Chautauqua County Fishing Report
by Craig Robbins
Lake Erie and Tribs – Its been a better then average walleye and perch bite on Lake Erie so far this September. While the smallie bite has dropped off a bit, the steelhead are starting to move up Cattaraugus Creek.
The unseasonably warm water temperatures has kept the walleye fishing good for trollers. It seems the walleye are still staging in the same area as the past week with Van Buren Point out out of Dunkirk Harbor and west in deeper depths of 100-110 feet being the hot bite. Out of Barcelona Harbor anglers are finding the thermocline around 60-70 feet, with nice “eyes“ being caught just below the line. Worm harnesses in purple and blue remain the best bets although stickbaits are a good option when pesky white bass are around.
Typically as the calendar changes from August to September, the yellow perch bite begins to set up off Cattaraugus Creek and this year is no exception. Good numbers and sizes are being boated at 64 feet from Cattaraugus Creek west to Center Road. Many of the perch are in the large to jumbo size range of 10-14 inches. Top catches are all coming from live emerald shiners fished just off the bottom.
For salmonid anglers, the best action remains for lake trout. Lake trout have been very plentiful at depths of 80 feet or more from Dunkirk west to the state line, trolling spoons just off the bottom. The lakers are averaging 8-12 pounds, but it is not uncommon to hook into one in excess of 20 pounds and 3 feet long. September is also the time when steelhead begin to stage off the creek mouths, waiting for a shot of cooler water to begin entering the streams. Trolling flashy spoons at slightly higher speeds than walleye around the creek mouths and outward to 70 foot depths is a good tactic. Some coho salmon in the 10-12 pound range have also been showing up in some offshore catches, so don’t be surprised if you hook into one of them.
As mentioned earlier reports of a few steelhead are showing already in Cattaraugus Creek. Cooler temperatures over the weekend might spark this a bit along with some rain, but don’t expect a larger push of fish until creek temperatures dip in the mid-60’s or lower.
Chautauqua Lake – The muskellunge action has slowed a bit for casters but trollers are still doing well. Muskie trollers are finding muskey tight to weed edges. Trollers are finding muskie off Chautauqua Belle Tower Point, with muskie holding in 20-28 feet moving into the shallow point at dusk. Off Warner Bar, the same program is working in the morning, with fish holding in 16-22 feet of water and moving up in the early morning trolling tight to weedlines with large perch-pattern stickbaits is a good bet.
With the water temperature beginning to drop smallmouth bass are moving into the areas like deep rocky points with shallow rocky shoreline structure close by.
Shallow areas and around docks are still top spots for largemouth bass. Try live shiners, tube jigs, power worms, senkos or topwater lures. Slightly deeper areas of 10-15 feet off weedlines are better for smallmouth bass. A drop-shot rig with a minnow or crayfish is a good bet. Weedy areas in Bemus and Ashville Bays in 6-10 feet of water are good spots for bluegill.
Fair Haven / Cayuga County
by Werner Stenger
While most anglers have packed their boats and headed home there are still plenty of salmon to be caught off of Fair Haven as they have not yet entered the bay in any great numbers. Last weekend most bites came well above the temperature break at 70-80′ down over 125-200 depth. A nice mix of kings, cohos, browns and steelhead were willing to play.
Judging by my sonar on the ride in large schools of perch appear to be staged just outside the harbor and should move into the bay in the near future.
Wayne County
by Christopher Kenyon
Lake Ontario – Some kings have entered Maxwell Creek; however you can still fish the lake for salmon. They have been in 100 feet of water. The last few days have been rough; however the lake is flat as a pancake today.
While waiting for the autumn run you can easily cast into the channels at Port and Sodus Bays. Some big kings come out of the water from pier fishing.
Use braided line and a nice stiff rod and cast “Cleos” out in the channel. Sounds simple, but this has work for years.
Bays – The summer crowd is now pulling their boats for the season and you have all the bays to yourself.
The perch are in at Port Bay. You should fish the north end or launch a boat and concentrate along the points. Use spikes and small jigs.
Largemouth bass are being caught in Sodus Bay. The big bay has plenty of access points and with over 2,000 acres of water you can fish any where you want.
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 – Canal fishing has been excellent for just about anything. The bass range in the three to five pound class.
I’m off to Maine and the Adirondacks for two weeks. The report will resume in October. Maxwell Creek will be running by then! Save some browns for me.
Niagara County
by Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries – The salmon are knocking on the doorstep but they haven’t entered into the living room in any large numbers yet. In Olcott Harbor, a few salmon have been seeing breaking the surface but it seems like they move in and out trying to make up their mind what they want to do and where they want to be. According to Capt. Taz Morrison of Wilson, the best action for mature kings is 50 to 80 feet of water for the most consistent fishing. Meat, plugs, flasher-fly and spoons will all catch fish. The waters out deep – 400 feet or better – is still a good bet for immature kings and steelhead. Spoons top the list of enticements. Shore fishermen can do the best at night off the piers, but it’s still not hot and heavy yet. No reports of any salmon at Burt Dam at this point but if we see a cold rain, look out for increased numbers to make their way into the streams. The Niagara Bar drop off seems to be over for this year according to Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Youngstown. Lakers and browns are hanging on the top of the ledge in 40-50 feet of water. One good option is night fishing in front of Olcott from a small boat, casting ¾ ounce Cleos or Moonshine spoons. You can also try trolling the pier heads with j-plugs just before dark. After dark it’s all casting. Tip of the week comes from Paul Luzzi of Lewiston who passes along that if you are casting with a bait cast reel, make sure you keep your thumb lightly on the spool to avoid a bird’s nest due to back lash.
Lower Niagara River – One of the best spots to be for salmon has been off the Power Authority fishing platform. The area has been reopened and NYPA is providing a free shuttle service from Lot C adjacent to NU and the Visitors Center from 7 am to 5 pm. Boaters are picking up a few fish here and there and the best bait has been Kwikfish lures fished off three-way rigs in Devil’s Hole. Capt. Frank Campbell reported three fish on Kwikies on Monday, but struck out on Tuesday. Bass action continues to be good. Chuck Smock of Cabela’s Outdoor Journal was casting spinnerbaits around the Coast Guard station and produced a nice five-plus pound smallmouth along with a fair number of other fish. Walleye are still available, too – both in the river in drifts like Stella and Queenston, as well as on the bar around the green buoy marker at the mouth. Worm harnesses fished off three-way rigs work best.
Upper Niagara River – Bass action continues to be very good throughout the river system, from the head of the river to the East and West Rivers around Grand Island. Strawberry and Motor islands are good starting points with crayfish or shiners. Tubes and drop shot rigs will also catch fish. Some musky are also hitting large tubes around Strawberry Island and at the Huntley Power Station. Thompson’s Hole could produce bass or muskies. Largemouth bass are also available in the river in the shallower areas around Grand Island around weed beds and dock areas.
Oswego County
Oswego River/Lake Ontario – According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop, the water level has been up and down the last few days. After being up to 6,000cfs yesterday, it took a sudden dive this afternoon to 810cfs. We are expecting this to be short termed. With the cooler temperatures and the rain we had on Tuesday, another nice run of salmon have made their way up the river. Driftboats are finding a good morning bite. 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. Andy Bliss of Chasin’ Tail Adventures, lake fishing remains up and down. Fish are being caught from 100-400 feet of water with 52-60° water temperature being the main zone for our strikes. White, green and chartreuse attractors in different combos have been working the best. Bites have been coming in bunches so be ready to capitalize when they strike!
Salmon River/ Pulaski Area – According to Garrett Brancy of the Douglaston Salmon Run, conditions remain much the same as yesterday. A handful of anglers brought fish to hand, but many rounded out the day without such luck. Reports continue to come in that there are many fish in the estuary but no big pushes have been made. The upper half of the run fished a bit better today, with most of the fish landed coming from the sycamore hole and points upstream. Flows will remain at 350 cfs through midnight tonight.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel, reports are indicating a good salmon bite in the Lower Fly Zone of the river.
Pulaski Area – The weather kept anglers off the lake at times over the last few days. When conditions allowed, those fishing have found them to be spread out in 80- 120 feet of water. Green and white have been good color choices with flies/flashers, spoons and cut bait working well.
Oneida Lake – The wind has been an issue over the last week or so making is difficult at times to get on the lake. We have not seen much change in the walleye fishing. The targeted area continues to be in 30-35 feet of water. Stickbaits, blade baits and bucktail jigs tipped with a nightcrawler are still suggested baits. The bass bite has slowed down but there has been some perch activity reported.
Sandy Pond – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, there is very little activity on the pond at this time.