Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
East wind is the nemesis of the Lake Ontario salmon and trout fishermen and we’ve had a bunch of it the last couple of weeks. Despite the less than ideal conditions, it was the Yankee Troller team led by Capt. Rich Hajecki leading a field of nearly 50 boats to take the annual Wilson Harbor Invitational Tournament last Saturday – the WHI. The one day event target’s salmon only and the team scored the tournament limit of six salmon – all kings – and averaged nearly 18 pounds per fish. Pretty impressive!! There wasn’t anyone close to them. The team fished from 6 mile to 4 mile in 100 to 225′ of water. In practice they had some bites on Dreamweaver spoons, but during the event it was all Familiar Bite Meat. Their best set-up was a 150 foot diver pulling a Familiar Bite Whip Flash/Meat combo. They also had a similar combo going on a rigger. The LOC Derby is going on right now and the current Grand Prize leader is Tracy Lindsey of Seneca Falls with a 25 pound, 4 ounce salmon weighed in at Wilson. The first place lake trout 24 pounds, 1 ounce caught by Brent Burgess of Portland, NY while fishing out of Wilson. All these fish were caught on Saturday, so the fishing turned on for big fish. Seeking out active fish hasn’t been easy with the east wind. Wednesday morning, Capt. Kurt Driscoll found some kings in tight around Wilson in 40 to 60 feet of water, all in the top 30 feet, where his deepest rigger was set. He was trolling hot, too – down speed was 3.4 mph using spoons in black-white-green-gold. The LOC Derby continues until Sunday at 1 pm, May 15. Awards will be held at Captain Jack’s on Sodus Bay starting at 4 pm. Check out the leaderboard at loc.org. Don’t forget that Don Johannes and Pete DeAngelo 3 fish- one fish contest is set for May 19. Register by 7 am the morning of the event in either Wilson or Olcott — In Olcott it’s the Slippery Sinker and the Boat Doctors; in Wilson at Bootleggers Cove Marina or the Gas Shack. The Lake Ontario Pro-Am tournament is set for May 20-22 and the deadline to sign up for everyone is May 16 at 5 pm. Find out everything on the website at .lakeontarioproam.net. It’s a celebration of our fishing resources, for sure, an event started up by the late Skip Hartman of Olcott in conjunction with Lowrance Electronics – 32 years ago! Remember to save those salmon heads from clipped fish.
Lower Niagara River
The big news is that the lower river’s Devil’s Hole area will be closed on Monday, Tuesday and possibly Wednesday according to National Grid officials. The culprit is the removal of some old transmission lines and numerous precautions are being taken – including closing boat traffic, Artpark Trail No. 7 and even the Robert Moses Parkway from traffic. It might be for only 90 minutes per day, but it’s anyone’s guess how long it will really take. That’s starting Monday, May 16. Trout are still hanging on as the warm water fish are becoming a bit more active. Kwikfish are working on lake trout; steelhead prefer shiners. Filming a TV show on the lower river recently with Mid-West Outdoors, we managed to catch seven different species of fish. The number one species we caught were numerous silver bass in the Wagon Wheel area just south of the launch ramp on swim baits. While drifting for bass, Bob George with Buck Knives had the surprise of his life – a 50 inch musky! Check out the Facebook page for Niagara USA Fishing and Outdoors to see a video of it. Because it’s not in season, it was released immediately. It still provided a nice thrill. He was using a Strike King Rodent soft plastic bait. John Antone of Sanborn was fishing with Capt. Steve Drabczyk recently and he managed to catch five different species. Egg sacs and shiners worked best but the key was using a 7 foot leader. Some big smallmouth bass in the six pound class were caught last week in the river and at the river mouth during the annual media event utilizing tubes and swim baits. The key was fishing the baits slow.
Speaking of Television shows, if you want to see Niagara County in a positive light, check out Fishing University next weekend on the Outdoor Channel. It will air on Friday, May 20th at 12:30 pm, Sat., May 21st at 4:30 pm and Sun., May 22nd at 9:30 am Eastern. It’s another way to promote our great fishing, as well as the area! Thanks to Jennifer Pauly and the Lower River Chamber to took the lead on this effort last fall. The Niagara River Anglers Assn. will be holding their next meeting on Monday, May 16 starting at 7 pm at the Jetport Restaurant, 7100 Porter Rd., Niagara Falls.
