Printer-friendlyCentral New York Fishing Hotline
May 2- May 9
Walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger musky season begins on Saturday May 3. Popular places to fish for walleye are; Oneida Lake, Otisco Lake, Owasco Lake, Whitney Point Reservoir, Oswego River and the Susquehanna River. Good early season walleye baits are usually stickbaits, jigs and worms, spinner and worm rigs, and minnows.
Region 7
Trout Season
The following waters will have been stocked by Saturday, May 3:
Broome County - Arctic Lake, Chenango Lake, Nanticoke Lake, Palmers Pond, Patterson Pond, Dudley Creek, Nanticoke Creek, East Branch of Nanticoke Creek and Oquaga Creek, Finch Hollow Site 1
Cayuga County - Fall Creek, Salmon Creek, North Brook, and Owasco Inlet
Chenango County - Bowman Lake, Guilford Lake, Chenango Lake, Genegantslet Creek, Otselic River, Jeffrey Pond, Pharsalia Y Ponds, and Mill Brook Reservoir
Cortland County - Otselic River, Casterline Pond, Little York Lake and the Tioughnioga Rivers will be stocked on May 6;
Madison County - Upper Lelands Pond, Lebanon Reservoir, Canaseraga Creek, Canastota Creek, Chittenango Creek, Cowaselon Creek, Beaver Creek, Limestone Creek, Payne Brook, Stone Mill Brook, Otselic River, and the Old Chenango Canal
Onondaga County - Onondaga Creek, West Branch of Onondaga Creek, Tannery Creek, Skaneateles Creek, Nine Mile Creek, Limestone Creek, West Branch of Limestone Creek, Spafford Creek, Carpenters Brook, Furnace Brook, Fabius Brook, Geddes Brook, Pools Brook, Spruce Pond, Cold Brook, Green Lakes, and VanBuren Park
Tioga County - East Branch of Owego Creek, Owego Creek, West Branch of Owego Creek, Catatonk Creek, and Cayuta Creek
Tompkins County - Buttermilk Creek, Salmon Creek, Sixmile Creek, Fall Creek, Virgil Creek and Enfield Creeks.
Lake Ontario
Brown trout are being caught along the shoreline and at tributary mouths in 5-10 feet of water. Stickbaits and spoons are both working well. With the clear water conditions fishing early in the morning and running the baits 100 to 200 feet behind the planner boards is working well. Trolling slowly and targeting the warmest off colored water is also helping. Many of the brown trout being caught appear to be feeding heavily on round goby. It may pay to fish closer to bottom and use goby colored baits. Yellow perch and bullhead are also hitting in many of the tributaries and bays.
Oswego River
The water level has risen to 12,200 cubic feet per (cfs), as of 5/1. Some drop back steelhead are being taken along with brown trout in the river. Brown trout are also being taken at the mouth of the river for anglers flat lining with stickbaits. Yellow perch are biting at the dam, around Leto island, and the Eastside Marina. Bullhead are hitting at Wright's Landing and at Tannery Creek on leeches, nightcrawlers, chicken livers and shrimp.
The Bridge Street bridge in Oswego is under construction and boat traffic on the river may be restricted in this area, please use caution and watch for buoys and signs.
Salmon River
The water level has risen and is running around 1,800 cfs., as of 5/1. Steelhead fishing has been fantastic with both drop-back (steelhead that have spawned and are returning to the lake) and spawning steelhead being caught throughout the river. With the high water anglers targeting slack water or current breaks, and smaller tributaries are having the most luck. Good baits are egg sacs, night crawlers, plugs and a variety of flies.
Oneida Lake
Sunfish are really starting to bite for anglers using small jigs tipped with worms fished in shallow water areas. Good spots are Toad harbor, Big Bay, Lower South Bay and Polar Beach. Crappie fishing has slowed but fish are still being caught in Toad Harbor. Some bullhead are being caught by anglers fishing along the shore and in shallow bays. With walleye season opening May 3 a good place to start your search for walleye would be around tributary mouths and shallow shoals. Good baits should be stickbaits, spinner/worm and jig/worms.
Cayuga Lake
Salmon and brown trout are hitting on the south end of the lake for anglers using side planners and flat lining with stick baits. Brown trout and landlocked salmon are also hitting around Taughannock Point and at AES. Lake trout fishing has been slow but some fish are being found in 100 feet of water. Yellow perch fishing continues to be great in the north end of the lake. Minnows and small jigs are working best. Crappies are also biting well in the north end of the lake on small minnows. Just a reminder that Finger Lakes Tributary fishing is from sunrise to sunset.
Owasco Lake
Yellow perch fishing has been great for anglers fishing with fathead minnows and jigs in the north end of the lake, and in 20 feet of water around Martins and Buck Points. Fishing with stick baits in the north end of the lake should work well for the kick off of walleye season.
