Syracuse.com - Feb. 17-19: Despite relative warm day-time temps there's fishable ice on Otisco and Oneida lakes

[HuntingNY-News]

The Salmon River continues to be a go-to place for winter steelhead.

CNY FISHING FORECAST

All persons aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet long, regardless of age, must wear a personal flotation device from Nov. 1 to May 1.

Bait stores (list and map).

SALMON RIVER

Water conditions were down at mid-week. Lots of fish continue to be caught, mostly steelhead. Good baits continue to be pink bubblegum worms, trout beads (10mm), egg sacs (blue, pink and chartreuse mesh), streamers, stonefly nymphs and egg-imitating flies. The Upper Fly Fishing Area will reopen April 1.

OSWEGO RIVER

Brown trout continue to be caught behind the hotels in the downtown area on white bucktail jigs, along with some rainbows on little minnows and trout beads.

ONEIDA LAKE

Ice conditions have improved from last week, thanks to a series of nights with freezing temperatures. Anglers are catching perch in deeper water. The walleye bite has also picked up, with many being caught on tip-ups, using jigging spoons tipped with a large buckeye minnow. Be cautious and follow the beaten path if you go out.

CAYUGA LAKE

No safe ice to report at midweek. However, anglers fishing from shore at the power station in Lansing continue to have luck catching rainbow trout on medium-sized shiners, and some perch using fathead minnows.

SENECA LAKE

Anglers trolling deep — about 150 feet down over 300- to 350- feet — have been catching a mixed bag of Atlantic salmon and lake trout using streamer flies and small spoons. Perch and crappie are also being caught off the pier at Watkins Glen using fathead minnows, spikes and waxworms. There were reports of some anglers fishing off shore at Sampson State Park catching nice northern pike, fishing shiners about 5 feet under a slip bobber.

OWASCO LAKE

No safe ice to report. A few anglers are getting out in boats, fishing for perch.

OTISCO LAKE

Reports mid-week of safe ice (4 to 6 inches) at the lake’s northern end. Lots of perch being caught.

SKANEATELES LAKE

No ice fishing activity to report. Some anglers are getting out in boats, fishing for perch. Shore fishing with marshmallow-and-worm rigs is usually the ticket this time of year for rainbow trout.

SODUS BAY

No fishable ice at midweek.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER

Anglers continue to ice fish for northern pike and perch, and some reports of crappie being caught. Hot spots are Eel Bay, Chippewa Bay, Lake of the Isles and Goose Bay, all with eight or more inches.

WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR

At midweek, there was a solid six inches of ice on the reservoir. Reports of numerous small crappies and some nice-sized perch being taken by anglers, using fathead minnow. Some anglers continue to get some nice walleye in the spillway, using jigs and fathead minnows.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog