Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries – Lots of activities going on this weekend around Western New York, starting with the Niagara River Anglers Association’s annual Roger Tobey Memorial Steelhead Contest set for Saturday morning out of Lewiston Landing. Area tributaries off Lake Ontario are also eligible waters and steelhead is the fish of choice, but there is a brown trout category, too. The only tributaries with any open water flowing is 18 Mile Creek at Burt Dam and over at the Oak in Orleans County. Check out the NRAA website at niagarariveranglers.com for details and we’ll have a full report for you next week. There is some ice fishing going on in places like Wilson and Olcott harbors, but action has been a little tough. If you want to learn more about antique fishing tackle, you’ll want to tune in to LCTV Channel 22 or lctv.net this coming Wednesday at 4 pm when Mark Schmitkons will be talking old tackle as a precursor to an antique tackle show in Lockport on Feb. 28 at the Elks Hall on North Canal Road.
Lower Niagara River – Not too much fishing has been going on with the cold temperatures, snow and ice chunks bobbing down the river. That said, if you can fish, you’ll probably catch fish because the water looks pretty good. Egg sacs, minnows and Kwikfish or MagLips will all work for you on any given day – depending on wind direction and other weather elements. Bouncing the bottom with three-way rigs is the way to go. Shore anglers can use beads, egg sacs, spoons or spinners to take fish, but be careful of the ice along the shoreline. Respect that river. Remember that the NRAA steelhead contest is Saturday. Go online at www.niagarariveranglers.com for details. You can register at the launch ramp in Lewiston early in the morning; the contest ends at 2 pm.
Upper Niagara River – Not much to report other than some ice action at Grand Island from marinas and bays for perch. Some decent sized fish have been coming in, but you do have to work for them. Small jigs tipped with a spike or wax worm are catching some fish. Small minnows will also work.
Oswego County
This report courtesy of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.
Oswego River – We have not had many reports from the Oswego River over the last couple of days. With very cold temperatures over the weekend and some significant snow this week, activity has been light. Driftboats reported some good action with steelhead, rainbows and brown trout last week. The water flow is running at 3,710cfs as of this morning.
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 – According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel, on Wednesday we got to enjoy a one day warm up. First thing in the morning the temperature was in the teens along with lake effect snow showers, but in the afternoon the temperature reached into the 30s. Today we are expecting a high temperature in the teens once again. Conditions have remained about the same. With the cold temperatures slush ice becomes a factor in the lower end of the river, but will clear if it gets warm enough. The upper end of the river in Altmar has not been getting slush ice and is where most anglers are fishing on a daily basis. With the recent cold temperatures those anglers who have braved the conditions have been fishing late morning through early afternoon which has been the warmest part of the day.
Oneida Lake – After a nice 24 hour warm up we are back in the teens for a high temperature today. We have also had a significant amount of snow this week with 10-18 inches over various spots. This is making travel on the lake more difficult and also will cover pressure cracks in the ice. Anglers are reporting some good activity in about 20-30 feet of water along the north shore.
Sandy Pond – According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle, we continue to have the cold temperatures and now we have to contend with some snow. Tuesday’s storm dropped about 10-12 inches of snow with another 2-4 inches in many areas last night. This will make for a little tougher travel on the pond. There has been a decent pike bite but the perch continue to be more evasive. With the full moon phase and the passing cold fronts, it’s been a tough bite. Suggested baits are small minnows, spikes and wax worms on a jig for panfish and large shiners on a tip-up for northern pike.