Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
We finally saw some west wind blow some fish into local waters, but it wasn’t easy fishing for the Pro-Am tournament last weekend for sure. According to Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Team Thrillseeker (who placed in the money yet again for the Professional Division), transition time in the lake is rapidly approaching with the super warm weather arriving this weekend. Combine that with four straight days of calm weather before the recent winds at mid-week. There are some quality king salmon around but there is no set pattern for a consistent bite. You can find fish (kings, lakers and steelhead) in 80 to 300 feet of water, from 20 to 100 feet down. It’s been a mix of techniques and baits working. One approach that has worked better for bigger kings has been a flasher with cut bait. N&D is one brand type that keeps surfacing around fishing circles as a good brand according to Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors. One interesting note is that the fish have been moving around with the more favorable west and southwest winds. Last Saturday, tournament teams out of Wilson and Olcott all headed west in pursuit of salmon. Capt. Jim Gordon of Olcott, who was not fishing in the tournament, headed straight out of his home port of Olcott to take a dozen nice kings for customers just a mile or two straight north. No one did that good in the tournament that day. In the 32nd annual Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament held May 20 to 22 out of Wilson and Olcott, it was the Shark Tank team led by Capt. Greg Gehrig of Oswego leading the way with an impressive score of 599 points in the Classic Division and 391 in the Trophy Division – based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound – to win the tournament. They also won the ITO flies big fish for the contest with a 24 pound king salmon. For their efforts, they won more than $29,000. Second place was Capt. Rich Hajecki and his Yankee Troller team out of Rochester. They were just 10 points behind the winners in the Classic or 12 fish category. They won $8,000. Third place in Trophy was Dirty Goose led by Capt. Casey Prisco with 341 points. Fourth place was Team Thrillseeker led by Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Newfane with 338. Third place Classic Division team was Thrillseeker with 505 points. Fourth was Free Spirit with 498 points led by Capt. Paul Czarnecki of Waterford, PA. In the Amateur Open on Day One it was Abe DeBadts of Rochester and his Fishin’ Physician Assistant team with a score of 88.49 points. Winner of Day 2 was Greg Wiacek of Lockport and his Fisherman’s Daughter team with a score of 72.52 points. For Day Three, it was Mean Machine and Kyle Hovak of North Tonawanda taking the day with a score of 80.10 points. However it wasn’t enough to win the Amateur Open Cup for the best two days of fishing combined. That was reserved for Anonymous led by John Muehl of Maryland, NY who scored 150 points over two days. Next contest is the Oak Orchard Open set for June 10-12 out of Point Breeze. The 1st Annual Reelin’ for a Cure is set for August 19 out of Niagara County, an event that will get the ladies out fishing on Lake Ontario and competing for fun prizes while at the same time raising funds for cancer research. For more info call Stephanie Pierleoni at 481-6388.
Lower Niagara River
The first signs of the dreaded moss have started to show up to the dismay of anglers. You can still fish without much of a problem, but be forewarned – it will be here before we know it. Trout are still available in the river – steelhead and lake trout – and smallmouth bass are starting to turn on now, too. Shiners and Kwikfish top the list for trout; Kwikfish, tubes, shiners and swim baits will all trick smallies into hitting. Best areas have been around Fort Niagara, Peggy’s Eddy and the clay banks for bass; Devil’s Hole for the trout and the occasional bass. You can still pick some of these fish up from shore, too. Spinners are taking some nice fish.
Upper Niagara River
The shoreline bite can be good for walleye at night or under low-light conditions as post-spawn fish move in to feed. Worms work best. Panfish action has been good around marinas and around Grand Island bays, channels and tributaries. A couple fishing contests to mark down on your calendar, including a kids fishing contest at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge on June 4 at the Ringneck Overlook starting at 8 am; the City of Tonawanda kids fishing contest at Niawanda Park with registration at the bandshell along River Road on June 18 starting around 7:30 am; and a Teach Me To Fish program at the East Aurora Fish and Game Club on June 4.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Lake Ontario report
The brown trout bite is continuing in shallow water particularly early in the morning with stickbaits and spoons being successful. Lake trout seem to be the most active right now in 100+ feet of water and anglers are finding a few salmon in the mix.
