Summit to Stream Outdoor Report

Captain Mark's Fishing Report

2011-08-08T12:55:00.000-04:00

Musky On Waneta Lake
We hit the water with Eric Snyder, his dad, and son with intentions of chasing musky. After two hookups and subsequent misses, we finally hooked up with a beauty. Great fun and an awesome day with the Snyder family!

Father and son pic to treasure!

Rainy Morning Bass-Lamoka Lake
Out on Lamoka Lake with Chad Mussman and son we casted for largemouth. After a brief rain, we hit bass the rest of the morning. Casting docks, coves and points, with Texas rig worms and spinner baits, produced action all day.

bass anyone?

Seneca Lake Trout
Launched out of Severne point with Mike Brewster and his wife. We trolled for trout using spoons and spin doctor fly combos. Overall we produced lake trout, brown trout and salmon. Our catch of the day was a 7lb brown!!

Holy smokes, looky those fish!

More Musky!
Once again we hit the water to chase these toothie predators; this time with Jesse Beaton. On this day we missed one, and landed three more. A great day on the water with our friends from New York City!

Another Waneta Lake Musky!

Cayuga Lake Trout
Just the other day we launched out of Dean's Cove with Rory Riker. We started south and then headed back north; landing browns, rainbows and salmon. The weather was scorching hot and sunny, but that didn't stop the fish! It turned out to be another great day fishing on the waters of the Finger Lakes.

Cayuga Lake produced some nice catches!

Fishing Galore!

2011-07-15T21:23:00.001-04:00

We've been up to a lot of fishing lately! So much in fact that we have gotten behind on our blogging. Forgive us please, as we update you the best way we know how...with snippets of the charters and photos. We promise to do a better job from here on out!

1. Vinnie and friends started our musky season with a bang! We snapped off one to start the day, and then hooked and landed two beauties, along with another that shook the hook soon after. Excitement all around for our first timers from New York City!

2. Bob and Diane fished two days with us. Our first day out we targeted bass on Lamoka lake. The next day they wanted to try their hand at musky. Try we did, and once again landed two gorgeous fish, and lost another. It was a great two days of fishing, fun and great conversation!

3. Brothers Paul and Bernie are back once again to hook that 50" monster. This time we ended up with 7 fish. Friday morning we had a frenzy of hits all within minutes. We'll see you again in two weeks boys, 50" will come sooner or later!

4. Today we fished with the Nelson's. We fly fished the Cohocton River outside of Avoca, NY for browns. The water was low and slow, but we did see a lot of surface action as the fish were on the rise.

5. An evening of fly fishing on Fall Creek with Chris and his daughter Hannah. We did well, landing about 20 fish. It was Hannah's first time flyfishing and she caught on quickly landing some beautiful browns and rainbows.

6. In the early Morning Hours we hit Seneca Lake with Bob and son for some trout. Trolling Flasher/Fly combos we hit salmon and lakers, all four pounds plus! A north wind rolled in and kicked up the lake, but it still ended up being a great day on the water.

7. On this last minute charter we decided to chase musky with first timers Dan & Jessie. We caught two and lost one, not a bad day overall. I am sure they will be back to chase toothy critters again!

8.On this day we fly fished on the beautiful waters of the Finger Lakes. Our guest John came over from Scotland to try the fly fishing in New York. We fished Fall Creek and Cayuta Creek with nymphs, dries and soft hackle to produce browns and bass. After fishing John had to stop by a pub for a pint...now that's a great day of fishing!

Fishing Seneca Lake

2011-06-30T11:15:00.001-04:00

Last week we had an early morning fishing charter on Seneca Lake. We picked our guests up dockside, at 630am from Sunrise Landing Bed and Breakfast. Mike Beech and his wife were here to try trolling for the first time. We set out our rigs and within minutes had our first fish, a 4lb brown trout. As the day went on we caught a mix of brown trout, lake trout and salmon. A great day on the water! Mike said he's for sure coming back to tackle those "giant musky!" Looking forward to it Mike!

A happy client with a nice brown trout

Great day on Seneca Lake, with a lake trout to show

Fly Fishing in Ithaca's Fall Creek

2011-06-21T12:48:00.001-04:00

Once again we headed out to Ithaca to teach a beginner fly fishing class. We met our guests at Gothic Eves Bed and Breakfast in Trumansburg. Shortly after meeting up we headed off to our first stop of the day at Salmon Creek in Lansing. Our clients caught on to their first lesson quickly. There we fished nymphs and dry flies. After a short lunch break we headed to Fall Creek in Ithaca. At Fall Creek our students had the opportunity to catch brown trout, and small mouth bass. Our guests from Kentucky and Oklahoma were treated to some wonderful sights in the Finger Lakes; such as deer climbing a cliff, a mink crossing our path and some pretty awesome waterfalls.

Finger Lakes Bass Fishing

2011-06-12T10:05:00.000-04:00

Friday we hit Lamoka Lake with Stu Burley from Hawaii. Stu is a tried and true guest, as this is his fourth year fishing with us. We cast spinner baits and trigger worms throughout the day. Overall we caught and released over 20 fish in just a few hours. Hawaii may be exotic, but nothing compares to fishing in the Finger Lakes! Stu told us that the next time he visits he wants to go after the elusive musky. I welcome the opportunity! Nothing makes me happier than getting a first time musky fisherman into fish!

Stu with "one of the small ones"

Trolling on Seneca Lake

2011-06-12T09:50:00.001-04:00

Scott with our trolling gear out on beautiful Seneca Lake

We started our morning with a stop at Pearl of Seneca Lake Bed and Breakfast to pick up our guests dockside. Our guests, the Koglers, were visiting all the way from Louisiana. We set out trolling the shallows with downriggers and dipsy divers. We got our first hit around Starkey Point. Atlantic Salmon were the fish of the day. We fished both shallow and deep in perfectly sunny weather. The lure of the day was an Alewive Michigan Stinger. Thanks to the Koglers for a fun day on the water.

Catch a Bass...or two...or three....

2011-06-07T15:21:00.002-04:00

Bass Fishing in the Finger Lakes....

Nice Bass Keith!

Fun cloud formations in the sky over Lamoka Lake.

Mike with a great catch, and Keith in the backround fishing for more.

Yet another great fish

We hit the water with my nephew, star lacrosse player Keith, and his friend Mike. Keith took a break from college lacrosse and work to enjoy a day of bass fishing in the Finger Lakes. We hit Lamoka lake for the day, and got our first fish within minutes. Casting spinner baits in the shallows, the fish were on all day, and the big ones were not shy! The lure of the day was a Texas Rig Yum Dinger 6" in watermelon. The wind was strong all day, proving difficult for boat control. Despite the wind, we had a perfect day on the water.

Fly Fishing in the Finger Lakes

2011-06-07T08:36:00.001-04:00

Our guests from Texas fishing New York's Cohocton River

Our fishing season kicked off with multiple fly fishing outings. Our first excursion was with guests from Texas. Focusing on the Cohocton River in Bath, we drifted streamers and nymphs in relative high water. Our next trip we focused on Cayuta Creek with our beginner fly fishers from Baltimore. After getting our form down, we hit the stream and soon had our first fish, a beautiful Finger Lakes rainbow trout. The latest trip we took out two school teachers from Ithaca. We made two stops with our beginners, first to Salmon Creek where we got our form down and went over the basics. We then moved to Fall Creek where we drifted streamers and nymphs. We hooked up with brown trout, rainbows, and even smallmouth bass.

