Finally wandered up to Oneida Narrows this weekend. What a beautiful place!
I motored up the reservoir, bogged the boat on an unseen mudflat in the middle of the flow, and eventually wet a line or three...
I caught 7 smallmouth (all under a foot long - and only one with nice color), but was mostly just guessing at what to do. Soooo, can anyone throw me a bone? I could use some basic tips and guidance for how to locate and catch the smallies.
If you would rather PM me, that's great, too. I'm eager to have something other than all of the glorified irrigation ponds to try!
Thanks!
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I can't really help you much, as I haven't been to Oneida this summer. When I do go I usually focus on the rocky points and shoreline.
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Did you get my reply to your message about a month ago? I did just what I told you to do the other night and caught 40 something in the few hours before dark. Granted they were a lot smaller this time though.
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The water was really, really clear compared to usual, and I probably should have focused on deeper water to find the bigger ones, but my fish finder ran out of batteries early on, so I just enjoyed the pretty little guys. A bit of valuable info, they were puking crayfish parts all over me.
I also snagged a couple of these ugly buggers on accident. They were nasty surprises, but they put up some grueling battles.
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I got your message - I was just hoping to garner additional perspective.
The crawdad bite was what I had found, as well. Unfortunately, I have very little in the way of tackle for such an approach.
I went out again yesterday and tried to make what I had work... and it was better. I ended up with 21, though only 3 of them were better than 12". One was a green sunfish.
Can't wait for Sportsman's Warehouse to open. Please, please, please have a competent bass fishing selection!
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The one in Ogden seems to have a bit of bass gear, including some of the Japanese goodies I love so much, so I'm hoping this one will too. I'd go look for some small square bill cranks or lipless cranks in crayfish patterns when they open next week. Koppers Live Target Craw Squarebill was reallly good to me last time. I'd try a Rapala Rippin Rap in Brown Craw too.
I'm thinking the bigger ones must have moved deeper with the clearing water. I'm going to head back soon with some new batteries. I'm thinking drop shotting in deeper water might do the trick. Of course the green guys have been biting pretty well as you can see from my avatar, I may have to bug them soon as well.
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From the sounds of it you guys are targeting and catching the smallies for sure... Any eyes being caught down that way???
Paul
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Oddly enough, I haven't caught any eyes this year at Oneida. I'm hoping that some move shallower when it begins to cool. I like when they get more active and hit hardbaits fished for smallmouth in the fall.
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