Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
Warm temperatures and melting snows created some decent tributary conditions in places like Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek. That said, it will probably change a bit when a heavy rain hits at mid-week. Melting now doesn’t usually add anything but a good flow. However rain will normally put some stain into the water in addition to adding more flow. The key will be how much rain. Too much rain may make it a little more difficult to target trout. You may have to use baits with bright coloration. Jigs tipped with a wax worm and fished under a float is the best approach, although just wax worms on a hook was good this week, too. Good news and bad news on that rain. It will make things a little more iffy for any ice fishing action that has taken place in the harbors. While some safe ice is reported at Wilson Harbor, you can’t get to it with open water along the shoreline edges. The same is being reported to the east. The piers have opened back up again and casters are reporting trout by tossing spoons and spinners. Some anglers are even talking about getting the boats out of the garage and doing some shoreline trolling for trout but no reports on success yet. Remember that there will be a free fishing weekend Feb. 13-14. While it was designed to help promote ice fishing, it’s for everyone who wants to try fishing those two days. Remember you still need to follow the regulations. Some of the harbors that have opened up like Olcott have been reporting an uptick in perch and pike action according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker. And remember that the Lake Ontario tributaries are eligible waters in the Niagara River Anglers Association’s steelhead contest on Saturday.
Lower Niagara River
Fishing was tough in the river this week even though the water didn’t appear to be that bad at mid-week. The best spot to be was the Niagara Bar, fishing three-way rigs for trout. Best baits were minnows or Kwikfish. Lake trout, browns and the occasional rainbow were all showing up at the mouth of the river. The forecast doesn’t look good for the weekend with high winds blowing in and some heavy rain predicted. That will make for an interesting Roger Tobey Memorial Steelhead Contest on Feb. 6 from sunrise to 2 pm. For more information contact 998-8910. It could be one of those years when the shore fishermen do better than the boat drifters. Spinners continue to be a hot bait for hardware casters.
Upper Niagara River
Conditions have been fishable and spoons or spinners have been taking some trout around Broderick Park. Ice conditions in Buffalo harbor have deteriorated.
NYS Winter Classic Tournament – Fishing around New York State has been tough this year with the changes in the weather patterns. That said, some pretty impressive catches have come to the scales during the first month of action and there’s still nearly a month left – and it’s not too late to register. On the local front, Tyler Morrison of Barker is leading the trout division with a 16.79 lake trout from the Niagara Bar, caught on a swim bait. Leading walleye is a 14.24 pound lunker reeled in by Catrina Gumtow at Chaumont Bay. Charles Trump is tops in the pickerel division with a 6.4 pound Chaumont fish. Justin Walts has the top pike with a 16.57 pound fish from Black Lake; and Tom Allen is leading the yellow perch division with a 2.38 pound perch on a twistertail. Biggest crappie so far is a 2.74 pound fish caught on a Maki Plastice by Kevin Riley. Jake Pollack is first place in the panfish division with a 1.61 pound sunfish, caught on a spike and weighed in at Oneida Lake. Find out more information at www.nyswinterclassic.com. The tournament ends on Feb. 28.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report:
The water level was down for several days but has been gradually climbing this week. With the heavy rain we had Tuesday night into Wednesday it may go higher. This morning it is flowing at 10,600cfs. Anglers were taking advantage of the lower water with steelhead and a few browns found throughout the river. At this level, shore angling will be difficult until the flow drops. Egg sacs have been a popular bait to try.
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:
Several anglers fished the run on Tuesday. A few reported the action slow with no hookups while others had hookups and bright shiny steelhead were brought to hand. A few anglers braved the rain and wind yesterday morning with no success. Once the rain ended, a few anglers had some successful hookups.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel:
On Wednesday we had very high winds and heavy rain in the morning, but in the afternoon it cleared up. Over the last few days with the mild conditions we lost most of our snow and with the recent rain we’re getting runoff in the lower end of the river. After the heavy rain the lower end of the river had poor visibility from the runoff which should clear up now that the rain has passed. No reports from anglers in the lower end of the river, but anglers stopping into the shop reported landing some fish in the upper end of the river between Altmar and Pineville.