All in all our season is off to a great start! Fly fishing and teaching on beautiful Finger Lakes streams, with awesome guests, is second to none! Thanks to everyone for coming with us, and letting us share our passion for fly fishing in the Finger Lakes.

sometimes you have to be creative to get to that perfect hole

This fun group fished Cayuta Creek with us

Beginners at Salmon Creek just north of Ithaca

"Like" us!!

2011-05-09T16:04:00.000-04:00

We are running a special through the end of May...but you have to "like" our facebook page to find out what it is!! Believe us, you won't want to miss this deal!

Summit to Stream Facebook Page

Fly Fishing Classes Available!

2011-05-05T13:40:00.003-04:00

Opening Day of Spring Turkey in the Finger Lakes

2011-05-01T20:45:00.000-04:00

This year my first guided trip of the year was with my best friend of 39 years, Andy Boudinot. A lifelong hunter and fisherman, he had never tried to hunt these elusive toms. The morning was a perfect 40 degrees, a light breeze and slightly overcast. We were set up on a known roost area, but the birds were dead silent. We did happen to see a couple fly down, but it was still silent. I let out a few soft purrs and two gobblers went off, it was game on! We had gobblers and hens talking up a storm. I went back and forth with loud yelps and soft purrs, and it wasn't long before Andy had to make a choice...which one. It only took one shot, and the 3' 1/2" magnum, turkey load did it's job at 42 yards. Great shot Andy! I think he will be back in the turkey woods again soon! It's always exciting calling in birds for others, a great day in the Finger Lakes woods.

Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario Fishing Report

2011-03-29T12:58:00.001-04:00

The finger lakes tributaries look excellent for opening day in three more days. Lake Ontario tribs are fishable now with excellent runs of steelhead and browns.

Scott McCray headed north with family and friends to hit Maxwell Creek and Salmon Creek in Pultneyville. Scott and crew had a great day on the water, landing steelhead, brown trout and even pike! Congrats to everyone on a great day on the water!

Steelhead

a bigger steelhead!

nice fish!

Scott with the catch of the day!

Finger Lakes Winter Waterfalls

2011-03-12T19:42:00.003-05:00

Today we got some shots of our local waterfalls that are swollen with the runoff from melting snow and rainfall. If the water stays up, then we should have a pretty decent opening day of trout come April 1st.

We started the tour at Taughannock Falls just north of Ithaca. They were really flowing well, and a lot of brave people actually hiked to the bottom!!

We drove into Ithaca to find Ithaca Falls. Ithaca Falls were by far the roaring-ist of them all. Waters in our area are definitely at capacity.

From Ithaca, we drove west towards Watkins Glen, and drove through Hector to get a shot of Hector Falls from the road.

Looking over the bridge at Hector Falls dumping into Seneca Lake.

Once we got to Watkins Glen we went to the base of the Watkins Glen State Park entrance to snap a shot of Glen Creek. There is still a lot of ice yet to melt.

From Watkins Glen we drove into Montour Falls and got a glimpse of Aunt Sarah's Falls.

And finally at the end of Main St. in Montour Falls we found famous Che-Qua-Ga Falls

Elk in the Finger Lakes

2011-01-31T10:26:00.000-05:00

This photo was taken just up the hill from Watkins Glen. A gorgeous winter day, and a majestic elk. Winter in the Finger Lakes, is just another beautiful time of year.

We Have a Winner!!

2010-12-22T23:14:00.000-05:00

And the Catch of the YEAR for 2010 is......

The Seneca Lake Salmon...sure is a beauty!

Thanks to all those that voted...and now for our other winner...

Macy Hall voted in our Catch of the YEAR contest, and is the WINNER of a 2 person kayak rental. Come down and visit us this summer at the Kayak Shack in Watkins Glen to redeem your kayak rental! Congrats to our winners!

Catch of the YEAR!

2010-12-12T21:20:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again where you, the reader, get to vote on which fish you think was Summit to Stream Adventures "Catch of the YEAR!!!"

Not only do you get to vote, but you get the chance to WIN something for voting! Here's how it will work:

Here's what you get:
Win a 2 person kayak rental from the Summit to Stream Adventures Kayak Shack in Watkins Glen! Enter for yourself, or give the gift of a kayak rental to the outdoor enthusiast in your life!

Here's who can win:
Residents of the U.S. or Canada.

Here are the requirements:
First Entry-Leave a Comment with the fish you think is the "Catch of the YEAR!" Just because your fish doesn't win, doesn't mean you can't win!

But wait there is more!!!

For more entries:
1 more entry = Follow this blog publicly-Just leave a comment and let us know you are already a follower. If you are a new follower, leave a comment and let us know.

1 more entry = "LIKE" our Facebook page-link on right column (if you already "Like" us, leave a comment and let us know).

1 more entry = Follow us on Twitter (@summittostream) and tweet about the giveaway with a link (if you already follow, leave a comment and let us know).

There you have it, FOUR chances to win! Remember leave a separate comment for each entry!

Each qualifying comment on the blog gets one entry

And the winner is....

The winner will be selected on Sunday, December 19th at 9:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. We will randomly select a winner by pulling names out of a hat. The winner will be emailed a gift certificate for the kayak rental prize.

HERE ARE YOUR CHOICES!!! HAVE FUN VOTING!

Click the link below the photos to read the story behind the catch!

A) Cayuta Creek Brown Trout

B) Waneta Lake Musky

C) Seneca Lake Salmon

D) Cayuga Lake lake trout

E) The Radtke Musky

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-10T13:06:00.000-05:00

From our family to yours!! Keep checking back, because soon we'll have our "Catch of the Year" contest...this is one you don't want to lose out on!

NY Deer Photos

2010-10-20T08:29:00.003-04:00

Just picked the camera up off of one of the properties to find these nice deer poking their heads out. Our guys are in stands on that property today, here's hoping one of them gets this nice buck.

*pay no attention to the date and time...camera settings have yet to be figured out!

11, possible 12 point buck

same buck showed his face a few times

the girls coming out in a line

New York Bowhunting Preview

2010-09-19T19:13:00.001-04:00

Get ready for bow season! Hanging tree stands, mowing and trimming...it's just around the corner!

Here are some recent trail cam photos:

Fishing Cayuga Lake

2010-09-19T17:58:00.001-04:00

Went out with our guests Jon and Julia Poling, chasing some salmon and trout. We left out of Dean's Cove on the west side of Cayuga Lake, and headed south to set up. Marking a lot of fish, we kept working in and out, between 50' and 190' of water. We hit a beautiful laker in 64'. We continued to fish south and then north, picking up a beautiful rainbow at 71'. The lake then got really rough but we still had several hits. It was a fun day on the water with our friends from Baltimore

New York State - Musky Fishing

2010-09-19T17:45:00.000-04:00

Headed out with Steve Spain and his wife for another battle with those Waneta Lake muskies. The day started out sunny and calm. We headed north down the center of the lake and hit our first fish within minutes, a 40" beauty.

Steve and the first catch of the day!

Then a few minutes later the fight was on again as we hit our second fish of the day! The Spain's did a great job with their fish and it was great having them aboard. We look forward to seeing our guests from Kansas again soon.

2nd musky of the day

Summer Fishing Recap

2010-09-13T15:41:00.002-04:00

With the summer fishing season coming to an end, I thought I would recap some highlights and lows of the last three months of fishing. This summer was different than summers in the past...mainly due to the hot dry weather we got all summer long.

Seneca Lake
Seneca Lake was unpredictable at best, with days of hitting fish left and right, to days with little action, if lucky.

Cayuga Lake

Cayuga Lake was a great surprise for me. Having fished it only a few times this year, I found great success each time. We had some of our best outings both in numbers of salmon and trout. Also, our biggest fish of the season were caught there.

