This week I received a copy of the summary report of the fish diaries compiled by Jeff Robins of DEC from Owasco Lake.

It shows that lake trout are over 95 percent of the cold water fishery caught. The other four percent are mostly rainbow trout with only 12 brown trout. No landlocked salmon were reported.

The major change in the last 10 years is that browns, rainbows and landlocked salmon have or are disappearing.

Jeff lists four areas he thinks are contributing. The first, is increased sedimentation and nutrient loading hurting reproduction. Second, is beaver activity blocking streams, the third is walleye predation and last are zebra mussels and waterflea infestations effecting the food chain.

Many fishermen and scientists agree on these factors but differ on the degree each contributes. Jeff, being in charge of Owasco Lake, had reduced brown trout stocking when local sportsmen got begrudging permission to stock walleye about seven years ago. I don't believe landlocks have been stocked at all for a few years.

Jeff also mentions the current lake trout stocking should be revisited as it might be reduced to benefit other trout species. The concept is that there is just so much forage for predators like browns, rainbows, lake trout and walleye.

There is a balance between these that is a factor in the health and survival of them as a group.

Many people that have fished lakes like Owasco for many years are adamant that water quality is more likely the overwhelming factor. Trout fishing is now relegated to lake trout fishing and that's pretty sad.

The growing phosphate loading in Owasco along with the zebra mussel clearer water have sun energized the lake into a weed and carbon life-based greenhouse. Regular algae blooms are now what makes the water taste and smell like old sneakers.

Weed beds are growing like forests along with water fleas and all kinds of critters. Bass Pro manager Greg Bulkley told me that in their ice derby, Owasco Lake top fish were bigger than those entered from Lake Ontario. Perch, bass, northern pike and even rock bass are flourishing. The cold-water species are not.

Looking underwater at night with a lighted camera, it is hard to see very far because of the tiny stuff swarming in front of the lens. It seems that before jumping to a conclusion that browns, rainbows and landlocks are being eaten, that phosphate reduction is our first priority.

This is no more obvious than just talking to anyone about the Owasco inlet. When the railroad was active they managed the inlet and kept the trees and stuff in control so their railbed integrity was maintained along with the stream banks.

That has not been the case for many years and now the inlet has huge undercuts, washouts and fallen trees that contribute significant amount of soil and nutrients.

Jim Hotaling and the soil and water crew recently dredged out over 100 10-wheeler dumploads of sediment out of the south end of Owasco Lake. That was just a narrow trench along shore so owners could even get a boat to their cottages. Sediment is directly related to phosphate levels in our water.

There is a full-page news report of biologist Robbins from September 1997 showing him holding a 10-pound healthy brown trout from Owasco Lake with the quote, "The browns in Owasco really stole the show. It appears to be an excellent lake for browns."

That was less than eight years ago, now brown trout are a no show.

We need to wake up and smell the water. Everyone who fishes regularly should help by keeping a diary for DEC. Contact Jeff Robins, David Kukella or myself anytime.

Bass Pro should be commended on giving a credit for usable fishing reels, revamping them and putting them on a new free Bass Pro rods for kids programs. Hundreds of outfits are made available through Falcons Sportsmen Club.

Also, remember, gun and bow hunter safety courses are available during April at Salmon Creek Sportsman club. Have fun and be careful out there.

Winter Trap League Results

This week's team results and high scorers at Camillus Sportsmen's Club were: John Kaysa, Fred Durfey, Bill Parfitt, Pete Kehoskie and Joe Parfitt for Camillus (Camillus, total 54.5 points). Doug Holmes, Dave Bean, Jim Beaudin, Dennis Billington and Ray Slater (Falcon 29.5 points). Howard Archambo, Bob Hall, George Warren, Tom Martin and John Schwitter (Weedsport 29 points). Nelson Pratt, Jack Gutchess, Conrad Hess, Jan Ringger and Gary Wood (Otisco Lake 27 points).

Nelson Pratt of Otisco Lake and John Kaysa of Camillus were high guns for the day with 49x50.

The league's winter season is nearing an end, only two more shoots for class average - Falcon today and Otisco Lake on April 3. Falcon Sportsman Club is hosting the shoot-off on April 17, sign-up at 8 a.m.

In the interim two-week period necessary for the Winter League shoot-off to take place, the Summer League will start up at Salmon Creek Rod and Gun Club, on April 13, starting time is 5 p.m., cutoff time is 8 p.m.

Clubs participating in the Summer League are Salmon Creek, Baldwinsville, Otisco Lake, Falcon, Jordan and Weedsport. Trapshooters can sign up and shoot for their favorite club (25 targets, 18 weeks), and must make one shoot by the sixth week, in order to count for team score, 13 shoots to qualify for the shoot-off. The last shoot will be held Aug. 10, with the shoot-off on Aug. 27.

Kozlowski, a local sportsman who is the

president of the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, is The Citizen's outdoors

columnist. He can be reached at

alkoz@baldcom.net