The month of
June is the third best open water fishing month of the year, with
October and November holding at one and two. This June looks to be
shaping up to be one of the best in years. We had a long cold
winter and a late cold spring. Baitfish and other food sources
have been scarce, the fish are hungry, and by the end of the
month, all species will be legally in season. If the fishing in
the month of May has been a little off this year don’t despair.
Remember that everything is at least three weeks behind. For
instance, on a recent pike fishing outing I was surprised at how
cold the water still was, and there were no weeds at all in places
that I usually fish. The bite was off, probably due to the fact
that the fish were still in their post spawn period. This brings
about a circumstance that in all of my years of fishing I have
probably seen only two or three times. Everything will bust loose
at once. Pike, walleye, trout, bass, tiger muskies and salmon
will should hit their peak periods around the same time. For
instance one day you could troll planers for browns, the next
troll spoons for pike, that night fish for walleye, go bass
fishing the following day, and catch bullheads the following
night, and do well at them all!
The fishing
in Onondaga County has gotten off to a slow start, but it should
pick up a ton very soon. Northerns are just starting to hit in the
Onondaga County section of Oneida Lake. Bass sized shiners free
swum or beneath a bobber in the weeds will take pike, pickerel,
bass and an occasional walleye. Some of the pike are big. Remember
to fish in the pockets of the weeds not on the edges. If you start
to pick up weeds with slime on them move back deeper into the weed
beds.
Otisco Lake
is starting to pick up, and should be great in June. Tigers are
showing up in the Narrows, Turtle Bay and along the Causeway.
Large minnows are the ticket, along with slowly fished, very large
spinner baits in black or brown. Trolling for browns with spoons
in silver or yellow is also a good bet. Walleye can be caught
along the riprap and the causeway with #18 silver rapalas fished
at night. Bass in Otisco are usually easy to find before opening
day then seem to disappear once the season starts. This year will
be different. Fish along the east shoreline and near the water
intake. Remember that if you catch bass with spawn in them please
release them.
Trolling for
trout in Skaneateles Lake can be threefold. By putting a
downrigger at ninety feet, trolling a small spoon or flatfish
about twenty feet down and long lining a streamer along the
eastern shoreline gives you a chance at either a laker, a brown or
a rainbow. The odds are even better if you fish just after or
during a weather change.
Pike and
walleye fishing in Onondaga Lake has been bad. The water is just
starting to warm up enough to get things rolling. Come bass opener
the lake will be hot. The bass should be hungry and plentiful. The
smallmouth will also be a little girthier than usual due to the
abundance of baitfish last season. The mouth of Nine Mile Creek
and the northwest corner of the lake are the best bets for early
season action. A great place for early season pike is right smack
in mud lock. Fish off the side walls or the bridge with a large
shiner under a bobber about a foot from the bottom. Remember to
bring a long handle net. The Seneca River is a great spot for
early season smallmouth bass. It used to be good for walleye too,
but the last few year classes of walleye were literally for the
birds if you know what I mean. It’s too bad. The bass will be near
transition bottom such as below rapids and near bridges.
Largemouth will be in backwaters and along the shoreline. Pike
will be found in the same areas as largemouth.
This looks to
be a good spring to catch fish. Good luck and I would appreciate
your feedback or photos for this article. I will also try to
answer any questions you have about fishing in New York. You can
do this by calling me (John West) at (315) 455-5120 or by e-mail
at
westjb@worldnet.att.net. Thank you. When you catch that
trophy, take it to A-1 Taxidermy at 4300 West Genesee Street,
Syracuse where owner Morris Mathews will mount it in a very
natural and lifelike way at a reasonable price. Stop in his shop
and view his gallery, the entrance is off Scott Ave.
For you
archers, one place you should have on your list is the Shafthouse
Archery Shop at 7826 Black Creek Road, Kirkville (off Fyler Road
between Kirkville and N. Chittenango). They are a High Country Bow
Dealer, and are competent at bow tuning, fletching and handle many
other accessories. Call 315-687-3641 for an appointment.
The Anglers
Assoc of Onondaga at Webster Pond on Valley Dr, Syracuse is well
along into their Youth Fishing Program at Webster Pond. Many nice
rainbow and brook trout have been caught. Nothing huge, but some
nice size fish. The Anglers have a Band Concert scheduled for the
3rd Wednesday in July on the front lawn. The Band is
from LaFayette.
The Anglers
annual Picnic for members has been scheduled for the second
Wednesday in August, the 13th. The picnic will be
catered by Dan Galloway. The Anglers Banquet is set for Saturday
Oct 11, 2003 with tentative location, the Valley American Legion.
The Anglers
have received a letter from our Kayak Winner, Alaina Bailey of
Webster, NY thanking us for her Kayak and also informing us that
her Mother r eceived a Kayak for her birthday and they can Kayak
together. See picture in this section. Have a great summer.