How to Fish Onondaga Lake: Best Patterns & Techniques | Omnia Fishing

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Onondaga Lake

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: May 16, 2025

Table of Contents

Spring Fishing Patterns on Onondaga Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	55-58	Pre-spawn bass are actively feeding while staging near spawning areas, showing aggressive reaction strikes and suspended behavior around structure Fish are orienting to depth transitions (4-8 feet) near spawning flats, particularly along weed edges and wood cover	Weed bed edges in 4-8 foot depth range, particularly on wind-blown banks Laydowns and timber near depth changes and current breaks Isolated submerged weed beds in pre-spawn staging areas	Hard Body Swimbaits worked with stop-and-go retrieves along weed edges Shallow Diving Crankbaits burned and paused around structure Texas Rigs pitched to laydowns and heavy cover in stained water	Shad - primary forage based on multiple recent catches Bluegill - significant forage especially around vegetation	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	55-65	Fish are in transition between pre-spawn and spawning phases, with some actively moving to spawning areas while others hold on nearby staging points Bass showing preference for hard cover and structure in the 4-6 foot range, particularly around laydowns and rock piles	Laydowns and fallen trees in 4-6 feet of water, especially larger structures Hard cover and rock piles near potential spawning flats Protected coves and points with gradual slopes	Ned Rigs worked with dead-stick presentation in shallow water Hard Jerkbaits worked slowly around staging areas Texas Rigs (Pitch/Flip) around heavy cover	Minnows in shallow water around cover Shad relating to points and rock piles	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	60-70	Bass showing post-spawn recovery behavior, holding on isolated grass patches and edges in deeper water, exhibiting less aggressive feeding patterns Fish transitioning to summer patterns but still sluggish, requiring finesse presentations and targeting high-percentage areas	Edges of deeper lively isolated grass in 8-14 foot range Flooded brush areas offering cover and shade Deeper weed edges adjacent to spawning flats	Drop Shot with finesse worms worked slowly along grass edges Wacky Rigs worked around brush and sparse cover Shakey Heads worked methodically through transitional areas	Perch - primary forage noted in recent catches Blueback Herring - secondary forage mentioned in reports	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Pink Colors

Summer Fishing Patterns

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	72-81	Fish are establishing summer patterns with both shallow and deep water opportunities, actively feeding around vegetation edges and man-made structures During peak temperatures (78-81°F), bass are utilizing shaded areas and transitioning to deeper water during midday, with more active shallow feeding during early/late hours	Weed edges in 8-14 feet of water, particularly where vegetation transitions to deeper water Docks and bridge areas providing shade and ambush points Matted grass and reed beds in 3-6 feet of water	Ned Rigs worked slowly along weed edges and shoreline structure Bladed Jigs (chatterbaits) around grass edges with moderate retrieve Topwater frogs over matted vegetation during early/late hours Drop Shot rigs in deeper weed edges for finesse presentation	Bluegill in shallow vegetation and around docks Crawfish along shoreline structure and rocky areas Minnows relating to weed edges and bridge areas	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors

Fall Fishing Guide for Onondaga Lake

Season	Species	Water Temp	Behavioral Patterns	Key Locations	Best Techniques	Forage Types	Bait Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	55-65	Bass are actively chasing baitfish schools in fall feeding patterns, likely relating to seasonal baitfish migrations Fish are showing aggressive feeding behavior, willing to chase moving baits like spinnerbaits and crankbaits	Areas where baitfish schools are congregating, particularly around channel edges and points Weed edges in 7-12 foot range where vegetation is still healthy Bridge areas and channel swing banks where baitfish migrate	Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12') worked along depth transitions Spinnerbaits burned through baitfish schools Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium) to match fleeing baitfish	Minnows/Shad schools Bluegill in remaining vegetation	Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors

Key Seasonal Structures in Onondaga Lake

Season	Species	Primary Structure	Secondary Structure
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Weed bed edges in 4-8 foot depth range, particularly on wind-blown banks	Laydowns and timber near depth changes and current breaks
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Laydowns and fallen trees in 4-6 feet of water, especially larger structures	Hard cover and rock piles near potential spawning flats
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Edges of deeper lively isolated grass in 8-14 foot range	Flooded brush areas offering cover and shade
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Weed edges in 8-14 feet of water, particularly where vegetation transitions to deeper water	Docks and bridge areas providing shade and ambush points
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Areas where baitfish schools are congregating, particularly around channel edges and points	Weed edges in 7-12 foot range where vegetation is still healthy

Primary Forage by Season

Season	Species	Primary Forage	Secondary Forage
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Shad - primary forage based on multiple recent catches	Bluegill - significant forage especially around vegetation
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Minnows in shallow water around cover	Shad relating to points and rock piles
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Perch - primary forage noted in recent catches	Blueback Herring - secondary forage mentioned in reports
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Bluegill in shallow vegetation and around docks	Crawfish along shoreline structure and rocky areas
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Minnows/Shad schools	Bluegill in remaining vegetation

Bait Colors by Season for Onondaga Lake

Season	Species	Bait Colors
Spring (Pre-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Vibrant Craw Colors Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Natural Baitfish Colors
Spring (Post-Spawn)	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Pink Colors
Summer	Largemouth Bass	Dark Neutrals Vibrant Craw Colors Natural Baitfish Colors
Fall	Largemouth Bass	Natural Baitfish Colors Vibrant Craw Colors Chartreuse Colors

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