By Bob McNitt
Outdoors Columnist
The middle of last month saw Oneida Lake "visited" by a large contingency of outdoor key-punchers (aka writers and editors) during the annual New York State Outdoor Writers, Inc. Spring Safari. Not to worry - these "experts" left plenty of fish in the lake to provide excellent angling throughout the rest of the year. Although noted primarily for its walleye and yellow perch fishing, Oneida holds an impressive selection of fish – 58 different species to be exact.
The hosting and lodging for the group was provided by Caroline & Pete Rich, of Anglers Bay Cottages (PO Box 143, Cleveland, 13402, phone 315-675-3662) on the north shore just east of the village of Cleveland. When we arrived, we knew our angling skills would be severely challenged due to a strong southeasterly rain-driving wind that would basically make the western and northern portions of the lake off-limits with big rollers and whitecaps.
As many local anglers are aware, at 22 miles long and five miles wide, Oneida Lake is one of the state's premier angling destinations and is especially noted for its walleye fishing. In fact, the NYSDEC has a large walleye rearing hatchery, the Oneida Fish Cultural Station, on the north shore in Constantia, which is a tour you shouldn't miss when you're in the area. In addition to walleye, the hatchery is also rearing lake sturgeon and paddlefish, the latter being a prehistoric-looking species whose appearance appears to be somewhat like a cross between a catfish and platypus, and can grow to 50 pounds or more. This is a fledgling program, and the DEC hopes the species, previously extinct in the state, will take hold in waters where they're stocked. The hatchery is open from April 1 to September 30 seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The DEC released over 1.7 million fry and fingerlings into Oneida Lake (500,000 Perch, 600,000 bass and 600,000 walleye) last year. However, the levels of fish in the lake have been decreasing over the last decade, and many blame it on a combination of zebra mussels and cormorants. The filtering feeding effect of the mussels make the water much clearer, making it easier for the deep-diving cormorants to spot and capture fish. Current estimates put the statewide summer cormorant population at 40,000 birds, with 10,000 nesting pairs. The DEC has determined that cormorant control program on Oneida Lake will be set at minimum of 20 nesting pairs but no more than 100 birds.
We awoke the first morning at the lodge to more of the same weather, and it was decided that, due to the conditions, we'd launch from the Marion Manor Marina south of Sylvan Beach and fish the quieter eastern waters. I met my fishing guide for the morning, Capt. Ted Dobs, (Oneida Charters, Main St., Verona, 13478. TDobs1@twcny.rr.com. phone 315-363-1010, cell 264-6624) and we, along with two other writers, motored out into the lake in search of fish.
As we cruised, the sonar told the tale – the walleye were hugging bottom and not very active, typical of the conditions caused by a strong easterly wind and unsettled barometer. Ted said the hot bait had been a black and purple bucktail jig tipped with a piece of night crawler. As if to verify that, Ted nailed a fat walleye within minutes of our initial drift. He then tossed out a buoy to mark the spot since walleye tend to be school fish. We made several more drifts through the area, but only managed to pick up three fish, one being sub-legal.
