Syracuse.com - Oct. 12-15: Salmon River remains full of spawning salmon, with steelhead also starting to come in

[HuntingNY-News]

Anglers continue to catch walleyes from shore on Oneida Lake by casting stickbaits.

CNY FISHING FORECAST

Just a reminder that the new fishing license year started Oct. 1. There’s also some new regulations that have kicked in. For more, see the DEC’s 2012-13 Freshwater Fishing Guide.

Bait stores (list and map).

LAKE ONTARIO

As more salmon make their way into the tributaries, the lake fishing continues to wind down. There are still salmon being taken at the mouths of rivers, but getting out with the strong winds we’ve had lately has been difficult.

SALMON RIVER

Chinook/coho salmon runs continue to be strong. Steelhead are also starting to come in. The lower fly fishing section is closed until Oct. 31. The upper fly section is open.

OSWEGO RIVER

There are salmon throughout the river, along with a few brown trout and a few steelhead. Water is low. Remember the bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are new Mandatory Personal Flotation Device (PFD) zones on the river below Varick Dam.

ONEIDA LAKE

Anglers fishing casting from shore at night continue to pick up fish. Anglers are catching them on stickbaits, such as the Challenger Junior Minnow and Storm Junior ThunderStick. Lots of small perch are still being taken with fathead minnows along weed lines, and a few larger ones as well.

CAYUGA LAKE

Trout and salmon fishing continues to be slow. Fishing 80 to 110 feet down with flasher and flies was producing a few lake trout, as was vertical jigging in 80 to 100 feet of water. Bass fishing has been good on the north end with a variety of plastic baits working.

SENECA LAKE

Trout and salmon fishing continues to be slow. A few lake trout are hitting Spin Doctors and flies fished 70 to 90 feet down. Yellow perch fishing remains good, with fish being caught on the south end, and by the salt plant.

OWASCO LAKE

Continued reports of “lots of perch and bass” being caught on crayfish and fathead minnows. One guy landed a largemouth bass weighing nearly 8 pounds, according to one bait shop owner.

OTISCO LAKE

Fishing has been slow lately. Nothing new to report.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Bass fishing slowed down some last week, but some are still being caught along the shore with tube jigs, drop-shot rigs and spinnerbaits. Yellow perch and rock bass are also biting on the south end with small minnows or jigs working. There is no trout activity to report.

SODUS BAY

Yellow perch are being caught in deep water on small minnows. Northern pike are hitting on spoons and large spinners. Bass fishing continues to be good with spinnerbaits and a variety of plastics working. Salmon are also being taken off the pier by anglers casting spoons. The low water is making launching boats difficult for some.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

The reservoir level continues to be drawn down to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to do needed work. It’s hard for anglers to get larger boats in and out. Fishing from a kayak, canoe or a jon boat is still the way to go, though some bigger boats are being successfully launched at Dorchester Park. Bring boots, advised one bait store owner.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog