Syracuse.com - July 4-7: Walleye fishing remains strong on Oneida Lake, bass bite picking up on St. Lawrence River

[HuntingNY-News]

The brown drake hatch is nearly over on Skaneateles Lake.

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; Cortland County- Little York Lake, Merrill Creek, East Br. Tioughnioga River, West Br. Tioughnioga, Casterline Pond and the Otselic River; Madison County: Lebanon Reservoir, Eaton Brook Reservoir, 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 Ceek, 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: 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.

LAKE ONTARIO

Fishing continues to be slow for brown trout and very slow for Chinook salmon. Some stable weather would really help to improve the fishing. 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 near bottom in 100 to 200 feet of water. Spoons are good lure choice.

SALMON RIVER

There are a few Atlantic salmon and Skamania strain steelhead being taken in the upper river. There are also some smallmouth bass and rock bass being caught in the lower river.

OSWEGO RIVER

Anglers are catching catfish and sheepshead. Try crayfish or night crawlers as bait.

ONEIDA LAKE

Walleye bite continues to be strong off of Shackelton Point, particularly for anglers using Sonar lures, though they appear to have moved to deeper water Some angler, though, are also picking them in lower water (around 8 feet) using Black and purple jigs tipped with worms. Dixie spinners (worm harnesses) are also effective - particularly in the early morning in the shallows.

CAYUGA LAKE

Trolling down 70 to 90 feet in 100 to 150 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 70 to 90 feet of water. Atlantic salmon are being taken on spoons fished 25 to 40 feet down. There is a lot of bait being marked in 100 feet of water. Bass and panfish are being caught on the north end.

SENECA LAKE

Fishing continues to be good for lake trout with anglers getting them 40 to 70 feet down over 90 feet of water. They're hitting spoons and flasher and flies. Vertical jigging with plastics is also still working in 50 to 135 feet of water.

OWASCO LAKE

Anglers trolling down 30 to 50 feet with spoons or flasher and flies are still getting some lake trout on the north end. Yellow perch and bluegill are also being caught on the north end.

OTISCO LAKE

Walleye fishing has slowed down but a few walleye are still being taken by anglers trolling with stickbaits or spinner rigs during the day. 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. No word on how the tiger muskie fishing has been recently; but a reminder that tigers must be 36 inches to be legal.

SKANEATELES LAKE

The celebrated brown drake hatch is nearing its end. Fishing near shore with tube jigs, spinnerbaits, or topwaters would be 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.

SANDY POND:

A few walleye and northern pike continue to be caught by anglers. They're also catching bluegills and a few yellow perch.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Bass have moved off their beds, moving to deeper waters. Reports of some impressive smallmouth bass being taken. Northern pike bite continues to be strong, with anglers reporting success using everything from night crawlers to red and white Daredevil lures.

SODUS BAY

Panfish are being taken on small jigs, minnows and worms. Bass fishing continues to be good on bass jigs, plastics and topwaters.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

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

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog