Syracuse.com - Oct. 23-27: Oneida Lake walleye shoreline bite picking up; Salmon and Oswego river scenes remain hot

HuntingNY-News · October 23, 2013

No word yet on the Otisco Lake nighttime shore walleye bite.

CNY FISHING REPORT

SALMON RIVER

Many of the salmon are still actively spawning in the riffle areas. After spawning, Pacific salmon (Chinook and coho) die, so each day there will be fewer and fewer of them in the river. More steelhead and brown trout are being caught in the lower river and this fish will also be working their way into the upper river. Good baits have been beads, egg sacs, egg imitating flies and various streamers.

OSWEGO RIVER

Salmon are still being caught throughout the river and more steelhead and brown trout are showing up. Good baits are egg-imitating flies, beads 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.

ONEIDA LAKE

Walleye shoreline bite is starting to pick up. Hot spots include Lewis Point, Oneida Shores, Bridgeport, Sylvan Beach and Lower South Bay. Use stickbaits like X-Raps and Challenger Minnows.

CAYUGA LAKE

No new information and no word on any brown trout or Atlantic salmon activity in the lake's tributaries. Vertical jigging had been working for lake trout with fish being found in 85-95 foot of water. Trolling down 60 to 90 feet over 100 to 160 foot of water with spoons or flasher and flies was also producing some lake trout. Yellow perch are being caught in the north end on small minnows.

SENECA LAKE

Lake trout are being taken 50 to 80 feet down over 115 to 130 foot of water on spoons and flasher and flies. Yellow perch are hitting on small minnows.

OWASCO LAKE

Yellow perch are hitting minnows and worms on the north end of the lake. Lake trout are also being taken on the north end by vertical jigging or trolling. Smallmouth bass are hitting crayfish or drop-shot rigs fished in 25 to 30 foot of water.

OTISCO LAKE

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

SKANEATELES LAKE

Yellow perch are starting to hit on minnows fished in 30 foot of water. Smallmouth bass are still being taken on tube jigs, stick worms (Senko style baits) and drop-shot rigs in 10-35 feet of water. A few rainbows have been taken lately from shore on marshmallow and worm rigs. The bite should pick up once the lake's water temperature drops some more.

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. A few nice-sized muskies are starting to be caught. One local angler recently caught and released a 51-incher.

SODUS BAY

Reports of nice-sized perch being picked up on fathead minnows in deeper water ( 30-35 feet out by the channel), and some are being caught in lower water.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

Walleye, yellow perch and smallmouth bass are hitting on crankbaits fished in 5-10 foot of water. Some large yellow perch are being taken.

** 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