Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Lake Ontario report:
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
The first day of our lake season started on Monday. A slow brown trout bite with the bright sun and clear water. We slid out deeper for a laker crushfest with constant lake trout action for the boys from Maine. We have been getting a few browns then switching over to lakers. Laker fishing is very, very good right now.
According to Capt. Ed Monette of Cannonball Charters
Fishing has been on fire this week with limit catches every trip. Application has been a combination of stingers depending on the water conditions.
Oswego River Report:
The river level has been flowing between 4,000-6,000cfs for several days. This morning it is running at 4,160cfs. This level makes all areas along the river fishable. Anglers are continuing to find a few steelhead and brown trout. Just a reminder that walleye season is closed and will reopen on May 7. Look for bullhead at Wright’s Landing with worms and minnows 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.
Pulaski Area/Salmon River report:
According to Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop:
The brown trout fishing on Lake Ontario was tougher over the weekend with lots of clear water to deal with. Stick baits on long leads with light line worked best. Anglers who moved out into 35-60 feet of water found lots of action with lake trout.
Salmon River report:
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Our guests on Tuesday reported decent action on drop back steelies especially early in the day. Once the bright sun got high overhead the bite became tough. Still, anglers managed to pick a fish here or there through the rest of the day. Yesterday we had a couple of anglers on the run. One reported catching three steelhead early in the day floating beads.
According to Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop:
The water flow is 750 CFS. The best fishing has been from the Trestle Pool downstream to the Sportsman Pool. The best baits have been blue egg sacs, white egg sacs and pink worms.
Oneida Lake Report
We have had some beautiful weather and the fishing is picking up. Perch are responding to minnows in the bays and a few bullhead were taken over the weekend. Remember walleye season is closed until May 7.
Sandy Pond report
According to Woody’s Tackle:
The activity on the pond is rather quiet. With the recent stretch of nice weather, anglers are finding some perch and a few crappies. Just a reminder that walleye and northern pike seasons are closed and will reopen on May 7.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Water temps are 46 to 48 off of Black Creek which is just west of Blind Sodus Bay. Calm winds have cleared the water so the brown trout fishing has been tough. Try the mouths of the bays where the plume is slightly colored.
Some browns were caught casting off the Sodus Pier. Use Cleo or Kastmasters, bright colors.
The usual sticks have worked and there are some nice colored browns coming from 10 to 20 fow. The lake is high so when it blows (which is will) there will be plenty of muddy water.
Bays
Crappies are being caught at Bay Bridge…the south end of Sodus Bay. The bullhead action is good at night; however a nice warm rain will help. They are also fishing for perch around the channel at Sodus…not much luck! Port Bay hasn’t produced anything and the water clarity is very murky.
Check out the rest of the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops. 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 water will warm quickly especially with yesterday’s 75 degree temperatures. This waterway is a great place for family fishing. You can fish from the shore or launch at the many ramps located in Wayne County. Widewaters is never drained so you don’t have to wait until May when they flood the canal.
Remember…you still need to wear your PFD. It has to be worn, not sitting in your boat. You need to wear it until May 1st.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
Well it looks and feels like spring has finally sprung.
April showers on Friday and Saturday should help those famous May flowers to really bloom.
It looks like the tributary fishing for steelhead and brown trout could be singing its swan song until fall.
There are still a few of both hanging around but that should not last very long.
Until fall the tributary fishermen will have to refocus their efforts on bass and other warm water species.
On Lake Alice both Bluegill and Crappie are becoming active with surface water temperatures approaching 56 degrees.
The Erie Canal folks are busy filling the canal up for the May 1st opening.
This again offers another great fishing location for all to enjoy.
On Lake Ontario fishing is picking up at a fast pace.
When stained water forms on the shoreline, Brown trout fishing has been very good to excellent.
When the on shore water clears Lake trout fishing is also good to excellent in the 60 to 100 foot of water range.
Lure colors and varieties are all over the place so start with what you have had the most success with.
Don’t forget that our pen reared fish need to be fed several time s a day so stop be Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina and sign up for a time slot or 2.
The LOC Spring Derby starts in 15 days and this is one that you don’t want to miss so sign up now.
Salmon River
Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
Water releases fluctuating between 500 and 700 CFS this week and trending downward with little rain in the forecast. Water temperature is at 48 degree because of several days of 60 degree weather. The river flow is very clear so look for low light conditions, early, late, cloud cover, etc.
Douglaston Salmon Run continues to reports Drop-Backs. Drop-Backs and some pre-spawn and spawning fish were found scattered throughout the river. All reports indicate that you have to move and cover water to be successful. As a result there are a lot of drift boats on the river. With water temps approaching 50 degrees look for the early run of Landlocked Atlantic Salmon and large smallmouth bass in the lower river.
whatever happened to the Hudson River reports?