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Lake Ontario
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Lake Ontario Fishing Reports
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Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Crankbaits 7'-12'
Structure
Laydowns
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
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
Northern PikeSeason
Winter
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Alewife
Water Temperature
35°
I hosted a father and son team (Jeff & Dylan) for some pickerel & northern pike fishing in Henderdon Harbor. We used TFO Professional Series rod 7' & 7'6" medium power fast action paired with Shimano Nexave spinning gear reels spooled with 5 & 8 lb. Cortland Masterbraid with a 18-24" section of 15.9 or 17.4 lb. Cortland Top Secret Fluorocarbon. We used Hayabusa Jig heads to present the swimbaits in 9- to 14-foot employing a steady retrieve. Key to our success was counting the bait down to 1/2 of the depth we were fishing. If we were in 10-foot we count it down to 5 and begin the retrieve, 12 foot count down to 6 and so on. By the end of our 4 hour trip they put 20 fish in the bet and dropped four or five to light strikes.
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.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Humps
Forage
Alewife
This is an amazing bait when water is a bit stained or with cloud cover. Early in the season go with a slower cadence and 3-5 second pauses. Hold on tight to your rod since they tend to hit it hard on the pause!
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Boulders
Panfish / Bluegill