The ice fishing season throughout the area is finally in full swing. All area lakes have 8 to 10 inches of good ice.
Chaumont Bay and Black Lake and Sandy Pond continue to produce great catches of perch.
Lakeview is giving up some nice size pike and Chris Kenyon from Wolcott tells me that Sodus Bay is fishing good as well.
Oneida lake fish are biting in the North Bay area in 22-25 ft. of water. Jigging with castmaster spoons, Swedish pimples and sonars tipped with small buckeye minnows seems to be working best. Look also for some perch to be mixed in with the walleyes. There is about 8" of ice along the shoreline there as well.
Even though there is good ice in most areas, please remember to use caution when moving about.
If you want to fish steelhead, you have to stay up river in the Altmar area. The remainder of the river is all slush. Fish egg sacs, beads and small flies in blue and white. Look for the fish to be in the deepest slowest water. Things have finally slowed down after almost four months of the best steelhead fishing we have ever seen. The fish are still there, and are still providing good action, but most have been caught several times, the water is gin clear, very cold and their metabolism has slowed way down as they conserve energy prior to their spawning regimen. They just don't bite everyday.
Same thing on the Oswego River. Great flow plenty of fish but major pack ice and slush. Pick your warmer days to fish and you will do fine.
If you a have question or comment, feel free to e-mail me anytime. Send your mail to Troy @ lakeontariooutdoors.com You can also log on to our website at www.Lakeontariooutdoors.com for daily fishing reports, events, charters and river guides, as well as numerous links to great sites and area businesses.
Remember to stay safe, be respectful of others and put a few back for another day.