New York Fishing Report: August 2010

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Lake Ontario
Brown trout fishing slowed a little last week, but fish are still being caught in 90 to 130 feet of water with spoons working well both off down riggers and Dipsey divers. Dream Weaver and Michigan Stingers in green and yellow shades are working well. The chinook salmon fishing has picked up some with fish being taken 100 to 140 feet down over 180 to 270 feet of water. Salmon are hitting the same spoons as the brown trout and also on green and white E-chip flashers and Atomik flies. Smallmouth bass fishing has been good around Mexico Bay with jig heads and twister tails working.

Oswego River
Sheephead (freshwater drum) continue to hit crayfish and catfish are hitting nightcrawlers and cut-bait. Bass are biting on minnows and crankbaits.

Salmon River
There continues to be a few brown trout and Atlantic salmon being taken in the river.

Oneida Lake
Walleye fishing continues to be better early in the day for anglers trolling with stickbaits or worm harnesses. The deeper water between Buoy 117 to 121 has been good. Smallmouth bass fishing has been hot or cold depending on the day. Fishing around structure with Senkos and a wide variety of other plastic baits are getting some fish. When birds are found diving on schools of baitfish, the smallmouth bass are actively feeding underneath them. Tossing topwater baits and a wide variety of plastic baits is working. Largemouth bass are hitting creature baits fished in and around the deep weed edges.

Sodus Bay
Largemouth bass are hitting on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and rubber worms fished in the deeper water.

Sandy Pond
There has been some largemouth bass and northern pike action along the outside weed edges. Spinnerbaits, rubber worms and crankbaits are working.

Cayuga Lake
Water fleas have died down and are less of a nuisance, but weed mats are still making trolling difficult on the lake. The thermocline is around 65 to 80 feet. Lake trout are being caught in 65 to 110 feet of water by anglers vertical jigging with plastics. They are also being taken 75 to 110 feet down over 180 to 210 feet trolling with flasher & flies or spoons. White or white & green are working well. Some nice brown trout are also being taken down 50 to 65 feet or mixed in with the lake trout.

Owasco Lake
Anglers trolling 50 to 70 feet down with spoons or flasher & fly rigs are still catching some lake trout and an occasional rainbow trout. Anglers are also catching a few lake trout vertical jigging. Though overall, lake trout fishing has been slow. Smallmouth bass are hitting in 10 to 20 feet of water on drop-shot rigs with Berkley Gulp baits. Good colors have been smelt imitating colors and green pumpkins. Look for schools of bait and fish around them for the bass.

Skaneateles Lake
Trolling 25 to 30 feet down with glow spoons is producing some rainbows and 50 to 60 feet down is working for lake trout. Anglers fishing near shore with tube jigs, drop-shot rigs, white Mr. Twisters and night crawlers and are still catching smallmouth bass.

Otisco Lake
Tiger muskie fishing is really starting to pick up with tigers being caught on almost anything from nightcrawlers to swim baits. Smallmouth bass are being taken in 15 to 25 feet of water on drop-shot rigs with darker colored baits working well. Largemouth bass can be found on the outside weed edges. A few walleye are being taken by anglers trolling 35 feet down with stickbaits.

Seneca Lake
Atlantic salmon are hitting Big Weenie flies down 55 feet over very deep water, like 500 feet of water. Lake trout are being taken 75 to 120 feet down by anglers trolling spoons and flasher & fly rigs. Vertical jigging has been producing fish at 75 to 90 feet with chartreuse and white plastics. A few northern pike are being taken off the pier. Anglers looking for large holes in weedbeds and fishing with crayfish are catching perch. They’re not getting a lot of them, but the ones they are getting are big.

St. Lawrence River
Try fishing for smallmouth bass about 35 to 45 feet down, using crayfish or worms. A number of nice northern pike are being caught along weedbed lines, at about 20 feet. Try using minnows or worms. Some nice jack perch are also being caught up in Mud Bay.

