Central New York Fishing Hotline
May 17 - May 24
Wanted!! Angler Diary Cooperators for the Finger Lakes. Our numbers have dropped in recent years and we need new cooperators. If you fish Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles, or Otisco Lakes and want to learn more about this program click on the link below or contact the Region 7 Fisheries office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 213.
Angler Diary Cooperator Program and Reports
Many sections of area streams and lakes will have been stocked by May 17. These streams and lakes are:
Broome County - Arctic Lake, 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, Finch Hollow Site 1 (Overbrook), Greenwood Lake, and Patterson Pond #1.
Cayuga County- Owasco Outlet, North Brook, Owasco Inlet, Salmon Creek and Fall Creek.
Chenango County - Bowman Lake, Mill Brook Reservoir, Guilford Lake, Otselic River and Genegantslet Creek.
Cortland County- Little York Lake, Merrill Creek, East Br. Tioughnioga River, West Br. Tioughnioga, Casterline Pond and the Otselic River.
Madison County- Lebanon Reservoir, Eaton Brook Reservoir, Upper Lelands Pond, Stonemill Brook, Beaver Creek, Canastota Creek, Limestone Creek, Payne Brook, Chittenango Creek, Canaseraga Creek, Chenango River, Cowaselon Creek, Old Chenango Canal, Oneida Creek, Sangerfield River, and the Otselic River.
Onondaga County- is stocked by Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery. Their stocking hotline is (315) 689-0003. Cold Brook, Onondaga Creek, West Br. Onondaga Creek, Tannery Creek, Spafford Brook, Furnace Brook, Fabius Brook, Limestone Creek, West Br. Limestone Creek, Geddes Brook, Carpenters Brook, Butternut Creek, and Skaneateles Creek.
Oswego County- Light House Hill Reservoir, Black Creek, North Br. Salmon River, Rice Creek, East Br. Salmon River, Salmon River and West Br. Fish Creek
Tioga County - Cayuta Creek, Catatonk Creek, East Branch of Owego Creek, Owego Creek, West Branch of Owego Creek, and Tri-County Pond.
Tompkins County - Enfield Creek, Virgil Creek, Buttermilk Creek, Salmon Creek, Fall Creek, Sixmile Creek and Cayuga Lake.
Walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger musky season began on May 4th. For information on walleye fishing please view Fishing for Walleye.
Region 7
Lake Ontario
Brown trout fishing has slowed down and fish are more scattered after the variable winds we've had the last few days. Fishing stickbaits and small spoons in shallow near shore water during the early morning has been a good starting point. As the day gets brighter, moving to deeper water has been helping to extend the brown trout bite. Lake trout fishing has been good in 100 to 200 feet of water and a few bonus salmon are being caught in this deeper water as well. Salmon have been hitting flasher and flies, flasher and cut-bait, or spoons.
Oswego River
The river is down from last week and is approximately 2,170 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of 05/16. Walleye are being taken in the river on large stickbaits, jigs and nightcrawlers. The trout bite is winding down in the river with the warmer weather and anglers are starting to get more catfish and freshwater drum (sheepshead).
Salmon River
This river is at the same flow as last week and is running at 185cfs, as of 05/16. There are still a few drop-backs being caught throughout the river. A drop-back is a steelhead that has finished spawning and is on its way back to the lake. These fish are often very aggressive (hungry) after the rigors of spawning and are more willing to bite. With the lower water and bright conditions fishing early or late in the day, or in the deeper pools is also helping. Good baits are streamers, nightcrawlers, pink Powerbait trout worms and egg sacs. Smallmouth bass are being caught in the lower river. Just a reminder that the Lower Fly section closed on May 15th, it will re-open on September 15th.
Sandy Pond
A few walleye and northern pike are being caught on the pond. Anglers are also getting some black crappie, bluegills and yellow perch.
Oneida Lake
The cold and windy conditions made fishing difficult this week. Walleye were being taken in 8 to 20 feet of water with jigs tipped with nightcrawler, blade baits and stickbaits working. Shore anglers are getting some walleye on stickbaits or jigs just before and after dark. Walleye are scattered this time of year, so if not catching any keep searching deeper or shallower water. Bullhead are still being caught around the lake by shore anglers. Pickerel are being caught in good numbers on the lake. Though bony pickerel are good eating. One way of dealing with the bones it to grind the filets in a food processor and then make fish patties out of them. The daily limit for pickerel is 5 and minimum length is 15".