According to Capt. Andy Bliss of Chasin’ Tail Adventures:
Things have slowed down with the lack of wind and warm temperatures. It has put the lake into a transitional period but with the extended forecast calling for steady temperatures in the 80’s, things should pick up soon!
Oswego River Report
The water flow has averaged around 3,000cfs for the last few days. This afternoon it is running at 2,730cfs. . Anglers are finding a few walleye, a sheepshead or two and a trout in the mix.
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 Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The lake fishing right now is focused on lake trout in the 100 feet or more water depth. Cowbells and peanuts are the suggested baits. Anglers are finding a few brown in the shallow water early in the morning.
Salmon River report
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
The fishing has been decent over the past couple of days. Anglers reported some browns, smallmouth bass and small cohos. One 20 inch brown was recorded. One angler caught a couple of small steelhead that are still around.
Oneida Lake Report
The walleye fishing on the lake has been decent especially in the early morning and later afternoon. Jigs in black/purple tipped with a nightcrawler have been successful. Anglers are finding a few perch and smallmouth bass have been active in 5-10 feet of water.
Sandy Pond report
According to Woody’s Tackle:
Anglers are finding walleye particularly on the North pond but they are short with very few keepers. Stickbaits and jigs are working well. There is very little perch activity.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
It’s an early bite for the browns. Be on the water at 5 am. You can take a nap later in the day.
Fish east out of Sodus and work 10 to 20 fow until you get east of Port Bay. Then…work your way back.
Lakers are still on the bottom in 150 FOW. Use cowbells and bounce the bottom. The lake trout have been a pretty decent size.
There have been some kings and steelhead being caught, however there has been no pattern…too early for any specific temperatures breaks in the lake.
Today the water is very clear with no mudlines. This weekend will have some rain, so maybe some stained water will appear. It’s also going to be very hot, however on the water will be nice.
Again…start early and stay away from the Memorial Day crowd.
Bays
They are catching pike at the north end of Sodus Bay. Fish between the islands. Troll with spoons or use pike minnows and still fish.
Crappies are being caught at the south end of Port Bay. They are in 15 to 20 feet of water suspended at 6 to 8 feet. They have been hitting small jigs. Anything that is super bright has worked.
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 is the perfect level for launching your boat. The cats are hitting near Swifts Landing. Use cut bait of dough balls. They have also been catching bluegills and crappies at Widewaters.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
It looks like summer has arrived and none too soon for most of us.
Temperatures for the next week or so will be in the 80’s but with those temperatures comes the risk of an occasional thunder storm.
Lake Alice is giving up some very nice catches of Crappies and Bluegills along with the usual Bass.
The Erie Canal provides a great fishery for all levels of fishermen and fisherwomen to enjoy at their leisure.
It also provides a place for families to participate in so many of the great outdoor activities while experiencing the rich history of the canal itself.
On Lake Ontario fishing is really heating up quickly.
With the rise in temperature, most species of fish are becoming very active and on the move.
Catches of Lake trout, Steelhead and Chinook salmon all in the same trip are not uncommon but rather the norm this time of year.
With the Oak Orchard Open Tournament only a few weeks away the charter boats that headed west to fish the Niagara Bar should be returning to participate in this great event.
The Oak Orchard Open Tournament also means that information will be hard to come by until after the last weigh-in.
Speaking of Tournaments, congratulations to all of the winners in the 32nd Annual Niagara Pro-Am Tournament.
Salmon River
Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
Water release is at 185 cfs but with some run-off from recent rain. We had a real 2 hour tropical rainfall with peanut size hail a couple of days ago on the Tug Hill!
Douglaston Salmon Run has 2-5 pound Smallmouth Bass in numbers and the summer stocking of Brown Trout took place last week.
There are small Brown Trout throughout the river as well as Smallmouth Bass. These Browns are evidence of solid summer fishery in the upper stretch of the river that has been steadily developing over the last several years. The Salmon is a very buggy river and fishermen are beginning to take advantage of the evening hatches. The Upper Fly Zone remains open and currently is experiencing very little pressure.
The Lower Reservoir (164 acres) is fishing very well with large Smallmouth Bass and Rainbows to 20”. This body of water is stocked with Rainbows every spring as is a wonderfully quiet place to fish from shore or from a canoe or kayak.
That small “brown” trout is actually a brook trout.