Whitney Point Reservoir
Walleye fishing has slowed but some fish are being taken in the deeper water on worm harnesses and jigs tipped with night crawlers.

Central New York Fishing Reports

Fishing In Central New York:

information below provided by: http://www.dec.ny.gov/index.html

April 30- May 7

Walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger musky season opens on Saturday, May 1st. Good opening day locations in Central New York for walleye are: Oneida Lake, Whitney Point Reservoir, Susquehanna River and Otisco Lake. For tiger musky try Otisco Lake, Cross Lake, Madison Reservoir and Lower Lelands Ponds. Northern pike can be found in Owasco Lake, Cayuga Lake and most Lake Ontario Bays. For pickerel try Big Bay on Oneida Lake, Tully Lake and Madison Reservoir.

Anglers may be interested in Stream Trout Fishing Techniques. Also, remember that Finger Lake tributary fishing is from sunrise to sunset from April 1 through May 15, see Finger Lakes Tributary Regulations.

Some sections of area streams and lakes will have been stocked by Saturday May 1st. These streams and lakes are:

Broome County – Artic Lake, Finch Hollow, Greenwood Lake, Little Choconut 2e, Nanticoke 7a, Nanticoke Lake, Palmers Pond, Patterson Pond, Oquaga Creek, Chenango Lake, Dudley Creek, Nanticoke Creek, and East Branch Nanticoke Creek

Cayuga County– Fall Creek, North Brook, Owasco Inlet, and Salmon Creek

Chenango County– Bowman Lake, Jeffrey Pond, Mill Brook Reservoir, Pharsalia Y Pond, Guilford Lake, Genegantslet Creek and the Otselic River

Cortland County– Casterline Pond, Little York Lake and the Otselic River

Madison County– Upper Lelands Pond, Eaton Brook Reservoir, Lebanon Reservoir, Beaver Creek, Canastota Creek, Chittenango Creek, Canasaraga Creek, Cowaselon Creek, Limestone Creek, Old Chenango Canal, Oneida Creek, Chenango River, Payne Brook, Otselic River, Stone Mill Brook and the Sangerfield River

Onondaga County-Green Lakes, Poole Brook, Spruce Pond, Limestone Creek, West Br. Limestone Creek, Furnace Brook, Spafford Creek, Fabius Brook, Geddes Brook, Butternut Creek, VanBuren Pond, Onondaga Creek, West Br. Onondaga Creek, Tannery Creek, Carpenters Brook, and Skaneateles Creek, Onondaga Counties carpenters Brook Fish hatchery stocking Hotline: (315) 689-0003

Oswego County– Black Creek, Rice Creek, North Branch of the Salmon River, Salmon River, and the West Branch of Fish Creek

Tioga County – Catatonk Creek, Cayuta Creek, East Branch of Owego Creek, Owego Creek, and West Branch of Owego Creek

Tompkins County – Enfield Creek, Virgil Creek, Buttermilk Creek, Salmon Creek, Fall Creek and Sixmile Creek.

For more stocking information view Spring Trout Stocking.

Region 7

Lake Ontario

When the weather, mainly the wind direction, cooperates near shore brown trout fishing has been good from Oswego to Mexico. A few coho salmon are also being reported. The early morning bite has been best. Flat lining with stickbaits like Smithwick Rogues, Rapala’s, and Storm ThunderSticks are producing fish. Color preference has been varying with bright colors like orange and firetiger working one day and more natural colors like black & silver or black & blue working the next day. Some fish are also being taken on spoons such as Stingers and Dreamweaver. The lake level is low at this time so use caution when trolling near shore. The lake has been pretty clear this spring and normal “mudlines” or cloudy water near shore and off river mouths hasn’t been stable. This has made finding the brown trout more difficult.

