Oswego County Fishing Report
by Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River/Lake Ontario – According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop, the water level has been up and down this week running between 3,000 and 11,000cfs. This afternoon it is flowing at 8,550cfs. Fishing along the river is difficult in most areas at this level. An area that is accessible is flatrock in front of Fort Ontario. Look for bass, catfish and sheepshead using crayfish and minnows. 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 – According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift, earlier in the week we did have a shot at a few salmon. We managed to take three good ones, a couple small ones and a couple of steelhead. Attractor flies and spoons with chartreuse being a good color choice worked well. Brutal wind and rain mid-week made us slide in and look for brown trout. We were able to grab a limit in a couple hours. Hoping this west wind will bring in the salmon.
Salmon River/ Pulaski Area – According to Garrett Brancy of the Douglaston Salmon Run, activity on the river is quiet right now as we wait for the first salmon sighting of the season. The current water flow is 500cfs.
Pulaski Area – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, wind, wind and more wind. That has been the story the last couple of days on the lake. West winds are expected from 15-25 mph through tomorrow. Consequently there is very little to report. Once conditions settle down it is hopeful that these winds will have brought loads of salmon to the eastern end of the lake.
Oneida Lake – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, the activity has slowed on the lake this week with the weather conditions not very favorable for fishing. The wind has been a factor the last few days along with rain. When conditions allow, anglers have found some walleye in about 30 feet of water with stickbaits and bucktail jigs tipped with a nightcrawler. In the more shallow depths, jigs or worm harnesses pulled through the weeds are working. Anglers are finding bass in shallow water with spinnerbaits.
Sandy Pond – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, there is very little activity on the pond at this time.
Fair Haven / Cayuga County
by Werner Stenger
Salmon fishing has been difficult over the past weeks in Fair Haven with fish scattered throughout the lake. Hopefully this weeks storms and west winds will help to move the salmon into their staging patterns which should put them at our door.
Brown trout fishing has been more consistent with most action in the 70-90 FOW range with fish from 50′ to bottom. Thankfully our bass fishing has been good along the shore with most fish in 20′ of water or less.
Wayne County Fishing
by Christopher Kenyon
Lake Ontario – The lake did its flip routine yesterday. This normal summer occurrence is when the warm water sinks replacing the perfect environment for kings. Cold water comes in and fish scatter.
The kings are there…they are just a little harder to locate. A constant thermal will set –up and we will be back in business in a few days.
A nice 12 pound steelie was caught Monday and the kings are in the 30 pound class.
Bays – Bay fishing is great no matter what you want to catch. Largemouths are along the weedlines and panfish are everywhere.
Some anglers are fishing off the Sodus Point pier casting for bass and anything that bites.
The GrandSlam Youth Derby is over for 2014. The updated leaderboards are on the county web page listed below.
The awards ceremony will take place at the Sodus Point Fire hall on Saturday, August 23rd at 11:00 am.
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 bass are hitting in the canal. You can launch at Clyde or Newark or fish along the shoreline. The water is still a little high and muddy; however you can still find fish everywhere.
Chautauqua County
Lake Erie and Tribs – Walleye angler out of Dunkirk Harbor haven’t had to travel far this past week. Head northwest of the Harbor, looking for 60-75 feet anglers will find good schools of 4-6 pound “eyes” with the opportunity for 8 plus pounders being caught later in the morning.
For anglers that mind travel a bit, just west of Cattaraugus Creek. Off of Cattaraugus Creek, trollers are catching fair numbers of suspended walleye outside 70 feet of water. While Barcelona anglers report some decent catches straight off the harbor in 80-110 feet of water. The best action has been on lures run near the thermocline, between 60-70 feet down. In addition to walleye.
Perch fishing has been hit or miss lately. A good starting point would be off Cattaraugus Creek in 50 feet of water, and then work towards deeper water. Live emerald shiners fished just off the bottom work best for perch.
Chautauqua Lake – Muskellunge fishing on Chautauqua Lake has been the talk of the lake so far this season, anglers boating multible “toothie critters daily. The best pattern so far has been trolling along weed edges with large stickbaits. For off shore trollers action has been good on suspended musky in 25-35 feet of water, 15-20 feet down. Largemouth bass catches are common around docks, weed lines and open pockets in weed beds. Top water lures, weedless rigged power worms and wacky rigged senkos work well.