Just a reminder that you cannot fish for lake sturgeon, as they are on the threatened fishes list. If you accidentally hook one please do not fight it and release it quickly.
Otisco Lake
Tiger musky fishing has been good for anglers targeting them. Sorry, they did not want to give up the "hot" bait. Remember tiger musky must be 36" to be legal on Otisco Lake. Anglers taking advantage of the catch and release bass season are getting some nice sized smallmouth and largemouth bass. A few walleye are also being taken by anglers trolling with stickbaits or spinner rigs.
Cayuga Lake
Anglers trolling stickbaits or spoons from 15 to 30 feet down are catching some brown trout and Atlantic salmon. Trolling in 80 to 160 feet of water with spoons or flasher and flies, fished off downriggers, copper wire, or Dipsey divers is working for lake trout. Vertical jigging is also working for lake trout in 50 to 150 feet of water. Perch are still being caught on the north end.
Owasco Lake
Anglers getting out on the north end are catching yellow perch and bullheads are being taken on the south end.
Skaneateles Lake
Perch are being caught on the north end. A few lake trout and rainbow trout are being caught by anglers fishing for the perch or bass in 15 to 25 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are being taken by anglers taking advantage of the catch and release season and good lures have been tube jigs.
Whitney Point Reservoir
White crappie fishing has been very good with fish hitting a variety of baits. Most crappie are being taken near shore on minnows or small jigs, but others are being caught off shore by anglers trolling worm harnesses and crankbaits for walleye. Some walleye are being taken also but overall walleye fishing has been slow. Bullheads are being taken by shore anglers fishing off the Kiebel Road side. The channel catfish bite has been slow so far.
Susquehanna, Chenango, Tioughnioga and Unadilla Rivers
Walleye are being taken on hair jigs with lighter colors like yellow or white working. Smallmouth bass are hitting on darker colored tube jigs. Catfishing has slowed down since the high water but some are being taken on cut-bait. A reminder that muskellunge and tiger muskellunge must be 40" to be legal on the Susquehanna, Chenango and Tioughnioga rivers.
Eastern Region 8
Lake Ontario
Brown trout are scattered and are being taken in 40 to 80 feet of water. Salmon are being taken around 100 feet down (this down depth has been changing almost daily) over 200 to 400 feet of water. Lake trout are hitting flasher and peanut rigs (a peanut is a small lure) in 120 feet of water. Northern pike fishing has been good in the bays.
Seneca Lake
Brown trout and Atlantic salmon are hitting on spoons and stickbaits trolled near the surface down to 20 feet below the surface. Lake trout are hitting spoons and flasher and flies fished 60 to 150 feet down. Some perch are starting to show up in shallow water bays throughout the lake.
Sodus Bay
Anglers are catching yellow perch in the bay. Northern pike fishing has been good with pike hitting a variety of lures with stickbaits and spoons being good bets. Anglers fishing by the bridge on the south end are still getting some bluegills, crappies, and bullheads.
Irondequoit Bay
Anglers fishing the deeper water areas are getting some larger yellow perch. Try jigging along drop offs near the north end. Northern pike are hitting on spoons and stickbaits.
Keuka Lake
Anglers vertical jigging with plastics in 110 to 160 feet are catching good numbers of lake trout. Tubes and fluke style plastics have been working well. Trolling is also working for anglers fishing spoons or flasher and flies 140 to 160 feet down.
Canandaigua Lake
Fishing spoons or flasher and flies down 90 to 100 feet has been working for lake trout. A few rainbow trout are also being caught trolling in 40 to 60 feet over a variety of depths.
The Woodville Fishing Access Site (FAS) boat launch is now open. Temporary docks have been installed and the permanent docks will be installed later in the year. If you have questions regarding the boat launch please call 585-226-5343.
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.
If you would like to contribute to the fishing report or need more fishing information or have any fishing/fishing equipment related questions you can contact fwfish7@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Good luck fishing.
The fishing line can also be heard at (607) 753-1551.
