Syracuse.com - May 16-19: Lake Ontario brown and lake trout fishing picking up

[HuntingNY-News]

Walleye are being taken in 12 to 20 feet of water in Oneida Lake with jigs tipped with night crawlers working well.

CNY FISHING REPORT

INLAND TROUT STREAMS: Many sections of area streams and lakes have been stocked as of May 10. They 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); Oswego County: Black Creek, North Br. Salmon River, Rice Creek, Salmon River and West Br. Fish Creek; Tompkins County: Enfield Creek, Virgil Creek, Buttermilk Creek, Salmon Creek, Fall Creek and Sixmile Creek and Cayuga Lake.

LAKE ONTARIO

Brown trout are hitting on stickbaits and small spoons fished in shallow water near shore during the early morning. As it gets brighter, moving to deeper water has been helping to extend the bite. Natural colors like black and silver, blue and silver and goby imitating have been working well. Lake trout fishing has been good in 100 to 200 feet of water and a few salmon are being caught as well.

SALMON RIVER

There are still a few drop-backs being caught throughout the river. A drop-back is a steelhead that has finished spawning and is on its way back to the lake. These fish are often very aggressive (hungry) after the rigors of spawning and are more willing to bite. With the lower water and bright conditions fishing early or late in the day, or in the deeper pools is also helping. Good baits are streamers like wooly buggers, night crawlers, pink Powerbait trout worms and egg sacs.

OSWEGO RIVER

Walleye are being taken in the river on large stickbaits or night crawlers. The trout bite is winding down.

ONEIDA LAKE

Walleye are being taken in 12 to 20 feet of water with jigs tipped with night crawlers working well. Walleye are scattered this time of year, so if not catching any keep searching deeper or shallower water. There were walleye still being caught in spawning tributaries last weekend. Shore anglers are catching bullheads around the lake. Anglers getting out in boats are catching some black crappie and bullheads in Big Bay. (Just a reminder that you cannot fish for lake sturgeon,as they are on the threatened fishes list. If you accidentally hook one please do not fight it and release it quickly.)

CAYUGA LAKE

Anglers trolling stickbaits or spoons from the surface down to about 30 feet are still catching brown trout and Atlantic salmon. Trolling in 60 to 120 feet of water with spoons or flasher and flies, fished off downriggers or Dipsey divers is working for lake trout.

SENECA LAKE

Brown trout and Atlantic salmon are hitting on spoons and stickbaits trolled near the surface down to 20 feet below the surface. Lake trout are hitting spoons and flasher and flies fished 60 to 150 feet down. Some perch are starting to show up in shallow water bays throughout the lake.

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. . Brown trout are also being caught.

OTISCO LAKE

Tiger musky fishing has been good for anglers fishing for them. Remember tiger musky must be 36" to be legal on Otisco Lake. Anglers taking advantage of the catch and release bass season are getting smallmouth bass. Black crappie are being caught on minnows in the north end.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Perch are being found in 15 to 25 feet. A few lake trout and rainbow trout are also being taken in the same depth range. Some smallmouth bass are being taken by anglers taking advantage of the catch and release season.

SANDY POND:

Anglers are getting some black crappie, bluegills and yellow perch. Small minnows, worms and spikes are good bait choices. Bullheads and crappie are being taken along the shoreline on minnows.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Bullhead fishing lately has been hit or miss because of the colder weather. Anglers report perch and pike fishing has picked up.

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 on the south end are getting some bluegills, crappies, and bullheads.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

Bullheads are being taken by shore anglers fishing off the Kiebel Road side. Channel catfish are also being caught on the north end. No reports on the walleye fishing.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog