07-17-2004, 07:00 PM
July 16 - July 23
Lake Ontario - Salmon fishing has been excellent throughout the eastern end of the lake, when weather permits. From Fairhaven to Mexico Bay salmon are holding at depths between 90 - 140 ft over 100-170 ft. of water. Anglers are catching salmon on dodger and fly combinations, flasher and cut bait with a teaser rig, and on large spoons. Brown trout action has been good in the early morning hours on Smithwicks and spoons fished at depths around 60 ft. Bass fishing has been good using worms, crayfish, leeches, jigs, twister tails and crank-baits. Be aware that a cold water up-welling has spawned a serious fungal infection that has killed a number of bass all along the southeast shore. It's unclear how much of an impact this will have on bass fishing but bass die-offs after up-wellings are nothing new to Lake Ontario.
Oswego River - Smallmouth bass are being caught on leeches, while sheepshead are taking crayfish and catfish are hitting worms, chicken liver and minnows.
Oneida Lake - Walleye fishing continues to be excellent. At the west end walleye are being caught in the weeds on spinner and worm rigs. Expect to catch a variety of fish along with the walleye. At the eastern end anglers are catching walleye by trolling the deeper waters north of Buoy 121 with purple and black Hot-n-Tots and Jr. Thundersticks.
Cayuga Lake - Lake trout action is excellent for anglers trolling green or white and silver spoons at depths of 70 -90 ft over 100 - 200 ft. The area around Long Point and north has been particularly good and a few landlocked salmon are also being taken along with the lake trout. Smallmouth bass action has been good around most of the lake for anglers fishing with crayfish and tube jigs in 12 - 20 ft of water. Largemouth bass action has been good at the north end on a variety of lures. Yellow perch action has been slow.
Owasco Lake - Lake trout action has been fair for anglers trolling at depths around 85 ft. over 150 ft. of water. The Ensenore area has been the most productive for lake trout. Bass fishing is very good all around the lake on a variety of baits and lures.
Skaneateles Lake - Trout and salmon fishing has been very spotty but some fish are being picked up at depths of 40 - 60 ft.. Smallmouth bass action is good around most of the lake shore at depths of 12 - 18 ft. for anglers fishing with crayfish or tube-jigs.
Otisco Lake - Bass action has been good for anglers fishing with stick-baits, crank-baits and spinner-baits. Some walleye continue to be caught at night by anglers casting stick-baits from shore. Brown trout are being caught by anglers trolling with spoons at a depth of 30 ft. over 40 - 50 ft. of water.
Whitney Point Reservoir - Some walleye have been caught by anglers drifting with a worm harness or leech around the river channel and other deep water areas. A few walleye are being caught late at night at the spillway and higher flows are likely to make them a little more active in the coming days.
Southern Tier Rivers - The Chenango, Tioughnioga, and the lower Susquehanna River are all running high and muddy from the heavy rain and, given the weather forecast, aren't likely to clear up soon. The Susquehanna River in the Conklin and Windsor areas has not come up as dramatically and may not be quite as muddy.
The fishing line can also be heard at (607) 753-1551.
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Lake Ontario - Salmon fishing has been excellent throughout the eastern end of the lake, when weather permits. From Fairhaven to Mexico Bay salmon are holding at depths between 90 - 140 ft over 100-170 ft. of water. Anglers are catching salmon on dodger and fly combinations, flasher and cut bait with a teaser rig, and on large spoons. Brown trout action has been good in the early morning hours on Smithwicks and spoons fished at depths around 60 ft. Bass fishing has been good using worms, crayfish, leeches, jigs, twister tails and crank-baits. Be aware that a cold water up-welling has spawned a serious fungal infection that has killed a number of bass all along the southeast shore. It's unclear how much of an impact this will have on bass fishing but bass die-offs after up-wellings are nothing new to Lake Ontario.
Oswego River - Smallmouth bass are being caught on leeches, while sheepshead are taking crayfish and catfish are hitting worms, chicken liver and minnows.
Oneida Lake - Walleye fishing continues to be excellent. At the west end walleye are being caught in the weeds on spinner and worm rigs. Expect to catch a variety of fish along with the walleye. At the eastern end anglers are catching walleye by trolling the deeper waters north of Buoy 121 with purple and black Hot-n-Tots and Jr. Thundersticks.
Cayuga Lake - Lake trout action is excellent for anglers trolling green or white and silver spoons at depths of 70 -90 ft over 100 - 200 ft. The area around Long Point and north has been particularly good and a few landlocked salmon are also being taken along with the lake trout. Smallmouth bass action has been good around most of the lake for anglers fishing with crayfish and tube jigs in 12 - 20 ft of water. Largemouth bass action has been good at the north end on a variety of lures. Yellow perch action has been slow.
Owasco Lake - Lake trout action has been fair for anglers trolling at depths around 85 ft. over 150 ft. of water. The Ensenore area has been the most productive for lake trout. Bass fishing is very good all around the lake on a variety of baits and lures.
Skaneateles Lake - Trout and salmon fishing has been very spotty but some fish are being picked up at depths of 40 - 60 ft.. Smallmouth bass action is good around most of the lake shore at depths of 12 - 18 ft. for anglers fishing with crayfish or tube-jigs.
Otisco Lake - Bass action has been good for anglers fishing with stick-baits, crank-baits and spinner-baits. Some walleye continue to be caught at night by anglers casting stick-baits from shore. Brown trout are being caught by anglers trolling with spoons at a depth of 30 ft. over 40 - 50 ft. of water.
Whitney Point Reservoir - Some walleye have been caught by anglers drifting with a worm harness or leech around the river channel and other deep water areas. A few walleye are being caught late at night at the spillway and higher flows are likely to make them a little more active in the coming days.
Southern Tier Rivers - The Chenango, Tioughnioga, and the lower Susquehanna River are all running high and muddy from the heavy rain and, given the weather forecast, aren't likely to clear up soon. The Susquehanna River in the Conklin and Windsor areas has not come up as dramatically and may not be quite as muddy.
The fishing line can also be heard at (607) 753-1551.
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