Greater Niagara Fishing Forecast
1. Lake Ontario and tributaries – Action below Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek should be heating up quite literally this weekend as temperatures are finally being forecast into the upper 30’s – allowing for some anglers to be a bit more comfortable as they cast for trout. There have been reports of good numbers of steelhead below the dam and the best approach continues to be a small jig tipped with a wax worm and fished under a float. Egg sacs or egg imitations are also options for taking trout, including the occasional brownie. Wilson ice fishing is going on right now but no good reports so far. Better reports are coming from the east. Important! The Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo is all set for next weekend, Jan. 23-25 at the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls. With the recent weather we’ve been experiencing, this is the perfect cabin fever reliever that’s ideal for the entire family! For the kids, the Niagara River Anglers has their trout pond and kids get one free try to catch a fish 10 and under. There’s even fishing seminars for the kids … and the parents. To find out more about the three day expo, go online at www.niagarafishingexpo.com. Local fishing seminars are crazy, with over 60 speakers giving over 100 fishing seminars in three days. If there’s any species you want to expand your knowledge on, this is the show for you. It’s only $8 admission for adults; kids 10 and under are free. Show organizers have gone out of their way to make this year’s show on the best three day fishing shows on the Great Lakes. Don’t forget that the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association still has its Salmon School this year. Instructors include Capt. Paul Czarnecki of Pennsylvania; Capt. Greg Gehrig of Oswego; and Mark McClutchey of Michigan. It’s a full day of in-depth instruction Jan. 24 on salmon and trout fishing for just $75 – and that includes lunch, admission to the show Saturday and Sunday and a goodie bag. The deadline for signing up is Jan. 18 on the LOTSA website at www.lotsa.org. And don’t forget about the Lake Ontario Marketplace that LOTSA will conduct on that Sunday of the Expo, Jan. 25. More than 60 additional tables – over and above the 100 booth expo – will be showcased.
2. Lower Niagara River – Waters started to clear up at mid-week so there should be boaters and shore guys fishing by the time you read this. Those fish should be hungry! For drifters, Kwikfish, MagLips and minnows will top the list of baits being used. Shore guys use spinners, spoons, egg sacs or egg imitations like trout beads. After two weeks of no fishing due to muddy water and extremely cold temperatures, this weekend should be near perfect. Look for waters to continue to clear as Lake Erie freezes over, too. Right now it’s between 30 and 40 percent ice covered. If you like fishing the river or want to learn more about it, you’ll want to attend the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo Jan. 23-25. Lots of seminars on river fishing for a wide variety of species.
3. Upper Niagara River – No one has really been out fishing because of the extreme cold. If you are looking for ice, the Small Boat Harbor has good ice up to 6 inches thick if not more. Yellow perch is the primary target on small jigs and grubs but reports have been slow for the most part. A few pike are being reported, too. Don’t rule out the Grand Island marinas because with the cold snap we should be seeing some action.
Wayne County Fishing
Streams-Maxwell Creek is open and flowing, however a frigid week will close the openings in this small stream. Currently they are catching steelhead on egg sacs and beads.
Bay Bridge Sport Shop on the south end of Sodus Bay is open year round for bait and tackle. Warrens at the Point is closed until spring.
Bays- The ice is here and it safe for anglers, however remember ice never freezes uniformly.
Use caution if you are not familiar with the area.
Sodus has 6 to 8 inches of solid black ice on the east side of the bay and at the south end. The perch are coming slowly and there really hasn’t been a pattern yet.
Usually the first ice is prime time, but it’s just starting so I guess we have to be patient.
Still…it’s nice to be out fishing during the winter.
Some of the perch that are coming through the holes are full of bait fish, so it might take some creativity to get them to strike. They are not hungry!
Port Bay has the same ice thickness. It is safe for fishing. The perch are scattered and are coming from the south end of the bay. The usual points and drop-offs have not produced much of anything.
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- The canal is frozen but no reports of activity. This is a great place to catch pan fish.
Oswego County Fishing Forecast
This report courtesy of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.
Oswego River report:
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Earlier in the week we had lower water but did manage to make it up to the dam. Our clients, however, liked the results once we got up there – quality fish and good numbers. It was a cold day but a good time. All released to fight another day. Temperatures are expected to moderate some by the weekend. The water level was up to 9,500cfs yesterday but back down today to 6,700cfs.
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. 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.
Salmon River report:
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
With the cold temperatures yesterday slush ice was a factor in the lower end of the river and did not clear. The good news is that the temperature is expected to improve for the upcoming weekend. With sunny conditions things warmed up in the afternoon and anglers staying in the motel reported having a good day in Altmar.
According to Garrett Brancy of the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Shelf and slush ice were a factor over the weekend. A couple of anglers caught fish but it was pretty tough going because the warmer temperature on Monday was breaking up the shelf ice. The preferred method right now is floating egg sacs in your chosen lye. The water level will remain at 750 cfs through Thursday night.
Oneida Lake report:
The last couple of days have been cold with nighttime temperatures below 0°. There is the possibility of a couple of inches of snow tonight and snow cover will slow the ice formation. Many areas have 8-10 inches of ice so conditions should be good through the weekend. Temperatures will remain in the upper 20s through Saturday with Sunday warming to the mid 30s. As always use caution. Anglers are finding panfish, a few walleyes and spotty perch.
Sandy Pond report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
It appears that conditions will come together this weekend for some good ice fishing. We finally have an ice depth that we are comfortable with – 6 to 10 inches on the North Pond. We don’t have a bite report yet as things are just getting underway. Suggested baits are small minnows, spikes and wax worms on a jig for panfish and large shiners on a tip-up for northern pike.