Chautauqua County Fishing Report
Lake Erie and Tribs – With weather stabilizing for the time in Chautauqua County, sown melt from a pre-Thanksgiving lake effect snow storm has increased flow levels on Lake Erie tribs like 20 Mile, Chautauqua and Walnut Creeks. With higher water levels, some of the smaller creeks are seeing good action.
During these conditions anglers are casting stick baits and tidy spoons at the mouth of creeks where they meet Lake Erie. Steelhead anglers traditionally using natural baits like egg sacs and worms, flies such as egg imitations, nymphs, streamers and bugger patterns.
Chautauqua Lake – Open anglers are still finding perch and sunfish in Bemus and Ashville Bays, fishing under a bobber offering either minnows and night crawlers just off the bottom.
With the regular bass and muskie season closed, bass anglers can still fish for both small or largemouth bass under the special catch and release guidelines through opening day of the 2015 season. During the special catch and release season bass season anglers must only use artificial baits and release their catch immediately after catching.
Fall crappie anglers are still doing well in Ashville, Lakewood and Burtis Bays using small tube jigs or minnows for crappie.
Walleye anglers are targeting walleye around the deeper holes in 25-45 feet of water, off Dewittville Bay and Pont Chautauqua. Vertical jigging with spoons, jigging Rapalas or minnows are working well.
Wayne County Fishing Report
Streams – The streams in Wayne County have a much better flow of water. So far it’s the best of the season. Browns and steelhead are in Maxwell Creek.
Use egg sacs or imitation. Torpedo bobbers are the best presentation, especially for the slower current on the north side of Lake Road.
You can also fish the piers this time of year…but only when the ice doesn’t build-up.
Another option for stream anglers is Hughes’ Marina on Lake Road just east of Pultneyville. There is a $5 permit fee and you can fish the small lagoons which connect to the lake.
The ponds at Hughes’ are ice free so far. Of course that can change later this week when colder temperatures come into town. Currently it is in the 40’s.
Bays – Bass season is over. You can catch and release one fish. Anglers are fishing the points in Port Bay. Sodus Bay has seen some perch action near the islands and towards the south end of the bay.
The water level is low so beware of shallow water at launch sites.
Remember the New York State law which requires you to wear a PFD if you are in any type of watercraft. Be safe…it is a very smart law!
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 – Anglers are still fishing Widewaters. They are concentrating on panfish.
Greater Niagara Fishing Forecast
Lake Ontario and tributaries – In 18 Mile Creek, trout fishing is still going strong and, surprisingly, a few salmon are still swimming around below Burt Dam. Egg sacs or egg imitations are slowly switching over to jigs tipped with a wax worm and fished under a float. However, every day seems to be different according to Greg Stanley at All in the Same Boat. Egg sacs were a hot bait one day earlier this week. Another day it was white jigs. Pier casters can still catch some fish, too, with spoons or spinners. Spoons were working nicely to take a few trout. With ice fishing season just around the corner, check out www.nysiceproam.com for details of some events around the state. In addition, a new state Winter Classic Tournament is set to kick off Jan. 1 through Feb. 22 and local weigh stations include The Slippery Sinker in Olcott and All in the Same Boat in Newfane. This is for fish caught through the ice, in open water, in the tributaries, rivers, and more. Categories include trout (browns, lakers steelhead), pike, walleye, pickerel, crappie, yellow perch and panfish (sunfish and bluegill). Check out the website or visit the two weigh stations in Niagara.
Lower Niagara River – The Niagara River is finally clear enough to fish – whether you want to fish from shore or fish from a boat. Local guides were reporting that they hit the water last weekend and conditions were marginal for murkiness. Only a few fish were caught. Conditions slowly improved and fishermen are back to reeling in trout – steelhead, lake trout and browns. That said, any strong winds could rile that water up again so be forewarned. If that happens, just look for clear water. Shore fishermen can have an advantage at times in those types of situations. Remember that lake trout is closed in New York waters, but if you venture over into Canadian waters, lake trout season is open over there. And if you are a musky fisherman, the season is open until Dec. 15 in the lower Niagara and Lake Ontario. The Niagara Musky Assn. will also be holding its annual John Henning Memorial Musky Tournament on Dec. 7, a catch and release event that remembers one of their members who loved to fish for lower river muskies.
Upper Niagara River – The regular bass and musky seasons are closed but waters are starting to clear for some other action like for trout around Broderick Park or Bird Island Pier. You may have a hike now with the construction going on. Yellow perch in the fall can be a good distraction along the waterfront, especially the northern tip of Squaw Island.
Oswego County Fishing Report
Oswego River/Lake Ontario – According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop, the water level is running at 9,510cfs this morning. There are plenty of trout in the river with smack beads, egg sacs, flies and pink worms working well. The action seems to be good in the morning, tapering off through early to mid-afternoon, picking up again late in the afternoon.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift, early in the week was tough on the river. Plenty of hookups but we couldn’t get them to the boat. There is a monster steelhead in the river. We had him locked up but the big one got away. Definitely the biggest I have seen by far all season. Tuesday and Wednesday the water level reached 10,000cfs. I’ve been waiting for this water. Yesterday was a productive day – not fast and furious but enough action to keep your blood pumping. Jigs and beads have been working well.
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 a Loaner for Life program, offering loaner life jackets at no cost at the east side fire station, 35 E. Cayuga St., Oswego. For more information call 315-343-2161.
Salmon River
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel, just a reminder that the Upper Fly Zone is now closed and will reopen on April 1st.
Oneida Lake – Anglers continue to have success with the shore night bite for walleye. Casting stickbaits and crankbaits is working well. With some daytime temperatures above normal, we occasionally see a boat on the lake with anglers perch fishing but overall the open water fishing is quiet. With no extended period of cold temperatures in the near future, ice formation on the lake is still a ways off.
Sandy Pond – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, there is no activity to report on the pond. With no period of cold temperatures in the forecast, it will be a while before there is ice fishing on the pond.
See more at http://visitoswegocounty.com/fishing-reports-for-december-4-2014/#sthash.1qaYnBpi.dpuf.