Upstate New York Fishing Report for September 24, 2015

Greater Niagara Region

Bill Hilts, Jr.

Lake Ontario And Tributaries

After experiencing one of the warmest Septembers on record (and nicest), some of the salmon and trout have to be wondering what’s going on. With very limited rainfall and warm water temperatures, the lake options seems to be better than the river or stream option based on angler input. The Niagara Bar was hot for Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Youngstown, keeping his net wet with a mix of king and coho salmon at the Niagara Bar drop off. Water temperatures were in the 60s down to 70 foot depths at the drop off. From 70 to 80 feet, the temperatures were in the 40s and that’s exactly where all the fish were stacked up. Flasher-fly and spoon took five mature kings, a couple of coho and some immature salmon this past week. Those fish have to be waiting for nature’s call to run up the river. The same thing was going on off Olcott with Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Newfane, picking up some mature kings and Cohoes that were staging off 18 Mile Creek. Pier action has been slow at Olcott and Wilson, but Dr. John Syracuse took some time off of his busy schedule to reel in a king a few nights ago while casting a glow Little Cleo spoon. Orange and silver also produced a king by a neighboring caster, but few fish were caught. Up the creek, some fish have been caught in the harbor by trollers, but the better action is still to come. Very few fish have been reported at Burt Dam. Wilson Harbor should be seeing returning brown trout soon along with straying salmon, but again water flow in 12 Mile Creek needs to improve to pull fish in. Casting the piers there with spoons or drifting with treated egg skein could be producing some fish soon.

Lower Niagara River

Capt. Steve Drabczyk of Lewiston was excited on Sunday when his charter produced four mature kings from Devil’s Hole using a red Pro-Cure treatment from Creek Road Bait and Tackle. He was using a six foot lead off his three-way rig, bouncing bottom with 15 pound test line. That elation was short lived as the next day did not even produce a hit. Local charters have been struggling with salmon there so far and they would love to see more fish showing up to battle customers. Off the fishing platform, a few king salmon are being reported by casters, but fishing has not been consistent. Again, the best is yet to come. Remember that this weekend is the New York Power Authority’s Wildlife Festival both Saturday and Sunday and part of the festivities is a kids fishing contest. Fish in any public water around Niagara County and bring your catch to the NRAA fishing pond at the Festival between noon and 2 pm to compete for prizes. Age classifications are 9 years of age and under; and 10 to 15 years of age. Winners will be interviewed by the Fishing University TV Show that will be filming throughout the Festival. Bass and walleye action continues to be spotty. Use live bait such as crayfish and shiners for the bass; worm harnesses for the walleye.

Upper Niagara River

Bass fishing continues to be good throughout the system, but especially around Strawberry and Motor islands and at the head of the river near the round house. Crayfish and shiners top the list of live bait; tube jigs are best for artificials but other lures will also work for you – from jerk baits to spinnerbaits. Water temperatures are still near the 70 degree mark coming through from Lake Erie so the best is yet to come for the musky fishing, as well.

Oswego County

Mary Ellen Barbeau

Oswego River/Lake Ontario report:

According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
The water level has been very low over the last 24 hours. Yesterday it was down to 356cfs, this morning it is flowing at 876cfs. Anglers are fishing at the dam for salmon, brown trout and steelhead. Skein and smack beads are working well. There should be better action from the wall within the next week or so.

Lake Ontario report:

According to Capt. Andy Bliss of Chasin’ Tail Adventures:
We are enjoying another beautiful morning on the lake and the fish are cooperating. We are still finding kings and cohos in 100-150 feet of water from Oswego to Nine Mile Point. We are marking plenty of fish. Flies, meat and plugs are working well.

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 along the top bar on the home page. 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:
We have had a stretch of bright, dry days which does make for more challenging fishing conditions this time of year. There is a good run of salmon in the upper end of the river as well as a good number of them in the estuary. These will likely make their way up through the village by the end of the day. The lake fishing is winding down.

According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Yesterday morning’s anglers reported that the upper section of the river was most productive with few or no reports of fish in the middle and lower ends. Anglers in the afternoon reported that while they didn’t see many fish, those that were spotted were quick to hook. Catches are mainly kings and cohos with some brown trout and steelhead mixed in. The water flow remains 350 and 417 CFS at the reservoir and Pineville, respectively. Water temperature at the DSR was 62 degrees at 5:30 AM.

According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel:
The anglers we spoke with who fished the lower end of the river reported having a slow day with very few fish on the move. The best reports came from the mid to upper section of the river with the most action being first thing in the morning. Anglers in the Upper and Lower Fly Zones have reported getting into a mix of fish while using black, olive or brown woolly buggers as well as black beadhead stoneflies.

Oneida Lake

The conditions on the lake remain the same. With the abundance of gizzard shad the bite has been slow and there isn’t much action to report.

Sandy Pond report

According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
There is no activity to report on the pond.

Salmon River

Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
Fishing at Douglaston Salmon Run continues to be sporadic. Earlier in the week was the best with a moderate number of Kings with some Cohos mixed in. We did see several 10 pound plus dime-bright Steelhead landed and had great expectations for the rest of the week. This did not materialize and the run remains very sporadic. The Kings are averaging large and the Cohos are smaller than we normally see.

The upriver report is a reflection of the modest runs on the lower river. It is so right time right place with some success in the Sportsman and School House Pools. The Upper Fly Zone has fish and there has not been a lot of fishermen as yet. Reports from Lake Captains continues to be positive with reports of large numbers of Kings continuing to stage, some as shallow as 15 feet.