Niagara Fishing Report
by Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries – Lake action reports have been few and far between because of the fact that this is Pro-Am tournament week. From what we’ve heard through the fish line is that king salmon have started to turn on as waters started to warm, attracting baitfish into the area. With the baitfish come the big kings seeking out food after a long winter. Limit catches were reported on the Niagara Bar going into last weekend and that should continue barring any major storms. Greg Stanley at All in the Same Boat in Newfane pointed out that magnum size Cotton Candy Stinger spoons were hot last weekend in the lake with no specific details … because of the tournament. Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker said that most of the action is starting to move a little more away from shore. Salmon were hitting in the 80 to 150 range; Cohos, browns and steelies were in the 30 to 60 foot range. It’s a mix of baits right now. Lake trout are also available in the 70 to 100 foot range. In 18 Mile Creek around the Burt Dam area, Walker noted that the dam area was crazy with rock bass right now. In addition, Stanley reported taking a half-dozen steelhead the past few days by casting firetiger E-Chip rattlebaits in a ½ ounce size. Smallmouth bass were also hitting. Spinnerbaits will also work. Pier action is also producing a few trout and occasional coho according to Walker. Some perch are hitting as well. The 30th Annual Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament is finally here and teams from all over the northeast are plying the water in search of salmon and trout May 24-25. Because of the 30th anniversary celebration there will be two events this year, with over $40,000 extra cash in cup money. You have to fish in both events to be eligible for the big bucks. It looks like over $30,000 in prize money will be up for grabs each weekend, too, over and above the cup cash – making it a total purse of $100,000 for Niagara! The tournament uses a unique scoring system based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound. In addition, cup scoring is also different in that no one can really run away with the top slot. No one knows who’s going to win until the very end. There’s a new tackle shop in Wilson Harbor – Colville Outfitters located at 125 Ontario Street, Wilson. Stop in and say hello. Their phone number is 716-572-9268.
Lower Niagara River – Lower River action continues to be good for trout and bass. Best spot for trout has been in Devil’s Hole; best spot for bass has been at the mouth of the river on the bar or just off the structure on tubes. For trout, the Mag Lip produced a 15 pound steelhead for Tom Bricker of Lancaster, PA while fishing with Capt. Frank Campbell earlier this week. In addition to several steelies, they also managed to catch a few browns and lake trout to round out their day while fishing with Tom’s wife Donna. A few cohos showed up on the bar, too, while drifting mag lips and minnows. Smelt run has died down with no reports from anyone. If you missed it you are out of luck. Catch of the week has to be the five-plus foot long sturgeon reeled in by Marlin Meyers of Harrisburg, PA while drifting a minnow along the Coast Guard on Wednesday. It was released quickly and unharmed. Don’t forget that the World Fish Migration Day event is Saturday at Joseph Davis State Park starting at 10 am with a talk on sturgeon by Dr. Dimitry Gorsky. He will have his research vessel there alone with a sturgeon that they will be releasing. That will be followed up with a walk and talk from Devil’s Hole State Park into the gorge for a hike along the shoreline in search of spawning sturgeon.
Upper Niagara River – The fish are starting to turn on as the waters continue to warm in the upper river. All the harbors and marinas are good bets for perch and panfish. Some bass are also available – largemouth and smallmouth – but north of the Peace Bridge is all catch and release until June 21. You must use artificial baits for bass until then. Better bass action is usually around Strawberry and Motor islands. Don’t rule out the Erie Canal either. There are a couple of kids fishing contests coming up soon – one in Widewaters Marina in Lockport and the other in the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge – both on June 7 starting at 8 am.
Oswego County Fishing Report
This report courtesy of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning
Oswego River/Lake Ontario report – According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop,
the water level remains high running at 14,200cfs this afternoon. With this fast flow, there has not been much action along the river. Anglers are finding some rock bass behind the hotels and down in front of Breitbeck Park. A minnow on a jig is the suggested bait. 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.
Lake Ontario report – According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift, after capturing king after king early this week, just when you think it can’t get any better, we boated a giant brown trout. The spring king fishing is at its best and the bite is heavy. We had a limit of kings yesterday morning with a limit of walleye in the afternoon.
According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop, There is a good king salmon fishery in the lake right now. Reports are indicating a very active bite in 60-80 feet of water east of Oswego off of Bayshore.
Salmon River/ Pulaski Area report – According to Garrett Brancy of the Douglaston Salmon Run, anglers spent Tuesday picking away at the remaining steelhead. Anglers reported a mixed bag of species on Wednesday including longnose gar, carp, smallmouth bass, fallfish, and an occasional steelhead. Flows remain at 185cfs and scattered showers are in the forecast for the next couple of days with improving weather as we go into the holiday weekend.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel, the majority of fish have dropped back to Lake Ontario, but a few dropbacks are scattered throughout the lower end of the river. Keep in mind that the dropbacks typically like the faster water and tend to be suspended in the water column. The head of the deeper holes such as Papermill, 81 Hole, Town Pool, Longbridge, Staricase, and Black Hole is where anglers are focusing.
Pulaski Area – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
King salmon are moving in with anglers doing well in the area off Nine Mile Point. Look in 30-60 feet of water down 20 feet from the surface. Anglers are finding some brown trout and a steelhead or two on the top occasionally. The inshore brown trout action in 6-8 feet of water has tapered off as they have moved out to deeper water. Spoons are the bait of choice with Michigan Stingers and Pro Trolls working well.
Oneida Lake report – Walleye fishing continues to be good on the lake. Anglers are finding jigging with bucktail jigs tipped with a nightcrawler and trolling with worm harnesses are both working well in 10-15 feet of water. The perch bite reportedly is rather slow right now although a few have been taken in the early evening. Anglers are finding a few bullhead around the shore of the lake.
Sandy Pond report – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
Anglers on the pond are finding a very good northern pike bite. Trolling plugs or spoons is working well. They are finding an occasional walleye with worm harnesses and jigging with bucktail jigs tipped with a worm suggested applications.
Fair Haven / Cayuga County
by Werner Stenger
Well it was a other great week in Fair Haven. The brown trout bite has slowed but kings have come in following the bait. As I had expected the walleye bite is on in and outside the bay.
Kevin Langley and friend Brett joined us for a brown / walleye combo that was topped off by a 28″ walleye weighing in at 8 1/2 lbs.
Wayne County Fishing Report
by Christopher Kenyon
Lake Ontario – One day they hit…the next is a bust. That was last week for Lake Ontario. The warmer water was pushed to the high seas and the browns have decided to scatter.
Fish first light close to shore then move to 100 feet. Use the usual assortment of colors.
The alewives (bait fish) are stacked-up close to shore so after the early bite head deeper. Lake trout are on the bottom in 100 feet and the steelhead are starting to fire-up.
Water temps off of Sodus Bay are 46 degrees….cold, cold, cold.
It’s been a slow week after the slammer start to the trout and salmon season. Lake temps should start to increase and produce a more stable fishery.
Memorial Day weekend is early this year. (This weekend) Make a trip to Wayne County and fish our water.
Bays – Bay fishing has been slow with some rock bass hitting near the islands in Sodus. Crappies are being reeled-in at Bay Bridge. You can fish from the bridge or rent a boat at Bay Bridge Sport Shop or Davenport Marina.
Some pike are still being caught in Sodus Bay and a few are also coming from Blind Sodus Bay, the embayment that borders Fair Haven.
Don’t forget the Wayne County 5-Grandslam and Merchants Challenge Youth Derby which is happening right now. Click on Grandslam for more information.
Check out the rest of 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 – The canal is producing panfish, especially some nice bluegills and crappies near the Widewaters.