Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
Recent storms have had an effect on fishing and fish runs, offering anglers some good and bad news. Lake action has been difficult with northeast winds, whether you are trolling in a boat or casting from the piers. When the winds are howling, you can’t do either. Your options become the harbor or up the creek all the way to the dam. That same northeast wind has been pushing back the water in the creek, allowing a run of fish to make their way up according to Wes Walker with The Slippery Sinker. Small boat trollers and casters have been working the harbors in Olcott and Wilson with J-13 Rapalas or deep diving Thundersticks; casting heavy spoons like Little Cleos or K-O Wobblers; or drifting treated egg skein under a float in some of the deeper holes. At Burt Dam and Fisherman’s Park, the recent weather triggered a small run of kings up the creek, which will probably trigger more browns and steelhead to make their way up, too. Egg skein is a good approach as are any kind of egg imitation, usually fished under a float. Wilson Harbor has been producing more of a mixed bag of fish with trout leading the way, followed by a few salmon, some bass and northern pike. If you are looking for a fishing contest, the St. Mary’s Archers Club Catch and Release Derby is set for Oct. 21-22 this year over in the Oak. There will be an annual clean sweep for Eighteenmile Creek this Saturday, October 3rd at 10am. This year they are cleaning 3 locations: Fisherman’s Park, West Olcott Beach, and Eighteenmile Creek at Ide Road (between Main Street and West Creek Road). Niagara Co. Soil and Water could use some more volunteers to come out and help, especially at the Ide Road and West Olcott Beach Locations. Give Ryan a call if you are interested at 434-4949 Ext. 114.
Lower Niagara River
Salmon fishing has been inconsistent this fall, but the recent rains could make a difference for drifters or casters. Devil’s Hole is still the place to be for salmon, whether you are fishing from boat or off the NYPA fishing platform. Boat drifters are using treated egg skein fished off three-way rigs; casters are using spoons and spinners, but egg skein fished under a float is an option, too. A few steelhead have shown up in the gorge, as well, and bass are still hanging around. Better bass fishing can be found down-river toward the mouth and it’s usually a great spot when Lake Ontario flips with a hard northeast wind. Remember that the lake trout season is now closed in the lower river (Oct. 1) and Lake Ontario for the remainder of the year.
Upper Niagara River
Water temperatures are slowly starting to come down, which should improve the musky fishing in a few weeks. Bass is still your best option for catching fish, around the islands and at the head of the river. Crayfish, shiners or tube jigs top the list. Some walleye are still hitting worm harnesses in those same general areas.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River/Lake Ontario report:
According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
With the rain the area has received in the last day or two, the water level has gone from 1,600cfs in the last report to 7,770cfs this afternoon. Much cooler temperatures arrived with the rain so this will likely move some fish around in the river. Salmon, brown trout and steelhead have been active at the dam. Skein and smack beads are working well.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Over the last couple of days we have not been crushing them but we have gotten into some fish. Fish hard and they will come. One of our anglers caught a nice long-nose gar on Saturday. Yesterday a young granddaughter showed her grandfather how it’s done. Five minutes in she hooks and lands the first one of the trip. We pulled out a good day with tough conditions. The water level has spiked with more rain on the way.
Lake Ontario report:
According to Capt. Andy Bliss of Chasin’ Tail Adventures:
Salmon fishing on the lake has been good. Northeast winds have brought cold water into the Oswego Harbor attracting many salmon. Spoons, j plugs and flashers have been taking fish. Since they are so high you won’t mark many but they are there. Use 8-10 feet on downriggers, 2-3 color leadcore and dipsy divers 20-50 feet out.
When conditions are good this is a great time to get out a small boat and chase big kings!
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.
Salmon River Report
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
With the torrential rains last night, there are still a good number of cohos making their way through the run as well as a trickle of kings. Most of our anglers were into fish today and a considerable number were brought to hand. This morning started well at the lower and middle portions of the river, while all portions of the Run continued to fish well for the remainder of the day. We are expecting light rains and overcast skies for the remainder of today. Water flows at the Salmon River Reservoir and Pineville will be 350 and 548 CFS, respectively.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel:
Yesterday the anglers we spoke with who fished the DSR reported getting into mostly cohos along with a few kings and the best action seemed to be in the mid to upper end of the run. Anglers we have staying in the motel who fished the Ballpark, Staircase/Longbridge and Black Hole also reported getting into a few cohos and the occasional king. Anglers in the Upper & Lower Fly Zones have reported getting into a mix of kings, cohos, browns and Atlantics while using natural colored streamers or single egg patterns.
Oneida Lake
Rain and much cooler temperatures have arrived so hopefully that will spark a walleye bite. In the meantime, 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.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
October 1st is Thursday and the browns just might follow some kings in Maxwell Creek…maybe, however everything is late this year. It’s a repeat of the 2014 fall season.
The browns are in 20 to 50 feet of water straight out form Hughes’ Marina. That has been the most consistent bite because the salmon have been hard to find. The water is cold running 45 to 48 degrees in 50 feet of water.
Some dark kings have been hitting in 90 to 150 of water out from Sodus Bay. Some anglers are still using copper with spoons attached.
Lake trout have been on the bottom over 90 feet of water.
Bays
Bay fishing has been great with some lunker largemouths hitting along the weedlines in Sodus Bay. The water level is low which is normal for this time of year. Someone pulls the plug at the St. Lawrence River. It’s almost like a tidal movement in fresh water.
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
Canal action is still hot. Bass have been the target with 5 pounders hitting just about everything you throw at them.
Autumn is the best time to fish the canal.
Fair Haven / Cayuga county
Captain Werner Stenger
Salmon River
Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
It’s started! Lake captains are seeing salmon staging and Douglaston Salmon Run is reporting a good run of mixed Kings and Cohoes! There has been some fresh dime-bright Steelhead up to 12 pounds reported. A few drop-back Landlocked Salmon were caught and released on the DSR. Egg patterns, chartreuse and pink, are producing with woolly buggers in white or black.
The Sportmen’s, Trestle and School House Pools are fishing well. The salmon are concentrating in the Upper Fly Zone. All in all a very good week after a long wait. This is the latest Salmon Run in 22 years of our log. Up to this year the latest run was 15 September!
I would like to submit a weekly fishing report for the Orleans County portion of New York State and would like to know how to do this. Attached is my report for this week.
Today is Wednesday, October 7, 2015.
With more fall like conditions upon us, this is a great time of the year to get out and enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer.
Cool crisp mornings that give way to days full of fall colors are here for all to enjoy.
Add to that the fantastic fall fishery and you have something that’s almost impossible to beat.
Just outside the outlets of our tributaries and along the Lake Ontario shoreline, those in small boats are having their fair share of action with Brown trout and Chinooks.
At the tributary mouths fishermen are doing well casting stick baits and some heavier spoons.
Upstream fly casters and spin casters are plying their trade on fish heading to the gravel beds that they spawn on.
Add to that Perch being caught from the bridges area on the Oak and South and the Oak right now is a fishermen’s paradise.
On Johnson, Marsh and Sandy creeks low water is causing the fishing to be just a little tougher but that should change with the rain that is in the forecast for later this week.
Fish are still being taken on those three tributaries but patience is the key right now.
On Lake Alice fishing for Bluegill and Crappie is still occurring around the Waterport Bridge and should start picking up with the cooler weather.
With the Catch and Release Derby at the Archer’s Club just a few weeks away, October 21st, 22nd and 23rd there is still time to get your entry in for this great event.
From Point Breeze on Lake Ontario the World Fishing Network’s Ultimate Fishing Town USA and the rest of Orleans County, Let’s make everyday a great fishing day right here in Orleans County.