Syracuse.com - Oct. 16-20: Salmon/Oswego river fishing scenes going strong; perch bite remains the talk on other waterways

[HuntingNY-News]

The perch bite remains strong on Owasco, Cayuga and Oneida lakes.

Maverick Janes, 17, of Port Byron, hoists a chinook salmon he caught on the Salmon River on a fly he tied himself. 

CNY FISHING REPORT

Bait stores (list and map).

SALMON RIVER

There are salmon being caught throughout the river, from the estuary to the Upper Fly Zone. Many salmon are actively spawning now in the riffle areas. Good baits have been plastic eggs, egg imitating flies and streamers. Some brown trout and steelhead are being reported in the lower river.

OSWEGO RIVER

More salmon have entered the river this week and they are being caught throughout the river. Good baits are egg imitating flies and plastics, and also egg sacs or skein. A few trout are also being caught mixed in with the salmon.The bridge to Leto Island remains closed and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river.

ONEIDA LAKE

Yellow perch are still being found in 10 to 20 feet of water with minnows, worms and small jigs working. A few walleye are starting to be caught by shore anglers casting stickbaits after dark, but overall it's still slow. Some cooler weather is needed to improve this shore bite.

CAYUGA LAKE

Anglers reporting lots of perch being caught at the northern end. Use fathead minnows. Some nice-sized ones being reported. Vertical jigging has been working for lake trout with fish being found in 65 to 110 foot of water. Trolling down 70 to 80 feet over 100-160 foot of water with spoons or flasher and flies is also producing some lakers.

SENECA LAKE

Lake trout are being taken 50-80 feet down over 115-130 foot of water on spoons and flasher and flies.

OWASCO LAKE

Anglers are still keying in on the perch, using fathead minnows in 15 to 20 feet of water. Lake trout continue to be caught at the northern end of the lake by trolling by jigging. Smallmouth bass are hitting crayfish or drop-shot rigs fished in 25 to 30 feet of water.

OTISCO LAKE

Largemouth bass are continuing to hit on stickworms and swimbaits. No word on the nighttime shore walleye bite.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Smallmouth bass continue to be the story here. Anglers are catching them on on tube jigs, stick worms (Senko-style baits), topwaters and drop-shot rigs in 10 to 35 feet of water. Best bait, though, continues to be live crayfish - particularly at the south end. Still no word on the rainbow trout shore 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. Anglers are also reporting some good catches on perch, using fathead minnows and worms.

SODUS BAY

Reports of nice-sized perch being picked up in deeper water (30-35 feet out by the channel).

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

Walleyes are starting to hit, but they're running small. Smallmouth bass are hitting well. Try fathead minnows or jigs. Panfish bite has also turned on lately.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog