The prize is in the 'eye.After spawning in river rapids, female walleyes return to deeper, cooler water. But young males stick around in the fast water for a few more weeks until the flow becomes unbearably warm, generally the first half of June.
Every night last week, both banks of the Oneida River below the dam at Caughdenoy were lined with anglers; some stood out in the middle. Everyone was casting stickbaits like Smithwick Rogues, Rapalas, Thundersticks and Bombers into the plunge poll below the gates. While the current’s edge wasn’t exactly carpeted with hungry fish just itching for the chance to impale themselves on the hooks, there were enough cooperative ‘eyes around to reward the best anglers, and those that were just plain lucky, with fish dinners. I even saw one guy catch his limit between 9:30 and 11:30 p.m.
Normally, the last half of May still offers good pickings. However, temperatures this spring have been anything but normal: unseasonably hot one week, plunging into unseasonable cold for a couple days, then back up again. Indeed, hurricane-like winds knocked down trees and phone poles on the eve of Mother’s Day, and the next morning snow flurries were reported, sending the Oneida River’s fish into a state of confusion.
The only good thing about that cold front is that it cooled the water down a bit, stretching the time the walleyes will be in the rapids by a few days.
Now that the weather has settled down, larger fish that beat fins for deeper water soon after spawning will be back in the rapids of Caughdenoy (Phoenix, Fulton, Minetto and Oswego, too), joining the young males already there. Hungry and aggressive, they’ll sweep in and out like a tide, running most heavily after a rain.
Most agree nighttime is best. However, walleyes are active in daylight, too, especially in boulder-strewn rapids where they have lots of shade.
Crankbaits, stickbaits, bucktail jigs--fished plain or tipped with a minnow or worm--and jigheads baited with flavored plastics like YUM Walleye Grubs will produce fish.
Another spot in Caughdenoy that can surprise you is the pool below the old Erie Canal-era lock on the south shore. Walk out into the rapids on the north side of the hole and cast directly into it. This spot is also one of the best on the Oneida River for northern pike.
Every night last week, both banks of the Oneida River below the dam at Caughdenoy were lined with anglers; some stood out in the middle. Everyone was casting stickbaits like Smithwick Rogues, Rapalas, Thundersticks and Bombers into the plunge poll below the gates. While the current’s edge wasn’t exactly carpeted with hungry fish just itching for the chance to impale themselves on the hooks, there were enough cooperative ‘eyes around to reward the best anglers, and those that were just plain lucky, with fish dinners. I even saw one guy catch his limit between 9:30 and 11:30 p.m.
Normally, the last half of May still offers good pickings. However, temperatures this spring have been anything but normal: unseasonably hot one week, plunging into unseasonable cold for a couple days, then back up again. Indeed, hurricane-like winds knocked down trees and phone poles on the eve of Mother’s Day, and the next morning snow flurries were reported, sending the Oneida River’s fish into a state of confusion.
The only good thing about that cold front is that it cooled the water down a bit, stretching the time the walleyes will be in the rapids by a few days.
Now that the weather has settled down, larger fish that beat fins for deeper water soon after spawning will be back in the rapids of Caughdenoy (Phoenix, Fulton, Minetto and Oswego, too), joining the young males already there. Hungry and aggressive, they’ll sweep in and out like a tide, running most heavily after a rain.
Most agree nighttime is best. However, walleyes are active in daylight, too, especially in boulder-strewn rapids where they have lots of shade.
Crankbaits, stickbaits, bucktail jigs--fished plain or tipped with a minnow or worm--and jigheads baited with flavored plastics like YUM Walleye Grubs will produce fish.
Another spot in Caughdenoy that can surprise you is the pool below the old Erie Canal-era lock on the south shore. Walk out into the rapids on the north side of the hole and cast directly into it. This spot is also one of the best on the Oneida River for northern pike.
Caughdenoy's night bite for Walleye should last for a couple more weeks.
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