Oneida Lake Report
The warmer temperatures and the heavy rain Tuesday night and yesterday morning have not been in our favor. Early reports after the rain indicate that the ice is honeycombed and not safe at this time. We have late season conditions in mid-winter. We do have cooler temperatures on the way although the daytime highs will be above freezing. Nighttime lows will be in the 20s so we will have to see how these temperatures affect the ice.
Sandy Pond report
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
After the warmer temperatures and the heavy rain we had this week the ice is very questionable. We have a few more days with daytime temperatures above freezing but there appears to be a cold snap coming next week. Be patient, be safe and we will see how conditions set up next week. Provided we don’t get a lot of snow and wind, hopefully we will have some good ice again soon.
According to Green Point Marina:
The ice in the area is not safe at this time. Look for updates over the next few days as some cooler air moves into the area especially next week.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
It is proving to be a very different winter this year as temperatures are very mild and snowfalls very low. As I get out of my car at Altmar the temp reads 47 degrees. The river is at 350 cfs at the dam and 520 cfs a Pineville. This is a result of moderate temps, heavy rain yesterday and continuing snow melt. The Tug Hill is still covered with snow but melting rapidly. As a result we are seeing more fishermen on the river.
Douglaston Salmon Run is fishing well will with fresh fish entering the river. The usual ice blockage in the Lower River and estuary is NOT present so the fish have easy access.
Upriver fishing has picked up and the major pools are seeing a bit more fishing pressure. There is some good activity in the Lower Fly Zone and it has been fishing well at 350cfs. Drift Boat Captains are more evident as fresh steelhead spread throughout the system.
Bays
We had ice for a week; however the rain and 50 degree temps certainly melted away the good ice. It’s not safe, so don’t attempt to get some time on the ice…at least not now. Maybe we can re-group next week. At least it’s not open water yet.
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
It is the same situation on the canal. Last night’s rain put a dent in the safe ice. You shouldn’t be on any canal ice right now.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The rain of today should help keep water levels in the tributaries within Orleans County at a moderate level on the “Oak” and moderate to slightly high on Johnson, Marsh and Sandy Creeks for a few more days.
The warmer temperatures have opened up great stretches on all of the tributaries and have fish migrating again.
Some fresh steelhead are again entering the system along with some darker steelhead and an occasional brown trout thrown into the mix.
Lake Alice has ice covering a large portion of it but again the warmer temperatures have made it totally unsafe to be on.
The temperatures in the long range forecast aren’t cold enough to generate much new ice so I wouldn’t be in any big hurry to plan an ice fishing trip just yet.
The good news is that Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow on Groundhog Day so we can start getting our lake fishing gear and boats ready for an early season start, that is if you believe that a groundhog can really predicate the weather.
The Great American Outdoor Show starts this Saturday, February 6th to the 14th at the Harrisburg, Pa. Farm Show Complex.
Salmon River
Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
It is proving to be a very different winter this year as temperatures are very mild and snowfalls very low. As I get out of my car at Altmar the temp reads 47 degrees. The river is at 350 cfs at the dam and 520 cfs a Pineville. This is a result of moderate temps, heavy rain yesterday and continuing snow melt. The Tug Hill is still covered with snow but melting rapidly. As a result we are seeing more fishermen on the river.
Douglaston Salmon Run is fishing well will with fresh fish entering the river. The usual ice blockage in the Lower River and estuary is NOT present so the fish have easy access.
Upriver fishing has picked up and the major pools are seeing a bit more fishing pressure. There is some good activity in the Lower Fly Zone and it has been fishing well at 350cfs. Drift Boat Captains are more evident as fresh steelhead spread throughout the system.