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
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Humps
Forage
Alewife
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
Drop Shot
Structure
Open Water/Basin
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
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Boulders
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Finesse Hair Jigs
Structure
Boulders
Water Temperature
65°
Bass were suspended hitting moving baits. I caught most of them today on a hair jig. They also were hitting a jerkbait.
Ranger521vx
Bronze Ambassador
6/2/24
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
68°
We had a great day on Lake Ontario near the mouth of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Although the wind was somewhat challenging, we caught about 25 fish on several soft plastics. The fish were tight to cover in about 20-25 feet of water and the 4” Xzone lure original slammer in the 309 special on a drop shot rig was the hot bait. I caught a new personal best smallmouth twice during the day. In the morning, I caught a 5 pound 4 ounce smallmouth on a drop shot in about 20 feet and in the afternoon I caught a 5 pound 11 ounce smallmouth on a drop shot in about 10 feet. We also caught several fish in the 4 pound class on a Berkley green pumpkin Lil General NED Rig and we also caught some quality smallmouth in the afternoon throwing the 3” Hazedong swimbait in shallow water around boulders. Awesome day catching 2 PB smallmouth!
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Football Jigs
Structure
Points
Forage
Crawfish
Dragging a Strike King Rage Bug rigged on a wobble head produces big bites. Use a 3/4to 1 ounce wobble head with a 3 or 4/0 VMC Wide Gapworm hook. I usually throw the baits on y flipping setup. Braided line helps you feel every rock as you wobble head bounces along the bottom. You can reel slow or most times I drag it a few feet with the rod and reel slack. Make long casts and let the bait drop until your line slacks up. I then just work it back to the boat while maintaining bottom contact the whole time.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
68°
Lots of fish in the 10’-15’ range wherever there was chunk rock or boulders. Quite a few had crawfish in their throats but they still ate the swimbaits.
