Greater Niagara Region

by Bill Hilts Jr.

Lake Ontario and tributaries – It’s been a strange year so far out on Lake Ontario and things are finally starting to settle in with a bit more consistent angling action. Just ask Pat Comerford of East Aurora. Fishing in the Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby on Monday aboard his boat “Sandman” with friend Darryl Day of St. Catharines, they managed to catch not one but two leading fish in the contest – a 36 pound, five ounce king salmon to take over the lead for the $10,000 Grand Prize AND a 33 pound, seven ounce king salmon – reeled in by Day – to take over the lead in the Salmon Division. They weighed their fish in at Creek Road Bait and Tackle in Lewiston. Carol Comerford, Pat’s wife, is currently leading the Rainbow/Steelhead Division with a 15 pound, nine ounce fish reeled in off Wilson. To add to the week’s stellar catches, Ed Klejdys of North Tonawanda did the impossible – taking over the lead in the Lake Trout Division – with a 32 pound, four ounce monster from the Niagara Bar last Sunday, over-taking the 31 pound, 11 ounce fish that was caught by Darrin LaChance in June. Some impressivw fish have come to the scales for sure and the derby continues until July 28th. Capt. Jim Gordon of Appleton reports some very good fishing off Olcott the past week, especially for City of Lockport Treasurer Mike White and some of his fishing buddies. They reeled in salmon up to 24 pounds over the weekend. According to Gordon, the best action was in 100 to 200 feet of water for a mix of salmon and trout, Steelhead and the occasional brown trout were hitting spoons up high, while king salmon were down deeper with flasher-fly. When the winds changed out of the west, moss became a problem, so they headed out to the 25 to 27 line. Earlier in the week, it was Capt. Jim Taylor fishing out of the “Hawg” to register 30 hook-ups for the day, a great effort on the water. Wilson and Olcott harbors are still doing well on a mix of bass, pike and panfish. A King of the Oak one day contest will be held out of Point Breeze on July 13. Contact Mike Waterhouse at 585-589-3103 for more details.

Lower Niagara River – Lower River action (below Niagara Falls) has slowly started to clean up of moss and as a result the bass fishing has started to pick back up again. Live bait like crayfish or shiners will work, as will tube jigs. Shoreline anglers can also cast twistertails in the gorge for bass up to the whirlpool. If you are into bass fishing, mark your calendar down for July 27 when the Niagara River Anglers Assn. will be hosting its annual smallmouth bass contest. Check out www.niagarariveranglers.comfor details. A word of caution if you venture across the International Boundary into Canadian waters: make sure you call into the Canadian Border Services Agency.

Upper Niagara River – Let’s not forget the Erie Canal Derby either, going on right now until July 14th. In the 23rd annual contest, the leaders going into the weekend are a four pound bass, a six plus pound walleye, a five pound pike, a 2 pound bullhead, a nine pound catfish, a 25-plus pound carp and a 7 and a half pound sheepshead. In addition, three tagged fish have also been caught. The awards ceremony to determine the grand prize winner for the boat, motor and trailer will be held next Sunday, July 21 at the Gasport Fire Hall at 3 p.m. In the meantime, bass fishing has been hot in the upper river according to Lyndon Hilts of Gasport. Fishing around Strawberry Island with Tim Scanlan of San Diego (formerly of Lockport), they managed to hit numerous bass on tubes and a variety of other artificial lures. Crayfish is also a good bait for bass right now. Broderick Park is a good spot for perch, but many of those fish have been smaller.

Oswego County

courtesy of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.

Oswego River – According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop, the water flow has remained consistent at about 12,000cfs for several days. With the rainy weather pattern it has not had a chance to drop back to a more fishable level. Areas along the river walks are suggested spots to try. Look for bass, walleye, sheepshead and panfish using crayfish, leeches, worms and minnows. 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 – According to Capt. Mike Conroy of Proteus Fishing Charters, Oswego is the home of the big King salmon so far this season. A great current line and good quality of bait are holding fish within a three mile arch of the Port of Oswego. Kings are coming 45-90 feet down on riggers, dipseys and leadcore. Cutbait, whole bait, echips and spin doctors with a-tom-mik flies are working, as well as, familiar bite cut and whole bait clean and behind small flashers. A 38 pound, 46-inch King was taken aboard Hat Trick Charters yesterday.

According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift Fishing Charters, the weather conditions have made it difficult for the thermocline to set up. The story this year is BIG fish! Not big numbers right now, but the size is there.

Salmon River – The river is quiet this time of year. The water flow is currently running at 750cfs.

Port Ontario – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, the fishing was picking up on the eastern end of the lake but the wind has returned to an easterly direction which has brought in cold water and slowed the pace. Lake trout have continued to be active and King salmon were reported in 150 feet of water off the dunes. Mexico Bay continues to produce some bass in 15-20 feet of water on crayfish and minnows. There has been no perch bite to speak of.

Oneida Lake – The fishing on Oneida Lake continues to be good. Walleye have been active in 10-30 feet of water with some nice catches reported. Just west of Shackelton Shoals has seen some activity. There has been some bass action on the lake with Big Bay a suggested spot to try. Black and purple bucktail jigs, blade baits and worms and minnows are working well.

Sandy Pond – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, the fishing on the pond has been good. Anglers are finding walleye and panfish such as bluegills along with a few perch. With the stretch of hot weather we have had, early in the day and into the evening when the sun is less intense have been most productive.

Fair Haven/Cayuga County

One thing you can always count on Lake Ontario for is change. The NE blow
July 1st and 2nd inverted the water column and cold water covered the area.
The good news was that it did concetrate the brown trout and small mouth
bass closer to shore, however it scattered most everything else. By Sunday
things were starting to stabilize and a few very nice salmon were coming
back to the docks. I expect to see consistant fishing by the coming weekend.
Bass fishing in the bay and park pond continues to be good.

Lake Erie and Tributaries

Walleye trollers are doing well on the deeper bite out to 70 feet of water between Cattaraugus Creek and Dunkirk. Northeast winds have trollers running deep for walleye out of Barcelona. Both worm harnesses and stick baits have worked well for suspended walleye in 110 feet of water.

Yellow perch catches remained scattered this week. The best reports continue to come from the traditionally productive area between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point. Live emerald shiners can’t be beat, but live fathead minnows or smaller golden shiners will also work. Anglers have not had much luck with salted minnows lately.

Smallmouth bass have moved deeper as lake waters warm. Target structure areas around reefs, rock piles and drop-offs with drop-shot rigs combined with crayfish, minnows, tube jigs or other plastic baits. Depths of around 25 feet off Barcelona Harbor and off Lake Erie State Park west of Dunkirk Harbor are a good starting points, and work deeper for larger bronzebacks.

Chautauqua Lake

Walleye anglers been finding the bite good with worm harnesses trolled along weed edges. Catches have been best in the north basin near the Chautauqua Bell Tower and Dewittville Bay, and in the south basin near Cheney Point. Largemouth bass fishing has been very good inside the weed edges in 10 feet of water. Top water lures, weedless rigged power worms and wacky rigged senkos are working well. Live minnows, crayfish and plastic grubs have produced decent smallmouth bass catches outside weed edges. Anglers can also work weed edges for musky by casting large stickbaits and bucktail jigs or by trolling with Hot N’ Tots, bucktail spinners or large stickbaits.