Oswego River

The river flow is back down and is currently at 1,460 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of 04/29. All areas are fishable but anglers fishing from the Utica Street Bridge to the harbor are catching brown trout, steelhead and even a few Atlantic salmon. Good baits remain the same with stickbaits, worms, minnows, egg sacs and pink PowerBait trout worms working. Sheephead (freshwater drum) are hitting crayfish. Some bullheads are still being taken around Wrights Landing on leeches. Walleye season opening Saturday, fishing large stickbaits (like Rapala #18’s) is a popular method of catching walleye in the river.

Salmon River

The river flow is running at 285 cfs as of 04/29. There are a few steelhead still spawning but most fish being caught are drop backs (fish that have finished spawning). Spawning fish can be found in the riffle areas and drop backs are being taken throughout the river. With the low water, fishing the heads and tails of the deeper pools is working well for the drop backs. Good baits are beads, egg sacs, pink PowerBait trout worms, streamers and egg imitating flies. There are continued reports of Atlantic salmon being taken in the lower section of river.

Oneida Lake

Walleye season starts Saturday. With the early spawn this year fish should be spread out more. Start your search shallow (5 feet of water) and work deeper until fish are found. Crankbaits, stickbaits, jigs and live bait should all work. Anglers fishing Toad Harbor are having good luck for black crappies on small minnows. Bullheads are being taken in bays and river mouths on worms and leeches.

Sandy Pond

The water level is low in the pond at this time. A few anglers are getting out in boats are getting yellow perch and crappie on fathead minnows fished under bobbers.

Cayuga Lake

Brown trout and Atlantic salmon are still hitting stickbaits fished off side planers on the south end. The early morning bite has been good in 10-20 feet of water. As the day progresses moving deeper to 50 feet of water and fishing with spoons has extended the action. Lake trout are being taken around Deans Cove in 140 to 180 feet of water for anglers vertical jigging or trolling. Yellow perch are being caught on the north end on fathead minnows in 10-15 feet of water.

Owasco Lake

Anglers fishing the north end are still getting some yellow perch on fathead minnows in 15-20 feet of water.

Skaneateles Lake

Anglers trolling with streamers are getting a few Atlantic salmon and shore anglers are still getting rainbows with marshmallow and worm rigs. Yellow perch are hitting in the south end in 15-20 feet of water on fathead minnows.

Otisco Lake

Smallmouth bass fishing has been good for anglers using Berkley PowerBait grubs and craws. Just a reminder that it’s catch and release and artificial lures only for bass until the 3rd Saturday in June. A few crappies and bluegills are being taken on the north end on fathead minnows and worms. Walleye season starts Saturday, May 1st, trolling with stickbaits or casting stickbaits after dark from the causeway are methods that often work on the lake. Fishing with large live minnows or casting with spinnerbaits or stickbaits works for tiger musky.

Whitney Point Reservoir

There are plenty of walleyes in the reservoir and it should be a good opening weekend. Bullhead and channel catfish fishing has really picked up in the last week. A 14-pound channel catfish was caught recently. Night crawlers and cut-bait have both been working. Crappie fishing remains slow but some nice sized yellow perch are being taken. Anglers are not getting many of them but when they get one their big.

Susquehanna, Chenango, Tioughnioga and Unadilla Rivers

Anglers using dark colored tube jigs are having good luck on the smallmouth bass. Just a reminder that it’s catch and release and artificial lures only for bass until the 3rd Saturday in June. Catfish were hitting well around the Nichols area on cut-bait. No bullhead activity to report.

Eastern Region 8

Sections of the following waters will have been stocked by Saturday, May 1st:

Chemung County -Elbridge Lake, Park Station Pond, Post Creek, Sing Sing Creek, Newton Creek, Cayuta Creek and Wyncoop Creek

Schyler County – Cayuta Creek, Potomac Pond, Foster Pond and Ballard Pond

Seneca County – Canoga Creek

Steuben County – Meads Creek, Canisteo River, Bennett Creek, Canaseraga Creek, Cohocton River and Post Creek

Lake Ontario

Brown trout are hitting real early in the morning for shore anglers casting spoons like Cleo’s, Krocodiles and Cyclops from Webster Park and the mouth of Bear Creek. The bite seems to end around 8:00 am as the day brightens. Anglers trolling with spoons and stickbaits are also getting brown trout close to shore in 15 feet of water. Spoons seem to be working better than stickbaits at the moment. A few coho salmon are also beginning to show up. Browns are also being taken from real shallow water, 3-6 feet, from Brockport Marina to Hamlin Beach for anglers casting blue & silver Cleo’s.

Genesee River

There are brown trout being taken in the river on spoons and egg sacs. Smallmouth bass fishing has been good in the river. Just a reminder that it’s catch and release, artificial lures only for bass until the 3rd Saturday in June.

Sodus Bay

Anglers fishing around the bridge are getting bluegills, rock bass and bullheads. Anglers getting out in boats are catching yellow perch, bluegills, rock bass and bullheads. The bluegill and rock bass bite has been very good on jigs and spikes. Bullhead fishing has been good one day and slow the next, the best bite continues to be after dark on night crawlers.

Irondequoit Bay

Yellow perch fishing has picked up during the last week for anglers fishing small minnows. Shore anglers are catching fish as are anglers getting out in boats.

Seneca Lake

Lake trout are being taken in a variety of ways; down riggers, Dipsy divers and wire. Spoons and flashers and flies are working. Fish are being taken 50-100 feet down over 100 to 150 feet of water. Anglers using wire are letting out 200-250 feet. Some Atlantic salmon are still hitting stickbaits trolled on the surface.

Canandaigua Lake

Anglers fishing on the south end are still getting yellow perch and crappies. Small minnows and spikes are working. Anglers top lining with spoons and stickbaits off planer boards are getting brown trout in the south end. Lake trout are hitting flashers and flies fished down 75-100 feet. Like last year Spin Dr’s. (flashers) and flies (like Big Weenies) in shades of green are working well.

Keuka Lake

Lake trout are being taken 80 to 110 feet down over 150 feet of water on flasher and flies and spoons. Anglers using wire are letting out 200-250 feet. Spin Dr’s. and Big Weenie flies in a variety of colors are working, with green still being productive.

Waneta and Lamoka Lakes

Bullheads are hitting before and after dark on night crawlers. A few yellow perch are being caught on small minnows.

New York Fishing Reports

Central New York Fishing
February 26 – March 5

With all of the snow we have received over the last few days most areas now have lots of slush on the ice along with all the snow, making walking and fishing extremely difficult. There is little new fishing activity to report because of this.
Ice thickness varies greatly even on the same waterbody so please exercise extreme caution and your own good judgment if you decide to venture out onto the ice. A few fish are not worth risking a life threatening situation.

The time period for anglers to legally use and possess certified baitfish has been extended from seven to 10 days after purchase.

Region 7

Lake Ontario

map of lake ontario

The lake report has ended for the season. There are still steelhead and brown trout in some of the tributaries and many of the bays are beginning to freeze over.

Oswego River

The river flow is currently at 5,780 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of 02/26. Ice and slush have been a problem on the river. Steelhead and brown trout are hitting beads, stickbaits, worms, minnows, egg sacs and white bucktail jigs.

Salmon River

Salom River in Pulaski — Salmon River Fishing

The river flow is currently running at 500 cfs but will be dropping to 285 cfs. Slush ice has still been a problem on the colder mornings, but after it clears at mid-day fishing has been fair. Anglers have been able to spread out and are catching some fish in the lower and upper river. Good baits are black stoneflies, egg sacs (white or blue), pink worms and trout beads.

Oneida Lake

The area received close to two feet of new snow which has contributed to slush forming on top of the ice making conditions miserable for walking and four wheelers. Ice thickness is still varying greatly around the lake, so use caution if venturing out. Fishing picked up some last week for yellow perch in the 20-35 foot depth range. Anglers fishing very small jigs tipped with moussies are catching a few bigger perch. Big Bay is still producing bluegills and pumpkinseeds.

Sandy Pond

There is good ice on the pond with 18 to 24 inches reported. Yellow perch fishing has picked back up for anglers using small minnows, jigs tipped with spikes or perch eyes. A lot of small perch are being caught with some nice ones mixed in. Some bluegills are also being caught on small jigs tipped with spikes. Northern pike fishing has been fair with fish hitting on large suckers or shiners. An occasional walleye is also being taken on minnows.

Cayuga Lake

There are anglers getting out on the north end from the State Park, with reports of 4 to 5 inches of ice out to the channel, there is also a fair amount of slush and snow on the ice now. A lot of perch are being caught but mostly small fish and good numbers of chain pickerel are also being caught. Pickerel, though bony, are good eating. The easiest way to deal with the bones is to filet the fish and then grind the filets in a food processor and make fish patties with them. Size limit for pickerel is 15″ and the daily limit is 5. A few trout and salmon are being caught at AES, but overall it’s been slow shore fishing.

Owasco Lake

There are anglers getting out on the north and south ends of the lake with 3 to 6 inches of ice being reported on the north end and around 6 inches on the south end. Slush and snow are making walking very difficult. Yellow perch fishing continues to be slow but northern pike are hitting on large minnows. A few bluegills are also being caught in 10-12 feet of water on the south end.

Skaneateles Lake

There are anglers getting out on the north end with 3 to 4 inches of ice being reported to about the Country Club, there are also anglers getting out on the south end. Fishing has been slow for yellow perch and trout.

Otisco Lake

There is 8 inches of ice on the north end. Bluegill fishing continues to be slow as does the tiger musky fishing.

Whitney Point Reservoir

There are 12-14 inches on the reservoir. Some nice fish were caught during the derby including a giant 10 lb. 2 oz. walleye. Over all fishing has been slow but a few walleye are still being caught north of the islands.

Susquehanna, Chenango, Tioughnioga and Unadilla Rivers

The rivers are still unfishable at this time.
Lake Ontario

The Lake fishing report has ended for the season.

Genesee River

There is no new fishing activity to report.

Sodus Bay

There is reported to be 6-12 inches of ice on parts of the bay with snow and slush making walking difficult. Yellow perch fishing is still slow but some fish are hitting glo-jigs tipped with spikes, perch eyes or small minnows. Fish are being caught from 5 to 35 feet of water, and anglers having the best luck are moving looking for fish. Northern pike are hitting well on large minnows.

Irondequoit Bay

There is reported to be 4 to 6 inches of ice on parts of the bay with snow and slush on top. Yellow perch fishing continues to be slow for the larger perch but many small ones are being taken on jigs tipped with spikes or minnows. Anglers fishing the deeper water are getting some bigger perch.

Seneca Lake

Yellow perch fishing continues to be good in 30 to 45 feet of water for anglers using rosy reds, oak leaf grubs, spikes and worms around the Painted Rock area. Yellow perch are also being taken off the pier on small jigs tipped with spikes or moussies. Anglers top-lining stickbaits are still having very good luck on Atlantic salmon. A few Atlantics are also being taken off the pier on minnows.

Canandaigua Lake

There are anglers fishing the north end of the lake with around 5 inches of ice being reported.

Keuka Lake

There are reports of 5 to 10 inches of ice around the Penn Yan area. Fishing has been fair for perch and bluegills in 10 to 15 feet of water.

Waneta and Lamoka Lakes

There is reported to be about 12 inches of ice on both lakes with 3 to 4 inches of slush on top. Anglers are catching yellow perch on Waneta, and crappie and chain pickerel on Lamoka. Small jigs tipped with wax-worms are working well for the crappie.