Syracuse.com - Nov. 18-20: Perch bite picks up on Whitney Point Reservoir; Salmon River still full of steelhead

[HuntingNY-News]

Muskie fishing continues to be the top draw up at 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 and white mesh), streamers and egg-imitating flies and plastics.

OSWEGO RIVER

Flow has been slowly getting lower the past week, but with rains the water level is on the rise. That’s made for some good catches of brown trout and steelhead. Estaz eggs, egg sacs, woolly buggers, hot-n-tots and crazy eggs are all working.

ONEIDA LAKE

The nighttime shore walleye bite has picked up lately. Casting from shore just before and after dark with stickbaits in black and silver and blue and silver works well. It’s best when a wind is blowing into the shoreline where you’re fishing. 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. Yellow perch fishing has been hot or cold. A good starting point for the perch has been in 10 to 20 feet of water around weedbeds.

CAYUGA LAKE

Lake trout and Atlantic salmon are being taken around Taughannock by anglers trolling with spoons, or flashers and flies using down riggers or Dipsey divers. Try fishing 45 - 80 feet down over 100 to 350 feet of water. Lake trout are also hitting vertically jigged chartreuse plastics in 75 to 100 feet of water. Bass, pickerel and perch are being taken in the north end in 10 - 15 feet of water on fathead and larger minnows. One of the better perch spots continues to be 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

Lake trout fishing has been slow but some fish are still being taken vertically jigging with plastics. Northern pike are hitting spoons on the south end and yellow perch are hitting fathead minnows. Anglers are getting some brown trout in the Owasco Inlet, which is open for fishing until Dec. 31.

OTISCO LAKE

Casting stickbaits off the causeway after dark usually produces some walleye this time of year. Crappies and yellow perch 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 80 feet down over 120 to 140 feet of water. Trolling on the surface for rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon has been slow; but is usually productive this time of year. Yellow perch are being taken on small minnows or crayfish. A few anglers are catching rainbows from shore using marshmallow/worm rigs, but overall that bite has been slow recently.

SANDY POND

No new fishing activity to report as things is slow on the pond this time of year.

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.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

Perch bite has really picked up this week. Anglers are catching them averaging 11 to 13 inches using fathead minnows and jigs. Walleye bite has slowed down.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog