Finger Lakes/Oneida - Bass, Pre-Spawn, When?

[KeepinItReel]

Hey guys. I just started fishing in this area last October. Looking for some opinions and tips from other guys that fish this area or somewhere nearby with similar weather/spawn patterns.

 

When is pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn typically in this area? Prior to pre-spawn, how early do you all get out and do late winter fishing? Are you already out bass fishing on these lakes? If so, what types of areas do you look for prior to pre-spawn (how deep?) and during pre-spawn? I specifically will be fishing Otisco, Cayuga, and Oneida most of the time.

[fishballer06]

@J Francho

 

 

[J Francho]

Spawn is typically mid to late May.  Depends on temps.  Prespawn is ice out until them.  You don't have to go far, if you launch from Oneida Shores.  Fish from Muskrat Bay to Long Point or out to Frenchman for smallies.  For green fish, look up in Bug Bay.  None of this is a secret - on good days, you'll see plenty of boats out there following the bent rod pattern.  The rest of FLs are about the same, some a little slower, some faster because they're shallower.  Honeoye seems first to heat up.  Conesus is where I spend pre-spawn.  

[KeepinItReel]

39 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Spawn is typically mid to late May.  Depends on temps.  Prespawn is ice out until them.  You don't have to go far, if you launch from Oneida Shores.  Fish from Muskrat Bay to Long Point or out to Frenchman for smallies.  For green fish, look up in Bug Bay.  None of this is a secret - on good days, you'll see plenty of boats out there following the bent rod pattern.  The rest of FLs are about the same, some a little slower, some faster because they're shallower.  Honeoye seems first to heat up.  Conesus is where I spend pre-spawn.  

This is great information, thanks!

[BassinCNY]

I just checked and I fished Otisco last May 4th. The surface water temps were 49 in the morning and had warmed to 54 by mid afternoon. There was spawning going on.

[KeepinItReel]

How early are you all fishing in this area? Is there still ice on the mentioned lakes? Do you ever go out when its above freezing during the day and still freezing at night?

[BassinCNY]

The ice is off but I'm not going out until it warms up a little more. Probably mid to late April for me.

[GTN-NY]

I was on Conesus this past Thurs.

Air temp Was 55 and surface was 46 but after this weekend with lows around 18 and highs of 35 I bet the surface temp is a little lower. 
I was dragging a 1/4oz jig head with a 3” worm trailer in 9-30’ depths. Nothing!

Switched to a 2 1/2” rattletrap and popped it off the bottom in this same depths. Nothing!

I didn’t try anything shallower than 9’.

Even with nothing it was still a great day out in the kayak
 

[J Francho]

Tilt the motor down and make sure the livewells are empty.