Cayuga Lake Lake Trout

Waneta Lake
Our Musky trips on Waneta lake have been a great success this year with many fish in the 40" plus range, and a lot of great action. Oh, yea, lets not forget our first double of the season!

Waneta Lake Musky

Lamoka Lake
The bass action on Lamoka lake has also been hot and cold throughout the season. We tried many different strategies and techniques to get these fish on. Surface action was always fun in that magical first hour of light. There is nothing like a largemouth slamming a surface plug! The worst part of the summer was dropping my camera in Lamoka lake. It's bad enough to have lost a camera, but I lost documentation from three charters as well!

Fly Fishing
Fly fishing was good despite the hot weather. Ranging from browns on the surface and rainbows on nymphs. Throw in some bass, perch, bullhead, bluegill, and I'd call that a great summer of fishing!

Nice Brown

All in all a great summer with some excellent clients. Now it's time to gear up for fall: cool weather, foliage, and fall runs of browns, salmon and steelehead. Don't forget musky fishing!! We still have to get that elusive 50" fish. Stay tuned....

Finger Lakes Fly Fishing

2010-09-01T17:04:00.000-04:00

Met our guests Ryan and Sara for some fly fishing on Fall Creek in Ithaca. We spent some time getting our casting form down and then we were fishing. The water temp was a cool 61 degrees. We fished the various runs and pools up to the falls. We caught a mix of rainbow trout, brown trout and bass. It was a beautiful sunny day in the Finger Lakes and a great day on the water with Ryan and Sara.

Working on our Casting

elusive brown

fishing the falls

Seneca Lake Kayaking

2010-09-01T16:52:00.000-04:00

Last week we conducted a guided kayak tour on Seneca Lake with Ashley Mandel and family. We took them past painted rocks and up to Hector Falls, where the water was flowing due to recent rainfall. We had a blast kayaking with our new friends!

Bass Fishing Lamoka Lake

2010-09-01T16:43:00.000-04:00

Last week we hit the water with Paul Weiss and his sons for some bass fishing on Lamoka Lake. The day started off cool and calm. Surface activity was slow, so we switched over to Texas Rigs and Carolina Rigs and hit our first fish in minutes. As the day went on, the wind kicked up and the lake got pretty rough. We decided to head in early as we were getting battered by the waves. Thanks again Paul for coming out with us. Hope to see you all again soon!

New York Musky

2010-08-16T21:30:00.000-04:00

A nice Musky to start off the week

Double trouble!

A fine catch!

Recently we headed out on Waneta Lake with Paul and Bernie, for the second time this year. It turned out to be another great trip. We landed 8 musky in three days, with four over 40". Not to mention our first double of the season! Next time we need to land the elusive 50" musky. Thanks Paul & Bernie.

Trout & Salmon on Seneca Lake

2010-08-16T21:23:00.001-04:00

Monday, August 9th, we were greeted with calm waters and overcast skies. We hit our first fish in minutes and our second just minutes later. The fish were definitely up and biting! Fishing with us were Paul Gusak and a friend. They were kept busy, reeling in fish from the start to finish. We headed over to Painted Rocks and hit rainbows and salmon, all 4lbs plus. We ended up with 9 fish for our short trip. All in all, great day of fishing on Seneca Lake.

Seneca Lake Charter

2010-08-14T08:58:00.000-04:00

Saturday, August 7th, we chased salmon and rainbows on Seneca lake, with Brian McVey and his brothers.

This trip was won by Dr. McVey in a raffle at November Splendor, a fundraiser for Schuyler Hospital at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel. We started the day on the west side of Seneca lake and landed our first fish north of the US Salt plant. We headed over to the east side of the lake where we marked a lot of fish in front of Hector Falls. It ended up being a beautiful sunny day, and we enjoyed our guests during a busy NASCAR weekend!

Fly Fishing the Finger Lakes

2010-08-14T08:45:00.000-04:00

Met my guest Cliff Mistretta for some fly fishing on Cayuta Creek. The day started off slow with little surface action. As we worked down stream the action picked up. We caught some beautiful browns on elk caddis, beatles and ants. Turned out to be a great day on the stream with a great fly fisherman, all the way from Texas!

Fishing the Finger Lakes - A Seneca Lake Charter

2010-08-06T15:14:00.000-04:00

We were greeted with a calm sunny morning on Seneca Lake. Our guests, Eric, Joe & Zack went after trout and salmon. We had action all day long, especially on the east side of Seneca lake, fishing the painted rocks. We caught salmon and rainbows on Kokanee Killers, 71' and 56' down. Another great trip with our friends from Philly.

Zack and a nice Rainbow

Musky Fishing in the heart of the Finger Lakes

2010-08-06T07:14:00.001-04:00

We hit the water on Monday with Dana Carstensen and his wife to chase the elusive musky on Waneta Lake. The day started out rough, by snapping one of my rods, leaving us one rod short throughout the day. The weather was windy with a mix of sun and clouds. We battled surface weeds all day, which also made it challenging. However, we did manage to to catch one small musky and one that got off. Despite the rough parts of the day, we still had a lot of fun and I enjoyed fishing with my friends from Maine!

Finger Lakes Bass Fishing

2010-08-01T21:35:00.008-04:00

Saturday we went out again for some more bass on Lamoka Lake. We fished with sunny skies and calm waters. Our guests today were John and his children Mark and Lauren. We fished a combination of spinner baits, worms and power hawgs on Texas rigs and Carolina rigs. It was a great day, catching fourteen fish throughout the day.

John and a nice catch!

Mark and a largemouth

Lauren and a nice largemouth

great day out with a fun family!

Lamoka Lake Bass

2010-08-01T21:28:00.005-04:00

First day on the water since dropping the camera. Good thing we had an old spare! We hit the water with Jon Pardee and his son. The weather was calm and sunny to begin, and then a north wind took hold. We caught a combination of largemouth and pickerel, fishing the docks with Yum dingers and Power worms. Having a great week of bass fishing makes up for losing a camera...sort of.

Camera, Oh Camera

2010-07-29T16:12:00.005-04:00

Soooooo...I'd like to share four blogs, including photos with you all, but I can't, because I sort of dropped the digital camera in Lamoka Lake yesterday. Or rather it fell out of my front pocket into the depths of Lamoka Lake when I bent over the side of the boat. Yeah...so just know that I had a great day bass fishing Lamoka Lake on Sunday with my nephew Kevin (I had a great sunrise over Lamoka photo to share). Monday I had an awesome family come musky fishing with me (had a great pic of that too). Tuesday I went fly-fishing in Ithaca and we hooked up with some smallies (lost those pictures too). Wednesday, the day the camera left me, I took out a husband and wife for some bass fishing. So...just know it's been a great week of fishing, and I am truly sorry that I don't have photos to share. I did go out bass fishing again this morning and took our other camera, so I'll share that post with everyone later!

Back for More Musky!

2010-07-23T16:56:00.016-04:00

I just finished up a three day charter with brothers Paul and Bernie Kotulack. They have fished with me many times and this time did not disappoint.

Day One

We fished the shallows with Radtkes and X-Raps. We landed five fish and missed six! Early in the day we had quite an occurrence. We had a fish on, and as we were reeling him in the line snapped, losing one of our new Radtke lures. After that disappointment, I tied on another Radtke, and made a pass back through the same water. Bam! The rod goes off, we reel the fish in to produce the same fish with the previous Radtke still in his mouth!! What a one in a million shot that was!! We even got the photo to share!

