Syracuse.com - June 19-23: Walleye bite remains strong on Oneida Lake

[HuntingNY-News]

Meanwhile, most of the bass on Oneida appaer to be off their spawning beds.

CNY FISHING REPORT

INLAND TROUT STREAMS: Many sections of area streams and lakes have been stocked. 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

Fishing has been slow for brown trout and very slow for Chinook salmon. Brown trout continue to be scattered over a variety of depths. If you can find some off colored water try fishing stickbaits and small spoons in the area during the early morning. As the day gets brighter, moving to deeper water has been helping to extend the brown trout bite. Lake trout fishing has been more stable with fish being found in 100 to 200 feet of water.

SALMON RIVER

The river is down. Fishing has really slowed down on the river, which is usual for this time of year. Anglers are picking up smallmouth bass, brown trout and rock bass.

OSWEGO RIVER

The river is still quite high from the rains and water releases. No report on the shoreline fishing scene.

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ONEIDA LAKE

Anglers are cashing in lately on the walleye, particularly those using sonar lures (blade baits). Other good bets have been black & purple bucktail jigs tipped with a night crawler and perch-colored stickbaits. As for the bass, most have finished spawning. Fishing near shore with stick worms (Senko style baits) is a good starting point and then working around inside or outside weed edges if not finding any fish in the shallows. (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

Fishing has been difficult with the current weather pattern. Trolling down 50 to 90 feet in 80 to 120 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. Atlantic salmon are being taken on spoons fished 25 to 40 feet down.

SENECA LAKE

Fishing has been slow lately. Fish are being marked, but are being tight-lipped. Some brown trout and Atlantic salmon are hitting on spoons fished down 25 to 30 feet. Lake trout are hitting spoons and flasher and flies fished 60 to 150 feet down. Vertical jigging with plastics is also working in 50 to 135 feet of water.

OWASCO LAKE

Anglers trolling down 30 to 50 feet with spoons or flasher and flies are getting lake trout on the north end. Yellow perch are also being caught on the north end. I've heard one report of walleyes being taken after dark on stickbaits.

OTISCO LAKE

A few walleye are being taken by anglers trolling with stickbaits or spinner rigs during the day, and off the causeway after dark on stickbaits. Tiger muskie fishing continues to be good for anglers targeting them. Remember, the tigers must be 36 inches to be legal on Otisco Lake. Look for bass near shore and along the weed edges. A variety of baits should work this time of year from spinnerbaits, jigs, plastics to topwaters.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Fishing near shore with Senko worms, tube jigs, spinnerbaits or topwaters is a good starting point for the smallmouth bass. If not catching fish, move slightly deeper, and try drop-shot rigs or live bait such as minnows or crayfish. Rock bass are also being taken along the shore along with an occasional nice yellow perch.

SANDY POND:

A few walleye and northern pike are still being caught on the pond. Anglers are also getting bluegills and a few yellow perch.

SODUS BAY

Northern pike fishing continues to be good with pike hitting a variety of lures, with stickbaits and spoons being good bets. Panfish are being taken on small jigs, minnows and worms. Bass fishing has been good on bass jigs, plastics and topwaters.

St. LAWRENCE RIVER

A fair number of nice bass were caught during the opening weekend of the bass season, according to one bait shop owner. Many of the bass were still on their beds, he said.. Anglers were catching them in 12-14 feet of water using drop shot rigs, or live bait, such as a worm or a minnow. Pike can be found near the drop-offs or in the weeds. Nice-sized perch were being picked up in 35 to 40 feet of water "but you have to work for them," he said.

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WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

The walleye bite has been good for anglers fishing worm harnesses, jigs and crankbaits. White crappie fishing continues to be good with most of fish being found away from shore now. Smallmouth bass were hitting on crankbaits near shore.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog