Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek finally saw a little more flow thanks to some Canal water that made it through the system. According to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker, there was over 100 cubic feet per second flowing through the system which is the most that they’ve seen in a while. That’s certainly good news for stream and pier guys at Olcott, but the majority of streams have little or no flow with no end in sight. Temperatures will continue to be mild with little rain based on future forecasts. There are a few trout swimming around to be caught, but nothing that will get anglers running in from the woods with deer season still going on. Off the mouth of the river on the Bar, Bill Fekete Sr. and Jr. of Ransomville, along with 11 year old Corey Fekete, caught 15 trout in three hours of fishing last Sunday. They were using standard trolling spoons off downriggers to take their fish. We’ve heard as many as twice that for a morning outing. If any of those trout are lake trout, remember the season is closed and they must be released immediately. The season opens on Jan. 1, 2016.
Lower Niagara River
The Lower Niagara River fishing action is trying to make up for a month’s worth of poor fishing conditions. The weekend action was very good, as was the weather. In the river itself, action continues to be good for a mix of fish with steelhead leading the way. Lake trout and brown trout are also being caught, as are a variety of warm water fish species. At the top of the list was a 14 pound walleye caught last Thursday by Bob Helm of Canton, Ohio while fishing with Capt. Jeff Draper of Grand Island. It bit a golden shiner – the fish of a lifetime. Shore action has slowed a little bit but you can still toss spoons and spinners to catch trout. Remember that lake trout season is closed on the NY side of the river (open on the Canadian side); musky season closes after Dec. 15. Speaking of musky, the Niagara Musky Association held the John Henning Memorial Catch and Release Tournament and there were four boats trolling for musky. Andrew Lacko of Kenmore won the event with a 35 inch fish. Another 42 inch fish was caught, but it was a few minutes after the 4 pm cutoff and it didn’t make the cut off.
Upper Niagara River
Not too much changed from last week. Target trout with spoons and spinners off Broderick Park or the Bird Island Pier. If you want a walleye, go with live bait like a shiner or crawler. Some bass are being caught. Remember that if you want to target bass, it’s catch and release only, artificial lures only. Canal water is continuing to drain throughout the system.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report:
The water flow has dropped substantially running at 6,900cfs this morning. This level makes more areas along the river accessible but as always please use caution. Driftboat anglers as well as though fishing from shore can find some nice steelhead and brown trout. One angler even netted an Atlantic salmon last week. Egg sacs, smack beads and skein 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.
Salmon River Report:
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel:
Yesterday anglers staying in the motel reported having the most action in the mid to upper section of river while bottom bouncing with flies or egg sacs. The few anglers we spoke with who fished the lower end of the river reported having a very slow day. In Altmar for those anglers who are fly fishing, single egg patterns or nymphs under a strike indicator have produced results. Bottom bouncing with egg sacs or float fishing with egg sacs, trout beads or pink worms have also been productive.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Yesterday was a very nice day for early December but unfortunately the fishing didn’t match the day. The anglers coming off the run about 2 p.m. reported very slow action. The water went to 750cfs at the dam and is currently 894cfs at Pineville. One guide reported getting into a few smaller rainbows, most reported not getting “a touch”, and one report of an angler getting into a couple fish mid-river was the best for the day. Hopefully, after the fish have adjusted to the new water level things will pick up.
Oneida Lake Report
Temperatures will be unseasonably warm in the 50 to near 60 degrees over the next few days. Conditions remain about the same with anglers still finding some perch in the bays and the night bite for walleye continues just before and after dark. Casting stickbaits and blade baits remain successful applications. A reminder that from November 1 to May 1, all persons regardless of age, aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet, must wear a Personal Flotation Device while underway.
Sandy Pond report
The pond is quiet and with the temperatures we are having, ice is a ways off yet.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
There was little rain last week so Maxwell has a flow issue. And there has not been good news with the catch rate last week.
There are steelhead and browns in Maxwell, however they are not hitting. The only hot spot is the pier at Sodus Point. Some steelies were being caught using bright red or silver spoons. The warm weather is good news for pier fishing. Last year the ice covered the pier heads.
Bays
They are catching perch in Sodus and Port Bays. They have been the smaller variety but at least they have entered the bays from Lake Ontario.
December is predicted to be a warm which is not a favorable weather pattern for ice anglers. We want cold and we want it now!
There have been some crappies caught in the narrows of Port Bay, and Blind Sodus Bay has seen some perch action.
Remember…there are four bays in Wayne County. Sodus and Port are the largest: however there are some limited access points at 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.
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 fishing has been excellent. They were catching bluegills and crappies at the Port Gibson Bridge which crosses Route 31. And you can launch at Widewaters for some fishing action.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The Erie Canal de-watering is finally having an effect on all of the tributaries within Orleans County causing water levels to be at a more fishable level.
Reports from Sandy Creek have catches of Brown tout, Steelhead and Domestic Rainbows in the catches.
No solid reports yet from Johnson and Marsh Creeks but I would imagine that fishing should be the same as Sandy Creek.
On the “Oak” the increased water flow have fish moving around again with both Brown and Steelhead trout being much more active.
On the lower reaches some Perch are being taken but just not with any regularity.
Lake Alice is giving up both Large and Smallmouth bass, please remember catch and release only, Perch, Bluegill and Walleye mostly around the drop offs.
Weather thru Monday is supposed to be in the 50’s and then dropping to the 40’s for the rest of the week.
Chance of rain is around 50% for several days but the “S” word has not been mentioned.
If we can get a couple days off and on of rain the flows in our tributaries should be able to maintain decent levels and keep fish moving throughout the system.
Fishing pressure is still very light so there is plenty of open water for you to enjoy.
Salmon River
Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
Here’s the up front bottom line: if you work hard you will be rewarded with a Salmon River Trophy. Since Salmon season started in September, fishing conditions for all Lake Ontario tributaries have been merely okay. Anglers are reporting low numbers and speculating that there are not many more fish in the lake. As for the anglers who are blessed with having the opportunity to just get outdoors, they have enjoyed some of a most beautiful fall and a mild starting winter. Many anglers have put many hours on the stream this year with many one or two fish days. That trend is continuing this December on the Salmon River. We have had our spurts here and there, but fishing has been “slow” compared to what anglers have experienced for many years.
Over the past week, we have seen the water temperature drop significantly. Water temperatures have been averaging around 41 degrees. Fishing has been a slow steady pick with most of the action happening in the Lower Fly Zone. That is the center of all the craziness. But if having a high number day is a must, it’s the place you need to go. Down on the Douglaston Salmon Run, there have been a steady number of fishermen reporting average fishing. The fish that have been caught on the river are fresh “hot” Steelhead and have been very entertaining for all anglers who have hooked up.
The reservoir had two releases this week, bumping the flow up to 750 and then to 1000 cfs at the Pineville Bridge. With the extra amount of water, expect fish to be make their way up the river with much less resistance. Also, anglers will start to see the fish spread out more.