Syracuse.com - March 13-17: Ice fishing season over in most waterways

[HuntingNY-News]

Anglers are starting to get out in boats fishing for perch, crappie, and bluegills in some waterways.

CNY FISHING FORECAST

Bait stores (list and map).

SALMON RIVER

Water level is up and discolored. Lots of fish continue to be caught throughout the river. The steelhead are spawning and brown trout are coming in from the lake to eat their eggs. Anglers continue to have luck using egg sacs, trout beads, flies and pink worms. Bright-colored flies or bait works best.

OSWEGO RIVER

Anglers fishing behind the downtown hotels continue to catch brown trout and a few steelhead using egg sacs and white, bucktail jigs (3/8 ounce). Make sure bring to bring a long-handled net, advised one angler.

ONEIDA LAKE

Ice fishing scene appears to be finished, or at the very least at its tail end.

CAYUGA LAKE

No fishable ice. Some anglers are fishing down by the power plant in Lansing on the eastern side, catching trout from shore using large shiners as bait.

SENECA LAKE

The yellow perch are bluegills are hitting fathead minnows and waxworms or spikes fishing the public pier at the lake's southern end. Casting red/white spoons on the outside of the pier has been working for northern pike with fish up to 12 pounds being taken, along with some lake trout.

OWASCO LAKE

Anglers are fishing from boats on the north end, catching bluegills and perch. Anglers out in boats are also catching lake trout using medium-sized shiners around Ensinore. No more ice on southern end. .

OTISCO LAKE

The northern end was still frozen at mid-week. Lots of small bluegills and sunnies being caught, along with a few perch and crappie, plus the occasional tiger muskie on tip-ups and minnows or suckers. Just a reminder that tiger muskie have to be at least 36 inches to keep.

SKANEATELES LAKE

No fishable ice.

SODUS BAY

No fishable ice.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Anglers continue to get out ice fishing on Eel Bay, Lake of the Isles, South Bay, Kring's Point andSouth Bay. Lots of big perch, crappie and bluegills being caught using fathead minnows and Rapala shad rap jigs. Ice was about 6-8 inches in many places. It's shallower, though, around the shorelines.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

No fishable ice. Some walleyes, though, are being taken from shore in the spillway. Anglers are using jigs tipped with a fathead minnow and bobbers.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog