Niagara Region Fishing Report
By Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries – Shoreline trollers in the lake are picking up browns and Coho salmon with regularity, using stickbaits to attract these feisty fish to hit. Dennis Hoffman of North Tonawanda reported good success on Cohos usually any silver colored Rapala stickbait long lined or fished off boards in 8-10 feet of water. Steelhead were in 8 to 20 feet of water in front of Four Mile Creek. In the clearer, shallower waters, an electric motor worked better than his kicker motor. Boat pressure can also make a difference on fish attitudes. The piers in Wilson and Olcott are also producing browns, steelhead and the occasional Coho according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker in Olcott. Tributary action has also been good. Browns and steelhead are still at Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek and there are even some reports of bass. Remember that bass season is catch and release right now. If you do target bass, you must use artificial baits. Creek temperatures were in the low to mid-40’s. If you are helping out with the Olcott pen rearing project, they will be receiving their fish at 1 pm on April 22 at the Town of Newfane Marina. Check out www.lotsa.org for details or to sign up for the feeding schedule. The Wilson Conservation Club held their 3rd Annual Bullhead Contest last weekend and there was some pretty good action in the area around Wilson. A total of 54 adult anglers competed in the friendly contest, as well as 8 junior fishermen. Winning two fish weight was 3.65 pounds reeled in by Joel Feagin of Wilson. Second place was John Pittsley with 3.55 pounds. In the kids division, Cameron McKee was first place with a two fish weight of 3.07 pounds. Next bullhead contest on the calendar is being hosted by Jean’s in Wilson from April 25th to the 27th. Call 751-9198 for more info. They are also picking up some perch in Wilson harbor, too. A new outdoor show on LCTV (Time Warner Cable Channel 22; Phone number is 716-434-1733; www.lctv.net) is kicking off this Wednesday April 23 at 4 pm called “The Outdoor Beat”, bringing aboard local experts on area outdoor activities. It will be live for call-in and also air several other times on Thursday and the weekend. Check it out!
Lower Niagara River – If you were looking to venture down into the gorge and chase some trout, the good news is that the stairs at the Whirlpool and Devil’s Hole state parks are now open after the nasty winter that doesn’t want to go away. It was closed down for nearly a month due to safety concerns. Lower river trout action has been good with steelhead, brown trout and lake trout snapping for anglers in the river and out on the Niagara Bar. Minnows, kwikfish and egg sacs will all work for drifters; casters can use spoons and spinners. River conditions have been good with water temperatures in the 34 degree range. That’s not going to change too much with the amount of ice still left in Lake Erie. Last projected report for lifting the ice boom had it started the end of the month, but the determining factor is less than 250 square miles. Until that happens, we can only hope for some strong northeast winds to push the ice toward the west to help with the ice dissipation. A reminder that walleye are still out of season and that it’s not legal to target a fish that is out of season. Walleye season opens on May 3.
Upper Niagara River – Most of the river is staying colder due to the ice in Lake Erie. Look for bays and inlets around Grand Island to find waters that will be warming quicker to seek out a mix of panfish like perch, crappie and bluegill. Trout are still an option off the Bird Island Pier and Broderick Park by casting spoons, spinners or egg sacs. Remember that Hyde Park Lake, Gill Creek (Niagara Falls) and Oppenheim Park Pond (Wheatfield) all received trout stockings from DEC last week.
Wayne County Fishing Report
by Christopher Kenyon
Lake Ontario – After a rather long winter we are now trolling the lake. It took some time for the bays to shed the ice coat; however we are clear to send the boats in the big lake.
The browns are hitting close to shore and they are cruising the water near Maxwell and Bear Creek in Ontario.
Charter captains are reporting browns and steelhead and the numbers are running in the twenties and thirties for hits.
There are some mudlines near Sodus Point and east towards Port Bay. The trout are hitting the usual assortment of lures…spoons and stickbaits.
Streams –There are still fish in the creeks. Use egg sacs and bright flies. The water flow is perfect.
Maxwell is the most notable stream in Wayne County; however the smaller creeks will hold steelhead
Bays – Crappies and bullheads are the main attraction for bay fishing. It continues to be on the cold side, but when the warmer weather comes the bullhead action is intense.
The anglers line Bay Bridge at the south end of Sodus for this spring ritual.
Check out the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops. www.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 – Crappies are being caught in Widewaters near Newark. This section is never drained so you can launch on Route 31.
Chautauqua County Fishing Report
by Craig Robbins
Lake Erie, Lake Erie Harbors and Tribs – This past weekend warm temperature and Mondays’ rain have increased stream levels. Creeks levels have peaked and are now beginning to fall to good spring time fishable conditions. Cattaraugus Creek was running high as of weeks end at 2,100 cubic feet per second, but warmer temperatures this past weekend have brought that level down. This coming week looks to be good as spring temperatures stabilize along with the flows. Spring run steelhead hit a variety of baits including egg sacs, egg pattern flies, trout beads, jigs with grubs (fished under a float), minnows, nightcrawlers, streamer patterns and bugger patterns. When fishing murky conditions, brightly colored baits and flies are good bets.
Anglers are still doing well off the Dunkirk City Pier, catching steelhead and brown trout on minnows fished under a slip bobber. Spoons, spinners, stickbaits or jigs with grubs under a float will also catch trout. Trout will begin to show up in Barcelona Harbor as the ice moves out of the Harbor.
Chautauqua Lake – Chautauqua Lake is finally opened up and is ice free. Crappie fishing on Chautauqua Lake is best just after ice-out. Congregations of crappie are traditionally found around Rock and Grass Islands-just outside the buoys, on Lakewood Bar, along the narrows between the bridge and the ferry, at Mayville flats and in the canals. Try 1/32 and 1/64 ounce jig heads with one inch tubes in hot colors and tipped with a minnow. Bullhead are available in the canals and from shore at night. Worms, leeches or chicken livers fished on the bottom, works well for bullhead.
What about salmon river report?!