It happens every year the first few times I go out and it is cold and I can never get my hands warm. Got so cold today my fingers just burned. It let up after a bit , but still uncomfortable.  My toe also does not. Like the extra pair of socks in the boots and that was just as bad.  As far as the fishing fairly slow, but if you worked you could hook up.  There were about 4 people total in my sight today, I did an hour on each side warming up in the car in between.  Managed 1 fish, but no camera today.  I did net a big male for a guy today that lost it's load all over the ground, would that be a fall spawning domestic?????

According to DEC, that is what the fall spawners are, domestic stocked from the Randolph Hatchery in Cattaraugus County.
 
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/lorpt13part1.pdf
 
It is in the first chapter after the executive summary.  RA: (Randolph) a fall spawning strain  of domestic Rainbow trout maintained at the NYSDEC Randolph Hatchery.
 
In the chart later in the report, they indicate 75,850 total for the Lake, and although the closest lake stocking point is Sodus with 20,000 stocked, they range far and wide.
Stocky fish for its length, with a lot of red in the sides and gill plate?
 
Have you tried chemical hand warmers or electric socks for your hands and feet?
 
L13

I have tried the hand warmers L. use them a lot or ice fishing. The hands especially the fingers get cold the first few times then it is better. Never tried the electric socks, I need a new pair of korkers and it I really need a size bigger than I have for winter, mine are getting beat.

I been there and quote, done that..
Really Clint the only thing that helps besides wool fingerless, which I think are the best, chemical hand warmers in easy access pockets, Ya just gotta move alot to keep circulation and blood flowing... Run on dat... lol
Standing on spot you will get cold, at least I do.. Heck unless you crank the buddy heater in the shanty, which will be happening sat :), in the woods of course..
Cast awhile walk down stream as far as you wish to fish then work your way back up..
 
Good luck

I have gotten good at casting with either hand and getting the other down below on my belly to keep it warm.  I have 2 cases of warmers so time to get them out. Other than that I just do what I did today
(like you said) fish a while and move. Then go home and take a nap.

must be nice to take a nap :). Rob took a nap on the floor of the shanty sat...
I just cant stand in a spot much more then 15-20 mins when is cold, I get cold fast..

Clint I strongly recommend insulated boot foots for your feet. For youR hands rag wool are hands down the best. But an added bonus are those capilene gloves for about 5.99 at all seasons... They are very thin and tight fitting. They work great as liners under rag wool fingerless. I mostly end up just wearing them on colder days. And I often keep them on when tying set ups... Give them a shot for sure

For the rainbows, they ate usually right in the same time frame as the browns with some late runners that you can catch as late as early February after spawned out. The largest rainbow I've ever caught was of this "domestic" type in early december of 99... Chased it all the down to long bridge to find it hooked in the ****... Was able to land it. Was a male well over 20 pounds. Revived it and said good bye... If my buddy had come down with me I would've had no shame snapping a pic of this beast...


Glad you got one clint!

I work outside every day, so the cold effects me less, it seems. I won't offer any advice, since I've had some pretty nasty fights on here  over this. I'm just brain dead and don't feel the cold. Or maybe its  because I still backpack in winter and have done stupid things like summit Mt. Washington in January.  Glad you at least got out and landed one. I postponed going  til tonight to get some more  work done before I took a day off. We'll see if the snow turns us around, at this point, a few hours not  roof framing and battling  sheathing in the wind will seem like a day at the beach; even driving with squinted eyes through some squalls. Thanks for the lineage info, Lucky. I've caught some pretty ones and wondered about the strain. I have a sinking feeling I'm going to get skunked and  may lose any ambition to keep going out. Pulling some decent browns out of the deeper holes of the Battenkill's trophy zone is a lot closer and  pennies in gas. We'll see. Thanks for the report , Clint.

I'm starting to think about putting the fly gear away for the winter.   The genny can be very dangerous in the cold.  I never thought about this when I started down there in my early 30's but 30 years later, I've got a lot more scars and aches from run-ins with the rocks, and the last thing I want to have to do is walk up the 1/2 mile long hill after a dunking in subfreezing temperatures.  With these "it could dump three feet anywhere" forecasts and weather the SR is out, I spent well over an hour between Palermo and Hannibal once, making a usually 2 hour trip nearly 4.  Lots of things to finish if the snow goes for a couple of days, gutters need cleaning even if all the leaves are not down (and what better way to bring them down than to clean the gutters!)
 
L13