Greater Niagara Region Fishing Report
by Bill Hilts Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries – The Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament Series will be highlighting the local fishing action, first this Saturday and Sunday out of the ports of Wilson and Olcott and next weekend out of Point Breeze in Orleans County June 8 and 9. This prestigious event has been running strong in Niagara USA for 29 years now, while the Orleans event has been running for eight. Stop down to the weigh in site for the Niagara event at Krull Park in Olcott between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. if you want to see how things are going for the teams. Fishing in the lake is slowly turning back on again after the lake flipped over last week. Tournament teams have been pounding the water every chance they get and we really won’t know what’s happening out there until after the Orleans County event. There is an extra $35,000 in sponsor money for the combined Niagara-Orleans West Cup for fishing in the two tournaments. One group of guys not fishing the tournament was led by Glenn Bird of Barker on Wednesday morning. They were trolling spoons and flasher-fly in the top 50 feet of water over 100 to 200 foot depths in front of Olcott to take 10 salmon in three hours. Some browns are available inside 50 feet. This is National Fishing and Boating week, with a few activities scheduled around Western New York to help celebrate this special time. Some kids contests are scheduled on June 15 so be sure and mark your calendar. The Wilson Conservation Club will be holding its annual kids contest on this day for the public waters of Niagara County. For the bass opener on June 15, the Burt Hotel in the Town of Newfane will be holding an opening day bass contest that includes both smallmouth and largemouth bass. Stop in at the restaurant-tavern located on Route 78 near Fisherman’s Park. Speaking of the park, lots of activity over the weekend – mostly rock bass and smallmouth bass. Remember that bass is catch and release only.
Lower Niagara River – With water in the lower river hovering around 54-55 degrees, some trout are still available in the system but the warm water fish are turning on at the same time. Remember that bass fishing is catch and release until the June 15 opener. And speaking of the opener, don’t forget about the Wagon Wheel Restaurant Opening Day Smallmouth Bass Contest that has become a bit of a tradition in the Niagara Falls area. Best two fish wins the contest. Back to the lower river, shore fishing in the gorge has been producing some lake trout for casters using a yellow jig with white twistertail. Boat fishermen are using emerald shiners to take a mixed bag of fish including lake trout and steelhead. If you are targeting bass, remember to use artificial baits.
Upper Niagara River – There will be a kids contest at Niawanda Park in Tonawanda along the upper Niagara River on June 15. Registration opens at 8 a.m. June 15 is also the tradition opening of bass and musky seasons in New York. If you want to catch bass before that opener, you will have to use artificial baits and practice catch and release. Perch action around Ontario Street continues to be very good for drifters and still fishermen using emerald shiners. Also below the Black Rock Canal. Some walleye are being reported around Broderick Park and along the wall running north on minnows. Bass have been hitting tubes and other artificial from the head of the river to the head of Strawberry Island.
Wayne County Fishing Report
by Christopher Kenyon
Lake Ontario – It was a slow weekend bite for trout and salmon. Some browns came close to shore which is the usual scenario for spring fishing. They were in 10 to 20 feet and were hitting stick baits off the boards.
The steelhead were in 140 feet of water down 40 and hitting smaller red spoons.
A nice 24-pound king came from the Pultneyville area in 140 feet of water down 60. The Chinook salmon hit a flasher fly rig.
If you want to take advantage of the spring brown trout bite be on the water before 5 am. Look for stained water or hunt for the temperature breaks.
Bays – The bays in Wayne County have walleye, pike, bass and panfish. The bass season starts in a few weeks.
Sodus Bay has seen plenty of crappie action near the south end of the bay. The bullhead action is slow after a hot start.
Port and Blind Sodus Bays are the smaller 500 acre bodies of water and hold bass, pike and panfish. The pike were hitting near the weedlines, which are starting to grow to the waterline.
The bait shops in Wayne County have very consistent hours. If you need egg sacs, flies, jigs or spikes you’ll find everything you need. Check out the Wayne County Tourism web page for their locations. For more, check out www.waynecountytourism.com
We have a brand new Wayne County Fishing Brochure. This publication features where to go, what to use, and what to catch. Call our office for a free fishing packet, including the new brochure. 1-800-527-6510.
Erie Canal – The cat fish were hitting near the Palmyra section of the canal. Bluegill, sunnies and crappies have been caught along the south edge of the canal. Use small jig heads with bright colored tails.
Fair Haven/Cayuga County Fishing Report
by Captain Werner Stenger
Well once again Mother Nature took control of Lake Ontario over the holiday weekend. Heavy winds kept all off the water on Saturday and Sunday. She loosened her grip on Monday and a few browns were to be had for those persistent enough to keep clearing the moss off their lures. The forecast looks to plague us with non-stop south breeze for yet another week so I would be inclined to look for an off-shore bite with the temperatures climbing later this week.
Crappie are still holding in the park pond. Rock bass are abundant in the southern end of Little Sodus Bay. Bait has also moved into the bay so the sheepshead and browns are sure to follow.
Chautaqua County
by Craig Robbins
Lake Erie and Tributaries – Perch on Lake Erie is king this week, with anglers returning to port with good catches of sizeable perch. The best action was off of Cattaraugus Creek and to the northeast off Evangola State Park and Point Breeze. Anglers are catching good numbers of perch from 50 to 65 feet of water, with the deeper depths getting the most attention. Out of Dunkirk, anglers picked up nice catches east of the departure buoy in 50-55 feet of water. Live emerald shiners fished just off the bottom can’t be beat.
The walleye bite heated up this week, including some limit catches closer to shore. Lake Erie surface temperatures are now around 55-56 degrees in the near shore zone, which is ideal for congregating walleye. Night trolling at around 2 mph over rocky and rubble areas is a good bet. Minnow-type stick baits and worm harnesses work well in 8-15 feet of water. Good catches were reported along Lake Erie State Park and Van Buren.
Chautauqua Lake – With cooler temperatures this past week the slab crappie are still being caught on Chautauqua Lake. The lower end of the Lake seems to be best for anglers. Rock and Grass Island and Lakewood Bar are still good bets. A slip bobber with 8 pound test line, with a 1/32 once jig head topped off with one inch tube jig tipped off with a minnow is producing best.
Early season trollers for walleye is good from early evening into the dusk. Worm harness in orange and yellow is a great bet. Troll baits just enough to keep your offering over the tops of the weed edges in Burtis, Bemus and Dewittville Bays.
Early season bass anglers are finding bass moving a bit deeper. Mayville Flats and Warner’s Bar are good areas to start with plastic crawfish in pumpkinseed and black/blue. For area fishing and travel information, visit
Oswego County Fishing Report
Courtesy of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning
Oswego River – According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shopm, as of this morning, the water flow is running at 7,230cfs. Heavy rain came through overnight so this may change as the day goes on. Higher levels will make some areas along the river inaccessible. Anglers fishing behind the hotels as well as boat anglers will likely find some walleye taking worms, minnows and crayfish. Remember the bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are Mandatory Personal Flotation Device (PFD) zones on the Oswego River below the Varick Dam. For more information, view the Oswego County web site at www.visitoswegocounty.com and look for the fishing report under fishing and hunting.
Lake Ontario – Mother Nature served up another round of windy days for the weekend. The wind is expected to be out of the south/southwest for the next few days bringing much warmer temperatures and waves 2 feet or less on the lake. As conditions settle down we will have to see how the fishing sets up. Reports have indicated that the wind did bring some bait fish into the area.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift Fishing Charters, after all the wind we had over the weekend, the bite over deeper water has been good this morning with a few nice size kings being taken.
Salmon River/Port Ontario – The river is fairly quiet this time of year. The water flow is expected to be at 185cfs for the next few days. According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, there are no reports from the Port Ontario area as yet after the rough conditions we had for the weekend. Once we get through rain and thunderstorms today, there is some improvement in the forecast for Thursday and Friday with some showers expected over the weekend.
Oneida Lake – When conditions permitted, the walleye fishing on Oneida Lake has been decent. The water depth remains about the same, 10-20 feet. Bucktail jigs tipped with a worm have been working well. Just a reminder that lake sturgeon are on the threatened fish list. If you accidentally hook one, please do not fight it and release it quickly.
Sandy Pond – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, there continues to be a decent walleye bite on the pond along with northern pike and rockbass. Minnows, worms and jigs remain the suggested bait. There has been very little perch activity reported.