Oneida Lake
Oneida Lake is the largest lake entirely inside New York, just north of Syracuse. It is famous for walleye and yellow perch and hosts major bass tournaments.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Walleye
Walleye move shallow near spawning areas in spring, go deeper in summer and return shallow in fall.
Yellow Perch
Ice fishing for perch on deep flats in 30 to 40 feet of water is very popular.
Smallmouth Bass
Look for smallmouth on the shoals.
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth hold in the bigger weedy bays.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
When they bite
Month-by-month activity for each target species.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | ||||||||||||
| Yellow Perch | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth Bass | ||||||||||||
| Largemouth Bass |
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- South Shore Boat LaunchFreeNYSDEC concrete ramp off Route 31, 1 mile east of Bridgeport; parking for 100 cars and trailersDirections ↗
- Godfrey Point Boat LaunchFreeNYSDEC hard surface ramp on Route 49, 1 mile east of Cleveland; 56 trailer spotsDirections ↗
- Barge Canal / Cove Road LaunchFreeNYSDEC hard surface ramp on Cove Rd off Route 50A, Town of VeronaDirections ↗
- Oneida Shores County ParkFeeOnondaga County Parks paved launch off Bartell Rd in Brewerton; launch feeDirections ↗
- Three Mile BayFreeNYSDEC beach launch off Route 49 in the Wildlife Management Area; small boatsDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee New York DEC or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Statewide limits for species in this lake, confirmed from the official state regulations. The state lists no special rule for this lake. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye Season May 1-Mar 15 | 15 in | 5 / day |
| Yellow Perch All year | See New York rules book ↗ | 50 / day |
| Largemouth Bass Black bass; open Jun 15-Nov 30; catch and release, artificial lures only Dec 1-Jun 14 | 12 in | 5 / day |
| Smallmouth Bass Black bass; open Jun 15-Nov 30; catch and release, artificial lures only Dec 1-Jun 14 | 12 in | 5 / day |
| Northern Pike Season May 1-Mar 15 | 18 in | 5 / day |
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Mike's Oneida Lake Bait and TackleNearby5501 Bartel Rd, Brewerton, NY(315) 668-1130Directions ↗
- 812 NYS Rte 49, Cleveland, NY(315) 675-3662Directions ↗
Local tips
- Cast stickbaits and blade baits from shore after dark for walleye.
- In winter, fish shoals and deep flats through the ice for walleye.
- Launches include South Shore, Three Mile Bay, Godfrey Point, Verona Beach State Park and Oneida Shores.
Angler reports
Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Oneida Lake.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.