Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries
The Summer Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby is into its final weekend of action and don’t be surprised if there will be some changes to the leaderboard. Last weekend it was John Monroe of Rochester fishing in the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association’s Curt Meddaugh Memorial event on Friday who produced the current Grand Prize leader – a 28 pound, 8 ounce fish while trolling out of Olcott aboard the Black Jaw. He was using a spin doctor and fly to take his trophy. They were actually fishing straight out of Olcott, 75 feet down over 170 feet of water with a Nuke green spin doctor and an A-Tom-Mik fly. Winner of the Friday best three fish contest, though, was Alan Sauerland of Newfane with a three-fish weight of 58.01 pounds and a big fish of 25.44 pounds. He was fishing out of Wilson and trolled north until he hit 300 feet of water. He noticed a narrow band of cold water about 200 to 300 yards wide and worked that band going north and south through the east-west band with spoons to take 15 fish. Riggers were 60 to 75 down; 300 foot copper lines with flasher-fly took some fish, too. Joe Yaeger, president of LOTSA, took top honors on Saturday for the club’s King Salmon Big Fish event with a 26.14 pound king taken out of Olcott. He was fishing in 200 feet of water in front of the microwave tower to the east, using 200 feet of copper line off an in-line board. It was a green and white e-chip flasher with a green Big Weenie fly that tricked the fish to hit. Also on Saturday was a 28 pound, 5 ounce fish to take over the lead in the Salmon Division – caught by Dave Colvin of Springwater, NY while fishing out of the Oak. There was a new leader in the steelhead division, too. Gasport’s Brian Gregson was trolling off Olcott on Saturday when he nailed a 16 pound, 9 ounce fish on a spoon. They were also fishing the LOTSA event. The new brown trout leader came out of Sodus Bay – a 20 pound, four ounce fish hauled in by Tom Duyssen of Ontario, NY on a Stinger spoon. Three of the top five lake trout came in over the weekend, too, but not the first place leader. It’s still a 23 pound, 14 ounce fish caught by John Stanton III of Rochester back on June 20th. The action continues until July 26 at 1 pm. We’ll have a full wrap up for you next week. Tip of the week is from Joe Yaeger of East Amherst. You have to be in it to win it. Yes, when a derby is going on, you need to be in if you want to cash out. Joe Yaeger won the LOTSA King Salmon Tournament on Saturday but his fellow fishing partners weren’t in – a 26 pound, 1 ounce fish that would be in fifth place right now. Add in Alan Sauerland, too.
Lower Niagara River
Action in the lower river continues to be a bit spotty. While live bait like shiners and crayfish will produce a few smallmouth bass, sheepshead and silver bass, artificial baits seem to be producing as many if not more fish for casters and drifters. Tube jigs and Booyah spinner baits were working earlier this week for Capt. Frank Campbell and his customers looking to connect with the nice fish. They did have to work for them, but they did catch mostly smallmouth using tubes and spinnerbaits in the lower section of the river. Fish up to five pounds were reported, including a 20-inch smallie reeled in by Gary Hall of Niagara Falls on Thursday. The Fishing Platform is still an option for shore fishermen, too, as well as the trails leading into the gorge from Artpark, Devil’s Hole and Whirlpool state parks. As always, caution is advised, especially in the early morning when water levels are low and rocks are slippery.
Upper Niagara River
Plenty of bass to go around in the upper river with live bait a preference like crayfish and shiners. Worm harnesses will take a mix of fish that will include bass, sheepshead and walleye. In the Erie Canal Derby, it was Joe Henneberger of Tonawanda who became the Grand Prize recipient when a special drawing was held in Gasport last Sunday for the boat, motor and trailer. All first place winners were put into a hat to see who the big winner was. Henneberger caught the top carp, a 21.41 pound fish. Winner of the Youth Grand prize was Colby Lawrence of Lockport, receiving a bike in the special drawing. He was the top youth in the bass division with a 2.17 pound fish. For a complete wrap up check out www.eriecanalderby.com
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River/Lake Ontario report
According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
The river has been up and down between 4,000-6,000cfs over the last few days. It is currently running at 4,640cfs this afternoon. Anglers are finding the area near the powerhouse active with walleye, sheepshead, smallmouth, catfish and rockbass. Suggested baits are minnows, crayfish, worms, and leeches. The dam is also seeing some action with smallmouth bass, sheepshead, and panfish taking worms, crayfish and minnows.
