Fishing and Winter Trail Reports for December 23, 2009
This report a courtesy of Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.
The following notice has been posted for Lake Ontario waters:
Remember the area around the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Facility is off limits to boating. The restricted area stretches 1,000 yards offshore and extends from the Alcan plant to the Sunset Bay area along Lake Ontario, east of the city of Oswego.
Oswego River/Lake Ontario report:
Oswego River report:
According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
The water level has been running between 6,000-7,000cfs for several days. Steelhead, rainbows and browns can be found throughout the river. Driftboats are reporting some double digit days. Trout beads, nightcrawlers, wax worms, egg sacs, and fathead minnows are working well.
Salmon River/Pulaski Area report:
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
On Monday we had plenty of sunshine, the temperature reached into the mid 20’s and the slush ice cleared from the lower end of the river. We fished in the afternoon but just couldn’t find many fish willing to bite. Overall the fishing pressure was light and most of the anglers we spoke with reported having a slow day. The majority of anglers have been fishing between Altmar and Pineville with the Lower Fly Fishing Area, Schoolhouse Pool and Wire Hole producing the most action on a daily basis.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
I just came back up from the river. With the cold temperatures and the snow, the run looks like a snow cone. Everyday we have been fighting some slush. Now that the water went down to 335cfs and the cold temperatures are holding on, it looks like a snow cone. We will monitor the conditions each day, however, without a day or two of warmer temperatures the slush is going to be thick.
Oneida Lake report:
The nighttime shore bite remains mixed with some nights good and others slow. On the slow nights, try changing your bait size and a slower or faster retrieve might be helpful. Dutchman’s and Lewis Points have been good.
Sandy Pond report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The ice is forming on the pond. Many areas have five or six inches of ice. If the cold temperatures continue, we should have up to a foot by next week. Reports are perch fishing is a bit spotty and there is no news on the northern bite yet.
Winter Trail Reports:
Cross Country Ski Trails:
According to Hugh Quinn of the Osceola Tug Hill Ski Club:
We have received an inch of new snow this morning. Our season total is 70 inches. The trails are groomed with a 10-18 inch base and tracks are set. Surface conditions are packed powder/powder.
According to Winona Forest Recreation Association:
We have hard conditions on all trails except those that are being plowed by DEC. Nothing has been groomed yet as there is not enough snow. South trails have up to a four inch solid base and north from nothing (20%) to two inches.
Snowmobile Trails:
According to the Mexico Trail Riders:
Our trails will open December 27th after the southern tier hunting season if we have sufficient snow.
Many areas in the county have minimal snow on the ground with more on the Tug Hill. Temperatures are expected to be a bit warmer and precipitation over the holiday is predicted to be a mixed variety from snow showers to sleet to rain depending on the location. Please call your destination for current conditions.
The Curse of the Silverback, the Enchanted Forest/Water Safari’s newest water ride, which debuted in 2009, is expected to continue to draw visitors with its unique purple and black appeal and daring silverback theme. Riders experience a 100 foot drop into a large 40-ft diameter bowl where they circle the bowl dropping out the middle into the splash pool below.