March 22, 2012

St. Lawrence River Ice conditions have deteriorated at last report, and fishing pressure has declined even in areas where anglers could get on. Black Lake Not hearing a lot now, given the sketchy ice conditions at this point in the spring.

Streams were a little high earlier this month, with some color from snowmelt in the afternoons. Fishing options were somewhat limited  but that could change. Midges and stoneflies have been on all rivers Mid to late afternoon has been the prime time.  Catskill Flies

Fishing has held up well through the winter, and angling pressure will likely increase now with an early arrival of spring and the April 1 kickoff to the trout season. Many area streams in the region get pre-season stockings of trout, further adding to the anticipation of the opener. Bobs Bait and Tackle

The weather has been mild this report period and the water temperature is about 5 degrees above normal on both the North and South shores.  In addition, the murky conditions caused by Hurricane Irene that lingered late into the fall season are by all accounts gone, leaving us with the crystal clear water we’re accustomed

Not a lot happening now that the ice fishing options are no longer. But there have been reports from the Lake Champlain tributary anglers of some salmon and steelhead being taken on nymphs and egg patterns. Beyond that, most anglers are awaiting open water on the big lake and the kickoff of the trout season

(A reminder: All persons, regardless of age, aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet in length must wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) from Nov. 1 to May 1.) Cayuga Lake Anglers trolling around Taughannock Point were getting lake trout and some Atlantic salmon. Fishing 20 feet down has been a good starting point for

Lake Ontario Steelhead fishing continued to be good in the tributaries, with Maxwell producing some nice fish. Small egg sacs, single eggs, nymphs and small jigs fished under floats were all still working. Brown trout were being taken by anglers trolling stick baits near shore or casting from piers. Oswego River Anglers getting out in

DEC’s Randolph Fish Hatchery was scheduled to kick off its stocking season on March 19. When stocking begins, anglers can call the Randolph Hatchery Fish Stocking Hotline at (716) 358-4950 for weekly stocking updates. Lake Ontario and tributaries: All the streams have fish in them. In Eighteen Mile Creek, water was stained but fishable at