By Robert Mallory
Spring arrived and with it came big rains. The Oswego river swelled to levels not seen in years and has been pumping a steady stream of colored water into Lake Ontario. This is the recipe for some prime near shore brown trout fishing, and right on que, brown trout are being caught. Fisherman flat-lining stick-baits off of planer boards are catching some brown trout in 5-15 feet of water with Rapalas, Jr. Thundersticks, Bayrats, and Smithwick Rouges. Due to dirty water conditions at the present time and foreseeable future, bright colors like fire tigers, chartreuse, and fluorescent reds are catching fish. Regular sized Michigan stinger spoons are also taking fish off of downriggers fished a few feet down and 50-80 feet back depending on water clarity.
When the browns stop biting, the lake trout can be targeted by sliding out deeper. Generally this time of year you can find lake trout relating to the bottom in 80-130 feet of water. Small spoons fished on bottom or spin n glows behind cowbells will usually work. As the water warms into this month, the fishing should really pick up. Ports across the south shore of Lake Ontario are all experiencing the brown trout and lake trout bonanza that early April into May seems to offer.
Casting Little Cleo spoons and Luhr Jensen Krocodile’s from shore is also a great way to get into a few browns this time of year if you don’t have a boat or know anyone with one. There are numerous piers and jetties where you could potentially get into the fish with a little luck. Get out there and take advantage of Lake Ontario’s world class fishery.
