Syracuse.com - July 13-15: Bites remain strong on Oneida Lake and Lake Ontario; inland trout streams hurting with lack of rain

[HuntingNY-News]

Water fleas are bothering anglers who troll on Owasco, Cayuga and Seneca lakes.

CNY FISHING FORECAST

Bait stores (list and map).

CAYUGA LAKE

There are continued reports of water fleas. They can make trolling frustrating, so be prepared with flea-flicker line. Lake trout are being caught on spoons and Spin Doctors and flies fished 50 to 200 feet down over 50 to 250 feet of water. Vertical jigging has also been good for lake trout in 75 to 95 feet of water. Bass fishing continues to be good at both the north and south ends.

CROSS LAKE/SENECA RIVER

With all the warm weather, fishing has been slow on the lake lately. No reports from the river.

INLAND TROUT STREAMS

Streams are low – very low — and clear. We need rain. To find out how many trout (and what kind) are stocked in your favorite Onondaga County stream, call 689-0003. To hear the DEC’s weekly fishing report, which includes a list of streams that have been stocked in Region 7, call 607-753-1551.

LAKE ONTARIO

Chinook salmon fishing continues to be good with fish being found in 150 to 300 feet of water. Fishing down 90 to 150 feet with spoons, flashers & flies, or flashers and cut-bait are all working for the salmon. Good colors have been whites and greens.

ONEIDA LAKE

Walleye anglers continue to do well, but the fish have moved to deeper water with the warm weather. Good baits continue to be bucktail jigs tipped with a minnow or nightcrawler, spinner-and-worm rigs, Dixie spinners and worms and other blade baits. Bass and pickerel fishing also continues to be very good in most of the lake.

OSWEGO RIVER

Sheepshead, white perch, catfish and rock bass are active throughout the river with crayfish or worms working.

OTISCO LAKE

Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be good with a variety of plastics working.

OWASCO LAKE

Water fleas are making trolling difficult on the lake. Try using flea flicker line or vertical jigging instead if trolling becomes too frustrating. A few lake trout are being taken in 80 to 150 foot of water on spoons. With the warm weather, other fish are going deep. A few bass and perch being taken.

SALMON RIVER

Other than the water that was released last weekend for the kayak enthusiasts, the river has been low and slow. Some reports of smallmouth bass being caught, along with an occasional skamania steelhead or Atlantic salmon.

SANDY POND

Largemouth bass fishing has been good early in the morning and in the evening.

SENECA LAKE

Water fleas are becoming nuisance when trolling on the lake. Try flea flicker lines or vertical jigging instead if fleas become too bad. Anglers are catching northern pike on minnows, stickbaits and spoons in the Watkins Glen area. Lake trout are hitting Spin Dr.'s and Flies fished 125 feet down over 400 feet of water. Atlantic salmon are being taken 50 feet down in the middle of the lake. Some largemouth bass are being taken in the canal area on topwaters like buzzbaits and Zara spooks.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Lake trout are hitting spoons in 60 feet of water. Bass fishing along the shore continues to be very good from 5 to 20 feet of water with tube jigs and topwater lures working.

SODUS BAY

Anglers are picking largemouth bass around the docks and weedlines. Good lures have been spinnerbaits, topwaters and a variety of plastics. Another good bet is a live crayfish under a bobber.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Anglers are having success catching smallmouth bass on live crayfish. Northern pike are being picked up on shiners and walleye are getting caught on perch-colored, jigfish.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good along the shoreline with crankbaits working well. Trolling with worm harness and nightcrawlers has been producing lots of walleye action.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog