Syracuse.com - May 30-June 2: Strong winds and rain has made fishing difficult on Lake Ontario/Oneida Lake

[HuntingNY-News]

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Tiger muskie fishing continues to be good on Otisco Lake for those targeting them.

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<p><strong>CNY FISHING REPORT</strong></p>

<p><strong>INLAND TROUT STREAMS:</strong> Many sections of area streams and lakes have been stocked as of May 10. They include<strong> Cayuga County:</strong> North Brook, Owasco Inlet, Salmon Creek and Fall Creek; Cortland County: Otselic River; <strong>Cortland County:</strong> 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; <strong>Onondaga County: </strong>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); <strong>Oswego County:</strong> Light House Hill Reservoir, Black Creek, North Br. Salmon River, Rice Creek, East Br. Salmon River, Salmon River and West Branch of Fish Creek; Tompkins County: Enfield Creek, Virgil Creek, Buttermilk Creek, Salmon Creek, Fall Creek and Sixmile Creek and Cayuga Lake.</p>

<p><strong>LAKE ONTARIO</strong><br />Brown trout fishing continues to be slow and fish are scattered after the variable winds we've had the last few weeks. Fishing stickbaits and small spoons in shallow near shore water during the early morning has been a good starting point. As the day gets brighter, moving to deeper water has been helping to extend the brown trout bite. Lake trout fishing has been good in 100 to 200 feet of water and a few bonus salmon are being caught in this deeper water as well. Salmon have been hitting flasher and flies, flasher and cut-bait, or spoons.</p>

<p><strong>SALMON RIVER</strong><br />Fishing is really slowing down on the river, but there are still a few steelhead and brown trout being caught. Good baits are streamers, nightcrawlers,pink Powerbait trout worms and egg sacs. Smallmouth bass are being caught in the lower river.</p>

<p><strong>OSWEGO RIVER</strong> <br />Some walleye are being taken in the river on large stickbaits, jigs and nightcrawlers. Trolling after dark in the harbor with large stickbaits is producing some walleye, with some nights being good and others being very slow. The trout bite is pretty much over in the river with the warmer weather and anglers are starting to get more catfish and freshwater drum (sheepshead).</p>

<p><strong>ONEIDA LAKE </strong><br />The strong winds and rain have made fishing difficult this week. Walleye were being taken in 8 to 20 feet of water with jigs tipped with nightcrawler, blade baits and stickbaits working. Shore anglers are getting some walleye on stickbaits or jigs just before and after dark. Pickerel are being caught in good numbers on the lake. (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.)</p>

<p><strong>CAYUGA LAKE</strong> <br />Anglers trolling stickbaits or spoons from 15 to 30 feet down are catching some brown trout and Atlantic salmon. Trolling in 80 to 160 feet of water with spoons or flasher and flies, fished off downriggers, copper wire, or Dipsey divers is working for lake trout. Vertical jigging is also working for lake trout in 50 to 150 feet of water. Perch are still being caught on the north end.</p>

<p><strong>SENECA LAKE</strong><br />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.</p>

<p><strong>OWASCO LAKE</strong><br />Anglers are cashing in lately on lake and brown trout, along with northern pike, perch - even the bullheads are still biting at the southern end. Mooneyes and crayfish have been effective as bait.</p>

<p><strong>OTISCO LAKE</strong><br />Tiger muskie fishing has been good for anglers targeting them. Remember tiger musky must be 36 inches to be legal on Otisco Lake. Anglers taking advantage of the catch-and-release bass season are getting smallmouth and largemouth bass. A few walleye are also being taken by anglers trolling with stickbaits or spinner rigs.</p>

<p><strong>SKANEATELES LAKE</strong><br />Perch continue to be caught on the north end. A few lake trout and rainbow trout are being caught by anglers fishing for the perch or bass in 15 to 25 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are being taken by anglers taking advantage of the catch and release season and good lures have been tube jigs. Anglers are reportedly catching a lot of trout and bullhead on the southern end.</p>

<p><strong>SANDY POND:</strong><br />A few walleye and northern pike are being caught on the pond. Anglers are also getting some black crappie, bluegills and yellow perch.</p>

<p><strong>ST. LAWRENCE RIVER</strong> <br />Northern pike fishing has picked up lately. Try casting a Rapala Husky Jerk lure and fish in about 12-20 feet of water. Perch fishing has slowed, but bullhead bite continues to be strong.</p>

<p><strong>SODUS BAY</strong><br />Bluegill fishing has picked up on the bay as the bluegill spawn has started. Anglers are still catching some yellow perch in the bay. Northern pike fishing has been good with pike hitting a variety of lures with stickbaits and spoons being good bets. Anglers fishing by the bridge on the south end are still getting some bluegills, crappies, and bullheads.</p>

<p><strong>WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR</strong> <br />White crappie fishing has been very good with fish hitting a variety of baits. Most crappie are being taken near shore on minnows or small jigs, but others are being caught off shore by anglers trolling worm harnesses and crankbaits for walleye. Some walleye are being taken also, but overall walleye fishing has been slow. Bullheads are being taken by shore anglers fishing off the Kiebel Road side. The channel catfish bite has been slow so far.</p>

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