Lake Oneida Walleye Trail Tournament 5/23

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The River Rat
Posts: 245
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2017 1:57 pm
Species: Anything that swims
Location: South Eastern VT

Lake Oneida Walleye Trail Tournament 5/23

Post by The River Rat »

Back out west again! John (Controlled Chaos) and I headed back out to Oneida lake for a more formal tournament this time. Left the southern twin state region around 5:30 friday morning, quick stop at lakeside bait and tackle and we were on the lake by noon in the Sylvan/Verona beach area to stomp on new waters. A few hours of little action and we motored west hitting a few other new areas to us. Found some fish east and south of Duhnam Island area right where we left them 3 weeks ago. Pretty much running the same program, sticks, boards and leadcore baby yeah, get some. We left our honey pot alone, and probed back towards the beach area on the south shore putting together 2 decent 3 fish limits, a couple smallies and tanker perch. 50/50 shad profile and perch color baits. Day 2 pre fish, get outside comfort zone and find untouched fish. Hard to do thinking your wasting time but gives you confidence in the areas you find fish not thinking about the unknown. Covered a ton of water starting on the north shore first half of the day picking up 2 decent tournament quality fish tho spread way out. Around noon we had a shore lunch on a sand bar and on our way in saw schools of fingerling perch, we'll tuck that one back in our reserve for sure. After a great burger and wobble pop we head across Shackleton shoal picking up a dink but made a limit and gained a couple new pins. Not to over do it we headed back to Pulaski( yeah pulaski, the towns around Oneida were booked. We stayed 35 mins north 2 nights). Over a solid prime rib we hashed out our plan, pound our honey pot all day, sold. Day 3 tournament, line of trucks and trailers at A+P marina. 1 launch site, 20' channel, but went relatively smooth for 56 boats. Launch team 29 and we were off shortly after 7 headed to glory! Well after Saturdays boat palooza there were weeds afloat in the honey pot, wow. 2 and a half hours produced 2 dinks, we foolishly put in the livewell. NY deemed this a no cull lake, its in your well you own it. Pulled and ran to a our pin in perchville. Set gear and put what we figured a quality tournament fish in the box. Over 20". Worked a bit farther, notta. Swung back pass 2, John plows a 26" tank...Booyah! Swing back and I hit a 24. Oh baby.... oh crap, we have 1 spot left. Can keep six only weigh 5, and we have 5 in the box. A few more passes on one of the best bites I've seen in a lake, and we had released a couple quality 22"ers hoping for another 4#er. Talk about anxiety. Next 1 that size hit the net and we called it.... at 1 o'clock, 2 hours before weigh in. Ugh... Learned a lot here. Followed in the same Starweld we followed out and man were those guys good people. Don and Kevin you rock. Basically the only guys who talked with us. 4 hours later thru agonizing realization of our 9am mistake, last minute Johns tank at 4.33 got bumped by a much shorter, bulging fish at 4.40 seriously 7/100ths of a pound. Only post spawn fish we saw with a gut like that! And after a heck of a run, knowing our no cull mistake, we placed 4th respectively. We had high and low feelings, but personally felt good with our honest decisions. A great eaters fishery, great adventure again.. felt like Capt. ZIG ZAG was with us again
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. RIP Bosco
Last edited by The River Rat on Wed May 26, 2021 10:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
A White
The River Rat
Posts: 245
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2017 1:57 pm
Species: Anything that swims
Location: South Eastern VT

Re: Lake Oneida Walleye Trail Tournament 5/23

Post by The River Rat »

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A White
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Reelax
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Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:27 pm
Species: Salmon, steelhead, brown trout
Location: Fletcher, Vt

Re: Lake Oneida Walleye Trail Tournament 5/23

Post by Reelax »

Wow great showing and report!!!

No wonder we landed you as a ringer to help team TBM win the rotary. Can’t wait for June 4th... fish on!

It’s on!!!
Matt B
Gecha (Gerry)
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Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:26 pm
Species: whatever crazy enough to bite

Re: Lake Oneida Walleye Trail Tournament 5/23

Post by Gecha (Gerry) »

Great report and pics.
Landing walleyes 22" to 26" is something we all dream for.
Congrats on your 4th place.
Gecha (Gerry North of the Border)
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Controlled chaos
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Re: Lake Oneida Walleye Trail Tournament 5/23

Post by Controlled chaos »

That was a fantastic time! We had a blast, what a great fishery .
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