OPEN WATER WINTER PERCH FISHING ON SENECA LAKE

By: Wayne Brewer
State of New York
Published: February 05, 2010

       They’re huge! They’re monsters! They’re elephant perch! These are reactions I have heard from anglers after catching their first yellow perch from Seneca Lake. According to Brain Hammers, DEC Region 8 Fisheries Staff, the perch from Seneca Lake average around a pound and a half making it a top hot spot for very large yellow perch.
       Seneca Lake is the deepest and longest lake located in the center of the Finger Lakes. The City of Geneva located at the north end and the Village of Watkins Glen at the south end. Seneca does not freeze over like some of the other Finger Lakes, allowing those anglers willing to brave the cold opportunity to fish open water all winter. 
       The major limiting factor for perch fishing during the winter months is access to boat launch sites. At the north end of the lake the launch at Seneca Lake State Park is frozen, but the City of Geneva maintains a launch near the Geneva Chamber of Commerce that remains open all year round. There are very rare occasions during extreme weather conditions when ice builds up along the shore and blocks this launch as well as others listed below.
       If you are traveling a distance, it is recommended calling the numbers provided to check on conditions. For the City of Geneva launch, call the Engineering Department at 315-789-3101. On the west side of the lake a few miles south of Geneva off West Lake Road, is Roy’s Marina (315-789-3094) which has bait, boat rentals, and a launch. 

Seneca Lake

       Continuing south along Route 14 eight miles south of Dresden to Severne Point Road is a DEC boat launch (the Severne Point Launch). At the south end of Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen is a private launch at the Village Marina (607-535-7910) and a place to purchase bait at the Seneca Marine Bait and Tackle Shop on Fourth Street (607-535-6690).
       North of Watkins Glen on Route 414 along the east side of the lake is another DEC boat launch at Smith Memorial Park launch located off Peach Orchard Point road in the Town of Hector. Farther north there is a NYS OPR boat launch at Lodi Point. The local fishermen try to keep this launch open during the winter by plowing the snow from the park entrance and the launch. 
     The marina at Sampson State Park is frozen making the launch inaccessible. If you need bait, tackle or the latest information on where to find the perch stop at Brewer’s Sporting Goods located on Main Street in the Village of Ovid (607-869-5890).
     The standard method used to take these perch is fishing a minnow on the bottom. I use two hooks or two jigs tipped with a minnow; one just above my weight and the other 18 inches above that. If I am fishing shallow, I may just use the bottom jig as the weight in lieu of a sinker. 
     Some anglers will also use worms. Tackle is ultra light to light. These perch are big, but there are days when the bite is so slight you could not feel it with heavier gear. Remember there is no season or size limit for yellow perch, but the daily creel limit is 50 fish.
     Finding the perch can be difficult, so looking for other anglers fishing an area can offer a place to start. When perch anglers on Seneca Lake are on a school of perch, they are very careful not to spook the school so it moves. A word of advice: do not motor into a group of anglers that are fishing; cut your outboard and drift, paddle, or use your trolling motor to maneuver your boat to a spot you want to fish. When dropping your anchor, do it slowly.
     If you do not have a location to fish and can not find any other anglers, drift until you catch a few perch and then anchor. Yellow perch are found all over the lake. In December anglers may find them as deep as 80 feet of water. But, most anglers will tell you to start at 20 feet and drift until you find the perch. If one depth does not work, try another.
     A few of the hot spots for perch on the east side of the lake are Hector Point, Lodi Point, in front of Sampson State Park, off Pontius Point and Reeder Creek in the Town of Varick, and Teall Beach in the Town of Fayette. On the west side, DEC’s Brian Hammers states that anywhere from Glass Factory Bay near the north end south to Severne Point is good for perch.
     Dress warm, bring plenty of hot liquids and enjoy the challenge of open water fishing during the winter months for big yellow perch on Seneca Lake!