Upper Niagara River
Not too many reports to share and this should be a good time to target panfish around Grand Island and along River Road. Use minnows if you are targeting perch or crappies. Bass anglers must still use artificial baits in the river. Northern pike and walleye seasons are now open, too. The Erie Canal is open for business and offers some good fishing options this time of year.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Lake Ontario report:
According to Capt. Andy Bliss of Chasin’ Tail Adventures:
There are a few more salmon starting to show up with 150-350 feet of water being the best water depth. Most of the salmon are taking spoons in more natural patterns. A few are eating A-TOM-MIK flies in green glo and hammer patterns behind Valium e-chips. Most of the action has been down 30-80 feet below the surface.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Fishing remains pretty good with a wide variety of fish around. Lots of lakers with browns, kings, steelhead and cohos mixed in. Some of the nicest looking spring fish I have seen in quite a while. Marking big bait pods with all sizes of alewives. I love fishing the day after a west blow which happened last Sunday. Huge numbers on Monday but the size was down. The two-year old class of browns looks good.
Oswego River Report:
Although the flow was up and down Tuesday and early yesterday, it has dropped to 3,080cfs as of this morning. Areas all along the river are accessible. Walleye season opened on Saturday but the bite has been slow. There are still a few trout in the river. 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 Woody’s Tackle:
The lake fishing is producing a mixed bag. Anglers are reporting some salmon along with a good number of lake trout.
Salmon River report:
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
We got mixed reports from our guests yesterday. Those who went higher in the run connected with a few steelhead swinging flies and numerous smallmouth bass. However, guests who ventured into the lower end reported a tougher outing, only finding a limited number of willing bass. Perhaps the large number of spawning carp and suckers present in the bottom of the river has pushed the trout and bass out of that area. Water temperatures have averaged in the mid to upper 50’s the past few days.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop:
Over the last couple of days only a few anglers have been fishing for the remaining drop backs. The most action has been in the deeper holes such as Papermill, Town Pool, Longbridge/Staircase and Black Hole. The water flow is running at 285cfs.
Oneida Lake Report
Walleye season opened on Saturday and reports indicate the action has been good both by boat and from shore. Anglers are finding some perch and bluegills are active in the bay areas. Worms, minnows and bucktail jigs are working well. Anglers are finding smallmouth bass in 5-10 feet of water and black crappies are being taken along the shoreline with a few bullhead.
Sandy Pond report
According to Woody’s Tackle:
Walleye season is underway and reports indicate the action has been very good on the pond over the last few days. Stickbaits and jigs are working well.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The Calendar may say May but the weather feels more like April.
Cooler temperatures and rain this week will slow things down a bit.
After today the winds will shift to much more favorable directions, making the fishing opportunities greatly improve.
With clear water still occupying the inside water of Lake Ontario off Orleans County the best game seems to be fishing for Lake trout and Coho out in deeper water.
A few small kings have been taken but nothing with any regularity yet.
The LOC leader board is filling up nicely but with 7 days left there is plenty of time and room for your great catch so enter now and claim your share of the great cash awards available.
The green bloom on Lake Alice seems to have disappeared as the water warms, making for some better fishing.
Catches of Bluegill, Crappie, Perch and Catfish are being reported with varying levels of success including some night fishing.
Of course the inland lakes and streams of Orleans County, including the Erie Canal waters, offer some great opportunities for all of the warm water species of fish for the young and young at heart to enjoy.
Bass are the main species being caught but please remember that Bass season does not open until the 3rd Saturday in June so for now it’s catch and immediately release.
Salmon River
Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
Water release has remained at 285 cfs but with some run-off from recent rain. Water flow at the lower river is 350 cfs with rain in the forecast Friday and Saturday. Water temperature is in the mid-50 degree mark and as a result fishing continues to be good!
Douglaston Salmon run is reporting 2-5 pound Smallmouth Bass in numbers along with some large Carp that will wacka Woolly Bugger. There are still a few Drop-back Steelheadbut we are close to the end. There are small Brown Trout throughout the river as well as Smallmouth Bass. The Lower Fly Zone closes on the 15th but the Upper Fly Zone remains open all summer. Over the last several years we have developed a summer Brown Trout Fishery up-river. Check it out!