Greater Niagara Region Fishing Report

by Bill Hilts, Jr.

Lake Ontario and tributaries – Yankee Troller, a team led by Capt. Rick Hajecki of Rochester, put together a couple more solid days of fishing during the Orleans County Pro-Am last weekend to win the Classic West Cup for the salmon and trout fishing series to earn an extra check of $20,000. With his third and fourth place finishes in the Classic and Trophy divisions in Orleans, his two tournament total winnings was $36,000 for his teams consistent fishing action. Winner of the Orleans County Classic Division was the Vision Quest 4 squad led by Capt. Bob Buck of Waterloo. They became the first team to claim the Orleans title in the eight year history of the event after leading the field after the first day. In the Trophy Division, local team Lone Wolf, led by Capt. Dan Evans of Wilson, was top dog overall. All told, more than $105,000 in cash was handed out in the Niagara and Orleans Pro-Am tournaments. And as long as we are on the subject of Orleans County and titles, the World Fishing Network announced its winners for 2013 for the Ultimate Fishing Town and Point Breeze was named the winner in a recent press release. Last year, it was Olcott Beach winning the title after a nationwide voting process. The community will receive $25,000 for its efforts. Out in Lake Ontario fish are scattered with the recent influx of cold water last weekend. Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker in Olcott weighed in two 22 pound kings that were caught in 80 feet of water in front of the harbor – one on a spoon and another on a flasher-fly. Fishing was decent in the 70 to 120 foot range with smaller fish being caught in the top 50 feet of water and mature kings coming from below 60 feet. A few browns have been caught off the piers. At Burt Dam, reports are good for bass, carp and rock bass. Remember that the Lake Ontario Counties Summer Derby starts this weekend on Saturday. It is also the opening of bass and musky seasons this weekend. You might want to consider fishing in the Rosemellia’s Burt Hotel Bass Contest on Saturday for the opener. Best two fish – smallmouth or largemouth – takes the top prizes for this inaugural event. Stop in to the Hotel to register. Don’t forget the Wilson Conservation Club’s kids fishing contest on Saturday, June 15. Just be to the club with your catch (by length) by noon located on Route 425, Wilson. Awards will follow at 1 p.m.

Lower Niagara River – On the lower river fishing scene, the moss has started to show up in the Niagara River, causing some problems for drifters and casters. There are still a few trout hanging around but mostly it’s warm water species like bass. Emerald shiners and Kwikfish work best for boaters while shore fishermen are using jigs, spoons and spinners. The big Wagon Wheel Open Day Smallmouth Bass Contest is set once again for Saturday and you can register at the restaurant located at 7201 Niagara Falls Blvd. in Niagara Falls. Best two fish wins the kitty. You can fish Lake Erie, Lake Ontario or the Niagara River, in New York waters only. A new change with the Province of Ontario bass season for the lower river and Lake Ontario is that their season opens the same time as New York’s this year.

Upper Niagara River – The City of Tonawanda will be holding its 18th Annual Kids Fishing Derby for kids up to age 16 at Niawanda Park from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration at 8:30 a.m. at the Band Shell on River Road, Tonawanda. Over $5,000 in prizes. For more info call John or Kate White at 692-6306. Shore anglers along Broderick Park, Squaw Island and Ontario Street launch area are catching a mix of perch and rock bass. Bass are available from the head of the river to Strawberry Island and should be a good area to target for the opener on Saturday. Musky season also opens on Saturday and minimum size in the river is 48 inches; 54 inches in Buffalo Harbor and Lake Erie. Catch and release is encouraged with muskellunge as these populations could use a little help in rebuilding. Bass season on the Canadian side of the river opens the fourth Saturday in the upper river and Lake Erie. Musky season opened the first Saturday in June.

Wayne County Fishing Report

by Christopher Kenyon

Lake Ontario – It’s been a tough week for anyone fishing the south shore of Lake Ontario. Run-off water from all the rain has left temperatures in the 45 degree range through-out the water column. The reports from anglers have been fairly consistent with those colds water temps. Trout and salmon are on the move searching for the warmer water.

Some lakers are coming from 120 feet of water and a few browns have been roaming the shoreline, however it hasn’t been easy filling boxes with trout and salmon.

What has been working are the flasher flies and spoons down 40 to 50 over 200 feet. Try to search out warmer water.

Bays – Fishing the bays has been more productive than Lake Ontario. Anglers are catching pike near the islands in Sodus Bay, and some early evening fishing has captured walleyes near the buoys on the north end of Sodus.

Some crappies have been caught suspended near Bay Bridge on the south end of Sodus.

Blind Sodus Bay, on the eastern border of Wayne County will be a very productive place to fish for hefty largemouths. The season opens Saturday June 15th. Port Bay is another productive bay for bass anglers.

Pike have been hitting at the south end of Port Bay. Try rubber or plastic worms.

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. 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 Widewaters parking area of the canal was full of boat trailers last Sunday. Most of the anglers were catching pan fish, however when the bass season opens, this waterway will be the hot spot for fishing. Five and six pounders come from the Erie Canal.

Chautauqua County Fishing Report

by Craig Robbins

Lake Erie and Tribs – Lake Erie anglers are finding Jack perch in several locations on Lake Erie. Perch are hitting on shiners fished just off the bottom. Anglers may have to do a little searching, but there are good catches off Sturgeon Point in 50-60 feet of water. Also, out of Cattaraugus Creek, anglers are doing well in 50-65 feet of water. Off Dunkirk Harbor good catches are being reported off the departure buoy in 40-50 feet of water.

Shore anglers are doing well for smallmouth in Dunkirk Harbor, small jig heads with white split twister tails are working well. Off shore anglers are catching bigger smallmouth on and around reef and shoal areas in 10-30 feet of water. The major structure areas at Seneca Shoal, Myers Reef and Van Buren Bay are good bets, but any smaller structure areas will hold bass as well. Tube jigs, jigs with twister tails and deep diving stick baits are good baits. A drop-shot rig with tubes or plastics are the best bet for fishing deeper water. On Lake Erie and its tributaries, anglers can keep one bass over 20 inches per day, and use of live or natural baits is permitted. On all other waters of western New York, bass fishing is by catch and release only, artificial lures only until the 3rd Saturday in June.

Chautauqua Lake – Due to cooler water temperatures on Chautauqua crappie are still being caught. While it takes a little a bit of work to find the schools, northern basin bays like Mayville and upper Dewittville seems to anglers best bets. A slip bobber with 8 pound test line, with a 1/32 once jig head tipped off with one inch tube jig tipped off with a minnow is producing best, on the outside of the weed edges.

With the regular bass season opening this Saturday at midnight June 15th, anglers will find largemouth bass holding on shallow structure like boat docks, rocky shoals lily pads and break walls. Spinner baits, top water and plastic worms work best.