Niagara Fishing Report

by Bill Hilts Jr

Lake Ontario and tributaries – If you “love” hard water angling, this is the perfect year for it all around the state. Ice action in Wilson and Olcott harbors is at the top of the list for the most consistent area fishing, but you will have to work for a mix of panfish, perch, trout and pike. One spot that was producing some nice pike through the ice was on the east side of the harbor in Olcott near the old wooden docks according to Greg Stanley at All in the Same Boat Tackle Shop. Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek has been locked up with ice, but if you can break away ice to create some open water around the power station, you’ll catch browns and steelhead. Use a white 1/32nd ounce jig tipped with a wax worm to take your trout. The water is clear so be sure to downsize your presentation. The Lake Ontario State of the Lake meeting for Region 9 will be held on March 13 at Cornell Cooperative Extension Lockport, 4487 Lake Avenue (Route 78). The public session starts at 6:30 pm and it’s important to get a good turnout to show support of the programs.

Lower Niagara River – The Roger Tobey Memorial Steelhead Contest is Saturday (Feb. 15) in the lower river and area tributaries. You can register online at www.niagarariveranglers.com or you can stop down to Creek Road Bait and Tackle in Lewiston. As far as the weather, it looks like a decent weekend with temperatures in the 20s – a heat wave! As far as the local fishing scene, the lower river has been doing pretty well for trout according to some of the local charter captains. Despite the cold temperatures, both Jeff Draper and Joe Marra reported some decent days earlier this week on browns and steelhead. A combination of minnows and Kwikfish were producing a mixed bag of fish; egg sacs were the tickets for just steelies. Fish could be caught throughout the river system, however the ice was posing a problem at the mouth of the river so not too many people have fished the Bar area. Remember that walleye season is open and the big females filled with eggs are extremely susceptible to angling pressure. If you are going to keep one for the frying pan, keep one of the smaller one. The daily limit on walleye is one fish per person this time of year.

Upper Niagara River – Not too much to report other than some ice fishing around Grand Island – at the Beaver Island Marina and the Holiday Inn area.

Wayne County Fishing Report

by Christopher Kenyon

Streams – None of the streams are open. Snow and cold temperatures have covered them completely.

Bays -Ice fishing is spotty on Port Bay while Sodus Bay has decent perch action off the loop at Sodus Point. The ice is 15 inches thick, however you need to beware of bubblers and places where current undermines the ice. Bubblers are used around docks and when there is cold temperatures and snow cover they are sometimes difficult to see.

Always enter the bay at the same location. That way you know the thickness of the ice. Or better yet, follow the tracks of other anglers.

At Sodus Bay the perch are hitting smaller jigs with spikes. Port Bay has its moments, however the last two days has been slow. One or two fish is the take. They will school-up later this month.

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

The Thomas brothers just finished the Chautauqua event and the winners are posted on their web page. Next up is Tupper Lake and then Sodus Bay.

Check out the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops. Visit www.waynecountytourism.com for more.

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 – There is great ice on the canal and they don’t have all the snow cover associated with the Lake Ontario bays. Fish for pan fish and pike.

Chautauqua County Fishing Report

by Craig Robbins

Lake Erie and Tribs – Lake Erie tributaries’ are frozen solid, so stream anglers are turning to Dunkirk Harbor where steelhead and browns are being caught off Dunkirk Pier.

Casting spinners and cleo’s are working best, with some browns being caught on wax worms under a bobber right off the wall.

It looks like Lake Erie tribs will frozen at least till the first of next week.

Chautauqua Lake – Chautauqua Lake has plenty of fishable ice throughout the lake. Anglers continue to do well fishing the flats in 8-15 feet off Mayville for perch and gills-insight of the Ice Castle. Warner Bar is still producing good numbers of sunfish and perch.

Walleye are starting to show up in creel limits off Long Point, in the drop offs starting in 24 down to 40 feet. Jigging up walleye just off the bottom, with jigging spoons and/or jigging rebelas. Anglers are having to go through plenty of throw backs to get their limits.