Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries
The 31st Annual Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament is back in Wilson and Olcott this weekend, bringing some of the top trolling teams to town for some high stakes fishing contests. The actual event is Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31, with the weigh in taking place at the Lions Club Pavilion in Olcott’s Krull Park starting at 11 am and running through 3 pm. Action in Lake Ontario has been great throughout the month of May and the fish right now are spread out all along the Niagara County shoreline from 60 to 150 feet of water as far as the prized salmon are concerned. The key for the tournament will be to find some bigger fish because the tournament is based on 10 points a fish and a point per pound, up to 12 fish each day. Total score for the two days wins the tournament. But this tournament is more than that. A second weekend has been added to the mix, set for June 6 and 7. Point totals for both weekends combined will win some big bucks thanks to some extra sponsor money. In addition to the Trophy and Classic Divisions, a Recreational Open Division is offered to the weekend warriors who like competition but don’t think that they can fish at a level that the big charter boats perform at. The Rec Open is a daily event that allows teams to weigh in up to three fish each day. In all cases, more than 100 percent payback is offered to the teams in whatever category they want to fish in. If you want to keep track on what’s happening in this year’s tournament, check out lakeontarioproam.net for updates. Some little fun derbies are being offered before each Pro-Am weekend for just $100 a boat. The Don Johannes and Pete DeAngelo Memorial contests are being offered on May 29 and June 5 for teams looking to fish for fun and see where the fish are on the lake for the big tournament. That said, you don’t have to fish in the big tournament to fish in these one fish, three fish events. For more information, call the Slippery Sinker at 778-0713 to find out more details.
Lower Niagara River
Steelhead are still available throughout the river system for casters from shore and boaters drifting minnows, Kwikfish or egg sacs. They probably won’t be in much longer as the waters continue to warm in Lake Erie. Good numbers of bait schools have been reported, pulling in some more predator fish. A few small king salmon were also caught in the river because of that bait. Rodger Morrison of Niagara Falls had a bit of a surprise recently while fishing off the sand docks in Lewiston. After fishing for an hour with live bait, he decided to switch to a Gitzit tube bait and, on his second cast, caught a 36 inch, 12.5 pound Northern pike. Bass are still hitting around the Niagara Bar and at the mouth of the river near the Coast Guard Station. Tubes are one of the better baits to use, but Dan Argona was trolling a firetiger body bait in front of Fort Niagara in 12 feet of water and hooked into a six pound 10 ounce smallmouth! Nice fish. The next big kids fishing contest is the Wilson Conservation Club’s event on June 20. This county-wide contest is based on measurement. Bring your fish in by noon to the Conservation Club located on Route 425 in Wilson.
Upper Niagara River
Remember that bass fishing is catch and release only and you must use artificial baits if you are targeting bass. Both smallmouth and largemouth are available throughout the river, but especially around Grand Island in many of the cuts, streams and marinas. Tube jigs are always a good bait to use, but spinnerbaits are another favorite. Plastic worms, too. Perch, crappies and bluegills are options in many of those same areas around Grand Island, too. A few walleye were being reported around Squaw Island. Don’t forget the big kids fishing contest June 20 out of Niawanda Park in Tonawanda. Mark your calendars!
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
The water flow has been under 6,000cfs for the last couple of days running at 5,290cfs this afternoon. The kiddie pool is producing some smallmouth bass as is the rest of the river. Remember these are catch and release only until June 20. Anglers continue to find walleye from the railroad bridge north to the area behind St. Luke Apartments. Nightcrawlers, leeches and stickbaits remain the baits of choice. Rock bass are in near Wright’s Landing.
Lake Ontario report:
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Our clients made the decision to try for kings on Tuesday. We fished hard for a few bites here and there. They are definitely spread out right now. This morning the wind is an issue so we will have to see how things set up as conditions settle down.
According to Capt. Mike Conroy of Proteus Fishing Charters:
The holiday weekend provided some good fishing. We managed to boat a nice eight pounder in 51 degree water on a small RR lure, down 14 feet on a rigger in active bait in front of Rudy’s. We also took an 11 lb. 6 oz. football brown and a 12-lb. King salmon along with a nice stealhead off three colors of lead core on a silver green stinger. There were reports of some good brown trout catches in the stained, in shore water east and west of the harbor. Also reports of some nice King salmon out in front of Oswego in 40-100 feet of water, down 25-50 feet. Fish early and cover water.
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.
Pulaski Area/Salmon River
The brown trout bite was decent in 20-30 feet of water trolling stickbaits. A few salmon are being taken in 50-80 feet of water off down riggers and dipsey divers. Bass are catch and release only until the season opens on June 20.
Salmon River
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
We are at the tail end of the steelhead season and the majority of fish have returned to Lake Ontario. Over the last couple of days the occasional drop back has been caught in the lower end of the river. Just a reminder that the Lower Fly Zone is currently closed and will reopen on September 15th. However, the Upper Fly Zone is currently open and anglers should be aware of the regulation changes that started May 1st.
According to Douglaston Salmon Run:
The fish responded very well to the warm days with overcast conditions earlier this week. Some brown trout along with nice size bass were reported. Bass are catch and release until June 20 when the season opens. All were fishing streamers, with dark colors being favored – there was no mention of any steelhead.
Oneida Lake report
The walleye fishing has been spotty. Jigs tipped with nightcrawlers are the suggested bait in about 20 feet of water. The nightbite remains active. Bass can be found in shallow water on a catch and release basis only until June 20. Bullhead are being taken along the shoreline with worms and leeches.
Sandy Pond report
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The walleye bite has picked up and will hopefully be good for the next couple of weeks or so. Fishing before the weed growth gets too thick is suggested. Trolling stickbaits is the suggested application.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Steelhead are hitting 40 down over 200 feet of water, straight-out from Sodus. That was the best temperature break yesterday and that will of course change. Your best bet for action will be based on temp breaks as there is little in the way of stained water.
The steelies were hitting anything red.
Some kings were also coming from 200 feet of water down 90 feet. They were hitting a mixed bag of spoons.
The browns are still close to shore, however the bright sun and little wave action means you need to be on the water at 5 am.
Bays
The bays were producing rock bass, crappies, bluegills and “fish and release” largemouths.
The early bite was the best. Sodus and Port Bays are still cold…temps in the high 40’s in some sections. Once it warms the action will start.
A whooper channel catfish was caught in the Port Bay channel a couple of weeks ago. It weighed-in at 40 pounds. It looked like a monster…the ones you see from the deep south.
Check out the rest of the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops.
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.
The Wayne County Youth Fishing Derby starts in June with a brand new exciting division for youngsters 4-7 years of age. All the info is on our web page.
Erie Canal
There were plenty of boats fishing the canal during the holiday weekend and the catches were the usual mix…bass, crappies and perch.
Remember you cannot keep bass until the opener, which is the 13th…the third Saturday in June.
Fair Haven / Cayuga county
Captain Werner Stenger
Bait has finally showed up at the pier heads to Little Sodus bay. With it will come the return of bigger browns, salmon, and steelhead.
Walleye should be aggressively feeding on the bait as it enters the bay. Large stickbaits fished near drop offs at the north end of the bay will usually produce some eye bites. Off shore is still a search and conquer mission. Cover lots of water till you find the fish then stay with them. Bites have come from near shore to 200+ feet of depth but most bites in the top 30′ of water.