Syracuse.com - Oct. 2-6: Salmon runs continue on Salmon and Oswego rivers; Oneida Lake shoreline walleye bite slow

[HuntingNY-News]

No word yet on the Skaneateles Lake shoreline rainbow bite.

CNY FISHING REPORT

** Remember the new fishing license year started Oct.1. Make sure you have your 2013-2014 license before heading out.

Bait stores (list and map).

LAKE ONTARIO

There are still lots of fish left in the lake waiting to make their run into the triburaries. Salmon are hitting flashers and flies, flashers and cut-bait and j-plugs. Fish are being found anywhere from 180 feet of water down to 40 feet. Many boats are going out at night to fish in front of the tributaries.

SALMON RIVER

Two big runs this week of Chinook salmon - the biggest so far of the season, according to one bait shop source. The best is yet to come, he said.

OSWEGO RIVER

Lots of salmon in the river. Good baits are egg imitating flies and plastics, and also egg sacs or skein. The bridge to Leto Island remains closed and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. Visit the Oswego County Tourism website for more information.

ONEIDA LAKE

Yellow perch are being found in 10 to 20 feet of water with good spots being around Big Bay, Dunham and Frenchman's Islands. Minnows, worms and small jigs have been working. The walleye bite has been slow, but some walleye are still being taken in 25 to 30 feet of water on black & purple bucktail jigs tipped with night crawler and blade baits. A few walleye are starting to be caught by shore anglers casting stickbaits after dark, but overall it's still slow.

CAYUGA LAKE

Vertical jigging has been working for lake trout with fish being found in 65 to 110 feet of water. Trolling down 70 to 80 feet over 100 to 160 foot of water with spoons or flasher and flies is also producing some lake trout. Yellow perch are being caught in the north end on small minnows.

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. 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 jigging with plastics in 75 to 130 foot 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

Largemouth bass are hitting on stickworms and swimbaits cast near shore and also on outside weed edges. Bass are also hitting creature baits (Zoom brush hogs, beaver style baits, etc.) flipped our pitched into weed beds on the north end. A few bonus tiger muskie are also hitting on these creature baits fished in the weeds. Also, try swimbaits and stickbaits around the edges for the tigers. No word on the nighttime shore walleye 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 the rainbow trout shoreline bite.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Bass are being taken in 15 to 25 feet of water on crayfish. Some big largemouths are being caught in areas with heavy weeds (6 to 10 feet). Walleye bite remains good along "the humps." Good lures continue to be Reef Runners or green Jigfish.

SODUS BAY

Bass fishing has slowed, but fishing the outside weed edges continues to work. Though fewer bass are being caught, the ones being caught have been nice sized. Use crankbaits or spinnerbaits.

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. Some anglers are also catching perch.

** Remember the new fishing license year started Oct.1. Make sure you have your 2013-2014 license before heading out.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog