Syracuse.com - May 18-20: Anglers continue to cash in on Lake Ontario's brown trout and Oneida Lake's walleye

[HuntingNY-News]

The northern pike, perch and bullhead action continues on Owasco Lake. CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map).Reminder: The walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskie seasons opened May 5. INLAND TROUT STREAMS Streams across the area continue to be in great shape. To find out how many trout (and what kind) are stocked in your favorite Onondaga County stream, call 689-0003. To hear the DEC’s weekly fishing report, which includes a list of which streams have been stocked in Region 7, call 607-753-1551. To read about trout fishing tips, see the DEC Web site.LAKE ONTARIO Up and down the shoreline, good brown trout fishing continues, with anglers cashing in at anywhere from 7 to 20 feet using stickbaits. Salmon are being caught from 60 to 200 feet, using mainly spoons. SALMON RIVER There were reports of smallmouth bass coming in from the lake to spawn, along with a few “drop-back” steelhead in the lower river. For the steelhead, use egg sacs, trout beads and night crawlers. OSWEGO RIVER Trout, sheepshead and rock bass — and the occasonal walleye — continue to be caught throughout the river.ONEIDA LAKE Walleye fishing continues to be good. The fish are scattered throughout the lake and are being taken in 3 to 20 feet. In a boat, the preferred depth is about 15 feet. Use black-and-purple or brown jig, tipped with a night crawler. Offshore nighttime activity with stickbaits also continues to work. Try a Challenger minnow or a Storm Jr. Thunderstick. CROSS LAKE/SENECA RIVER Fishing has been slow, but should pick up by this weekend. CAYUGA LAKE Anglers trolling are getting lake trout, brown trout and Atlantic salmon. Lake trout are coming on flasher and fly rigs fished 100 to 125 feet down over 130 to 175 feet of water. Fishing stickbaits on the surface over 15 to 25 feet of water is working for the brown trout and salmon on the south end of the lake. Lake trout jigging is very good with fish ranging from around 50 feet out to 150 feet of water. SENECA LAKE Yellow perch are still in shallow but the bite has slow. Atlantic salmon are still being caught near the surface by trolling stickbaits. A few brown trout have been mixed in with the salmon catch. Lake trout fishing has been good for anglers trolling flasher/flies or spoons with downriggers. Right now lakers are near bottom over a wide variety of depths ranging from 40 to 120 feet.OWASCO LAKE Anglers are catching a lot of pike on large suckers and shiners and perch on fathead minnows. Also, bullheads are continuing to bite on night crawlers and crayfish at the southern end. OTISCO LAKE Black crappies and yellow perch fishing has slowed, but some are still being taken in the shallows on small minnows. A few walleye are being taken off the causeway and locations off shore. One angler reported a 23-incher.SKANEATELES LAKE The DEC launch is open and one dock is in. Bass are moving up in warm water areas. Perch are hitting well in the north end of the lake in the 20 to 30 foot range using small minnows. Lake trout are hitting near bottom in 40 to 50 feet of water. SODUS BAY Anglers continuing to catch rock bass around the docks, using jigs and spikes. Pike fishing is slow. SANDY POND Black crappies are still hitting around docks. Some bullheads are also being taken. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER The bullhead bite continues to be strong on Eel Bay, with perch fishing good at the bay’s mouth. Northern pike are being caught in nearly every bay, particularly in depths of 5 to 15 feet. A good choice for the pike anglers is a bucktail jig tipped with a leech. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Reservoir is high and muddy, but fishing remains good. Lots of walleyes are being caught by trolling with night-crawler harnesses, while others are drifting with jigs tipped with night crawlers. Anglers fishing from the shore have been cashing in with night crawlers as well.

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