Syracuse.com - May 2-5: Walleye, pike, muskie and pickerel fishing seasons open Saturday

[HuntingNY-News]

Bullhead fishing action continues along the shore of Oneida Lake and on other waterways.

CNY FISHING REPORT

Bait stores (list and map).

* Reminders: Walleye, northern pike, pickerel, musky and tiger musky fishing seasons open on Saturday. Finger Lakes Tributary fishing is from sunrise to sunset through May 15.

INLAND TROUT STREAMS: Locally tocked streams include: Cayuga County: North Brook, Owasco Inlet, Salmon Creek and Fall Creek; Cortland County: Otselic River; Cortland County: Little York Lake, Merrill Creek, East Br. Tioughnioga River, West Br. Tioughnioga River, Casterline Pond and the Otselic River; Madison County: Upper Lelands Pond, 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

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LAKE ONTARIO

When the wind isn't blowing too hard and anglers can get out, they are getting some nice brown trout in 5 to 25 feet of water on stickbaits and small spoons. 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 and bays. This warmer off colored water often gets moved around depending on wind direction.

SALMON RIVER

The water is still up a bit and the fishing continues to be good. Steelhead are still being found throughout the river. Good baits are egg sacs, beads, pink worms, night crawlers and streamers.

OSWEGO RIVER

High water level continues to make shore fishing extremely difficult. No new fishing information to report. Before the high water, anglers were getting steelhead and some nice brown trout with egg sacs working well.

ONEIDA LAKE

Shore anglers are starting to catch bullheads around the lake. Anglers getting out in boats are catching some black crappie and bullheads in Big Bay. Black crappie should also be beginning to bite in Toad Harbor. Minnows orsmall plastics are always good choices there.

CAYUGA LAKE

Anglers trolling stickbaits or spoons from the surface down to about 15 feet are still catching brown trout and Atlantic salmon. Look for the warmest off colored water, such as around tributaries mouths. Be careful as that also means more debris floating around. Good colors when in the turbid water have been fire tiger and chartreuse. Lake trout are being taken by anglers vertical jigging in 125 to 150 feet of water. Trolling with spoons or flasher and flies, fished off downriggers or Dipsey divers is also working for lake trout. Anglers fishing the north end are getting yellow perch on minnows or spikes. A lot of small perch are still being caught for every "good" one.

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.

OWASCO LAKE

Anglers getting out on boats at the north end are continuing to catch yellow perch and some bullhead are being taken on the south end.

OTISCO LAKE

No new fishing activity to report.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Nothing new to report. The DEC launch ramp is open and the dock are in. Anglers getting out in boats are catching some yellow perch on the north end. A few lake trout are also being taken by the perch anglers.

SANDY POND:

Things have been slow on the pond but a few anglers are getting some black crappie, bluegills and yellow perch. Small minnows, worms and spikes are good bait choices. No word on bullheads yet, but it shouldn't be too long.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Water is still pretty cold on the river. Northerns and walleyes should be in shallows for this weekend’s opener. Bullhead, perch and crappie bite has been mixed, sometimes it on, sometimes its off. Ever-changing weather seems to have affected the fishery.

SODUS BAY

Yellow perch fishing continues to be slow with anglers sorting through a lot of small perch to get some larger fish. Anglers fishing by the bridge are getting some bluegills, crappies and bullheads.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

The reservoir has cleared up from the recent rain events and fishing is improving. Some stable warm weather should really help the bite. Bullheads are being taken by shore anglers fishing off the Kiebel Road side. Channel catfish are also being caught on the north end.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog