Syracuse.com - Dec. 18-24: There's ice on many lakes, but not thick enough to fish

[HuntingNY-News]

Anglers are out this week "probing the edges" of Big Bay, according to one bait shop source, but no reports yet of safe ice on Oneida Lake. Possibly by next week.

CNY FISHING REPORT

SALMON RIVER

The river is low. Steelhead are still being taken throughout the river, with most of the fishing pressure still taking place in the upper river (from Pineville to the Upper Fly Zone). Bottom bouncing or float fishing with pink, blue or chartreuse egg sacs and bright-colored egg patterns is catching steelhead. Other good baits have been Oregon cheese glo-bugs, flesh flies and tangerine beads. (The Upper Fly Section closed for the season on Nov. 30. It will re-open on April 1.)

OSWEGO RIVER

Anglers in drift boats are still enjoying good action for steelhead and a few brown trout. Good baits are egg sacs (pink, white or chartreuse mesh), egg-imitating flies and plastics, and trout beads. Remember, the bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river.

ONEIDA LAKE

Anglers are out this week "probing the edges" of Big Bay, according to one bait shop source, but no reports yet of safe ice on the lake. Possibly by next week.

CAYUGA LAKE

No reports yet of safe ice anywhere on the lake.

SENECA LAKE

Anglers still getting out in boats are catching a mixed bag of Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and some lake trout. Fishing near the surface with stickbaits, spoons or streamers is working for the salmon and brown trout.

OWASCO LAKE

There's coating of snow on the water at the southern end, but no safe ice at this point.

OTISCO LAKE

The north end has a coating of snow and ice, but it doesn't appear to be safe yet.

SKANEATELES LAKE

No safe ice yet at southern end. The DEC launch is closed for the season. Anglers fishing from shore for rainbow trout with marshmallow and worm rigs are still getting some fish.

SODUS BAY

Maybe two to three inches of ice, but not enough to call it safe. It's getting close, though.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Anglers are getting out on the river. Eel Bay and Lake of the Isles has about six inches of ice. Chaumont Bay is frozen over, but no reports yet of safe ice.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

There's two to three inches of ice on the reservoir's "park side," as mid-week. Ice is still questionable.

*** From Nov. 1 to May 1, all persons aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet regardless of age must wear a Personal Flotation Device while underway.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog