Fishing Report for Smallmouth Bass using Drop Shot in Summer

Item: Oneida Lake
Author: Matt Shene

Matt Shene

Gold Ambassador

7/28/22

Oneida Lake

Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Ledges

I launched from South Shore State Boat Launch mid afternoon in late July. Water temperatures were in the high 70s. I began fishing weed lines in 10-12' of water looking for active walleye in patches of cabbage with locally made casting crawler harnesses. After finding only freshwater drum and pickerel in the weeds, I moved to deeper transitions from weed to rock in roughly 15' with the Megabass Dark Sleeper and the Zman TRD CrawZ. Some smallies were around, but action was spotty. I moved to Lakeport Shoal as the evening began. My electronics lit up as I approach showing lots of solid arcs, and I found feeding walleye and highly active smallies stacked on the ledges around the shoal in 15-21'. The Maxscent Flat Worm on a drop shot worked for all species here, with walleye hitting while drifting and smallies more attracted to a slight shakes and a slow retrieve while spot locked on the deeper end of the ledges. I even had some perch come to the party, with schools following the flatworm all the way to the boat.