Typically, most of the adult fish in Oneida Lake spawn in its several major tributaries, with the biggest run by far occurring in Scriba Creek, where the state walleye hatchery may be found. Lower Scriba Creek is off-limits to fishing. But other tributaries, including Fish Creek and Chittenango Creek, also have significant spawning runs in April and frequently hold late-arriving walleyes when the season opens.

Tributary fishing can be exciting for the first week or two of the season. But most anglers in Oneida Lake will get better results by drifting with night crawlers or trolling with shallow-running stickbaits in the vicinity of creek mouths. Or try casting after dark from popular shore accesses, such as the Interstate Route 81 bridge at Brewerton.

A trio of state boat launches -- one on the south shore off Route 31 between Bridgeport and Lakeport and the others on the north side of the lake off Route 49 at Toad Harbor and Godfrey Point -- are notably convenient for Oneida anglers.

Lake maps are available in numerous local tackle shops.

Oneida Lake covers portions of Oswego, Onondaga and Madison counties. Readers may start their search for nearby lodging by contacting the Oswego County Tourism office at (315) 349-8322.

OSWEGO RIVER
Oswego County’s other walleye gem is at the lower end of the Oswego River, in the same urban setting that plays host to a massive run of Pacific salmon each September and October.

When May rolls around, the salmon are far offshore in Lake Ontario. But the sidewalks overlooking the river in the City of Oswego’s East Side and West Side parks are likely to be crowded with walleye fishermen.

Those hopefuls are seeking lunker fish in the 10- to 13- pound class. Specimens are caught almost daily in the lower river, following the season opener on the first Saturday in May.

Most of the whopper walleyes that nose into the Oswego River to spawn and school in the harbor feed on alewives and other baitfish.

They bite best after dark. That explains the glow of lantern lights along the shore and the rumble of trolling motors that can be heard in midriver on the gloomiest of nights in May and June. Some local captains swear the best fishing for Oswego walleyes is from midnight to dawn.

Most of the whopper walleyes that nose into the Oswego River to spawn and school in the harbor feed on alewives and other baitfish. They bite best after dark.

In the last two years, early-season fishing on the lower Oswego has been complicated by the proliferation of round gobies in the river. Gobies -- an invasive species that hitchhiked from Europe in the ballast of ocean-going freighters -- are now so abundant that anglers in Oswego harbor have a hard time keeping them off their hooks.