There's a substantial number of avid sportsmen and women ready to head north to the Oswego area this month to test their skills and tackle on the soon-to-start-running salmon that journey up the rivers from Lake Ontario to spawn. I can't say as I blame those anglers, for hooking into a 20-pound-plus king salmon is an adventure you never forget. But for those who'd rather wet their lines in closer-to-home waters, September is a wonderful time to enjoy some of the best fishing our area has to offer.
For starters, the cooler night-time temperatures allow water temps to cool down from their lofty summer levels, and that triggers increased activity in the fish, from predator species to prey species. Many members of the minnow family are preparing to spawn now, and the egg-laden females offer a high-protein delicacy to hungry pike, walleye, bass and pickerel that are storing up fat for the winter season. Walleye are perhaps the most popular gamefish in our local rivers, with smallmouth bass a close second.
On average, both of these will run larger now than those caught last spring. A walleye that was a barely-legal 15 inches last May will be 17-18 inches now. Smallmouths that were a foot will be a solid 14-15 inches now. It may not sound like much, but in both cases, the fish caught in September have "real shoulders" and it becomes apparent, both in their fighting ability as well as the larger fillets they can offer.
The same can be said of the trout encountered now. Ever since the DEC extended the trout season to October 15, the overall average size of the trout taken in the waning weeks of the season has been larger than those in spring.
• Walleye – Both the Chenango and Unadilla rivers hold excellent numbers of these popular and excellent table-fare fish. Since they are school fish, catch one and there are probably more in the same area or pool. They tend to hug the bottom and prefer shaded, deeper waters, so these are the places to seek them out.
• Smallmouth Bass – Much like walleye, smallmouths are structure-oriented, although will often be found in shallower water than walleyes. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas and also sections that contain cover such as sunken logs, exposed tree roots, etc.
• Northern Pike - Pike are normally weed-oriented but will also use available cover such as sunken trees to lie in wait for prey fish. They'll also inhabit edge cover along the shoreline as long as the water isn't too shallow where the cover ends. Same goes for pickerel, which are more apt to be found in ponds and lakes.