Lake Ontario
Lake conditions have been difficult for a couple of days this week. They are settling down and waves are predicted to be 2 feet or less through the weekend.
According to Capt. Mike Conroy of Proteus Fishing Charters:
Prior to this week’s blow, king salmon were here in good numbers cruising bait in a three-mile circle around the Oswego Harbor. Fish were taken in 80-230 feet of water, in the upper water column. Applications included 200-300 feet of copper, five colors of leadcore and dipsey divers 150-180, # 3 setting.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
There was a very good salmon bite in Oswego on Tuesday, easy limit and in early. The wind became a factor Tuesday afternoon but the lake is finally beginning to settle down today.
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 report
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
Conditions on the lake were difficult Tuesday and Wednesday with the wind. As conditions settle down today, we will have to see how things set up. Prior to the blow, a good number of salmon had moved in with anglers finding them in 80-300 feet of water. Flies, flashers and spoons were working well. Lake trout could be found in 100-120 feet of water using cowbells and peanuts. Bass fishing has been very good in 10-13 feet of water with minnows and crayfish.
Salmon River:
The water has dropped to 185cfs through this evening. Activity is fairly quiet on the river at this time of year.
Oneida Lake
The walleye fishing on the lake has been very good. Look in deeper water, 30-40 feet, with trolled worm harnesses and crankbaits working well. Look for bass in up to 10 feet of water with crankbaits and tube jigs.
Sandy Pond report
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
With the weed growth access is difficult with the activity on the pond fairly quiet this time of year.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Fishing has been tough for trout and salmon. The Sodus Pro-Am was a BT tourney with very few kings. Not too say the browns weren’t nice…they were running in the high teens.
The early bite has been the way to go fishing close to shore. The browns were in close 40 to 50 feet. The temp breaks are all over the place with the salmon scattered. If the wind would stop for a few days we could see some temperature breaks.
The kings are probably in Canada.
Maybe the good news will be a slammer August for kings.
Bays
Largemouth bass are hitting everything; close to the weed lines in Sodus Bay. Use plastic or spinnerbaits.
All the bays are turning on with bass, sheepshead and a few pike. There are plenty of places to launch boats or you can rent at Warren’s Hook, Line and Sinker or Bay Bridge Sport Shop.
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
Huge largemouth bass are being caught in the canal near Port Gibson. Bluegills and sunnies are hitting near Palmyra and catfish are in the deep pools along the entire canal system.
Fair Haven / Cayuga county
Captain Werner Stenger
The salmon have arrived. They are still having some finicky days but 100-130 and 220-240 FOW both have been productive bands of fish on their given days. There has been no set pattern as to what they want but the most productive fish have been well below the thermocline. Along with the kings Steelhead and lakers have both been mixed in with the catches.
Salmon River
Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
With average water temps ten degrees cooler than normal, accompanied by high flows, you can be assured that we have fish throughout the entire river system. Increased flows will bring in the Atlantic Salmon and for eight weeks now there have been reports of Atlantics in the Upper Fly Zone. Don’t forget: no weighted flies, lines, or leaders until August 15. Be sure to check the specific Salmon River and Tributaries Angling Regulations Section of NYSDEC Freshwater Fishing Regulations before heading out.
Another year of significant brown trout stocking at the Douglaston Salmon Run offers plenty of options when visiting the property. The smallmouth are still biting throughout the run, with some pike and carp in the lower end, in addition to a few reports of Atlantics spotted. It won’t be long before the big boys will be in; stay tuned!
Resident Brown trout are being caught on flies in the Pineville area and will offer evening excitement for just about any fly angler willing to put in the time. Expect a few surprises along the way and keep your eyes out for an Atlantic Salmon.