Niagara Region

by Bill Hilts, Jr.

Lake Ontario and tributaries – With cold weather arriving on the scene a bit more consistently, waters are finally starting to clear in some of the tributaries. Eighteenmile Creek at Burt Dam was reporting good flow over the dam, but no report of any power generation from water pushing through the turbines. A few salmon are still being caught, but the end is near according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker. Brown trout are still the top target. Catch of the week there was a 19 pound female brown trout that was hauled in earlier this week, but the angler really didn’t seem to realize how great a catch it really was and wouldn’t give up his name or a picture. Too bad. These fish are deserving of more respect. Egg sacks or egg imitations are still the way to go and as the waters clear, downsize both your bait and fishing line. A few more steelhead are starting to arrive on the scene, too. Pier action can be good for casters tossing spoons or spinners when the conditions are right, but high winds have keep fishermen off quite a bit of late. No report of water in Keg or Hopkins creeks. Wilson’s 12 Mile creeks are producing a mix of fish – salmon and trout. Some perch have been reported in the back bay of Wilson Harbor, as well off the inside arm of the pier. Some of the short piers in Wilson are producing trout on spoons. Casting off the mouth of 4 Mile Creek into the lake was producing a few fish recently.

Lower Niagara River – The lower Niagara River action was decent last weekend until the gales of November started to blow again. Trout action was good for steelhead and lake trout with an occasion brown trout. Shore fishermen at Artpark are now hampered because of construction on the stairs there – a project that will not be completed until May of 2014. You can still follow the lower Artpark hiking trail to the shoreline and try to work your way back along the river, but be careful. Water is still muddy and charter guys have been cancelling trips until the weekend. That said, the long range was calling for some more wind going into the weekend … again.

Upper Niagara River – Musky season closes down on the upper river Nov. 30th and if the waters clear up you might want to try and give it a go. Jim Hanley of Angola reported that he had some buds out fishing on Sunday and Stan Skotnicki of Eden was the lucky angler reeling in a 52 inch musky that weighed over 40 pounds! They were trolling a green watermelon perch body bait over 22 feet of water at 2.8 miles per hour when the lunker hit in Buffalo Harbor. After a quick picture, it was released to fight another day. Most of the week was shut down because of the turbid water conditions. Remember that the regular bass season also closes down on Nov. 30. Bass action can be good still as they go on an aggressive feed just prior to winter. Some trout should be available in the upper rapids or at the head of the river.

Chautauqua County Fishing Report

by Craig Robbins

Lake Erie – With fall rains in Chautauqua County, Lake Erie tributaries are running at good levels on most days. As a result the steelhead action has been better than the previous few seasons. Good numbers of steelhead are in all creeks and are spread throughout their reaches. The small to medium sized streams are in good shape as well.

Chautauqua, South Branch Cattaraugus and Eighteenmile Creeks are all good options for the upcoming weekend. Other smaller streams and feeder streams are holding steelhead as well. Cattaraugus Creek is currently flowing at about 530 cubic feet per second and is at the upper end of the ideal flow range. The creek was murky earlier this week but should be clearing up leading into the weekend.

Fishing with egg sacs and egg pattern flies are good bets for steelhead. Light colored streamers and bugger patterns are good options in clear water conditions while darker patterns in black or purple work better in stained conditions.

Between bouts of windy weather, a few anglers have been out and filled their coolers with jumbo Lake Erie yellow perch. The area between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point in 45-50 feet of water is a good starting point. Keep in mind that from November 1st through May 1st, NYS law requires boaters to wear a life jacket at all times (in boats 21 feet long or less).

Chautauqua Lake – Chautauqua Lake fishing season is winding down and while most anglers have pulled their boats for the season, the next couple weeks offer some of the best muskie fishing action of year. Muskellunge can be very good during the later part of the season. Casters have been picking up muskies near weed edges in 8-12 feet of water casting large buck tails and/or stick bait. Trolling on the outside of the weed edge in the northern basin with large jointed stick baits is working best. Smallmouth bass anglers are catching good limits off the deeper rocky bars like Lakewood and Warners Bar. Live bait such as crawfish is working well, with 3 inch tubes for artifical baits.

Wayne County Fishing Report

by Christopher Kenyon

Streams – They are still fishing Maxwell and catching some browns and steelhead. You can fish either side of the road. The fast stuff is on the south, the slower on the north. A couple of guys caught and released browns. They hit imitation egg sacs.

The steelhead fishing in area streams will pick-up in December and January. If it gets super cold Maxwell will freeze enough to stop the easy fishing. It’s a small stream.

Anglers were casting out in the Sodus Bay channel, however no word on what they were catching.

Don’t forget Hughes. You will find browns at Hughes’ Marina. It’s located east of Pultneyville on Lake Road. There is a $5 permit fee to fish the small lagoon which is connected to Lake Ontario.

Anglers were still in Furnace Creek in Wolcott. Not much water in that small creek. More water than last week, just less fish.

Bays – Cold weather is here and everyone is waiting for early ice. However, on a delightful warm day last week the boats were fishing Sodus and Port Bays. They are targeting perch and crappies using small jigs tipped with spikes. Not everyone is hunting deer!

Currently you can launch small boats for Sodus Bay at the Coast Guard Station and the site on Route 14 near Arney’s Marina.

You can also launch at the north and south end of Port Bay. The docks are gone, but there is enough water at the ramp. As soon as the snow flies these roads will close.

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 and contact numbers.

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. We also have a new publication on Great Lakes fishing.

Erie Canal – No word on canal action, but the fish are there. Try fishing from the shore off of route 31.

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, the water level rose to 7,460cfs in the last day or so. Driftboat anglers are taking advantage of some good fishing. Steelhead along with rainbows and brown trout have been active along the river. Some nice size fish have been taken including a 21-pound rainbow. Smack beads, white Estaz flies and pink, chartreuse and white egg sacs are working well. Just remember that steelhead or rainbows must be 21 inches long and there is a one per day limit. 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, early in the week we had low, clear water but the fish provided constant action on Tuesday. We actually lost track of how many we hooked. All released to fight another day. Higher water yesterday and today should provide a crushfest!

Pulaski area/Salmon River – According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel, the water flow is running at 1200cfs through Thursday evening. Yesterday the fan shut off and we finally got a break from the windy conditions. The anglers we spoke with who fished the DSR reported getting into some fresh fish with blue egg sacs producing steady results. The best action was in the upper section. Anglers staying in the motel reported good results in the Upper and Lower Fly Zone with stoneflies suggested bait.

Oneida Lake — Anglers are still finding a decent night bite for walleye just before and after dark. Casting stickbaits is working well with blue/silver and black/silver good color choices. With the up and down weather, open water fishing for perch has been difficult at times but minnows and worms are still producing in 10-20 feet of water.

Sandy Pond – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, there is not much activity on the pond at this time of year as we wait for cold temperatures and ice.