Syracuse.com - Nov. 11-13: Salmon River remains flush with steelhead; Oneida Lake walleye bite from shore continues

[HuntingNY-News]

Muskie fishing continues to be the draw on the St. Lawrence River.

CNY FISHING FORECAST

Bait stores (list and map).

SALMON RIVER

River is low and clear. Fresh steelhead are being caught throughout the river. With the low flow, the action on sunny days has been better in the early morning and late afternoon. Good baits are egg sacs (blue, pink and chartreuse mesh), streamers and egg-imitating flies and plastics.

OSWEGO RIVER

The browns and rainbows/steelhead are moving in. Estaz eggs, egg sacs, woolly buggers, hot-n-tots and crazy eggs are all working.

ONEIDA LAKE

The nighttime shore walleye bite has been good at times. Casting from shore just before and after dark with stickbaits in black and silver and blue and silver works well. It may pay to use smaller baits because young of the year gizzard shad are numerous this fall, but are smaller than usual at 2½-3 inches. Smallmouth bass fishing has been harder due to them gorging on the shad. Yellow perch fishing has been hot or cold because of this as well. A good starting point for the perch has been in 10 to 20 feet of water around weedbeds.

CAYUGA LAKE

Lake trout, Atlantic salmon and brown trout are being caught at the southern end trolling with spoons, or flashers and flies using down riggers or Dipsey divers. Try fishing 45 to 80 feet down over 75 to 150 feet of water. Lake trout are also hitting vertically jigged chartreuse plastics in 65 to 85 feet of water. A few brown trout and Atlantic salmon are being taken on spoons fished 55 to 80 feet down over 110 to 130 feet of water. Try Countdown Rapalas and Silver Hammered Crocodiles in white, green, purple and blue. Bass, pickerel and perch are being taken in the north end in 10 to 15 feet of water on fathead and larger minnows. One of the better perch spots is around Union Springs.

SENECA LAKE

Yellow perch fishing continues to be good in 20 to 40 feet of water throughout the lake. Lake trout are being taken in depths over 100 feet on spoons and flashers/flies. Brown trout and salmon are being taken 40 to 80 feet down on flashers/flies and spoons. Anglers fishing large minnows under bobbers, or casting large crankbaits are catching some northern pike.

OWASCO LAKE

Try the north end of the lake for lake trout by vertical jigging in 65 to 95 feet of water. Trolling the same area in 50 to 75 feet down over 100 to 120 feet of water with spoons may also produce lake and brown trout. Bass are reportedly being caught using soft-shells and artificial baits (Senkos, tube jigs or drop-shot rigs). Yellow perch are hitting fathead minnows.

OTISCO LAKE

Smallmouth bass fishing has been decent in 35 to 40 feet of water on drop-shot rigs. Largemouth are hitting lipless crankbaits in the shallows of the north end. Some walleye are being taken by trolling 25 to 30 feet down over a 45- to 60-foot bottom with worm harnesses. Also try casting stickbaits off the causeway after dark. A few tiger muskie have been caught using minnows and swimbaits, stickbaits and large spinners. Crappies are hitting small minnows cast from shore.

SKANEATELES LAKE

Trolling 30 to 50 feet down with small perch-colored spoons or stickbaits is producing lake trout, rainbows and Atlantic salmon. Lake trout are also hitting at 60 feet down over 75 to 80 feet of water. Early in the day, glow baits are working better but as the sun gets higher switching to pearl, chartreuse or silver has been better. Trolling on the surface for rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon has been slow but is usually productive this time of year. Smallmouth bass and rock bass are being taken in 15-40 feet of water along the shoreline using fathead minnows, crabs, tube baits, super flukes and drop-shot rigs. Yellow perch are being taken on small minnows or crayfish.

SANDY POND

Walleye fishing has been fair using crankbaits, worm harnesses and jigs. Largemouth bass are hitting a variety of Texas-rigged plastic baits and topwater baits. Panfish are still providing action around the shoreline, and some yellow perch are being taken on small minnows.

SODUS BAY

Perch fishing continues to be good. Larger perch are coming from the deeper water, 20 to 30 feet, using spikes and jigs.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Muskie fishing continues to be the top draw. Most other fishing has slowed down, with some walleyes, perch and northerns being taken.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

Try for walleye trolling in 10 to 15 feet of water or drifting with worm harnesses and leeches. Walleye and smallmouth bass are being taken in the spillway on leeches. The best times are the early morning or late evening hours. Fishing with dark-colored bucktail jigs or worm harnesses along drop-offs has been producing yellow perch, bass and walleye. Casting with dark-colored twister tails and Senko style baits is also working for the bass.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog