Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario and tributaries
Action continues to be spotty with anglers dealing with east and northeast winds the past week. While it wasn’t a total roll-over on the lake, there was some cold water on the inside that seems to scatter salmon and trout a bit. Most of the action was out deep when you could get out there – over 450 to 500 foot depths according to Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Wet Net Charters. He fished out of Olcott earlier this week to take a mixed bag of salmon and steelhead in the top 80 feet of water with spoons and flasher-fly combinations. Last week he hit the Niagara Bar and found a ton of shakers (small kings). In fact, he couldn’t keep them off his hooks and they become a nuisance so he moved. This week when he hit the bar, he was targeting lake trout west of the red can and did will on fish over 15 pounds. This is the last weekend for the Orleans County Rotary Derby and some nice fish have been coming to the scales for sure. Leading the way for the Grand Prize is Joseph Miller of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with a 25 pound, 5 ounce salmon caught out of Point Breeze. Top Rainbow Trout is a 12 pound, 14 ounce steelie reeled in by Mike Ayotte of Port Charlotte, Florida while fishing out of Point Breeze. Chad Kennedy of Marlborough, Massachusetts is tops in the brown trout division with a 14 pound, 5 ounce fish caught out of Point Breeze and in the lake trout division, it’s Mike Engle of Hamlin the top laker taker with a 17 pound, 12 ounce Point Breeze fish. The derby ends on Sunday … and next weekend is the start of two big events – the Lake Ontario Counties Fall Derby August 21 to Sept. 7 and the Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey Derby August 22 to 30. For the LOC Derby, the derby newspaper should be out this weekend if you want to see a recap of the spring and summer events (it’s available online now). For the Fish Odyssey, check details online at www.fishodyssey.net including weigh stations. The best thing about the Odyssey is that kids are free and categories include bass, walleye and carp in addition to salmon and trout – and all have a chance for the Grand Prize! Cabela’s has stepped in to be the only Erie County weigh station so please take note. Tip of the week comes from Capt. Bob Cinelli of Newfane. If you are running a little late in the morning for a charter fishing trip, make sure that – at the very least – you grab two shoes that are the same! However, it may start a new fad among fashion-conscious anglers.
Lower Niagara River
Walleye action continues to be consistent by dragging worm harnesses along the bottom in places like Stella Niagara and off the mouth of the river on the Niagara Bar. Bass are available, but seeking out active fish has not been an easy proposition for anglers. Many times artificial baits like tubes and spinnerbaits will out-produce live bait. Shoreline casters can do well on warm water species in the gorge, but as always, caution is advised when working the shoreline.
Upper Niagara River
Tony Scime at Scime’s Tackle reports that some bass and walleye have been coming from the head of Strawberry Island on a consistent basis. Worm harnesses work best for the ‘eyes and will also catch an occasional bass. The head of the river has been a good location for walleye and bass, too. Shore casters are picking up bass, perch, silver bass and sheepshead closer to Buffalo. Crayfish is always good bait from shore or boat, but worms and minnows work, as well. In the Erie Canal, fish are available. It’s just a question of trying to figure out where and when. Kristen Heffernan of North Tonawanda was trolling a Challenger stickbait last weekend to take a nice six pound walleye on the outside of a weedbed near the Robinson Road bridge. Nice catch!
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River/Lake Ontario report:
According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
The river level has been up to 4,500cfs and as low as 700cfs over the last few days. This morning it is running at 2,850cfs. The activity in the river remains about the same. The dam is producing smallmouth bass, sheepshead and panfish. Worms, crayfish and minnows are working well. The area near the powerhouse continues to see activity with walleye, sheepshead, smallmouth, catfish and rockbass. Minnows, crayfish, worms and leeches are suggested baits.
Lake Ontario report:
Conditions have varied over the last week or so on the lake. We have had warm temperatures, cooler temperatures, calm waters and days with a stiff wind. These add up to salmon being scattered and a tough bite.
Temperatures are forecasted to warm up for the weekend with light winds. Salmon are being found over 150-450 feet of water with flashers and flies, cut-bait and spoons working well. Anglers are finding a few lake trout in 120 feet of water with cowbells and peanuts.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Scattered kings are making it tough lately. If you land on them first light you have a good day.
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 Reports along the top of the page. The Oswego Fire Department offers loaner life jackets at no charge through its ìLoaner For Lifeî 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:
The wind has again been a factor over the last few days. The salmon are scattered and the bite has been slow. The weather forecasters are calling for a return to very summer-like temperatures for the weekend and through much of next week. This should help to spur the salmon action. Anglers looking for lake trout have found some activity in 150 feet of water north of Port Ontario. Bass anglers are finding a good bite in 20 feet of water off Mexico Point and Catfish Creek when conditions are good.
Salmon River:
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
The fishermen that spent the day on the run yesterday did not report seeing any of our “long awaited guests.” We have had a few salmon sightings over the past few days but not a lot of activity. A few bass still provided some entertainment but not truly what was hoped for. Water flow remains at 185cfs at the dam and 229cfs at Pineville. We would love to see some rainfall and a little surge in the water.
Oneida Lake
The fishing has been a bit tough on the lake. The bite has been slow and the wind has made for difficult conditions at times. Look for smallmouth bass near the shoals and there has been some schooling activity in the deeper water. Tube jigs and stickbaits are working well. Anglers are finding a few walleye in the 30-40 foot water depth. Worm harnesses and jigs tipped with nightcrawlers are suggested bait.
Sandy Pond report
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
As is typical this time of year, the activity on the pond is fairly quiet.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The kings have been in 300 to 350 feet of water down 70 to 90 feet. If you feel like yanking in copper, they are hitting out 300 feet.
Flasher flies…spin doctors… green and white work and also some cut bait presentations.
Most of the action is still off shore with some browns closer in 150 feet of water. There was some colored water after Monday’s torrential rainfall, however that has disappeared.
August has turned-on with some great catches, mostly to the west of Sodus Bay.
Bays
Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent in all Wayne County bays. Sodus, the largest embayment has seen action anywhere in the bay. Just work the weeds, especially near the south end. Port Bay also has bass action.
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 Derby awards were Sunday, August 2nd and a nice crowd of 60 people enjoyed the festivities. We had 75 youths signed-up for the 2015 event…the same exact number as last year.
Erie Canal
Some five pound largemouth bass have been coming from Widewaters. The water is murky from recent rain; however the fish don’t really care. There were a few smallmouths caught near Swifts Landing, proving the canal holds all species of fish.
Fair Haven / Cayuga county
Captain Werner Stenger
Mother nature continues to provide us with tough fishing conditions while in search of king salmon out of Fair Haven. The west blow this week should move fish back into waters as staging time nears. Many fish can be seen in the 120-160 range but the most cooperative bite continues to be off shore in depths 300’+.
Salmon River
Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
With water levels remaining quite stable this week fishing in the Salmon River has continued to yield small brown trout and some smallmouth bass.
This week at the Douglaston Salmon Run the first Chinook Salmon was spotted in a small back channel on the property, let’s hope he goes back and tells his buddies that it’s time to make the run! Brown trout fishing with dry flies and nymphs continues to satisfy fly fisherman, the “Wall Hole” has been fishing very well.
The next water release is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, look for the rise in the water level to bring in the first of the early run fall fish. Just a few weeks from now anglers will take their chances on landing a real trophy salmon like Dean (pictured above) did last season.
Until next week, #keepthemwet