One fish, 2 Radtkes!

Bernie and his prize
Paul and Musky

Day Two
We were hit with a down pouring rain that sparked our first fish. We ran shallow for most of the day and then decided to change things up and go deep. We set our down riggers to 8,10,15, & 19 feet. Turned out to be the right decision and we hit fish right away!

Paul showing of one of the days fearsome fish!

Bernie and a nice Musky

Holding up one of the toothy critters

Day Three

This day was calm and sunny, fishing both shallow and deep we landed 2 by mid day. Our total for the three days of musky fishing was 11 musky. By far our best three day stint yet. I always look forward to fishing with Paul and Bernie.

Fly fishing the Finger Lakes

2010-07-23T16:41:00.005-04:00

Picked up our guests at Rosemary's Legacy B&B in Montour Falls for a half-day adventure of fly-fishing. With the recent weather in the high 90's and dry conditions I thought it would make summer fly fishing a bit tough. We started out on Fall Creek in Ithaca, fished the deep pools with nymphs and streamers. We ended up catching a little of everything: bass, trout and even a bullhead! Another great day on the water with our friends from Ireland.

some duckies that swam right by me

bullhead on the shore

Fly fishing with the irish

Musky Fishing Waneta Lake

2010-07-20T19:35:00.006-04:00

Saturday we hit the water with Lindsay, Andy, and Mike to chase some elusive musky. After dodging a little boat traffic, we were set and hit our first fish by 9:00am, it was a beauty! It was probably the 2nd largest we've ever caught! It was a busy day out on the water with pleasure boaters and fishermen alike, but we had a great time on the water. Thanks again to Lindsay, Andy, and Mike for coming out with me. Hope to see you again soon, so we can go out and chase more of those toothy critters!!

Andy with a big bad musky!

Kayaking to Hector Falls

2010-07-20T19:22:00.005-04:00

Thursday July 15th was a beautiful sunny morning as we met our guests for a little paddle of Seneca Lake. Our tour started with a brief paddling lesson and we were off. We paddled past the painted rocks on our way to Hector Falls. The creek was low but we managed to get our boats all the way to the base of the falls. A great way to start the day with a kayak tour of Seneca Lake.

paddling past the Malabar

happy kayakers at the base of Hector Falls

Hector Falls

Seneca Lake Charter

2010-07-15T07:39:00.006-04:00

Hit the water at 8:00 am with Mike Asma, his brother and father. Once we got the gear out, I checked the water temperature and it had dropped from a three week high of 74.5 to 61.1. This drop sparked an early morning strike. We hit fish within minutes. Trolling spoons and Kokanee Killers produced fish all day, a combination of salmon, rainbows, and lake trout. Had a great day with the Asma family.

Lake Trout, a 26 incher

Salmon, Rainbow and a Laker

Seneca Lake Kayak Tour

2010-07-12T18:52:00.007-04:00

Just yesterday I went out on a Seneca Lake Kayak Tour. The tour was originally going to be a Queen Catherine Marsh tour, however, due to low water levels we have had to re-schedule all our marsh tours to the lake.
The lake did not disappoint!! It was a perfect morning for a paddle. The sun was shining, mid-70's, it was a perfect scene. We paddled east from the Watkins Glen Marina to the canal, from there we paddled south on the canal about halfway to Montour Falls. Along the way we were visited twice by a friendly mink, who kept coming back to scope us out. We headed north back up the canal to Seneca lake, and then we paddled up the east side by the painted rocks. Overall, a great day on the water with our guests from Canada!

Mr. Mink swimming away

The Woodhouse's enjoying their paddle

paddling under the painted rocks

Kayak Shack this week....

2010-07-12T13:46:00.007-04:00

This has been a great week for us down at the Kayak Shack in Watkins Glen! We've enjoyed some gorgeous weather and the lake has offered some very paddle friendly waters. We have some Seneca Lake kayak tours lined up this week, in addition to some trout fishing tomorrow. Oh how I love summer!!

Sailboat race out on Seneca lake

Happy kayak renters

Jannica renting some kayaks on Saturday

Mark returning from a kayak delivery on Keuka Lake

Boats ready to be launched

Radio Interview and Giveaway

2010-07-09T12:59:00.003-04:00

Last night Mark had the opportunity to participate in a giveaway and interview with US Outdoorsmen Central and Backwater Outdoors Radio Show.

The interview and giveaway start at 1 hour 5 mins and ends around 1 hour 18 mins. Use the bar at the bottom of the player to advance the time.

Click this link to listen: http://www.myusoc.com/BackwaterOutdoorsRadio.html

Enjoy!

Finger Lakes Kayak Tour

2010-07-07T08:07:00.006-04:00

We toured the Marsh his morning with the Slippen's. We headed out around 7am to beat the heat. Once I got there and started unloading the kayaks I saw a sight I'd never seen before; blue gill and perch were herded up in the south end of the canal flailing and jumping about. We launched and paddled through them to start our tour. At the end of the paddle we came back through, and largemouth were literally jumping all around me and the boat. Our theory is that like dolphins, the largemouth were corralling the smaller fish for their own personal buffet. It was quite a sight that's for sure! Too bad I didn't have my fishing pole! Marc and his wife paddling through the marsh

Trolling Seneca Lake

2010-07-07T08:01:00.003-04:00

Went out on Seneca lake with stiff south winds and sunny skies. Salmon were the fish of the day, and we lost a big one...fish story, I know! But it was BIG! We caught our fish today over by the painted rocks, and Hector Falls. Thanks to Kevin and Tim for coming out with us on this hot summer day!

Fishing Cayuga Part II

2010-07-07T07:53:00.005-04:00

We hit Cayuga Lake for a second time with Paul and Janet Grosse. The day did not disappoint! Salmon and lake trout were caught throughout the day, trolling dipsy diver/spoon combos and flasher/trout killer combos. Including a 10lb beauty! I am pretty sure Cayuga lake is my favorite this year!

A great day on Cayuga Lake!

pretty salmon

Now that's a nice fish!

Trolling Cayuga Lake

2010-07-01T13:47:00.007-04:00

Went out with our old friends Paul and Janet Grosse for Cayuga Lake salmon and trout fishing. Beautiful sunny day with brisk winds once again. We hit our first fish in minutes, a 6.5lb laker. The day did not disappoint with a total of 9 salmon and three lakers. We will see Janet and Paul once again on Friday for round two!

That's a nice salmon

That's a Cayuga Lake, Lake Trout

Lake Trout

" That's a big laker! You should have seen the rod, I was bouncing bottom"

Fishing Lamoka Lake

2010-07-01T13:18:00.008-04:00

Went fishing on Tuesday with Mike O'Connell, his dad, and his ten year old son Brady. We were greeted with sunny skies and brisk winds. We started casting the weed beds on the south shore with Power worms and spinner baits. They produced largemouth bass and pickerel. The trip was a gift to Brady for his birthday, Happy Birthday! Hey, maybe next time we can chase some musky on Waneta Lake!

Brady and a nice bass

Pickerel and Brady

Grampa and a pickerel

Brady and his pickerel

Black Bear don't bother me...

2010-06-30T05:47:00.000-04:00

So as recently as last week we had a black bear sighting...and as close as, well...my backyard!! Woke up in the morning to a banging on the side of the house, which turned out to be a black bear feasting on the trash inside my garbage cans. The bear spend all day in our backyard and eventually tore to pieces our cherry tree, bird feeder and four bags of garbage. I called the DEC to report the bear sighting and to see if we needed to follow any protocol. Here is the advice the DEC gave me:

-The bear is just there to eat, as soon as his food source is gone, the bear too will be gone.
-If the bear is blocking your exits from the house the DEC will come out and rearrange your setup to make it safe for you to get out
-make noise, and a lot of it when exiting your house to scare the bear
-and they asked if I had a digital camera..."yes" I answered...well then, fill it up with photos, because it will be fun experience to look back on.

