Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries
It’s all about the wind right now. After consistent east wind on the lake, cold water is stacked along the shoreline as well as elsewhere. Your best bet is to head to the east or to the north to find active fish. Locating bait and some warmer water temperatures should both be important to finding some hungry fish. For the recent tournaments, spoon programs worked best. The second and final weekend for the Niagara USA Pro-Am Tournament on Lake Ontario held June 6-7 had a little bit of everything – including some last minute heroics that producing some exciting results for a few of the teams. Weekend two started out with a small craft advisory … again. Fishing teams held on for a late start on Saturday and fished until 6 pm. However, the fishing was tough. Sunday was a bit better and more fish came to the scales, but strategies were important. When the final fish was weighed in, it was the Oh Baby team from Plattsburgh winning the Trophy Division and 5 More Minutes winning the Classic Division for the weekend. In the Recreational Open, it was Blue Eyed Lady and Salmon Obsession winning the Saturday and Sunday events respectively. In the Niagara USA Challenge Cup for both combined tournaments, there was a two team tie for the $20,000 prize. Thrillseeker of Newfane and 5 More Minutes from West Monroe, NY tied for the big money, which meant that first and second place was combined and the overall total was split between the two competitors. They each earned a cup prize of $15,000 plus their tournament winnings for the weekend. In the Trophy Division, it was the Yankee Troller team from Rochester setting the pace between the two events to re-take the cup he earned in 2013 and a check for $4,000. For more information on the tournament check out www.lakeontarioproam.net. The Wilson Conservation Club youth fishing contest is June 20th and it is a county-wide derby, with measuring to take place at the club located at Route 425, Wilson. Noon is usually the cut-off for getting those fish in. The Orleans County Open Tournament is this weekend out of Point Breeze, as well as the start of the Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby for the summer. Check out www.loc.org for details.
Lower Niagara River
The moss is starting to show up, but that hasn’t kept people from fishing yet. Shore fishermen in the gorge and off the fishing platform have been doing well on smallmouth bass. Remember that it’s still a catch and release season going on so you must use artificial baits and you can’t keep anything. Bass can also be found toward the mouth of the river. Look at casting tubes, spinners or jerk baits in 5 to 8 feet of water as some of these fish start to spawn. A few trout are still hanging around the river system, but it won’t be long before they are gone for the summer. Boaters are using three-way rigs baited with an egg sac, a minnow or a Kwikfish. Both steelhead and lake trout are being reported. Tip of the week comes from Lisa Drabczyk of Creek Road Bait and Tackle in Lewiston. If you see large baitfish this time of year, there’s a good chance that those fish are alewives … not smelt. A handful of people showed up last week to purchase dip nets and head down to Lewiston Landing to net at night thinking that the smelt finally showed up. Instead it produced a bucketful of alewives. They do make some great cut bait in Lake Ontario though!
Upper Niagara River
Catch and release bass fishing has been decent throughout the river system. Remember you must use artificial baits if you are targeting bass this time of year. That changes on June 20 when the regular season opens. Great Lakes musky season opens on June 20, too. Kelly’s Korners in Niagara Falls has an opening day bass contest from 5 am to 4 pm that day. You must be signed up by June 19. Best two fish total weigh wins the prize money. For more information call 283-2040. DEC will be holding it annual youth fishing clinic this Saturday, June 13 from 9:30 am to 1 pm at Tifft Nature Preserve up in Buffalo. Kids 15 years of age and younger are eligible to attend. Remember that the City of Tonawanda Youth Fishing Contest is June 20 at Niawanda Park with registration starting at 7:30 am. Show up at the band shell on River Road. The Hooked on the Tonawandas fishing contest is set for June 27-28, the state’s Free Fishing Days weekend. For info go to www.fishgatewayharbor.net or call the Tonawandas Chamber.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River/Lake Ontario report
According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
The water level dropped over the weekend but is up again to 15,000cfs this afternoon. Significant rain in the area has increased the level. This makes shore fishing very difficult along the river. When conditions allow, look for walleye from the railroad bridge north and smallmouth bass throughout the river. Remember bass are catch and release only until June 20. Nightcrawlers, leeches and stickbaits remain the baits of choice. Rock bass are in near Wright’s Landing.
Lake Ontario
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
One blow off day and brutal winds the next over the weekend but we stuck it out with a good brown trout bite. Picked at them the entire trip with some large ones mixed in. Fog was an issue Tuesday but we managed to boat more browns. These northeast winds are killing us. We need some good west winds to bring back the kings.
According to Capt. Mike Conroy of Proteus Fishing Charters:
Over the weekend northeast winds pushed cold water and some stained water around, drawing in some brown trout from the surface to ten feet down. Natural colored smithwicks and rebels gave us some brown trout action. Planer and inline boards were best with only one rigger strike. Heavy boat traffic, high sun and a stiff south wind scattered the brown trout. Several charter boats trolled out to about 200 feet of water and found some suspended lake trout and a few steelhead from the surface to forty feet down. Some stable water and wind out of the north will hopefully bring some king salmon back to Oswego.
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
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The brown trout bite has been good in 50-60 feet of water out off the Salmon River. The recent wind moved the lake trout toward Nine Mile Point. Look for them in 90-100 feet of water off the high rocks. Foggy conditions were again an issue earlier in the week. Browns are responding to trolled stickbaits and lakers are taking cowbells and peanuts.
Salmon River:
The river activity has quieted down as is typical this time of year. No new reports at this time.
Oneida Lake
The walleye bite continues on the lake with anglers targeting 15-20 feet of water. If the bite is slow, move around covering water as some fish have been report in more shallow depths and out to 35 feet. Shad raps and jigs tipped with worms are working well. There is a decent night bite with anglers casting stickbaits from shore. Catch and release bass season is producing some nice fish in shallow water. The bass season opens on June 20.
Sandy Pond report
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The weed growth is not an issue as yet on the pond. Northern pike are active and bluegills are schooled to spawn near the weed beds. Anglers are finding a few walleye in the mix trolling stickbaits.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The bite last week was great with browns, lakers and steelhead hitting. The south wind from yesterday will push the temps around and maybe anglers can find something higher than 46 to 48 degrees.
Most fish have been in the top 50 feet with steelhead over 250 feet of water. Some kings were also caught, most on flasher/ flies.
A nice 18 pounder came on the Diamond J boat. Captain Jim said he would like to catch something like that later this summer after it gobbles more bait fish.
The browns are still close to shore and are hitting stick baits off the boards.
Bays
Bay fishing has always been consistent if you target bass or panfish. The bass season opens June 20 the third Saturday in June, so if you can wait a week you’ll be guaranteed tons of largemouth in Sodus, Port, East and Blind Sodus Bays.
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.
The Wayne County Youth Fishing Derby starts in June 20th with a brand new exciting division for youngsters 4-7 years of age. All the info is on our web page.
Erie Canal
The Widewaters ramp was busy Sunday with bass boats fishing this entire section of the canal. Its fish and release for bass until June 20th.
Fair Haven / Cayuga county
Captain Werner Stenger
Fishing Lake Ontario is going thru the June transition time. Browns can be found near shore at first light but will quickly move to 30-50′ when the sun comes up. Lakers are still holding on bottom in 120-130′. Kings have been on the move. Finding them mostly from 100-300 FOW down 50′ with steelhead above.