Greater Niagara Region
by Bill Hits Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries – Salmon are starting to hit more readily at the Olcott piers, either at night or under low light conditions. If the day remains overcast, there’s a good chance that salmon can hit all day long! Some salmon are also being seen in the harbor, as well as a few kings at the Burt Dam area of 18 Mile Creek. However, the main run has not yet started. One heavy rain will do the trick. A few browns are also being caught off the piers, too, by spoon casters. Out in the lake, trollers can work J-plugs, cut bait or flasher-fly to take staging kings. Out deeper, immature kings and a mix of coho and trout are still an option on spoons or flasher-fly set ups. Pike, perch, bass and panfish are available in both Wilson and Olcott harbors, too.
Lower Niagara River – It looks like the king salmon are in at the Niagara River. Capt. Steve Drabczyk of Lewiston reported a great catch of salmon earlier this week using treated egg skein off of three-way rigs, hopefully a sign of good things to come. He focused his attention in the Devil’s Hole area of the gorge and for the first time recorded double-digit kings with customers. Maintaining light contact with the bottom is one key, along with long leads and good boat control. Shore fishermen have been picking up a few salmon up toward the whirlpool, as well as off the Fishing Platform at the Power Authority’s Niagara Project. Speaking of NYPA, don’t forget that next weekend, Sept. 28-29, will be the annual Wildlife Festival, co-sponsored by NYPA and the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs. This event is held in recognition of National Hunting and Fishing Day, celebrated around the country by sportsmen and conservation groups. This is a great family event with things like the Niagara River Anglers fishing pond, archery and crossbow stations, a shooting trailer, the Primate Sanctuary, Liberty the Bald eagle and so much more. It’s great for the entire family. Last year over 10,000 people came out to celebrate this special day. The best thing about it is that it’s free! There will be a kids fishing contest for youngsters age 15 and under in the public waters of Niagara County. Three ages classes: 13-15; 8-12; 7 and under. The weigh in will be at the Wildlife Festival between noon and 2 p.m. both days. The largest fish caught out of the NYPA reservoir and from the NYPA fishing platform will also receive a prize. Call 286-6661 for more info. Speaking of NYPA, a few people have been asking about the status of the fishing platform, as well as the construction that is going on at the base of the access road in the gorge. Call 796-0135 Ext. 45 for periodic updates on what’s happening. Maintenance at the No. 1 Unit continues and we hope it will be completed soon. The construction, in the interest of safety (building a pathway for anglers walking from above), is also necessary. Five parking slots are still available down below. The stairs to the shoreline at Devil’s Hole is currently closed. You can access the shoreline via Devil’s Hole State Park or Whirlpool State Park. Bass action is still available throughout the river and on the Bar. Crayfish and shiners top the list of live bait; tubes and drop shot rigs are good artificial enticements.
Upper Niagara River – Bass and walleye are still available at the head of the river. For bass you can use crayfish, shiners or tube jigs; for walleye use a worm harnesses. You can also do well at the head of Strawberry Island on both species. Musky action should start to improve as waters start to cool.
Chautauqua County Fishing Report
by Craig Robbins
Lake Erie – Walleye fishing has slowed down over the past few weeks but out of Dunkirk Harbor, walleye are being caught 100 feet of water by the international line. Some boats are starting to pick up walleye and steelhead near the bottom in 85 feet of water. Some decent catches have also been reported just east of Barcelona Harbor in 70-80 feet of water.
Some early jack steelhead have reportedly been caught on the lower section of Cattaraugus Creek. Cattaraugus Creek temperature is still a bit high with other tributaries running low and still warm. Cooler temperatures forecasted this coming week should help to kick start this year’s steelhead run. For those eager to get a jump on the steelhead season, wading and casting spoons or spinners near tributary mouths or from the lake-side of Cattaraugus Creek breakwall are good options.
Always check out New York State Fishing Guide for fishing Lake Erie Tribs.
Chautauqua Lake – Perch on being caught in the narrows between the bridge and ferry on the Bemus Point side in 8-10 feet of water on the outside edges of the weed line. Perch are being picked up on the inside of the Lakewood Bar, in the Southern Basin of Chautauqua Lake. Musky trollers are seeing action along the outside of edges using bucktails and stick baits.. In the northern basin muskie hunters are catching suspended muskie in depths of 20-25 feet. With fall turnover done, smallmouth bass fishing has picked in off Warners Bar from 10-18 feet, using live/artifical crayfish. Keeping baits on the bottom seems to working best. Largemouth bass are still being found along weed edges, pockets and around docks. Top water lures, weedless rigged power worms and wacky rigged senkos work well.
Fair Haven/Cayuga County
by Captain Werner Stenger
Things are a little slow in Fair Haven this week. There are still a few salmon to be had in the 50-100′ of water but weather conditions with high winds and rough seas leave very few windows to get out.
Some perch are in the bay but the big numbers have not yet arrived. Bass and pike fishing in the bay and park pond continue to be good.
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 Shop, with the cold night, another pod of salmon made its way to the dam Wednesday morning. Also look for a few brown trout in the mix. Crazy eggs, beads, skein and estez flies are working well. The water level dropped as low as 600cfs earlier in the week but is running at 1900cfs this morning. 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 According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift, low, low water yesterday but we still had very good cooperation from the fish. A little bit of everything and some of the freshest looking Kings I have seen in the river.
Lake Ontario – According to Capt. Mike Conroy of Proteus Fishing Charters, salmon are in 120-180 feet of water, in the colder water that is 44-48 degrees. Fish are taking white paddles and cutbait and echips and flies off the riggers in glow green and white colors. Fish taken in the lake are still silver. Coho salmon are mixed in with the Kings. I heard J-plugs are starting to work also! Good luck!
Pulaski area/Salmon River – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, the lake still has lots of fish with one charter Tuesday taking its limit fishing in 105 feet bouncing off the bottom with flies and flashers just north of the Salmon River. There are more fish coming into the river daily with a good number holding in the estuary by the bridge the last day or so. For anyone interested there has been a good bass bite in Mexico off the Dempster bluff with jigs, minnows and worms working well.
According to Garrett Brancy of the Douglaston Salmon Run, over the past two days our guests have had a nice steady pick of fish highlighted by hour or so intervals with increased action. Both days we’ve seen a nice mix of trout and Cohos in amongst the Kings. This morning started off a bit steadier in the lower end and the mixed bag of species has also continued. Chartreuse and fuchsia marabou streamers #6 tied popsicle style have been the ticket so far today.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel, the anglers we spoke with who fished the Ball Park and Staircase reported getting into a few Kings, but overall had a slow day. Those who fished mid river were able to find fishing holding in the deeper holes. The Lower Fly Zone reportedly produced some Kings under light fishing pressure.
Oneida Lake – Conditions are about the same on the lake with a few walleye being taken in 25-30 feet of water. There has been a yellow perch bite with Big Bay and Frenchman’s Island being suggested spots to try. Bucktail jigs tipped with a worm are working for walleye with minnows and worms working well for perch. Smallmouth bass are active in various areas across the lake. 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, there is no new activity to report on the pond. It is typically quiet this time of year.