Thread: Cowanesque/Tioga/Hammond

Annual thread for those of us along the northern border. Have not been out there yet this year, just bought and printed my license. Boat is still hooked up and loaded left from a 150 mile round trip to Canandaigua Lake today. I guess it's time to fish the lake 2 miles down the road!
Last summer the draining of the Tioga and Hammond lakes revealed a lot of structure, now I have better idea of some places to fish. I got a bunch of pictures while Hammond was drained and can't wait to hit some of those places. Digital pics, have not had them printed yet.
I found some 54 degree water temps and crappie fishermen everywhere up north today. Anyone have any idea of water temp locally?
I'm thinking these sunny days and tonights warmer night may bring some shallow bay areas up into the 50s at least temporarily. At least it's not an all day event - I may be back home before the wife knows I'm even gone!:D

Why did they drain the lakes? Did they do some work on them? Will it hurt this years fishing?????

We have a crew of guys coming up the weekend of the 15th. Hope the weather warms up in time to get the water temp up by then. Haven't hit them good up there in a few years. It is always cold and raining.

Originally Posted by crappierod

Why did they drain the lakes? Did they do some work on them? Will it hurt this years fishing?????

From what I heard from the park operator at Cowanesque last summer, there were some improvements to be done on the launch ramps at Tioga/Hammond that required the lowering of the lake levels. They did it during the camping season due to a 'use it or loose it' type of federal funding timeframe.
I haven't seen either ramp yet to say if there is a noticable difference or not.
I can't see why it should affect the fishing. Lake level was lowered but not totally drained. The fish would have concentrated in what remained of the pool but by then the ramp was too far away to go fishing!
The old highway is still there and still has tire piles on it along with some other structure items which shall remain nameless

HAHAHA I live in TIOGA and noticed all the structure too. I walked the old highway after they drained it and got a lot of fishing lures :D

i hit Hammond last night from shore...crappies were really spread out. only got a half dozen or so and none were over 8in. in a hour... i think the water temps are still a little low and there still staging and in prespawn i think that with the cooler temps we have been haveing up this way there going to be a week later then normal...in the past two years i have hammered them the week before mothers day.

Hope they turn on soon? 10 of us are coming up from Wed. night till Sun. To fishfor crappies.

A floating aquarium thermometer is a handy piece of fishing equipment to have when without boat electronics.

I was on Waneta Lake about 40 miles north last Saturday. Lake temp there was 59 to 60 degrees. I found 66 degrees in the boat launch channel and 63 where it hit the lake but caught nothing but gills.
Perhaps supa just hit a slow time seeing it was onlyl an hour.
I need to get my digital photos of the dry lakebed to the store to get pics I can put in the tackle box. I've never been on Hammond, just didn't know where to start so I always went to Tioaga or Cowanesque. NOW I know where to start!

Whats the water temp on Hammond now? i was up to Hammond last night didn't have any way to check the temp...only got small fish and were not very active...am i a week late? i herd that the Susquehanna river is mid to low 60's in Williamsport right now...and is on fire...ill be hitting it as much as i can this week...