Oneida Lake
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Oneida Lake Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Flooded Brush
Water Temperature
60°
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Rip Rap
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
54°
April 16, 2023 - Sunny with a high of 80 and winds about 5-8mph out of the ESE. Some of the bays had water temps at 60 or so but main lake is mid 50s. A great day in which the smallies had the feedbags on. We found a couple wolf packs in 4-8ft of water in prespawn mode moving along rock. They really jumped on small swimbaits. We also found a limit of largemouth but they seemed to be much closer to spawn as they were not really aggressive. Caught them on the jig and champ craw on a little slack line shake in place. They were also shallower in about 2ft of water and usually near wood or some identifiable unique structure, seemingly setting up their bedding areas.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
50°
Couldnt buy a bite in the early morning, but once the sun started warming up the shallow rock and the surface temp climbed a degree or two the fish would move up into about 6ft of water all on rock. They werent super juiced as the jerkbait and screwhead would get an occasional fish, it still paid off best to be on the bottom crawling a ned rig around. A few fish had some fat bellys on them but I feel like we are still waiting for the switch to flip and them to start feeding aggressively mid column and maybe even try that first topwater bite. It is days away
Shimano Mastiff FC Fluorocarbon 8lb
Out of Stock
Shimano Stradic FM Spinning Reel 3000 / 6.4:1
Out of Stock
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Structure Jigs
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Bluegill
Water Temperature
50°
On this particular day they were up super super shallow tucked into undercut banks in the wood. I would fish the swim jig with a sweeping motion as if I was dragging a football jig excessively fast. Sometimes they would short strike the swimjig or just flash and show themselves which is when I’d follow up with the jig. In the same area, if I had clouds and wind, a squarebill and a spinnerbait would be the deal.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Post-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Humps
Forage
Shad
Fish the edge of the shoals for post spawn smallies. I did best staying on top of the shoal and casting the swimbait off the edge. Key was letting the swimbait sink to the bottom or close and swimming it up the edge.
Species
Largemouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Crankbaits 0-6'
Structure
Laydowns
Burning a squarebill up shallow and over any wood/brush you can find has been producing good numbers and size. They seem to be hitting it on the pause when I either kill the retrieve or when I pause after it deflects. Sometimes they pin it right to the wood so be prepared for that.
Species
Chain PickerelSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
48°
Using a slow steady retrieve over earlier growing vegetation, pickerel were chasing almost every retrieve. Slight hesitations and quick pops and pauses could typically induce bites.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
48°
We found numerous smallies in rocky shallows near points (3-8') on the west end by hopping swimbaits along the bottom. Fish were also caught on a slow steady retrieve, and using a slow lift/drop cadence. Holding close to the bottom was difficult, but necessary as the wind grew over the course of the day, so the 3/4 oz was favorable to the 1/2 oz today.
Z-Man TRD CrawZ The Deal / 2 1/2"
Out of Stock
Z-Man Trick ShotZ 3 1/2" / The Deal
Out of Stock
Shimano Mastiff FC Fluorocarbon 8lb
Out of Stock
Shimano Vanford Spinning Reel - EOL 3000 / 6.4:1
Out of Stock
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
51°
Slow rolling the small swimbait with an occasional twitch was triggering some bites. As the water continues to warm the reaction bite improves but they still seem to prefer it slow and ticking or hopping bottom. Still wouldn't consider it full on pre-spawn feed but as the water warmed in the day more and more fish move up. The time is almost here to get out there for some memorable slugfests. I think first weekend in May is going to be awesome.
