Greater Niagara Fishing Report

by Bill Hilts

Lake Ontario and tributaries – Happy New Year! In the fishing department, ice fishing in the Wilson area has taken back off again with some safe ice of up to 5 inches being reported according to Matt Wilson of North Tonawanda. There’s been a good mix of perch and panfish with an occasional trout with one of the best baits being small chartreuse tear drop ice jigs tipped with wax worms. Fish were being caught at both Wilson Harbor in the back bay and at Roosevelt Beach. While 18 Mile Creek was a bit muddy earlier in the week, look for conditions to improve by the weekend with the influx of cold weather for both steelhead and browns. One of the best spots has been at the dam at Lyndonville on Johnson Creek. Greg Stanley at All in the Same Boat in Newfane landed a 16 pound steelhead there earlier in the week on a black and red jig. Chartreuse will also work, clean or tipped with a wax worm. Olive colored jigs in a 1/32nd ounce size and tipped with a wax worm or meal worm will also catch trout. There’s still been no word as to when the sporting license site will be up and running again as they switch over to a new system. If you are in need of a license before then, you are out of luck. The website will announce when it’s working again or you can contact your local license issuing agent as to operational status. It is cold out there this week, with temperatures into the single digits and wind chills below zero. There will be a slight warm up over the weekend, but it will return to cold temperatures by Monday.

Lower Niagara River – Just when things were looking for up last weekend, the dirty water finally caught up with the lower river and shut things down. And with 40 miles per hour winds in the forecast blowing in the new year, water conditions probably won’t improve much by the weekend. Single digit temperatures and below zero wind chills will keep people from fishing until the short warm up over the weekend. Add in the fact that access will be limited due to construction issues at the NYPA access road, Artpark and cold weather and you might be better off staying in front of the fireplace until things settle down. Remember that the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Show is set for the Conference and Events Center in Niagara Falls Jan. 24-26, which also includes two days of The Bass University (thebassuniversity.com) and the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association Salmon School and Marketplace (lotsa.org). Be sure to mark it on your calendar. A few exhibit spaces are available if you want to be an active participant. Call Chris S. at 278-2123 for more info.

Upper Niagara River – Water conditions are poor for upper river action in the open water, but ice fishing at the Buffalo Boat Harbor is starting to take off according to Matt Wilson of North Tonawanda. He was reporting 5-6 inches of ice earlier in the week and it’s probably thicker now. When he made it out, he did very well on perch in the 8 to 12 inch range using chartreuse tear drop ice jigs tipped with soft plastic Trout Magnets or an emerald shiner.

Wayne County Fishing Report

by Christopher Kenyon

Streams – There is an excellent flow in Maxwell Creek; however with frigid temps coming the stream will be difficult to fish. Shore ice builds-up on this small Lake Ontario tributary.
Two days ago anglers were catching steelhead, so when it does thaw this weekend give it a try.
The parking areas are usually plowed.

Bays – There is safe ice on most bays; however beware of soft spots especially near shoreline bubblers and stream mouths. Port Bay has 5 solid inches, Sodus 5 to 8 inches, and Blind Sodus Bay has 8 inches. Recent lake effect snow has covered the ice which acts like insulation so fish where the other shanties located. It’s still not safe for ATV or snowmobiles.

For bait, go with the smaller jigs and spikes for perch and use minnows for pike. The perch are scattered on Sodus Bay. Most of the action appears to be on the east side near the north end of the bay.

The NYS Ice Fishing Pro-Am comes to Sodus Bay February 22-23, 2014. All the information is on the web at www.nysiceproam.com

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Check out the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops atwww.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. We also have a new publication on Great Lakes fishing.

Erie Canal – The canal has safe ice. The best location to fish is near Widewaters.

Oswego County Fishing Report

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

Oswego River report – After running at 14,000cfs earlier in the week, the water flow is down to 10,700cfs this morning. Conditions have been tough over the last couple of days with cold temperatures, wind and snow. The weekend looks better with more moderate temperatures expected. 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, he was able to get back on the water this past weekend. Saturday, even with the high, colored water, we picked at them in every spot. Sunday was a tough bite but we did manage to get a young angler his first steelhead and a little more action throughout the trip. Conditions have been a bit rough the last day or so with very cold temperatures, wind and snow.

Pulaski area/Salmon River report – According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel, over the next couple of days, wide spread snow and very cold temperatures are expected. With the temperature in the single digits during the day and below zero at night, slush ice will be a factor in the mid to lower end of the river. If you are going to fish, the section of river between Altmar and Pineville is your best bet. Egg sacs, beads, single egg patterns and nymphs are suggested baits.

According to Douglaston Salmon Run, there hasn’t been a lot of activity on the run in the last day or so with the cold temperatures and lake effect snow. Extreme cold will be here tomorrow but the weekend is expected to moderate with 20s to near 30 degrees in the forecast.

According to Salmon Heaven Lodge – Last weekend we had a good outing with fish caught on floats and flies. There are a lot of fish between Altmar and Pineville. The hot items were an Oregon cheese egg imitation and blue egg sacs under floats. There are a lot of fresh, chrome fish with some darker fish that have been in the river longer mixed in.

Oneida Lake report – The cold temperatures this week are definitely working in the ice angler’s favor with 6-8 inches of ice in some areas. The coldest temperatures of the season are expected today and tomorrow. The weekend will moderate with temperatures in the 20s to near 30 degrees making for a great ice fishing weekend. Anglers are finding a decent walleye bite in about 20 feet of water and crappie and blue gills are active in the Big Bay area. As always use caution as you venture out.

Sandy Pond report – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, we have ice, 6-8 inches, with more ice building daily. Very good conditions are predicted for the weekend as the temperatures will warm into the 20s and we will have plenty of ice. Reports are indicating the perch bite has been a bit slow but northern pike are active.