Greater Niagara Region

by Bill Hilts, Jr.

Lake Ontario and tributaries – Despite the cold clutches of winter still trying to hold on, some warmer weather finally broke through to get the streams flowing again. This weekend looks even better! Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek has been a good place to be, with egg sacs, single eggs or jigs fished under a float and tipped with a wax worm the best approach. White has been a good color to start with. Steelhead is the primary focus, but there might be a few browns around. Bob Ashley of Mentor, Ohio was fishing the Burt Dam area last week and reported some excellent action on browns, as well as a few steelhead, using larger-sized egg sacs made up of salmon or brown trout eggs. It was all catch-and-release and he managed to reel in 40 fish over three days. Four mile creek is holding some nice steelhead, too, and Gary DeBacco of Niagara Falls managed to out-duel five nice trout last weekend on egg sacs. Keg Creek is also a good option to try – not just in the creek but casting off the mouth. With the warmer weather starting to be a bit more consistent, look for pier action to start and take off, too. Casting spoons or spinners is the best bet. Further to the east, Johnson Creek and the Oak are both reporting runs of steelhead and open water. While April 1 is usually at big day inland for the trout fishermen, remember that Great Lakes tributaries have trout fishing all year long. However, early April is the start of the many pen-rearing projects along the south shore of the lake. The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Assn. (LOTSA) will be getting their pens ready to put into the water on April 5 at the Town of Newfane Marina starting at 8:30 am. Volunteers are needed to help with the project, including with feeding of the fish once they arrive. The salmon and trout must be fed five times a day for at least three weeks. Just show up at the marina or sign up online at www.lotsa.org. The Oak Orchard pen project will be starting at 8 am on April 5 at the Lake Breeze Marina. Two bullhead contests are on the calendar for April – the 3rd Annual Wilson Conservation Club bullhead contest April 11 to 13; and the Second Annual Jean’s Bullhead Contest April 25-27. Hopefully we get more warm weather to turn these fish on!

Lower Niagara River – Outdoor writer Freddie McKnight of Pennsylvania is no stranger to the Niagara River and this time around he brought up a couple of car loads of anglers from the Keystone State. He did a little showing off by catching the biggest steelhead of the group earlier this week – a 14 pound fish that grabbed a minnow while fishing with Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Falls in the Devil’s Hole section of the river. McKnight’s boat managed to reel in a dozen nice fish for the morning, all steelhead. The next day, they duplicated that effort with lake trout and brown trout on the Niagara Bar, using a combination of minnows and Kwikfish lures fished off three-way rigs. Conditions were ideal. Unless we see some rain and additional snowmelt, the water might be clearing up a bit too much. We’ll have to play it by ear. Shore fishermen at mid-week were advised that State Parks had closed the stairs at Whirlpool and Devil’s Hole state parks due to icy conditions, but it could open back up by the weekend. To find out the status call 716-284-5778. Apparently, there was significant ice that caused a problem with one fishermen earlier this week.

Upper Niagara River – April 1st is the big opening day for inland trout and salmon fishing. That doesn’t matter much here because of the year-round options for the Great Lakes. Casting the upper rapids area or the head of the river around Bird Island Pier are good spots for catching a trout or two on spoons, spinners or eggs. April 1st does make a difference, though, on the local scene with two inland lakes or ponds that receive trout stockings in early April – Oppenheim Park Pond on Niagara Falls Blvd. in Wheatfield and Hyde Park Lake in Niagara Falls. Gill Creek will also receive trout stockings. However, no date has been set yet for those stockings. We’ll let you know when we hear word or you can call the DEC stocking hotline at 358-4950. As of Feb. 1, the DEC has initiated a new license fee structure in the state, reducing the costs of hunting and fishing licenses – especially for nonresidents. Out of state anglers can now purchase an annual license for $50 and the license is valid for a full year from the date of activation. Check out www.dec.ny.gov for more info.

Chautauqua County Fishing Report

by Craig Robbins

Lake Erie, Lake Erie Harbors and Tribs – All the tribs that border Lake Erie in Chautauqua County are currently open but running high as of the first part of the week. While the water is stained from the recent run off, later this week it will clear up to provide some great early spring fishing. During mid week the smaller streams will your best bet for fishable flows.

Early spring patterns will be egg sacs, egg pattern flies, trout beads and jigs with grubs, working your baits slow and deep. As we transition into spring, look for steelhead to hit additional baits such as stonefly imitations, streamer patterns, minnows and nightcrawlers.

Dunkirk Harbor is wide open for both City Pier, fishing platform, anglers and boaters. Anglers have been catching good numbers of rainbow trout with minnows fished under a float or spoons have worked well. Barcelona Harbor is still iced-over.

Chautauqua Lake – Chautauqua still has a thick main ice sheet and shore ice is good in most places. Areas off stream inlets are starting to open up, so avoid those spots. Anglers are picking up some crappie around the south basin is spots like Driftwood, Ashville Bay and Lakewood. Some catches have been reported off Mayville as well. Target crappie in 5-10 feet of water over weed beds. The crappie bite has been best the few hours before and after sunset. The yellow perch bite has been better in shallower areas. Ashville Bay has been producing good numbers of bluegill with a few crappie mixed in. Jigs with grubs or vertical spoons/jigs with a small minnow are good bet.

Oswego County Fishing Report

This 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 has dropped the last couple of days. This morning the flow is 7,690cfs. After another week of cold temperatures and wind, the thermometer is finally going to reach up into the 40s to lower 50s through the next few days. Anglers are somewhat limited to the walkway, the Kiddie Pool and Bridie Pool and behind the hotels. Due to construction in the area, there is no access to the dam. Smack beads, egg sacs and marabou jigs are working well. 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, Tuesday we definitely had to work a little bit harder to capture them. By the end of the day our totals were presentable though. Wednesday our anglers lasted the whole trip in the brutal cold wind and were rewarded with some beautifully colored steelies. Not a blood-bath day but we were “locked” in every spot.

Pulaski area/Salmon River – According to Garrett Brancy of the Douglaston Salmon Run, the water line indicates that flows will be 750cfs through Friday night. Warmer days are on the horizon. Although it was very cold yesterday it did not stop our guest from enjoying some time on the water. He reported that fishing was good, landing nearly a half-dozen and losing a handful of others. It was also noted that pink worms took a few fresh chromers while blue egg sacs and beads brought a mix of dark and bright fish to hand.

Oneida Lake – Although it has been cold and there is plenty of ice on the lake, temperatures are going to warm up significantly over the next few days. There are cracks and gas pockets in the ice so please use caution if you venture out in the next day or two. As we go into the weekend conditions will change and may do so quickly depending on how warm it actually gets. Reports are indicating that the perch bite is picking up across the lake. Big Bay continues to produce some bluegills and other panfish.

Sandy Pond – According to Woody’s Tackle, we still have plenty of ice with 20-24 inches on much of the pond. This should be one of the best weekends of the season for perch. Reports are indicating the bite has definitely picked up over the last few days. Minnows, spikes and grubs are working well. With the depth of ice we have, conditions should be good through the weekend, but as always use caution as you venture out.