Skaneateles Lake
Fishing off the pier in the Village of Skaneateles with marshmallow/worm rigs is still working for rainbow trout. Trout are also being taken by anglers pulling wire with small spoons in around 60 feet of water. Yellow perch are hitting fathead minnows fished in the northeast section of the lake.
Otisco Lake
Brown trout are being caught throughout the lake along the shoreline. Perch are hitting on the north end of the lake on fathead minnows. Bullheads are hitting on worms by the causeway. Casting stick baits from the causeway after dark usually works well for walleye, as does trolling around the lake with stick baits during the day.
Whitney Point Reservoir
The launch ramp at Dorchester Park will be closed on May 3 and 4 due to the Collegiate rowing championships. There is a launch ramp at Upper Lisle and informal access off Keibel Road. For anglers with boats fishing in the old river channel, in the north end of the lake and into the Otselic River would be good locations to start your search for walleye. For shore anglers try fishing off Kiebel Road and bellow the dam.
Susquehanna, Chenango, Tioughnioga and Unadilla Rivers
Channel catfish are hitting cut-bait and chicken liver with the best action taking place just before dark. Catch and release bass fishing has been very good for anglers fishing tube baits and jerkbaits. Water is at a good level for the opening of walleye season. Fishing in the deeper holes with jigs/worms should work well for walleye.
Eastern Region 8
Trout Season
The following waters will have been stocked by Saturday, April 26: Chemung County - Elbridge Lake, Park Station Pond, Post creek, Sing Sing Creek, and Cayuta Creek; Steuben County - Canaseraga Creek, Meads Creek, Cohocton River and Canisteo River; Schuyler County -Cayuta Creek, Ballard Pond, Potomoc Pond, and Foster Pond; Yates County -Keuka Lake Outlet.
Lake Ontario
Brown Trout fishing has slowed due to recent heavy winds blowing the warmer water away from shore. Some brown trout and the occasional steelhead are being caught by anglers looking for the warmer water and flat lining stick baits over very deep, 150 to 200 feet of water. Brown trout fishing should resume as soon as we get a few days of stable weather. Yellow perch fishing has been good pretty much everywhere along the shore and off the piers, tributary mouths and bays. Small minnows and jigs tipped with worms are good baits. Bullhead are being caught on leeches and worms in the same areas.
Seneca Lake
Perch fishing continues to be fair for anglers fishing off the fishing pier in Watkins Glen with small minnows. Anglers getting out in boats are also catching perch on minnows with fish spread out and being caught at a wide range of depths from shallow to deep water. Anglers are catching trout and salmon using planner boards with stick baits and crankbaits. Baits in green/yellow and perch pattern are working best. Some trout are also being caught off the pier on spoons and minnows. Bullhead are biting well in the creeks on worms and leeches. With the pike opener this weekend fishing around the pier with minnows, spoons and stick baits should work very well.
Sodus Bay
Yellow perch fishing has slowed but a few fish are still being caught on minnows. Crappie fishing has been real hit or miss. When fish are found though, there hitting well on small minnows. Bluegill fishing has been fair in the shallow water areas. on small jigs tipped with spikes or worms. Bullhead fishing has slowed but some fish are still hitting after dark on nightcrawlers and leeches.
Irondequoit Bay/Creek
Yellow perch fishing is fair in Irondequoit bay at this time but anglers fishing at the mouth of the bay are having better luck. Fathead minnows and small jigs tipped with spikes are good bait choices.
Bear Creek
Brown trout fishing at the mouth of the creek has slowed but should resume with some stable weather.
Maxwell Creek
The steelhead bite is pretty much over for the season, but a few brown trout are hitting at the mouth of the creek. Stick baits and spoons are working best for the browns.
Waneta Lake/Lamoka Lake
Yellow perch fishing has been very good for anglers fishing with small minnows. Some crappie are also being caught in late afternoon on small minnows. Bullhead fishing has been very sporadic but fishing with worms just before and after dark has been working best
Note - we are always looking for new participants in our Angler Diary Cooperator Program for our program on the Finger Lakes. Our numbers have dropped in recent years and we need new cooperators now more than ever. If you fish Cayuga Lake, Owasco Lake, Skaneateles Lake, Otisco Lake or any of their tributaries and want to learn more about this program and how to sign up please contact the Region 7 Fisheries office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 213 or on line at fwfish7@gw.dec.state.ny.us. If you fish Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Conesus Lake, Hemlock Lake, Honeoye Lake, Keuka Lake or Seneca Lake and want to learn more about this program and how to sign up please contact the Region 8 Fisheries office at (585) 226-5343 or on line at fwfish8@gw.dec.state.ny.us
