When we decided to vacation on Keuka Lake, I knew that I wanted to fly fish from the kayak. Our van has a luggage rack and with the strategic use of bungee cords, it made the 6-hour trip from our home to Keuka Lake without moving an inch.
Once we arrived at the house that we rented in Hammondsport, I unstrapped and unloaded the kayak from the van. I then had to navigate 135 steps ( that’s right 135 steps!) which led down to the water. The pitch was steep and I felt like I was on a roller coaster with no brakes. I laid the kayak on the steps and let it slide down the steps to the dock.
Since we had arrived in the early evening, I stowed the rest of the gear with the kayak and proceeded to do some dock fishing with a popper. It only produced one 6″ small mouth.
The next morning I rigged up the kayak and headed out. This time the results were more positive. I caught 4 respectable smallmouth on a small green popper.
On Tuesday morning I decided to try my hand at wet wading and dock fishing with the fly rod. Early morning (6a-8a) produced the best results. This smallmouth was one of my first catches.
In addition to smallmouth, I caught rock bass, perch, and a few panfish including this trophy. This was one of the largest panfish I’ve ever caught.
The fishing was good all week, and I switched between wet wading and kayaking. Both produced great results.
All good things must come to an end, and this one ended with me dragging the kayak back up the steps, with my brother-in-law in tow. It was a challenge, but the fishing was worth it.
If you’re considering a trip to the Finger Lakes, I would definitely suggest bringing the fly rod and kayak or canoe. The fishing in early August is great, especially in the morning (6a – 8a) and in the evening (7p-9p). Just be sure to find a place with easy shore access, or be prepared for a workout.
Where did you go this summer?
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