Syracuse.com - Aug 7-11: Walleye bite remains strong on Oneida Lake; round gobies in Cayuga Lake

[HuntingNY-News]

Fishing continues to be slow this time of year on Salmon River.

CNY FISHING REPORT

LAKE ONTARIO

The shifting wind direction has made the thermocline "jump around". One day it may be as shallow as 50 feet and then down to 70 feet the next day. Chinook salmon are being taken 60-80 feet down over 150-200 feet of water. Good baits continue to be spoons, flashers and cut-bait, flashers and whole alewives, and flashers and flies. Green and white are continuing to be productive colors. Anglers are getting baits down with variety of methods such as wire and Dipsey divers (about 250-300 feet back), copper (600 feet) and downriggers. Water fleas are still a nuisance so check lines often, try flea flicker line or a heavier pound test monofilament. The brown trout bite has slowed, but some are still being caught in 60-80 feet of water.

SALMON RIVER

Fishing is slow on the river, which is usual for this time of year. But, there are a few Atlantic salmon and Skamania strain steelhead being taken in the upper river. The lower river is yielding some smallmouth bass and rock bass.

OSWEGO RIVER

Walleye are hitting on stickbaits or night crawlers and smallmouth bass are biting crankbaits, minnows, crayfish and spinnerbaits. Catfish and sheephead (freshwater drum) are hitting on crayfish or night crawlers.

ONEIDA LAKE

Walleye fishing continues to be very good. Many are being caught in deep water (18-30 feet) around Buoys 121 to 130. Good baits have been black & purple bucktail jigs tipped with night crawler, blade baits and perch-colored stickbaits, along with Dixie spinners. Pickerel are being caught in good numbers on the lake. Bass fishing has been good, particularly for anglers using topwater lures and spinnerbaits.

CAYUGA LAKE

Weeds and water fleas continue to make trolling more difficult on the lake. Using flea flicker line or going to a heavier pound test line (25-30#) helps some with the fleas, as does using a trolling method where your line is running more horizontal than vertical. For example: using wire and Dipsey diver instead of a downrigger. Vertical jigging is also an option instead of trolling if fleas become to aggravating. Trolling down 70-100 feet over 80-120 feet of water with spoons or flasher and flies, fished off downriggers, copper wire, or Dipsey divers is still working for lake trout. Vertical jigging is also working for lake trout in 85-95 feet of water. Atlantic salmon and some brown trout are being taken on spoons fished 35-55 feet down over 60-120 feet of water. Bass and panfish are being caught on the north end in 10-15 feet of water.

Round gobies are now being caught in the lake. This invasive species are bottom- orientated fish and can be distinguished from native species by their fused suction-cup like ventral fins. If fishing with live bait, like night crawlers, raise baits 18-24 inches off bottom to avoid the bait-steeling gobies.

SENECA LAKE

Water fleas and weed mats are still making trolling difficult (see Cayuga Lake above for suggestions on dealing with the fleas). Trolling down 50-65 feet with downriggers, or with wire and Dipsey divers is producing a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon and even some lake trout. Lake trout are also being taken 90-120 feet down over 120-250 feet of water on spoons and flasher and flies. Running Dipseys back 250-285 feet has been a good starting point. Vertical jigging in 95-115 feet of water with plastics is also working for the lake trout.

OWASCO LAKE

Fleas and weed mats are still making trolling more difficult on the lake (see Cayuga Lake above for suggestions on dealing with the fleas). Anglers trolling down 50-60 feet over 120-150 feet of water, with spoons or flasher and flies are getting some lake trout, along with an occasional rainbow trout.

OTISCO LAKE

Some walleye are still being taken by anglers trolling down 25-30 feet on crankbaits, stickbaits or worm harnesses. A few brown trout are also being taken by anglers trolling stickbaits or spoons at the same depths. Look for bass near shore and along the weed edges. A variety of baits should work this time of year from spinnerbaits, jigs, and plastics to topwaters.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Young of the year (YOY) yellow perch are getting large enough, around 3/4 inch, that trout and salmon are starting to feed on them. Fishing small spoons or stickbaits down 35-50 feet has been working for lake trout. Smallmouth bass are being taken on tube jigs, stick worms (Senko style baits) and drop-shot rigs in 5-25 feet of water.

SANDY POND:

Fishing has slowed down on the pond, but fishing early or late in the day is still producing some walleye, panfish and largemouth bass.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Bass continue to be caught in deeper water, getting as deep as 45 feet down. Best bait has been crayfish. Northern pike bite continues to be strong. Many successful anglers are using minnows, fishing in the weeds in 15 to 25 feet of water.

SODUS BAY

Panfish are being taken on small jigs, minnows and worms. Bass fishing has been good on Senko style baits and weed less frogs. A few northern pike are being taken on large minnows.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

The lake level has come down. The walleye bite had been good for anglers fishing worm harnesses, jigs and crankbaits. White crappie and smallmouth bass fishing has also been good. Try fishing small minnows and jigs for the crappies and crankbaits for the bass.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog