Upstate New York Fishing Report for March 17, 2016

Greater Niagara Region

Bill Hilts, Jr.

Lake Ontario And Tributaries

The spring fishing action should be picking up soon, even if we aren’t quite to spring on the calendar. Water temperatures were starting to heat up in the lake as stream outflows were nearing the 40 degree mark according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker. In 18 Mile Creek at Burt Dam, the water turned muddy again after the recent rains. That said, anglers were catching some steelheads there by using egg sacs in bright colors or jigs tipped with a wax worm and fished under a float. Keg Creek was clear and holding a few steelheads as well. When the water was starting to clear over in Wilson harbor, they were starting to pick up a few perch. Remember that pike season is closed. And if water temps continue to rise, it won’t be long before they are catching a few bullheads over in Wilson, too. Lake trollers are working the mud lines at stream out flows with stickbaits to take a mix of Cohos, browns and steelies. Firetiger pattern is always a good bet this time of year, but natural colors in silver, brown and black will also entice fish to hit.

Lower Niagara River

Water conditions were near perfect, but fishing has been a bit tough for drifters working the river from Devil’s Hole to the Niagara Bar. Minnows that have been dyed to different colors will sometimes tip the action to the fisherman’s favor. Capt. Steve Drabczyk of Lewiston was using pink minnows to take trout on the Niagara Bar last weekend; Capt. Frank Campbell was using a UV green color – both made by Pautzke. Kwikfish and egg sacs will also work to take fish. Steelhead and lake trout are the primary targets, but a few browns are also showing up. Remember that walleye and pike seasons are closed now, too. Shore anglers are tossing spinners or drifting egg sacs or egg pattern baits like trout beads or flies to take some fish. The 11th Annual John Long Memorial Raffle and Feast sponsored by the Niagara River Anglers Assn. will be held April 3 at Niagara Active Hose, 6010 Lockport Road, Niagara Falls starting at 2 pm. For tickets call 628-1460.

Upper Niagara River

With the ice boom removal complete, the waters should start to improve as far as water temperatures and fish catching. Trout should be available off the Bird Island Pier or Broderick Park/Unity Island. Casting spoons, spinners or egg sacs could produce a rainbow or two. Remember that walleye season is closed for the time being. Don’t forget the Fish Forum at the Aquarium of Niagara Falls on March 31 starting at 6:30 pm. Contact Jarrett Steffen at 852-7483 Ext. 19 to register. There will be a Basic Electronics Seminar on April 2 at Anchor Marine, Grand Island from 9 am to 4 pm. Speaker will be Lance Valentine with Walleye 101. Call 773-7063 to preregister. On April 15-17, the BOSS Hunting and Fishing Show will be held at Riverworks, Buffalo. For more information contact Marc Arena at 997-8970.

Oswego County

Mary Ellen Barbeau

Oswego River Report:

The water level has continued to drop running at 11,100cfs this morning. There have been reports of some rainbow trout, a few steelhead and a walleye here and there. Jigs and pink worms have been successful.

According to Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
It’s bullhead time at Wright’s Landing. Worms and minnows are the suggested baits.

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:
A few anglers were out enjoying the milder temperatures today. High flows continue to hinder guests’ efforts as swinging streamer patterns and bottom bouncing nymphs did not elicit a strike. We have received notification that efforts will commence at the hatchery for their annual collection of spring steelhead eggs beginning on 3/16.

According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
Not much change with the fishing over the last couple of days, anglers are still working hard while getting into a few fish. The majority of bank anglers continue to fish the upper end of the river between Altmar and Pineville. If you’re looking for less water the side channels and diversions off the main river is another option. If you’re still not comfortable with this water level (1,700cfs) some of the smaller local tributaries are also another option. On the days that Lake Ontario has been calm enough to fish anglers have been catching a few browns while trolling along the shoreline.

Oneida Lake Report

With the ice fishing season behind us anglers are looking toward some spring open water fishing. We have not received any reports as yet but will update over the next couple of weeks as the lake fishing begins.

Sandy Pond report

Now that ice fishing has ended things are a bit quiet on the pond as we transition to the spring open water angling.

Wayne County Fishing Update

Chris Kenyon

Streams

There are some steelhead still in Maxwell Creek. With warm water flowing they will enter the lake, however right now you have an opportunity to catch a few. Use the bright stuff…they still are hitting egg sacs.

You can also cast off the Sodus pier. Last week there was plenty of action with the steelhead and brown trout. Or go to Hughes’ Marina off of Lake Road and through some spoons in the lagoon waters or cast out in the lake for browns. The options are there.

Lake Ontario

It’s that time of year. Some browns were caught off of the Sodus Pier by some hardy anglers with boats. You can launch now that the bays have no ice, however make sure you have a safe enough boat to enter the lake.

Bays

Ice is gone and the boats are being launched for crappies and perch. The perch season was horrible mainly because of no ice, however the fish were tough to find anyway. You can try the south end of Port bay for crappies or bluegills.

Bullhead fishing has started with some catches at Bay Bridge, the south end of Sodus Bay. If we receive the predicted rainfall, the warmer flow will start the spring fishing. Bullheads and spring!

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

The canal has open water and the panfish are hitting. You can even catch some nice bluegills from the shore. The crappies are a spring favorite near the Port Gibson Bridge.

Orleans County

Orleans County Tourism
The warmer weather over the past week or so has warmed the waters of Orleans County to unusual highs.

One report has the Lake Alice surface temperature as high as 49 degrees and the temperature at the mouth of Oak Orchard River at 43 degrees.

More seasonal temperatures will come into play with the cool down that will be here starting Friday and continue for a week or better.

Sunday may be the first day of spring on the calendar but evidently Mother Nature doesn’t pay any attention to that.

On Lake Ontario those with smaller boats are working the shoreline and doing fairly well on Brown trout when wind conditions are favorable.

The best action this time of year is around the tributary discharges due to the stained water conditions and warmer water temperatures.

Fair to good conditions exist on all of the tributaries within Orleans County with both spawned and fresh Steelhead in the mix along with that occasional Brown trout.

Suckers and Bullhead are starting to enter the mix as well as a perch or two at times.

On Lake Alice Bullhead, Perch, Bluegill and Crappie are all starting to be taken but not in any great numbers yet.

In another month our marinas will be filling up with our charter fleet and private boaters ready to take the challenge that Lake Ontario offers for another season.