Syracuse.com - April 17-21: Bullhead fishing action picks up on Oneida Lake

[HuntingNY-News]

Reminders: Northern pike, pickerel, tiger musky and walleye season is closed until May 4. Finger Lakes Tributary fishing is from sunrise to sunset through May 15.

CNY FISHING FORECAST

* Reminders:Trout season began Monday (April 1). Northern pike, pickerel, tiger musky and walleye season is closed until May 4. Finger Lakes Tributary fishing is from sunrise to sunset through May 15.

INLAND TROUT STREAMS: Stocked streams at this point include: Cayuga County: North Brook, Owasco Inlet, Salmon Creek and Fall Creek; Cortland County: Otselic River; Madison County: Stonemill Brook, Beaver Creek, Canastota Creek, Limestone Creek, Payne Brook, Chittenango Creek, Canaseraga Creek, Chenango River, Cowaselon Creek, Old Chenango Canal, Oneida Creek, Sangerfield River, and the Otselic River; Onondaga County: Nine Mile Creek, Onondaga Creek; West Br. Onondaga Creek, Tannery Creek, Spafford Brook, Furnace Brook, Fabius Brook, Limestone Creek, West Br. Limestone Creek, Geddes Brook, Carpenters Brook, Butternut Creek, and Skaneateles Creek. (Hotline number is (315) 689-0003) Tompkins County: Enfield Creek, Virgil Creek, Buttermilk Creek, Salmon Creek, Fall Creek and Sixmile Creek..

LAKE ONTARIO

When the wind isn't blowing too hard and anglers can get out, they are getting some brown trout in 10 to 15 feet of water on stickbaits. Natural colors like black and silver, blue and silver and goby imitating have been working well. Look for the warmest water or flumes of off colored water coming out from tributaries or bays.

SALMON RIVER

The steelhead bite has been slow recently. Fish are still being found throughout the river, with the area between Altmar and Pulaski continuing to see the most pressure. Good baits are egg sacs, beads, pink worms, night crawlers and streamers.

OSWEGO RIVER

The water flow is up from last week making shore fishing extremely difficult, except for maybe behind the hotels. Before the high water, anglers were getting steelhead and some nice brown trout with egg sacs working well.

ONEIDA LAKE

Bullhead action is going strong with the recent warm weather. Good areas include off shore around Muskrat Bay and Oneida Shores Park. Other anglers are fishing around the Caudenoy Dam on the Oneida River.

CAYUGA LAKE

Anglers trolling stickbaits or spoons near the surface are catching brown trout on the south end. Lake trout are being taken by anglers vertical jigging in 125 to 150 feet of water. Anglers fishing the north end are getting yellow perch on minnows or spikes. A lot of small perch are being caught for every "good" one. The heavy rains this week have brought the tributaries up and white suckers are now running. The sucker run usually indicates that the rainbow run is winding down. No reports on the smelt run.

SENECA LAKE

Brown trout and Atlantic salmon are hitting on spoons and stickbaits trolled near the surface, or below the surface with lead core. Lake trout are hitting spoons and flasher and flies fished 60 to 150 feet down. Anglers fishing off the pier are catching yellow perch, bluegills and a few black crappies. The panfish are hitting on fathead minnows and waxworms. Reminder: catch limit on western Finger Lakes, beginning with Seneca Lake, is one rainbow a day.

OWASCO LAKE

Anglers getting out in boats are catching a lot of perch, using fathead minnows. Some anglers are catching bullhead in the Inlet. Others getting out in boats are catching lake trout and brown trout on medium-sized shiners.

OTISCO LAKE

No new fishing activity to report.

SKANEATELES LAKE

The DEC launch has been opened and docks are in. Some anglers are getting out to fish for perch. A few lake trout are also being taken by the perch anglers.

SANDY POND:

Little activity to report on the pond, but yellow perch, bluegill and bullhead should be biting.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Reports of good perch fishing around Kring's Point. Use fathead minnows and worms.Reports of good bullhead fishing. Try night crawlers.

SODUS BAY

Anglers continue to catch crappies and bluegills off the bridge, using jigs and spikes and minnows. Bullheads are being taken off the bridge at night.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

High and muddy. No fishing activity to report, apart from shore anglers picking up a few bullheads and channel catfish.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog