Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
Things are taking off in Lake Ontario, just in time for the spring fishing derbies. Brown trout are starting to turn on for shoreline trollers using stickbaits in tight to the shoreline, but with the recent wind and weather stick close to the creek outflows to take advantage of the attractive qualities of the warmer waters. A few cohos were also reported. Lake trout fishing was good between Wilson and Olcott. If you are launching your boat, take care out there because of the low lake levels. A few of the larger boats have hit an old bridge abutment in the harbor at Olcott. If you are looking for some early fishing contests on the lake, Greg Stanley at All in the Same Boat has put together a little brown trout contest through May 1. Proceeds for the derby will go to the LOTSA pen rearing project in Olcott. Stop in to the Newfane shop to register. Incidentally, the LOTSA pens are in the water, but not in place yet due to the lower water levels. They could still use some volunteers to feed the fish, by the way, so go on to lotsa.org to find out more details.Olcott action off the piers and in the harbor was slow due to the stained water. A few fish were being taken from the dam at Burt. Tip of the week comes from Dr. John Syracuse who was fishing with his youngest daughter at the dam this week. John ended up hooking into a nice steelhead on a worm with his youngster’s fishing outfit. In the battle for supremacy, the fish won out, but not after the waters claimed one glove and a pair of sunglasses. Later that same day there was a report of a fish swimming around with sunglasses on – it was bright that day. Lake trout action has been excellent on the Niagara Bar with a few salmon mixed in. John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda hit the red can area on Sunday and scored with no less than 30 lakers on spoons and bombers in 50-60 feet of water. Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Youngstown also did well Monday and Tuesday working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tag lake trout over 10 pounds. If you catch a tagged fish in the next two months, please release it. They are using tags that will long important information and they need to be in the water at least a month or two. After June it should be okay to recover the tag. Most of the streams were high and muddy after the rain Monday. No reports on the Wilson bullhead fishing.
Lower Niagara River
Action has turned slower the past week for boaters and it’s probably a combination of reasons. Steelheads are probably attempting to spawn as one; stained water from run-off or rain as another. Whatever reason, it doesn’t seem to be affecting the shore fishermen as much. Steelhead is the primary focus, but a few lake trout are also mixed in. For boaters, Kwikfish lures, minnows or egg sacs will all work. Shore fishermen can use sacs or egg imitations; spoons and spinners, too. Remember the fishing platform is now open in Devil’s Hole at the power plant. No reports of smelt in the river yet. Don’t forget the Lewiston Smelt Festival is May 1. More details next week.
Upper Niagara River
The trout stockings at Oppenheim Park Pond (McDougal Lake), Hyde Park Lake and Gill Creek took place April 16 at 10 am and 11 am respectively. Some reports along River Road and around Grand Island where some perch and panfish are being caught. Don’t forget that the NYPA Reservoir is now open, too, for fishing action. Try off Upper Mountain Road at the new stairs access. No reports of trout at the Bird Island Pier or Broderick Park, but this is the time of year that trout catching is usually reported. Ice in Lake Erie really took at hit with the recent weather involving warm temperatures and high winds. Hopefully we can get a report next week to see where we stand.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River
The water level has been fairly steady running between 19,000 and 20,000cfs for a week. This afternoon it is right in between at 19,500cfs. This level makes most areas along the river very difficult to fish. Behind the hotels using jigs is one suggestion. With the high water in the river and as the open water season begins, many of our anglers have headed for some brown trout fishing along the shoreline of the lake and reports are indicating they are hitting.
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
The Douglaston Salmon Run reports that after having been closed for a few days due to high water, welcome news came early this morning. The flows have finally dropped below 2,000cfs and the DSR is open once again. The flow is posted at 1250cfs through midnight tonight. It’s a beautiful spring day so come out and enjoy it.
Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel reports that the water level has come down but it is still high. Today is another beautiful sunny day with the temperature reaching into the 60’s. The few anglers we spoke with yesterday reported that some of the smaller local tributaries were fishable and in good shape. They managed to get into some fish with pink and chartreuse egg patterns producing the best results.
Oneida Lake
With the ice fishing season over and the ice appears to be gone from the lake, use caution as you may find some floating debris in the water. We haven’t had any reports on how anglers are doing but a number of boats have been out on the water this week.
Sandy Pond
There is not a lot to report from the pond as we continue the transition from ice fishing to fresh water fishing.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
The steelhead are hitting in Maxwell Creek and should be swimming around the stream for another couple of weeks. Use anything red…the best is the good ole egg sac.
The other creeks in Wayne County also have some late season steelhead.
Lake Ontario
The ice build-up is a thing of the past…lake fishing has started. The mudlines near Port Bay and Sodus Bay are set-up and the brown trout love those dirty water breaks. The charter captains have started the season, however they are running three weeks behind because of the ice on the bays. In Wayne County home port for the charters are the bays.
The browns are close to shore and the reports have been really good with anglers “boxing out” before noon.
Be on the water early because when the sun gets higher the brown swim for cover. Most spring fishing is with stick baits because the spoons snag. Planer boards can put your presentation two feet from the shore where the temperatures are warm.
Fish brown trout by finding stained water and temperatures breaks.
Bays
Bullhead fishing is hot at Bay Bridge (Sodus Bay) and some of the slower moving water near the south end of Port Bay.
Some crappies are being caught in Port Bay near the south end.
Erie Canal
Widewaters near Newark is ice free and anglers are fishing for bluegills and crappies.
Fair Haven / Cayuga County reports
The last of the ice finally let loose out of Little Sodus Bay this past weekend. With plenty of stained water flowing from all the creeks browns are holding close to shore. Troll the edges of the stained water flat lining stick baits or stinger sized spoons.
Surprisingly as cold as the water is there has been a steady movement of crappie into shallow protected waters. Jigs have been producing near docks.
Bullhead fishing has been spotty but should pick up rapidly with temps warming this week.