And that's about it, enjoy a few of our photos

Fly Fishing in Ithaca

2010-06-28T08:34:00.009-04:00

Saturday we hit the stream with Joe Mack and his sons Brenden, Andy, and Dan. We started our day on Fall Creek with a little Fly Fishing 101. Everyone caught on quickly and the fishing began. The day produced: Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Bass and Perch. We all enjoyed the fishing and the scenery of Ithaca Falls.

Rainbow Trout caught on San Juan Worm

Small mouth, Montana Stone Fly

Brown trout caught on a Montana Stone Fly

Father and Sons fishing the base of the falls

Smallmouth, caught on Zug Bug Fly

Perch caught on a Clouser Minnnow

Seneca Lake Salmon Fishing

2010-06-28T08:23:00.005-04:00

Went out with Hank Bron and his son Hank to target salmon. The lake was calm and temperatures were in the 60's. It took us awhile to find clear water due to surface weeds. We found our clear water just south of Glenora, where we hit our first fish. Turned out to be a great day. Thanks to the Bron's for coming out with us.

Waneta Lake Musky

2010-06-24T10:20:00.006-04:00

Had our first musky charter of the season out on Waneta Lake. We took the just married, Dalton and Elizabeth Weaver, out for a day chasing those toothy critters. The day started out calm and sunny with temperatures in the 70's. We hit our first fish by 7:30am, a 42" beauty. The day did not disappoint, with multiple strikes and two more fish. A great day on the water, and congrats to the newlyweds!!!

42" musky, not bad for the first fish of the day!

Elizabeth made sure she kept her hands behind her back to keep from touching the fish!

Nice Catch!

Trolling Seneca Lake

2010-06-16T12:51:00.003-04:00

Went out with Steve Holiday and friends for a little Seneca Lake trout and salmon fishing. It was a reunion for the three friends who have not seen each other in 30 years! We marked fish right away and landed this beautiful salmon. The thunderstorms held off producing a great day on the water!

Our first week in the Kayak Shack

2010-06-15T21:35:00.009-04:00

A busy week down at the kayak shack! Below you'll see the week in pictures:

Our first kayak renter out paddling on Seneca Lake
Our son helping us hand out the vests

The Kayak Shack open for business

Rent ME!

A snapping turtle turned up on our beach this morning!

The Kayak Shack can definitely be deemed a success in its first week, we've had a steady flow of renters, and we've been able to promote our charter business out of the location as well. More fishing blogs to come, as we'll be out fishing the rest of June!

Kayak Rentals at the Marina in Watkins Glen

2010-06-09T15:41:00.003-04:00

We are happy to announce that starting this weekend we will be renting kayaks out of the Kayak Shack in the Seneca Harbor Marina in Watkins Glen...

Conveniently located in the Seneca Harbor Marina in Watkins Glen, we offer daily rentals of Perception and Wilderness System kayaks, in addition to canoes. Rent a kayak for the day or just a few hours, and paddle on beautiful and serene Seneca Lake. Or explore its waterways with a guided tour of Seneca Lake or the Queen Catherine Marsh.

Daily Rentals: available for Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen at the Seneca Harbor Marina

Kayak Shack Hours

Wednesday-Sunday 10-6
Monday-Tuesday: by reservation only

Single Kayak: $18/hour
Double Kayak: $22/hour
Canoe: $25/hour

All Day Paddle Pass(kayaking only): $75.00/single or $90/double

Our Guided Tours: available for Seneca Lake and Queen Catherine Marsh

Queen Catherine Marsh Paddle: Glide along its canals and open water and experience nature up close. Natural flora and fauna await you at every corner. Deer, Beaver, muskrat, foxes, turtles, frogs, and countless birds; make this a nature lovers paradise. Enjoy the solitude of this hidden Finger Lakes gem. Marsh tours are two hours long.

2 Person Tour: $175.00

4 Person Tour: $300.00

Seneca Lake Paddle: Here you will enjoy a paddle down the canal, where you will encounter blue herons, king fishers, deer and beaver…just to name a few. As you leave the canal and its marinas, you will enter the crystal waters of Seneca Lake. Here you will have the opportunity to paddle past the Painted Rocks, Hector Falls, and Watkins Glen Marina Park. Seneca Lake tours are four hours long.

2 Person Tour: $200.00

4 Person Tour: $325.00

Lakeside Deliveries: We will deliver kayaks to your Finger Lakes cottage rental, hotel, or bed and breakfast. Deliveries are available for Seneca Lake, Keuka Lake, Cayuga Lake, Waneta Lake, and Lamoka Lake. Delivery fee applies. Minimum three days, please call for pricing.

All rentals and tours include PFD’s and paddles.

Kayaking in the Finger Lakes

2010-06-01T10:11:00.006-04:00

Memorial Day weekend it was kayak central here at Summit to Stream Adventures. Multiple kayak rentals on Seneca Lake along with a guided and self-guided trip on the Catherine Creek Marsh. I can't think of a better way to spend a beautiful weekend in the Finger Lakes!

Taking out novice kayakers!

A perfect day for a paddle!

Fishing Seneca Lake

2010-06-01T10:02:00.003-04:00

Saturday morning we went out with David Dessaure and his father in law George to fish one day of the Seneca Lake Trout Derby. We got out on the watter at 7:30am and fished until 12:30. Lake was calm with light winds. Maneuvering around the boats made it tough. We had several fish hit along with these two salmon. A great day on the water!

Seneca Lake Fishing Charter

2010-05-28T19:24:00.005-04:00

Went out with Bill Hall for some Seneca Lake, lake trout today. The beautiful sunrise over Seneca Lake greeted us. Once we got on the water we tried out some new gear including my new sonar. Finding fish was tough, but the lake was calm. We hit 4 fish on our short trip including this 24" beauty. Lake trout derby tomorrow...

Paddling the Marsh

2010-05-28T19:04:00.005-04:00

We have officially kicked off our paddling season with a guided tour of the Catherine Creek Marsh. We had a fun time teaching our beginning paddlers, the Lee family, how to paddle and maneuver around the marsh. Turned out to be a great day with sunny skies and light winds. What could be better than paddling a kayak in the Finger Lakes?!

Seneca Lake Trout Derby

2010-05-26T16:10:00.004-04:00

This weekend is the Annual Seneca Lake Trout Derby. This year we've been chartered to take some guys out for the derby. I really have a feeling we'll be bringing this one home! We've got a couple of weapons in our arsenal.

Also if you're looking for more information check out their website: Lake Trout Derby
You can also read more about it In this article I found on ESPN's website: How to win the Derby

GOOD LUCK FISHING!!

Experience the Outdoors in the Finger Lakes

2010-04-27T14:46:00.006-04:00

Today Captain Mark was the guest on the Finger Lakes Wine Country weekly Tuesday podcast. He touched on all sorts of outdoor activity from fishing to kayaking.

click to listen to the interview!!

Easter Weekend Fishing

2010-04-04T22:21:00.004-04:00

Saturday morning I drove up to my regular spot on Catherine Creek expecting a large crowd. As I arrived there was not a single car to be found parked along Rt 14 between Montour Falls and Milport, so I wondered, what's up? Maybe there are no fish in this hole? Will I catch something today? What's going on?

