please send any emails directly to mudtennity@aol.com, followed by a call to our home at 585-229-4843.

Thank you,

Frank and Melody

My last report told of finding some quality bass on Sodus and having a very good day of fishing. Moving forward to June 20th, something had changed. My clients broke off two big fish, but then I had to dig deep into some of my old areas from bygone years to find a few willing biters. It was, at best, a slow day.

June 19th on Conesus was a very good day with the bass willing to bite for several hours. The weather conditions made fishing a test as the wind was quite strong. We went to the north part of the lake and  found some good bass shallow. Then we fished the east and west sides of the lake using a mix of plastic baits. We caught a good numbers of fish in the 3-5 pound range, but none over 5. Some bass had spawned and a few were pre spawn.

Honeoye was very good for bass fishing on June 18, but a storm came through on Monday the 22nd with high winds and rain. The water went from clearing to turbid and the bite all but disappeared. As we fished, a friend and neighbor asked if the sheriff had lifted the 5 MPH no wake order, and I informed him that I was unaware of any issued. He told me it was posted at the marina and the NYS launch. As a NYS licensed guide and USCG Captain, I am very careful to try and present a good image for bass fishermen and had read the D&C, and watched the local news on TV covering the flooding, but did not read or hear of the no wake/5 MPH order. According to my neighbor, several people were issued tickets for exceeding the 5 MPH order. If a boater did not launch at the marina or the NYS ramp, the other media did not do a good job of making the order available to the general public. It is my opinion that warnings should have been given and upon a second offense, a ticket issued. Now, if a speed offense was committed within 200 feet of shore, then a ticket was justified.

Good fishing, wear your life jacket, and maintain a proper lookout.

Frank

Saturday the bass fishing on Honeoye Lake was much slower. A hard morning produced about half to two thirds the fish I would have expected. Then the evening bite was also slow. We caught bass but the numbers were not great. On Sunday, a small group of fishing buddies found the bass very negative. The only answer that I have is possibly post spawn condition. However, we all know what happened Sunday afternoon and evening. Huge rains once again raised the water level to our docks and turned the lake into a turbid mess. Visibility in the water was close to zero but a few bass bit. The over night color change in the fish was amazing, going from the normal dark bass color to almost white.

Conditions were not the best and with high water and poor water conditions, a trip to Sodus Bay was in order. We hit the bay about mid morning and took a quick look at the Big O, and went back in the bay. We managed a bass here and there, but Sodus was not her usual self. Shortly after noon we found an active school of nice bass and the bite was setady. Just a fun day. A mix of Zoom baits worked on Honeoye and primarily, wacky rigged Zoom kudzu trick worms on Sodus.

Good fishing.

Frank