Lake Ontario
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Lake Ontario Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Northern PikeSeason
Winter
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Alewife
Water Temperature
35°
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Reef
Jerkbaits, spybaits, small swimmers, and ned rigs are good ways to find and catch prespawn smallies on Lake Ontario. Matching the bait to the natural perch or minnow colors is important since these fish can be very wary during the prespawn. Focusing on areas near where spawning fish can be found is the best way to catch them, covering water is the key to finding the most active prespawn fish. On days with warm weather/high sun lean to a faster retrieve and reaction bites.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Crankbaits 7'-12'
Structure
Laydowns
Took the time to fill this out because I wanna go fishing so bad but live in north east
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Vertical Jigging 20'+
Structure
Humps
Forage
Perch
Water Temperature
40°
Enjoyed a fun trip November 24 vertically jigging a 1/2 Binsky Blade bait for smallmouth holding in 30-35 foot around rock humps in Chaumont Bay. For this application I use a Temple Fork Outfitters rod paired with a KastKing BFS reel spooled with 8 lb. Cortland Masterbraid with a 36-40" section of 12.9 lb. Cortland Top Secret Fluorocarbon. Key to this presentation is employing short hops keeping the bait within 12-20" of the bottom. On cloudy or overcast days I use the gold blade and on bright sunny days the silver works better for me.
Omnia Community Member
Bronze Ambassador
11/12/21
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Blade Baits
Structure
Ledges
Forage
Perch
It may be time for sitting in the deer stand but if you can brave the cold and big waves of lake Ontario in November you'll have one of the best days of smallmouth fishing you can imagine. As temperatures are dropping into the low 50s big smallmouth are grouping up to put the feed bag on before they winter up. This time of year they are fattening up on schools of perch. Target gradual ledges starting at around 27ft tapering off to around 45ft In the morning starting up shallower, throw your 1/2oz blade bait on top of the ledges and hop it back towards you down the ledge. You don't need big rips, just hop it about 6 inches off the bottom to trigger bites. Mid day, the schools will move out deeper and you will need to get over top of them and present your blade bait vertically to get them to commit. A 7'3 medium heavy fast action baitcaster with 17lb fluorocarbon is ideal for throwing and working larger blade baits this time of year. The bites will feel like dead weight, no need for crazy hook sets just apply pressure and constant tension to keep the fish pinned
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Rock Pile
Love this bait for this time of the year for smallmouth
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Football Jigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Fishing the Oswego River dragging a jig slowly through rocks. Let it sit a little while when you feel it get hung up. When you pop it free, pause and wait for the bite. That’s when most bites were happening: the pause after freeing the jig from the rocks.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Rock Pile
I fished a Lake Ontario creek tributary in 55-60 degree water. Tried every technique but the smallies only bit the ned rig and a Keitech Mad Wag worm on a Keitech tungsten ballhead jig. They only wanted dark colors, like California craw for the ZMan ned rig and black/blue for the Keitech worm. I only got bites by slowly dragging the baits and counting rocks in 2' of water until I felt a very soft bite. Prespawn will be in full force soon.
Panfish / Bluegill