I threw on the waders, zipped up my vest, and trekked to the hole. And wouldn't you know it I was the only one there! Didn't take long before I hooked up with my first fish, a 15 inch rainbow on a chartreuse fly. Not long after that a single angler came up, we chatted a bit about how we hadn't seen anyone fishing on this perfect day. We both fished some more, by the time he left, he had hooked two nice rainbows, and I another. If I had time I am sure my day would have produced several more. However, life beckoned and I left by 830am to get about the rest of the weekend with my family.

Happy Easter!

Catherine Creek-Fly Fishing

2010-04-01T20:35:00.008-04:00

Great opening Day! Temps started out at 32 degrees, and the water temp, color and flow were all perfect. The fish definitely did not disappoint! I hooked up with a big one first thing, but he snapped me off. Drifting champagne egg flies I landed 4 fish from 15-20". With a lull in the action, I switched over to chartreuse eggs and nailed a 20" beauty. My fellow fishermen hooked up with 5 rainbows over 24". I fished until 11am, and then I had to break away to take care of some business, and hang out with the family. Certainly a superb opening day! You can bet I'll be making more time for some morning fishing here in the next few days!

A fellow angler with the first fish of the day
15" on champagne

Beautiful Catherine Creek rainbow

Another angler with a nice 26" rainbow

Opening morning on Catherine Creek

Last fish on chartruese

Getting Geared Up

2010-03-27T22:03:00.003-04:00

Opening day is only 5 days away, and I am getting all geared up! Literally!

The flies are in the box and ready to go.

Checking out the Trout Stream

2010-03-21T17:44:00.007-04:00

This weekend my son and I checked out the trout streams in anticipation for opening day April 1st. The water level was low on Catherine Creek, but the color was good. There were quite a few guys out checking for action on the creek as well, so far there were a few fish spotted. I am hoping for some cooler temps and rain in the next week to keep and bring the fish up.

As you can see from the photos below, I am teaching my boy all the hot spots early.

Here is Owen checking out a hole on Sleepers Creek, just north of Milport.

This photo is 1st day of spring 2009. He made his first trek to the creek when he was only 10 months.

Let the Wine Tours begin!

2010-03-19T10:01:00.004-04:00

This last weekend we took a great group out wine touring the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. We picked our guests up in Watkins Glen, at Echoes of the Glen Bed and Breakfast, where owner Barbara Merrill treated us to some of her homemade, and might I add rather tasty, kuchen.

Once we picked up our guests, we headed north on the east side of Seneca Lake to start our tour at Wagner Vineyards. Our Buffalo area guests had an affinity for sweeter wines and decided to head south from there for stops at: Bagley's Poplar Ridge, Penguin Bay, Tickle Hill, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Red Newt, and Finger Lakes Distilling. From there we worked our way west to taste at Fruit Yard, Glenora, Fulkerson, and Lakewood Vineyards.

All in all a good day on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail! Now it's time to get geared up for Cruisin' the Tropics March 26th-28th. Give us a call, we still have wine tour availability!

Conversation with your Guide

2010-03-03T11:32:00.002-05:00

Recently we sat down with Mark Moskal, NY State licenced guide, U.S. Coast Guard Captain, and owner of Summit to Stream Adventures. 2010 marks the 8th year that Summit to Stream Adventures has been adventuring in the Finger Lakes, and to mark the occasion we thought we'd give you a little insight behind the scenes.

Q: Where do you fish and how long have you been fishing?
A: I've been fishing for approximately 35 years, since I was a young boy, my first fishing experience was when my dad took me to the shores of Lamoka Lake, we sat on a dock and dropped line. I was hooked. Today we fish the central Finger Lakes region of New York State. We fish the lakes ,rivers, and streams including: Keuka, Seneca, Waneta and Lamoka lakes, Cohocton river, Shepards, Catherine, Cayuta and Fall Creeks.

Q: Do you still sit on the dock to fish? What do you take customers out in?
A: Ha! well I have been known to pull up a dock or two in order to fish, however, now I take clients out in our 17 ft Alumacraft Navigator. We can take up to three people for half or whole day charters.

Q: What kind of equipment do you have on your boat?
A: Ah, a very technical question...I have a 75 Evinrude Outboard, Minnkota trolling motor, Scotty downriggers, Lowrance Fishfinder, and Trax Tech rail system, believe me it all gets the job done!

Q: How did you get into fly fishing?
A: Oh about 20 years ago I saw an ad for a class put on by Trout Unlimited. I called my best friend and we took the class together, I'd been interested in the concept of fly fishing for awhile.

Q: What is your favorite fish to fish for?
A: Fly fishing that would be Steelehead. Casting, I like largemouth bass, and trolling it's definitely the musky.

Q: Tell me about the biggest fish you ever caught?
A: Well that's a hard one to answer, because some of the fish I've caught have been bigger than others, but it's all relative to how I caught a particular fish. For example, while fishing by myself on the Salmon River, I caught a 20lb King Salmon with a fly on my fly rod, and that's a big fish for that type of set up. Another example would be the 46 inch, 35 lb Musky we caught while on a charter this past July. The ever elusive musky is considered the fish of 10,000 casts, and to catch one at all is a feat, let alone one that size!

That's all for now, keep checking back for more conversations with Guide Mark Moskal, when we'll delve into some bow hunting questions. Do you have an outdoor question for Captain Mark? Leave a comment and ask it, we'd be happy to ask him!

Harrisburg so far....

2010-02-11T09:15:00.010-05:00

So if you've heard or seen the news recently, you know that the mid-atlantic and the east coast have been slammed hard with a Winter snow storm...a Snowtastrophe, Snowmageddon...well Harrisburg was not left out of this Winter snow party. In effect the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show closed early on Wednesday, will open late on Thursday, and the number of attendees has definitely been down. BUT...the show must go on!!

We'll be there through Sunday with all the information you need on your next Finger Lakes adventure. Stop by booth 138! We'll see you there!!

In the meantime, enjoy some photos of our week at the show so far.

Summit to Stream 2010 booth, 138 in the Fishing Hall Meeting up with Bobbi-Jo High and winning fun things at the A.R.E. booth

Captain Mark ready to book your next Finger Lakes Adventure!

Albino trout in the Bass Pro Shops fishing tank

Birds of Prey exhibit, a Harris Hawk, a Screech Owl, and a Red Tail Hawk

Check out the World record bucks at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show

See you in Harrisburg!!!

2010-02-05T07:53:00.004-05:00

Headed out for the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg today. Set up is this afternoon, and the show opens tomorrow morning at 10 am. We'll be there through February 14th! Stop by booth #138 to say hi, ask questions and book a Finger Lakes adventure!!!!

Captain Mark

Ask Captain Mark

2010-01-20T09:54:00.002-05:00

Do you have any burning questions for Captain Mark? Need some tips or advice on fishing, hunting or even wine? Well here's your chance to ask them, post your questions in our comment section, Facebook, twitter or simply email them to us and we'll answer your questions here on our blog! Think of some good ones...and ask away!!!

Contest Winner

2010-01-01T21:19:00.003-05:00

Here is a photo of the recipient of our giveaway, sportin' his Summit to Stream Adventures hat at Cabela's in Hamburg, PA! That's one nice lookin' hat!

Scouting photo of the week

2009-12-15T06:56:00.000-05:00

Caught this guy on our scouting camera this week, think he's looking for some honey?

