Syracuse.com - Sept. 11-15: Perch are biting on Oneida Lake; Salmon River salmon runs starting up again

[HuntingNY-News]

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After a lull, salmon are starting up the Salmon River again. Many are in the middle to lower river. Fish from Pineville on down. The lower fly fishing-only stretch opens Sunday.

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

<p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100355764367821392533.00048c1449e56444f07e7&z=7">Bait stores (list and map).</a></p>

<p><strong>LAKE ONTARIO</strong><br />Salmon are gathering around the tributaries getting ready for the their spawning runs. Fishing has been tough lately on the lake because of high winds. When anglers can get out they've been doing well. It's been spotty, though, as far as depth. Good baits continue to be spoons, flashers and cut-bait, and flashers and flies. At the mouth of the tributaries, good lures have been Red Eyes or Moonshine lures.</p>

<p><strong> SALMON RIVER</strong><br />Fish are starting up the river again. Many are in the middle to lower river. Fish from Pineville on down. The lower fly fishing-only stretch opens Sunday.</p>

<p><strong>OSWEGO RIVER </strong><br />The river is down. Smallmouth bass are biting crankbaits, minnows, crayfish and spinnerbaits. There have been a few early salmon reported in the river but things remain slow at this time.</p>

<p><strong>ONEIDA LAKE </strong><br />The perch fishing has been the highlight lately. They're biting on fathead minnows and worms. Try fishing in 12 to 18 feet of water off the shoals and points, anchor and fish vertically with your bait down about a foot off the bottom. No reports on anglers catching walleyes from shore on stickbaits yet. It's still too early.</p>

<p><strong>CAYUGA LAKE</strong> <br />Vertical jigging has been working for lake trout with fish being found in 65 to110 foot of water. Trolling down 70 to 80 feet over 250 to 300 foot of water with spoons or flasher and flies is also producing some lake trout.</p>

<p><strong>SENECA LAKE</strong><br />Lake trout are being taken 80 to 120 feet down over 130 to 200 feet of water on spoons and flasher and flies. Running Dipseys back 230 to 270 feet has been a good starting point, as is running copper out 300 feet. Brown trout and Atlantic salmon are being caught 50 to 70 feet down on spoons or flasher and flies. Perch are being caught by anglers using fathead minnows in about 20 to 30 feet of water.</p>

<p><strong>OWASCO LAKE</strong><br />Smallmouth bass are hitting crayfish or drop-shot rigs fished in 25 to 30 feet of water. Some yellow perch are being taken on minnows and night crawlers. A few lake trout are being taken by anglers trolling spoons or flasher and flies in 90 feet of water. Vertical jigging is also producing a few lake trout.</p>

<p><strong>OTISCO LAKE</strong><br />Some bass are being caught on crayfish off the causeway and also on stickbaits at the north end. Stickbaits are also producing a few tiger musky on the north end.</p>

<p><strong>SKANEATELES LAKE</strong><br />Live bait (crayfish and night crawlers) are working well for smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass in 12 to 18 feet of water. Crayfish are working the best.</p>

<p><strong>SANDY POND:</strong><br />Fishing continues to be slow on the pond, but fishing early or late in the day is still producing some largemouth bass.</p>

<p><strong>ST. LAWRENCE RIVER </strong><br />Anglers are catching lots of northern pike on Rapala Huskie Jerk lures or live bait (minnows) just outside the weed beds in about 20 feet. Bass are being in 25 to 30 feet of water on crayfish. Walleye bite has picked up lately along "the humps." A good lure for them is the Reef Runner or green Jigfish.</p>

<p><strong>SODUS BAY</strong><br />Fishing the outside weed edges has been working for largemouth. Good baits have been crankbaits and plastic worms. A few northern pike are also being caught.</p>

<p><strong>WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR </strong><br />Water is clearing. Anglers report catching lots of channel catfish. Lots of small walleyes and panfish are also being caught. Bass anglers are also having a lot of luck fishing the shorelines, casting plastics and crankbaits.</p>

<p><strong>** The DEC is looking for participants in its Angler Diary Cooperator Program - particularly those who fish Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles and Otisco Lakes. For more, call 1-607-753-3095, extension 213.</strong></p>

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