Niagara Fishing Forecast
by Bill Hilts Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries – In Lake Ontario, salmon and trout action has been poor due to a continuation of the east wind creating unstable conditions. If you want to take a chance at finding a fish or two, try for lake trout, steelhead or salmon in the 200 to 400 foot range or on the Niagara Bar area. Might as well try for a LOC Derby fish while you are at it with the sparse leaderboard that is up. Casey Prisco’s 23 pound, 13 ounce salmon is still leading the way for the salmon – which still isn’t filled yet. Top laker is a 22 pound, six ounce Niagara Bar fish weighed in by Steve Klejdys of North Tonawanda. First place steelhead is a 12 pound, 11 ounce fish weighed in by Kyle Carrigan of Montour Falls out of Point Breeze. Brown trout leader is Fred Setera of New York Mills with a 16 pound, 7 ounce Oswego County fish. Check out the leaderboard at www.loc.org. The derby continues until July 27.
Lower Niagara River – If you want to fish in the Niagara River, you might want to hold off for a while. The moss has gotten even worse since our last report – bad news for drifters and casters. Not much to report because no one has ventured out.
Upper Niagara River-Erie Canal – Moss is posing a problem in the upper river, too, but some bass and perch are being reported around the islands and at the head of the river if you can keep away from the green stuff. Better off heading into the Erie Canal for more consistent action. The 24th Annual Erie Canal Fishing Derby is underway and will continue through July 13 in the 50 mile stretch of water from Albion to the Niagara River. Steve and Lynn Harrington of Gasport have done a fine job organizing this year’s event with many more sponsors and up to $20,000 in prizes up for grabs. Check out www.eriecanalderby.com for details on registration points and weigh stations. Species categories include bass, pike, walleye, bullhead, catfish, carp and sheepshead. In the Hooked on the Tonawandas Fishing Tournament last weekend held out of Gateway Harbor, nearly 200 people competed in the fun contest. Winners in the adult division included Anthony Henley of Lockport with a 6 pound pike; Matt Steffan of Williamsville with a 16-1/2 pound carp; Ernie Kielbasa of Niagara Falls with a 3 pound catfish; Robert Grant of Niagara Falls with a 2.3 pound smallmouth bass; and John Green with a .73 pound perch. Three juniors won a trophy in the kids division including Tiffany Phelps of Buffalo with a 1.3 pound bass; Victoria Alciki of Clarence Center is a one pound bullhead; and Kalub Allen of North Tonawanda with a .36 pound perch. A good time was had by all.
Chautauqua County Fishing Report
by Craig Robbins
Lake Erie and Tribs – Trolling with worm harnesses or stick baits near the bottom or bottom bouncing with worm harnesses are producing good limits of walleyes in Lake Erie. Trolling this main program off Barcelona, where anglers are picking up good catches in 70 feet of water. Walleye are hanging just off the bottom and stick baits have been favored over worm harnesses. Barcelona anglers are picking up some bonus lake or brown trout using this program.
Yellow perch fishing slowed off Cattaraugus Creek this week. Perch are still between depths of 50 and 60 feet, but searching around for perch schools on the bottom is important to success. Live emerald shiners fished just off the bottom in 40 feet is working best for perch. If emeralds are scarce, try other small minnows/shiners or salted minnows.
The smallmouth bass bite also cooled a bit this week. The better bite transitioned to a little deeper water of 20-40 feet. Bass stick tight to structure, so key on areas like drop-offs, reefs, rock piles and humps. A drop-shot rig with live crayfish or golden shiners has been working on Van Burean Point. A drop-shot with tube jigs or plastic creature baits (especially round goby imitation) also work well. The breakwalls around Barcelona and Dunkirk Harbors also are producing smallies.
Chautauqua Lake – ABA Weekend BASS Series angler Brad Brodnicki of Amherst New York took first place this past weekend with a five bass limit of 20.92 pounds. With only one keeper bass coming out of the shallow docks. The majority of his bass came in deep water near weed edges. While some anglers are also catching good numbers, around docks or in open pockets within the weed beds. Productive methods include fishing with live bait (minnows, crayfish, leeches) outside the weed edge or dropping jig and pig combination in the pockets.
Anglers continue to see some decent walleye fishing in the south basin along weed edges. Walleye are still being caught in the north basin along weed edges between Prendergast and the Bell Tower. Target walleye by trolling with jointed stick baits and worm harnesses or by drifting and jigging with blade baits (cicada, silver buddy) or jigs with night crawlers or leeches. Weed edges are also a good bet for muskellunge. Large stick baits, crank baits and buck tail trolling spinners work well for musky.
Fair Haven/Cayuga Fishing Report
by Werner Stenger
The lack of westerly winds is keeping cooler waters near shore in the fair Haven area on Lake Ontario. That has held the kings away for the moment but still leaves us with some outstanding brown trout fishing near shore. Find where the 58-60 degree water meets bottom and the trout should be near by. This has mostly been in the 20-40′ depth of water.
There is lots of fun to be had in the bay fishing for bass, pan fish, and sheephead. The area surrounding Grassy Island has been holding plenty of sunfish and rock bass.
Oswego Count 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:
After running between 2,000 and 4,000cfs for a few days, the river has risen to 6,970cfs this afternoon. Most areas along the river are fishable at this level. Walleye are active throughout the river taking nightcrawlers and bass are responding to crayfish, minnows, crankbaits and plastics. There are a good number of sheepshead being taken with crayfish. 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 Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
Conditions on the lake remain about the same. The lake fishing continues to be slow. There has been an early morning brown trout bite in about 40 feet of water off Nine Mile Point and a few lake trout have been taken. Very little salmon activity has been reported. Flies, flashers and spoons are the suggested applications.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift – We have had some good brown trout fishing this week. We need a few days of west winds to get some kings to show up. I’ll take brown trout fishing this good everyday though. LOCKED!!
Salmon River/ Pulaski Area report – We have not had a lot of reports from the river this week. Anglers who were out likely found a few smallmouth bass and some trout activity. Minnows and crayfish have been working.
Pulaski Area report – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The lake is still in transition as the water temperature has not set up a thermocline as yet. There are some nice fish being caught but you will put in your time. Look for lake trout and brown trout and an occasional salmon. Spoons and flies and flashers are suggested bait to try. The bass bite has been good in Mexico Bay in 10-12 feet of water with minnows, crawfish and nightcrawlers working well.
Oneida Lake report – The walleye have moved out into deeper water. Look in 30-32 feet of water off Shackelton Shoals for some action. Anglers are also finding an early morning and late night bite off the shoals using jigs tipped with half of a nightcrawler. Bass are active in the shallow water.
Sandy Pond report – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, there has been a good bass bite along with some pike activity on the pond. The action is best when it is overcast or early and later in the day. Full sun during the mid-day slows the activity.