Lake Ontario and tributaries
Merry Christmas! Water conditions were low and slightly stained on 18 Mile Creek at Burt Dam but some rain was in the forecast to hopefully help things along as temperatures mid-week were pushing 60 degrees. Small jigs tipped with a wax worm and fished under a float is one approach; egg sacs or egg imitations like trout beads is another. Steve Hawkins of Captain Bob’s reports that another approach is to use the bead with an egg sac. Speaking of Capt. Bob’s, they will be running its ice fishing contest again from Jan. 2 through March 22 … when we get some ice. It’s not supposed to get colder until next week. Pier casters should still be able to catch some fish in Wilson and Olcott on spoons and spinners if this warming trend continues. Perch are also available but look for them in a bit warmer water. Lake Ontario was still hovering around 39 degrees.
Lower Niagara River
Lower River trout action has been good this week but that will probably change with the high winds forecast for Christmas Eve – with gusts to 65 miles per hour from the southwest. Those winds will be riling up Lake Erie, forcing any muddy water that is churned up into the Niagara River and over the falls. Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Falls did well Monday and Tuesday using minnows one day; Kwikfish lures the other. Steelhead and lake trout were the two primary species grabbing baits. Devil’s hole, Artpark and the Niagara Bar have been the best three spots, but a few fish are starting to show up in the down river drifts. MagLips or egg sacs (white, yellow and pink) are still working to varying degrees depending on the day according to Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Youngstown. Remember that lake trout season reopens for the Lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario on January 1, 2015. Lake trout season is open on the Canadian side of the river. A new fishing license year starts Jan. 1 in the Province of Ontario. The new statewide Winter Classic Tournament will run from Jan. 1 through Feb. 22, 2015 and local weigh stations are The Slippery Sinker, Olcott; and All in the Same Boat, Newfane. This contest will be for fish caught through the ice, in open water, in the tributaries, and rivers. Categories are trout (including browns, lake trout and steelhead), pike, walleye, pickerel, crappie, yellow perch and panfish (sunfish and bluegill). Check out www.nysiceproam.com for more details or stop in to the two tackle shops mentioned earlier. The fish cleaning station in Lewiston is back to being functional.
Upper Niagara River
Nothing changed from last week as far as options … unless the water turns murky from blowing winds on Wednesday. Trout and perch top the list of preferred targets, from Buffalo to Niagara Falls – depending on location. Outdoor Trade shows will be starting up soon, too. January 23-25 is the dates for the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo and things are really starting to come together nicely. Check out www.niagarafishingexpo.com for details including a list of speakers and exhibitors. Lake Erie is still 39 degrees as of this report.
Oswego River/Lake Ontario report:
After flowing at 13,000cfs at times over the last week, the water flow has settled back to 10,800cfs this afternoon. Anglers are finding a good number of steelhead along with some brown trout and a few rainbows. Trout beads, egg sacs and pink worms have been working well.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
What great weather and fishing for late December. It’s such a treat not to be brutalized with snow and cold. Our clients have had productive days with some quality fish including the third jack chinook in four days. It’s been a strange year to say the least. Yesterday we had a banner day. The early bite was on fire until the sun came out. The sun shut them right off, but the damage was already done. An easy CTDDDD plus many more. All released to fight another day.
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 Brookfield Varick Fish Safely Brochure below. The Oswego Fire Department offers loaner life jackets at no charge through its “Loaner For Life” program. For more information contact the fire station, 35 E. Cayuga St., at 315-343-2161.
Click here for the Brookfield Varick Fish Safely Brochure.
Click here for the current water flow.
Salmon River report:
According to Garrett Brancy of the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Most of the anglers I spoke with Sunday reported getting multiple fish on egg sacs. The fly fishermen all said that they had no luck using flies with the exception of one angler who caught a fish on a stonefly pattern. It’s been a fairly mild winter so far and it would be a great time for new anglers who have never tried winter steelheading to come up and give it a shot! Just a reminder that the water level will go up at 5 pm today from 1,200 to 1,500 until midnight Thursday.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
Mild weather conditions are expected over the next couple of days along with rain. Yesterday the few anglers we spoke with reported having a slow day. We currently have steelhead throughout the river, but the upper section of river between Altmar and Pineville is holding the most fish of any one section of river.
Click here for the current water flow.
Oneida Lake report:
Conditions on the lake remain about the same. Temperatures are above average with Christmas Eve even reaching into the 50s. The temperatures in the extended forecast are not conducive to ice formation. The shore walleye fishing has slowed down but the occasional angler has had some success casting stickbaits.
Sandy Pond report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
There is no activity to report on the pond. The extended forecast is not favorable for solid ice formation.