Syracuse.com - July 20-22: Oneida Lake continues to be good for walleye/bass; water fleas on Seneca, Cayuga and Owasco lakes

[HuntingNY-News]

CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map). CAYUGA LAKE There are reports of abundant water fleas. Water fleas can make trolling frustrating so be prepared with flea flicker line, or try vertical jigging instead. There are also reports of floating weed mats; these free floating mats can also make trolling frustrating. Lake trout are hitting on spoons, and Spin...

CNY FISHING FORECAST

Bait stores (list and map).

CAYUGA LAKE

There are reports of abundant water fleas. Water fleas can make trolling frustrating so be prepared with flea flicker line, or try vertical jigging instead. There are also reports of floating weed mats; these free floating mats can also make trolling frustrating. Lake trout are hitting on spoons, and Spin Dr.'s and flies fished 70 to 100 feet down over 100 to 150 feet of water. Many methods are working to get lures down to depth such as copper, wire, Dipseys and downriggers. Starting Dipseys at 200 feet back and copper at 400 has been good starting points. Vertical jigging has been good for lake trout in 75 to 90 feet of water.

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. Brown trout fishing also continues to be good early in the morning in 50 to 70 feet of water. Smallmouth fishing has been good in 18 to 25 feet of water around Mexico Point with live bait working well. Fish baits 1 ½ to 2 feet off bottom to help avoid some of the bait- stealing gobies.

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 night crawler, 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. Anglers have been using plastic creature baits and Senkos for the bass.

OSWEGO RIVER

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

OTISCO LAKE

Smallmouth bass fishing has been 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

Things are quiet on the river this time of year.

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, Senko worms and topwaters working. Evening fishing for bass has been extremely productive, according to angler reports.

SODUS BAY

Bass fishing has been good early and late in the day with spinnerbaits, topwaters and a variety of plastics working.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Anglers are having success catching smallmouth bass using live crayfish. Northern pike are being picked up on shiners and walleye are getting caught on perch-colored jigfish. Perch are being caught in 30 to 60 feet with fathead minnows.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good along the shoreline with crankbaits working well. Walleye fishing has been good early or late in the day for anglers trolling with worm harness and nightcrawlers along the old river channel.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog