Syracuse.com - Oct. 30- Nov. 3: Steelhead and brown trout working their way up Salmon/Oswego rivers

HuntingNY-News · October 30, 2013

The night-time shore bite on Oneida Lake is getting better and better.

CNY FISHING REPORT

SALMON RIVER

Most of the salmon action is now in the upper river. 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 these will be working their way into the upper river. Good baits have been beads, blue egg sacs, egg imitating flies and various streamers.

OSWEGO RIVER

More steelhead and brown trout are being caught in the river, along with the remaining Chinook salmon. Good baits are egg sacs, skein, egg imitating flies and plastics, and trout beads. The bridge to Leto Island remains closed and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river.

ONEIDA LAKE

The shore walleye bite continues to improve and fish are being caught by shore anglers casting stickbaits just before and after dark. Some good areas are Sylvan Beach, Lower South Bay, Lewis Point, Oneida Shores and Bridgeport. Stickbaits in blue and silver, or black and silver usually work well for these walleye. Yellow perch are still being found in 10 to 20 feet of water with minnows, worms and small jigs working.

CAYUGA LAKE

Yellow perch are being caught in the north end on small minnows. No word on any brown trout or Atlantic salmon activity in the tributaries yet. The colder weather and rain predicted may help to bring some fish into the streams.

SENECA LAKE

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

OWASCO LAKE

Yellow perch are hitting minnows on the north end of the lake. Lake trout are also being taken on the north end by vertical jigging or trolling.

OTISCO LAKE

No word on the nighttime shore walleye bite. Fall walleye fishing is often good for shore anglers casting stickbaits off the causeway just before and after dark. Tiger muskie and bass are hitting crankbaits fished along shore and outside weed edges.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Docks will be removed from the DEC launch on Route 41 sometime next week (Nov. 4-. How long the launch stays open after that will be depend on the weather. Yellow perch are hitting minnows fished in 30 to 40 foot of water. Some nice-sized perch are being taken. A few rainbow trout are starting to hit for anglers fishing from shore with the marshmallow and worm rigs. The colder weather predicted over the next week should help improve this bite.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

A few nice-sized muskies are starting to be caught. The perch bite continues to be strong. Anglers are getting them on jigs and fathead minnows.

SODUS BAY

Yellow perch are being found in 25 to 30 feet of water and are hitting on minnows. Northern pike are hitting on spinnerbaits, spoons and minnows.

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. Good colors for crankbaits have been crayfish or perch colored.

** 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