Greater Niagara Region Fishing Report

by Bill Hilts Junior

Lake Ontario and tributaries – The heavy rains last weekend pulled some fish into many of the area tributaries off Lake Ontario. At the top of the list is 18 Mile Creek and Burt Dam where the first slug of fish swam up last Sunday. While it has slowed a bit since the water subsided, there are still a few fish available – primarily salmon – in some of the deeper holes. Egg sacs and skein are the top two methods for taking these fish. Casting the piers at Wilson and Olcott has also been improving, especially for brown trout with casting spoons like Little Cleos or K-O Wobblers. Wilson anglers did well with blue-silver spoons and a chartreuse deep-diving crank bait. Firetiger spoons took a 15 pound brown the past week in Olcott. You can also cast J13 Rapalas or drift skein. Trollers are also picking up salmon with J-plugs or deep diving sticks, as well as flasher-fly or meat. Some teenagers and steelhead have been taken in the top 60 feet over 120 to 180 feet of water on spoons and flasher-fly. The harbors in Wilson and Olcott have been producing a mix of warm water fish species like bass, perch, pike and bluegills. Good flow was being reported by Wes Walker at The Slippery Sink in Olcott as of mid-week. Remember that the new license year starts up on Oct. 1.

Lower Niagara River – Decent salmon fishing is being reported in the lower river, especially from boats in the Devil’s Hole area. Capt. Ernie Calandrelli of Lewiston took nine-fish limits Monday and Tuesday of this week using treated egg sacs off of three-way rigs. Rumor has it that he was using “magic eggs” from Creek Road Bait and Tackle. Shore fishing off the NYPA platform has not been as productive due to maintenance of the No. 1 generator. Your best bet is to head into the gorge via the Devil’s Hole and Whirlpool State Park stairs to avoid crowds. Bass fishing in the river and on the Niagara Bar continues to be very good for boaters drifting live bait like crabs and shiners or bouncing tube jigs. Once again there will be a kid’s fishing contest with the NYPA Wildlife Festival this Saturday and Sunday in any public water in the county for three different age groups – 7 and under; 8 to 12; and 13 to 15 years of age. Top three fish will be recognized for each age grouping and special big fish awards will be given out to the largest fish caught from the NYPA reservoir, as well as off the NYPA fish platform. Scales will be open from noon to 2 p.m. each day at the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. tent at the festival. For more info call 286-6661. Tip of the week comes from Capt. Dan Evans of Wilson who says to make sure your taillights are functioning properly when entering the Village of Lewiston. When you do make it to the launch ramp, make sure you don’t forget your hooks and treated egg skein. Timing is key to an early bite.

Upper Niagara River – It sounds like a broken record but the head of the river is still a good spot for bass and walleye according to area anglers. Live bait or worm harnesses will do the trick. Musky action should start to improve with the cool evenings causing water temperatures to drop. Bass should be starting their fall feeding frenzy, too. Yellow perch and panfish are biting off parks around Buffalo. If you want to become a better bass fisherman, Bass University will be taking up residence at the Conference Center Niagara Falls Jan. 25-26, 2014. Held in conjunction with the First Annual Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo, Bass University is a unique and educational bass fishing workshop that utilizes some of the greatest professional bass fishermen in the country as instructors. For a limited time, there is a 25 percent discount if you register by September 30. For more information check out the website at www.thebassuniversity.com.

Chautauqua County Fishing Report

by Craig Robbins

Lake Erie – Steelhead are trickling into Cattaraugus Creek and some have been caught as far upstream as the mouth of Clear Creek. Most of the fish have been smaller jack steelhead, with some larger fish in the mid-20 inch range showing as well. Targeting steelhead in the lowest section of Cattaraugus Creek or from the breakwall are the best bets. Some of the other tributaries have been low but with the rain this past weekend steelhead should be running up all Chautauqua County tribs. With rain in the forecast, creek levels will rise over the weekend, likely drawing in steelhead. Anglers have been catching steelhead off the mouth of Chautauqua Creek this week. Wading and casting spoons and spinners off creek mouths works well for steelhead that are staging in those areas. Boaters can target steelhead off major tributary mouths by trolling with spoons between 2-2.5 mph.

Chautauqua Lake – Fall is a good time to target muskellunge on Chautauqua Lake, and with muskie hunters reporting better catches this past weekend, it looks to be another good fall muskie season. Muskie casters are doing well along the deeper weed edges in 10-16 feet of water in the northern basin off Warners Bar and Upper Dewittville Bay. Trollers are picking up suspended muskies in depths 25-35 feet. Trolling with large (up to 8 inch minnow) type stick baits is a good bet.

Weed edges are also the perfect place to catch some fish for dinner, with bluegills, perch and a few crappie being picked up under a bobber and minnows.

Fair Haven/Cayuga County

by Captain Werner Stenger

Some salmon have made their presence known in Little Sodus Bay and also in the park pond. Trolling the bay or casting from shore or pier heads will give you the opportunity to lock up with one of these power houses.

Perch are also starting to show look around structure edges near drop offs. If Lake Ontario behaves its self, there are still steelhead that will be moving closer to shore with the cooling waters. Small mouth will also be putting on the feedbag as waters cool. Look for them in and around the rocks in 8 to 20 feet of water off the bluffs.

Oswego County Fishing Report

Oswego River – According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop, it’s full on salmon season now! Anglers are taking a number of them from the wall behind the shop using hot-n-tots, egg sacs, skein and estez flies. Those anglers at the dam are finding rubber eggs, egg sacs, skein and flies working well. Also the night wall behind the YMCA is active with glow spoons and hot-n-tots good choices of bait. The water level has been up and down the last few days running at 800cfs up to 10,000cfs at times. It is currently flowing at 2270cfs this afternoon. 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 Tourism web site at www.visitoswegocounty.com and look for the fishing report under fishing and hunting.

According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift, we are finding a good bite this morning with some nice fresh kings being taken.

Lake Ontario – According to Capt. Mike Conroy of Proteus Fishing Charters, after the blow off last weekend, the lake fishing is winding down and our charter season is coming to a close. Reports are indicating that some salmon are still being found in 100-200 feet of water.

Pulaski area/Salmon River – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, the lake fishing this week has been difficult. As much as we like these nice days with bright sunshine, it makes for more difficult fishing conditions. There are salmon still in the lake waiting to come in but they seem to have lockjaw once the sun is up. There are plenty of fish in the estuary but not a lot of big runs up the river during the day. Early in the day seems to be seeing the most activity.

According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel, we have gotten good reports from anglers indicating that with less fishing pressure midweek, they saw better fish movement. Active spots were the 81 Hole, RT2A, Compactor and Pineville. The mid to upper section of the river is not getting as much pressure as the lower end, but anglers are finding fish in some of the deeper holes. The water flow is running at 335cfs as of this afternoon.

According to Garrett Brancy of the Douglaston Salmon Run, there were a few more fish around today than compared to the past few days but our guests continue to work for their catch. A fair number of trout and a few late Cohos did keep up the interest however. Successful colors for egg patterns continue to be white, pink, red, and natural orange. A decent handful of Kings were also caught on white/pearl and orange comets #6.

Oneida Lake – There has not been a lot of walleye activity to report and no night bite to speak of as yet. Anglers are reporting some perch activity in 12-18 feet of water. Minnows and worms are working well. For the new downloadable Oneida Lake Association boating safety map, visit their web site at www.oneidalakeassociation.org.

Sandy Pond – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, conditions have remained the same on the pond with not much activity to report this time of year.