Syracuse.com - Sept. 18-22: Salmon River chinook fishing action is good, with coho run expected to start soon

[HuntingNY-News]

Perch fishing continues to be the talk of the Oneida Lake fishing scene.

CNY FISHING REPORT

Bait stores (list and map).

LAKE ONTARIO

Salmon continue to gather around the lake's tributaries in preparation for their spawning runs. Charter boat captains are catching fish on the lake near shore, often at night. Good baits continue to be spoons, flashers and cut-bait, and flashers and flies, along with lures that glow at night.

SALMON RIVER

For the past three weeks, there's been fish all the way up to the DEC hatchery in Altmar. Anglers report that there's been several good runs of chinooks recently, and many expect the coho salmon to begin running soon.

OSWEGO RIVER

A few more salmon entered the river recently, and with cooler weather predicted more should be making their way in. Anglers take heed: The bridge to Leto Island is closed and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. Visit Oswego County Tourism web site for more information.

ONEIDA LAKE

The highlight continues to be the perch fishing. 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 about a foot off the bottom. Still no reports on anglers catching walleyes from shore on stickbaits. Give it a couple of weeks.

CAYUGA LAKE

No new developments. Vertical jigging continues to work for lake trout with fish being found in 65 to 110 feet 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.

SENECA LAKE

Lake trout are being taken 80 to 120 feet down over 130 to 200 feet of water on spoons and flasher and flies. The cold water zone is starting to move around so adjust baits up or down depending on where fish are being marked. Running Dipseys back 230 to 270 feet has been a good starting point, as is running copper out 300 to 400 feet. Lake trout are also being taken by jigging with plastics in 75 to 130 feet of water.

OWASCO LAKE

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 generating a few lake trout at the northern end.

OTISCO LAKE

Bass continue to be caught on crayfish off the causeway, and also on stickbaits at the north end. Anglers casting stickbaits are catching a few tiger muskie on the north end.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Live bait (crayfish and night crawlers) are still working well for smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass in 12 to 18 feet of water. Crayfish continue to be the best bet for bass. No word yet on the shoreline bite for rainbow trout.

SANDY POND:

Fishing continues to be slow, but fishing early or late in the day is still producing some largemouth bass.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Anglers are catching lots of northern pike on Rapala Huskie Jerk lures, silver spoons or on live bait (minnows) just outside the weed beds in about 25 feet of water. Bass are being taken in 25 to 30 feet of water on crayfish. Walleye bite remains good along "the humps." A good lure to use is a Reef Runner or green Jigfish.

SODUS BAY

Fishing the outside weed edges continues to work for largemouth bass. Good baits have been crankbaits and plastic worms. A few northern pike are also being caught.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

Anglers continue to catch lots of channel catfish. Many small walleyes and panfish are also being taken. Bass anglers are also having a lot of luck fishing the shorelines by casting plastics and crankbaits.

** 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.

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