Syracuse.com - Sept. 26-29: Prime time for salmon fishing in Salmon and Oswego rivers

[HuntingNY-News]

The perch bite on Oneida Lake remains the top story there. No word yet on the walleye bite from shore. We need some cooler weather.

CNY FISHING REPORT

Bait stores (list and map).

LAKE ONTARIO

There are still plenty of salmon in the lake waiting to make their run into the rivers. Salmon are hitting flashers and flies, flashers and cut-bait and j-plugs. Fish are being found anywhere from 180 feet of water right into the mouth of tributaries.

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SALMON RIVER

Anglers report Chinook (king) salmon are throughout the river. Some coho salmon have also made runs.

OSWEGO RIVER

River has experienced several big Chinook runs recently. Anglers take heed: The bridge to Leto Island remains 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, worms and small jigs. Try fishing in 10 to 20 feet of water. Good spots are around Big Bay, Dunham and Frenchman's Islands. Some walleye are still being taken in 25 to 30 feet of water on blade baits and on black & purple bucktail jigs tipped with a night crawler. No word on the nighttime shore walleye bite yet. Some cooler weather is needed.

CAYUGA LAKE

Vertical jigging continues to work for lake trout with fish being found in 65 to 110 foot of water. Trolling down 70 to80 feet over 100 to 160 foot of water with spoons or flasher and flies is also producing some lake trout.

SENECA LAKE

Lake trout continue to be 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

Anglers fishing in the south end of the lake have been getting lake trout in 75 to 100 foot of water and some rainbow trout in 55 to 70 foot of water. Trolling with flasher and flies or stickbaits has been good. Pulling copper is also working for lake trout. Smallmouth bass are hitting crayfish or drop-shot rigs fished in 25 to 30 foot of water. Some yellow perch are being taken on minnows and night crawlers.

OTISCO LAKE

Some bass are being caught on crayfish off the causeway and also on stickbaits in the north end. Stickbaits are also producing a few tiger muskie on the north end. No word on any walleye shore bite.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Smallmouth bass are being taken on tube jigs, stick worms (Senko style baits), topwaters and drop-shot rigs in 10 to 35 feet of water. Live bait (crayfish and night crawlers) is also working for smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rock bass in 15 to 25 feet of water. No word yet on any rainbow trout shore bite.

SANDY POND:

Fishing is generally slow on the pond this time of year, so no new information to report.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Bass are being taken in 25 to 30 feet of water on crayfish. Walleye bite remains good along "the humps." Good lures continue to be Reef Runners or green Jigfish.

SODUS BAY

Fishing the outside weed edges continues to work for largemouth. Good baits have been crankbaits and plastic worms. A few northern pike are being caught with a good spot being around the Islands on Sodus.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

Anglers fishing near shore are catching catfish, bullheads and smallmouth bass. The best action lately seems to be in shallow water, less than 10 feet. For the catfish and bullheads try worms, and plastics or crankbaits for the bass.

** 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.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog