November 21 to December 12, 2025
Salmon River
As of November 19, the river is at 2,100 cubic feet per second (CFS) and the dam release is 1,800 CFS. Angler density throughout the river is low while there are still a good number of fish in the river. Steelhead are now the main species in the river with a few brown trout being caught. Try using eggs, beads, pink worms, or fly’s in the river.
Oswego River
The river is at 11,200 cubic feet per second (CFS) as of November 19. Steelhead and brown trout are the main fish species being caught mainly below the dam and a few along the wall. Try using spoons, beads under a float, pink worms, and egg sacs. A few Atlantic salmon have been caught as well. Leto Island cannot be used to access the dam. The dam can be accessed from the West side (Brookfield side).
Important Note: Leto Island cannot be used to access the dam. The dam can be accessed from the West side (Brookfield side).
Remember there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. For more information on PFD zones and life jacket loaner programs, visit the Oswego County Tourism website.
Lake Ontario and Tributaries
There is still some offshore action for trout. Out of Oswego near the Salmon River, anglers are trolling within the depth range of 20-50 feet of water for steelhead and brown trout using spoons and sticks. For brown trout, try trolling in 40 to 80 feet of water using spoons and plugs in bright colors. If possible, look for areas of off colored water around river mouths, these “mud-lines” can be good places to troll in or on the edge of. As the day brightens, fishing deeper often helps to extend the bite.
Little Sandy Creek has a good amount of water flowing through with low angling pressure. North Sandy Creek has a good amount of flow with moderate success catching king salmon. South Sandy Creek had a few steelhead caught by the fire department, as well as an Atlantic salmon and lake trout. Little Salmon Creek had a few kings caught behind the Mexico school.
Skaneateles Lake
The fall perch bite is on. Panfish can be caught in 15-20 feet of water using minnows or small hair jigs. Rainbows are being caught jigging or trolling spoons in 30-40 feet down over 50 feet of water. Try vertical jigging, trolling, or tossing a blade bait for lake trout in around 55 to 80 feet of water. Walleye can be caught in 60 feet of water 20-40 feet down by trolling or casting stick baits, blade baits, or worm harnesses. Bass can be caught using crankbaits and Texas rig with a rubber crayfish. Check out Fishing for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass for more tips and techniques on how to catch bass.
Cayuga Lake
The fall perch bite has started And perch are moving into shallow water in around 10 feet. Lake trout can be caught vertical jigging with a paddle tail jig or trolling spoons in around 60 to 110 feet down. Look for rainbow and brown trout 6 to 8 feet deep over 60 to 120 feet of water.
Oneida Lake
Panfish can be found in 15-30 feet of water. The perch bite is on, so try small jigs, small bright colored spinners, or throwing gold colored blade baits. Walleye have started to move more in shore as the water temperature cooled down. Walleye are being caught from shore using spinners or blade baits in 20 to 30 feet of water. Bass can be caught in the shallows on rattle-traps, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits. Smallmouth bass can be found in deeper water around 15 to 50 feet on humps or rock pines. In deeper water, swimbaits, dropshots, or jigs work well.
Otisco Lake
If you don’t have access to fish from a boat, try fishing from the causeway on the south end of the lake. Look for panfish in around 15 to 20 feet of water. Crappie can be caught in and around fallen trees and woody debris using minnows under a bobber. Look for tiger musky in the shallow north end, Lader Point, Turtle Bay and along the causeway using spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swimbaits or large stickbaits. For walleye, try trolling in the 15 to 20 foot depth range with stickbaits or spoons.
Whitney Point Reservoir
For panfish try #4 hooks with a small jig. Crappie can also be caught using a minnow. Channel catfish and bullheads are biting. Keep bait at the bottom when fishing for bullhead or catfish. Try using cut-bait, worms, or some anglers even use cut hotdogs. Fishing for catfish or bullhead can be done during day and night, but they seem to be more active during low light conditions. For walleye, try crankbaits, stickbaits, jig/worm or worm harnesses. Check the special fishing regulations for walleye season catch limits when fishing at Whitney Point Reservoir.
