With all the great reports of fish turning on, including my own from last week, I thought I would spend a few hours today combing the stretch from Route 47 down about a half mile. This is the stretch that's a short walk to my house.

Was going to stay out till the sun set, it's beautiful along here, but I was exhausted and cut it short at 6 PM.

Not a single hit in the half mile hike. Threw more types of lures than I usually do including a topwater and a dive bait to get down to the bottom in the 4 foot deep parts, but not an interested fish to be found.

Usually the stretch further down from dams is extremely productive this time of year.

I guess not today and not here. Should have hit Saw Wee Kee down from the canoe launch.

Time is limited lately, but if this weather keeps up I'll have to go do the SWK hike.

It was a tough bite today for me too. Took me 10 hrs for 10 fish.

Want to do a little bit of fishing theory( or food for thought)? To me when the water is this low and the fish aren't burning as much energy swimming, I am thinking they are feeding less. The feeding window, is smaller and I do believe the water loses its clarity, At least that is whats happening up my way as the water is dropping(ALGAE) the fish aren't as active. I have been catching mid size fish (10 to 14 inches) in riffle pools which are a bit deeper and generating more oxygen then the surrounding water. I don't necessarily think these fish are actively feeding but trying to get comfortable in the current with the oxygen levels. I used to think every third day was the best bite but it is hard to figure When is That third day. As the water cools the fishing will only get better, the water is already cooling off as far as I can tell. So what are YOUR thoughts/ ? I love this fishing /thinking /bullshit. It is always good to have a bunch of reasons why we are not catching fish... don't you think?

hey Ken, long time no post, but I've been out there.. mostly short wades...park and dip so to speak..but I finally did my own version of a death march on Friday..been wanting to do this all summer, but what with other commitments, honey do's, & river levels , well you know the story....things got delayed, but Friday was just too good a day to pass up..so I started out in Oswego at the route 34 bridge and waded all the way down to Saw wee Kee park..fished mostly the north side of the river from 34 to Orchard...and got 8 bites ...five of which I landed. and fishing mostly the south side of the river from Orchard down to Saw Wee Kee (I did cross over once past the first island) got 9 bites....six of which I landed...the lure they were hitting was the Daiwa Peanut, olive green...I did try the ol producto pearl jig, count downs, and pin's....but only the peanut solicited the bites.. I was catching them in what I call the seams...where the main channel current slowed near and just off of shore say 4-7 feet away from shore and the bottom was rocky. depth wise it had to be above the knees.and I had to be bumping the bottom... is that an accurate description? ..I was a bit disappointed at the number of bites, a total of 17 bites in 7 hours or so of fishing...but they weren't dinks either....or I should say not the ones I landed anyway...all in all it was a good day.. but as tired as I was afterwards.. I think I'll chop it up next time and only wade down to orchard...the current river depth has got me itching to get out and do some more...see ya later Ed K

rattlebaits in fast water still most consistent pattern for me although with the cooler nights last week topwaters and buzzbaits were working better than usual but not for extended periods. it was several fish, generally herding shad toward bars.

Fishin Musician wrote:It is always good to have a bunch of reasons why we are not catching fish... don't you think?

Lately it's because I don't have the time.

Did notice that there was no activity on the river at all, No ducks, geese or herons and absolutely nothing on the surface, bugs or fish. When I saw that in the first few hundred yards I almost gave up, but since I had to walk home anyway and I live just up the hill at the half mile mark I figured I may as well fish my way home.

I know Norm appreciates that comment, I believe I've heard it from him in the past.

Ed, that's a hike. Chop it up and pick it apart more next time. I can spend 4 hours just fishing Orchard to the canoe launch, and I feel like I'm hurrying.

no herons feeding is always a sign I got to change my evil ways, baby.

Don't stop believing... The fish are feeding... on crawfish in deeper water... Now in your mind here Steve Perry and Journey singing this to "what else" Don't Stop Believing.. sorry Norm but your Santana thing struck me right to my soul