Winter Wine Tour

2009-12-13T21:20:00.004-05:00

We toured the Seneca Lake Wine Trail Saturday with Tristan and Katie from Buffalo. We picked them up at their bed and breakfast, Gentle Giants B&B in Geneva, NY. It turned out to be a beautifully sunny day on the trail. We made stops at Lamoreaux Landing, Wagner, Standing Stone, Damiani, Finger Lakes Distillery, Four Chimney's, Red Tail Ridge and Billsboro. A great day with our new friends from western New York!

Tristan and Katie at Red Tail Ridge on Seneca Lake's West side

Catch of the YEAR!!! 2009

2009-12-13T17:00:00.006-05:00

Drum roll please.....

It wasn't really close, but there was some strong support for the other fish. Overall, I don't think there will be any surprises as to this year's Catch of the YEAR!!!

This years Catch of the YEAR!!! Was the large Musky caught in Waneta Lake, July 2009, Congrats to Gary and his catch!

Now for the winner you've all been waiting for...the winner of the fishing prize pack and Summit to Stream Adventures hat. The winner is: THE HIGH FAMILY!!!!

Congrats and we'll get your prize in the mail to you!! Thanks again to everyone who voted!

Catch of the YEAR!!!

2009-12-05T17:06:00.014-05:00

Catch of the year!!! It's that time of year where you, the reader, get to vote on which fish you think was Summit to Stream Adventures "Catch of the YEAR!!!"

Not only do you get to vote, but you get the chance to WIN something for voting! Here's how it will work:

Here's what you get:
You win a Summit to Stream Adventures hat, and some cool fishing gear! Enter for yourself, or for the fisherman in your life, the hat and gear will make a great Christmas gift!!

Here's who can win:
Residents of the U.S. or Canada.

Here are the requirements:
First Entry-Leave a Comment as to which fish you think is the "Catch of the YEAR!" Just because your fish doesn't win, doesn't mean you can't win!

For more entries...BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH:

1 more entry = follow this blog publicly-Just leave a comment and let us know you are already a follower. If you are a new follower, leave a comment and let us know.

1 more entry = become a Fan of our Facebook page-link on right column (if you're already a fan, leave a comment and let us know).

1 more entry = Follow us on Twitter (summittostream) and tweet about the giveaway with a link (if you already follow, leave a comment and let us know).

There you have it, FOUR chances to win!

Each qualifying comment on the blog gets one entry.

And the winner is....
The winner will be selected on Sunday, December 13 at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. We will randomly select a winner by pulling names out of a hat.

HERE ARE YOUR CHOICES!!! HAVE FUN VOTING!

Fly Fishing Fall Creek

2009-11-22T18:02:00.003-05:00

Went out with Demetrius Kasmari and his grandson today for some fly fishing on Fall Creek. Late November we target the lake run brown trout. Drifting egg patterns in peach and orange we hooked into some beautiful fish, including this 26" giant!

Autumn Fly Fishing on Fall Creek

2009-11-06T09:40:00.006-05:00

Went out with Damian Krysan of Rochester, NY for a fly fishing trip on Fall Creek. Water Flow was good with cloudy skies and a light rain. We drifted egg patterns and streamers through Fall Creeks various runs and pools. We had multiple hook ups of the lake run salmon and brown trout. It was a great day on the water, and thanks again to Damian for coming out with us!

Damian and a nice Brown

Fishing at the falls

Autumn Charter on Seneca Lake

2009-11-02T10:02:00.005-05:00

Went out with John Kita and his son Brian. We were greeted with a northwest wind and partly sunny skies. We hit our first fish within minutes. The bite was on all day, producing 8 salmon and 1 Lake Trout. We had a great time on the water. Thanks to John and Brian for coming out with us and we look forward to seeing you next year for a little Musky Hunting!

Touring Keuka Lake Wine Trail

2009-10-14T19:25:00.007-04:00

We started our tour with a pickup on the west side of Keuka Lake yesterday. Our guests Barry Weand, wife, and friends joined us for a Fall day on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. We made stops at Bully Hill, Heron Hill, Dr. Franks, Rooster Hill, Keuka Springs, and McGregor wineries. The sun made an appearance towards the end of the afternoon, allowing an opportunity for the Fall colors to pop! Hope to see our friends from Reading, PA again soon!

Columbus Day Wine Tour

2009-10-13T10:19:00.004-04:00

Wine Tour today with Ben and Leslie Clark. We started our tour with a pickup at Magnolia Place Bed and Breakfast in Hector, NY. Focusing on the east side of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, we made stops at Kings Garden, Lamoreaux Landing, Shalestone, Standing Stone, Hazlitt, Red Newt, Damiani, Chateau Lafayette Reneau, Atwater and Silver Springs wineries. Congratulations to the newly married couple!!

Newlyweds, Leslie and Ben

Gearing up for Hunting Season

2009-10-06T13:55:00.004-04:00

This week we are getting ready for some Archery Hunts coming up later in the month and in November. In a few days we are head down to Cabela's in Hamburg, PA to stock up on some supplies. We also thought you'd like a little sneak peek at some of the action going on in the region. Here are some scouting photos to whet your appetite.

Seneca Lake Wine Tour-Fall

2009-10-05T13:45:00.004-04:00

Saturday our wine tour started with a pick up at Echoes of the Glen Bed and Breakfast in Watkins Glen. Our guests Greig and Marissa enjoyed visits at Fulkerson, Heron Hill, Red Tail Ridge, Billsboro, and then a stop at Ventosa for lunch. After lunch we headed down the east side of Seneca Lake for stops at Standing Stone, Shalestone, and Damiani wineries. It turned out to be a sunny day with the Fall Harvest in full swing.

Greig and Marissa in front of Heron Hill Tasting Room on the west side of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail

Seneca Lake Wine Tour-Fall

2009-10-04T09:17:00.002-04:00

We picked up our guests at the Showboat Motel for some tasting on Seneca Lake. This trip we made stops at Fulkerson, Glenora, Lakewood, Lamoreaux Landing, Standing Stone, Tickle Hill, Red Newt, Chateau Lafayette Reneau, Atwater, and Catherine Valley wineries. Ten wineries in all! Another great day on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail with our friends from Reading, PA.

3-Day Musky Charter

2009-10-03T09:25:00.008-04:00

Went out with brothers Paul and Bernie Kotulak for the second time this year chasing Musky on Waneta Lake. We were greeted with rain, rough water and 20 mph winds...it didn't discourage these hardy fishermen, nor did it discourage the musky! We ended up with 5 fish with the biggest being a 41" monster. All fish were caught on X-Raps and Ratke minnows. Thanks to Paul and Bernie for coming out with us again, and we'll see you next year!

The 41" monster! Just an inch shy of keeping :)

Finger Lakes Fly Fishing

2009-09-29T10:11:00.008-04:00

What do you do on a rainy day? Fly fishing of course!!!

Headed over to Ithaca on Sunday with Lauren Lynd and friends. We started off at Salmon Creek for a little fly fishing 101. Once everyone got their form down we headed to Fall Creek. With beautiful Ithaca Falls in the background, we fished the various pools and runs as the rain came down. The catch of the day were browns and rainbows. Great day out on the water!

Wine Tour-and a little back blogged**

2009-09-28T22:36:00.005-04:00

**we're catching up on our blogging...bear with us we have some great photos and blogs coming in the next week.

Saturday we took a great couple, The Coxey's, out for their 5th anniversary. Picked them up at Sunset on Seneca Bed and Breakfast in Watkins Glen, and then out for a day of wine tasting on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. It was quite possibly the busiest day we've seen this year. The wineries were packed!

Anniversary toast at Atwater Winery

Finger Lakes Wine-Keuka and Seneca Lake Wine Trails

2009-09-26T11:44:00.006-04:00

Went out with Maggie Hayes and friends for some wine tasting. Our first stop was Bully Hill, then stops at Heron Hill, and Dr. Frank's on Keuka Lake. We then headed over to Seneca Lake for stops at Seneca Shores and Anthony Road. Back over on Keuka Lake to finish at Keuka Springs and Rooster Hill wineries. The day turned out to be beautiful with sunny skies, a perfect day for tasting wine in the Finger Lakes!

Tasting at Bully Hill

Scenic views on Keuka Lake

Nice ride!!

Hiatus

2009-09-17T06:24:00.000-04:00

We are going to be in the Pacific Northwest until Sept 23rd, so we're taking a small hiatus from blogging. We'll miss you!

Finger Lakes Musky Fishing

2009-09-15T17:04:00.004-04:00

Went out with Bob Johnson for a mid-morning musky charter on Waneta Lake. Fishing was slow in the beginning, but around 1pm we hit our first fish, then five minutes later our second fish was on. Within 15 minutes of our first fish we had our third fish on! The fish were active, and the bite was ON! At the end of our day we had a hit but no hook-up. Fish were caught at varying depths and lures. Another great day on the water.

Touring Seneca Lake Wine Trail

2009-09-14T13:31:00.002-04:00

Out on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail with Brady Francischelli and her friends celebrating Brady's Birthday! We started our day at Wagner Winery with stops at Penguin Bay, Hazlitt, and Atwater. Then we headed over to the West side of the Lake for a visit to Miles, Fulkerson, and Lakewood wineries. A great day with our friends from Hornell. Happy Birthday Brady!!!

Touring the Finger Lakes- A Two Day Tour

2009-09-09T21:09:00.010-04:00

DAY 1
We had a great time with our guests from Oregon and Western NY; Mark, Mike, Sue and Marie. Their first morning we took them to tour the Glenn H. Curtiss museum in Hammondsport. After the museum it was off to the west side of Keuka Lake for some wine tasting at Bully Hill, Heron Hill, & Dr. Frank's. After some wine tasting it was time for lunch at Esperanza. For the afternoon we headed to the west side of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail for some tastings at Glenora, Fulkerson and Pompous Ass wineries. Overall a great tour and beautiful day in the Finger Lakes!

Had a great time at the Glenn H Curtiss museum in Hammondsport, NY
Outside of Bully Hill Winery

Tasting at Pompous Ass Winery on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail

DAY 2

What to do on your second day in the Finger Lakes??? Why fishing of course!!!!!

We all headed out on Waneta Lake to chase some Musky. Had one rod "pop" very early on with no hookup. We got into our first fish mid-morning and Mark reeled in the 40" beast, caught on a silver X-Rap. Later in our final turn of the day Mike had a chance but the fish broke free. It was the ending to a great couple of days.

Wine Tour and Musky fishing on the same trip, what could be better!?

Mark and his prized Musky

Waneta Lake Smallmouth

2009-09-07T13:12:00.005-04:00

Today we took out Roman & Ro for bass on Waneta Lake. First thing in the morning we were greeted with a heavy fog and a bald eagle sighting. Casting worms and crank baits we landed some largemouth and smallmouth, in addition to multiple misses. As the sun came up the pleasure boats and vacationers came out for their last bit of summer. It turned out to be a calm sunny day with our friends from New York City.

If you click on the photo to make it bigger you may be able to spot the bald eagle in the trees.
Roman with a nice catch!

Touring the Seneca Lake Wine Trail

2009-09-05T12:57:00.008-04:00

Today we headed out with a pickup from the Longhouse Lodge, just outside of Watkins Glen. Our couple enjoyed stops at Lakewood, Fulkerson, White Springs, Three Brothers, Chateau Lafayette Reneau, and Atwater wineries, to name a few! We also made a visit to the first Distillery on Seneca Lake for a taste. The weather cooperated and we were treated with a gorgeous day out on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail with our guests from Eastern New York.

Vineyards and Views!
Happy Wine Tasting!

Inside the new Finger Lakes Distilling

A nice addition to Seneca Lake

Waneta Lake Bass Action

2009-09-05T09:37:00.003-04:00

Went out with Vic Rendano and his son-in-law C.J. for an evening charter on Waneta Lake. First cast and first fish on, was with an X-Rap shad. We fished Yum worms and X-Raps as the sun set. A great day on the water!

Kayaks in the Canal

2009-09-01T12:05:00.003-04:00

Also this weekend, we took my sister out on birthday kayak. It was her first time in a kayak, and I must say, she mastered the paddle like a pro! We may have even gotten her hooked! Happy Birthday Barbara!

One more off the bucket list!

Sunday Musky Fishing

2009-08-30T15:54:00.007-04:00

Today we took my nephew Keith out Musky hunting for the first time. He saw the pictures from our blog and wanted to give it a try. Trolling X-Raps and spoons we nailed our first fish by 730am. Turned out to be a great day with partly sunny skies and light wind. Thanks for coming along Keith and congrats on your first Musky!!!!!

Keith with a nice 36"

Some video of Keith reeling in the Musky

Seneca Lake Fishing Charter

2009-08-27T09:29:00.004-04:00

Went out on Seneca Lake with the Steele family from Ontario Canada. As we entered the lake we had calm water and fog above. Fishing action was slow with few schools marked. We ended up with 2 salmon for the day. It was a nice day on the water with our friends from the north. Hope to see the Steele family again!

Seneca Lake Charter

2009-08-24T09:37:00.006-04:00

Sunday morning we had a charter on Seneca Lake with the Rausse family. We picked them up at the Anchor Inn Marina at 8:00am. We hit our first fish within minutes, and it was the biggest of the day, a 7lb lake trout. We caught a combination of lake trout and salmon for a total of 7 fish. We ended the day with a double, two lakers. Another great day on the water!

First fish of the day!

Nothing like fishing on a beautiful August morning

Three Day Musky Trip

2009-08-21T22:40:00.006-04:00

Three day musky charter on Waneta Lake with Bernie and Paul Kotulak from Pennsylvania. Skies were mostly sunny with temperatures in the 80's all three days. We landed six fish, trolling a combination of X-Raps, Storm Kickin' Minnows, and Spoons. This was Bernie & Paul's 4th year fishing with Summit to Stream Adventures, and we can't wait to have them back in September...my wife promises Chocolate Chip Cookies next time!

Bernie with one of Waneta Lake's finest
Paul with a fine fish indeed!

Just a taste of what can come out of Waneta Lake

Finger Lakes Fishing Combo

2009-08-17T08:43:00.006-04:00

Went out with Larry and Frida Levy for two days of fishing. First day we fly fished Cayuta Creek. Temperatures climbed into the 90's, yet in the morning we had some nice surface activity which produced 3 brown trout on foam beetles.

Watch your back cast on this part of the creek!

The next day we went out on Seneca Lake targeting lake trout, rainbows and salmon. I picked the Levy's up at the dock of their lake side bed and breakfast, Nautical Nights. We were greeted in the morning with a stiff south breeze and temp's reaching into the 90's again. Flashers and trout killers were the lure of choice. Larry got to celebrate his birthday with a nice 6lb laker.

Happy Birthday Larry!

Seneca Lake Salmon

2009-08-13T22:50:00.002-04:00

Had a Mid-Day charter with father and son, Joel and Jordan Falchook from New Jersey. We battled a stiff north wind and a lot of surface weeds, and working most of the day cleaning gear for the rest of the charter. We did end up with five salmon on trout killers and spoons. Overall a successful day!

Jordan and a nice one!

Father & Salmon