Upstate New York Fishing Report for June 16, 2016

Greater Niagara Region

Bill Hilts, Jr.

Lake Ontario And Tributaries

Lake action is a little messed up right now with recent winds. However, fish are available if you want to go out there and chase some salmon and trout around. The Reel Pleasure crew of Sal Macaluso and Capt. Bob Fontaine took their maiden fishing voyage on the Andrea Raye this season for a four hour jaunt recently and managed to hook six fish by using a variety of tactics that included downriggers, dipsy divers and lead core lines. All had hits using spoons or flasher-fly combos and the magic depth was 50 feet down. They were over 450 to 500 feet of water straight out of Olcott. One steelhead was boated; a second was lost at the back of the boat. Outdoor writer Will Elliott was the only person to bring a fish to the net. Some brown trout are still available inside of 75 foot depths. With the bass opener on Saturday, 18 Mile Creek from Olcott Harbor to the dam could be a good spot. Also Wilson Harbor. Fishing should continue to improve as conditions settle back into a normal summer, just in time for the Summer Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Trout and Salmon Derby set for July 1-31. Check out all of the details at www.loc.org. For the youngsters, the Wilson Conservation Club will be holding its county-wide fishing derby from 8 am to noon on June 18. Make sure you hit the measuring board by noon, too, at the clubhouse located on Route 425 in Wilson. Awards will follow at 1 pm.

Lower Niagara River

Moss is still an issue and hindering any kind of fishing activity. Ed Garcia with the Niagara River Anglers Assn. sends word that the club will be holding its annual bass contest on July 23. Check them out on Facebook or at www.niagarariveranglers.com

Upper Niagara River

The state’s regular bass season opens up on Saturday, June 18 and if you’re looking to keep a few for the frying pan, they must be at least 12 inches long. More and more, anglers are practicing catch and release on these fish. Speaking of bass, Kelly’s Korners in Niagara Falls will be holding an opening day bass contest on June 18 and most of the fishermen and women will be hitting Lake Erie. It’s your best two fish for the day. Hours are from 5 am to 4 pm that day. You must be signed up by June 17. For more information call 283-2040. Remember that bass season doesn’t open in Canadian waters until June 25. Great Lakes muskellunge season opens on Saturday in New York, too, and catch and release is also being practiced more and more – especially with a 54 inch minimum size for the Great Lakes. Take special care with this fish if you do catch one to ensure it will survive. A bunch of kids contests coming up this weekend. The City of Tonawanda offers up a kids derby at Niawanda Park in Tonawanda on Saturday, June 18 from 8 am to noon. Get there early. On Sunday June 19 – Father’s Day – there will be a Kids fishing derby at Widewaters Marina in Lockport, hosted by the Lock-City Moose Lodge 617. Registration is at 7:30 am; fishing from 8-11 am. Call 417-4198 for more info.

Oswego County

Mary Ellen Barbeau

Lake Ontario report

According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Brown trout fishing is picking up with some large fish around. If you hit the bite you can do well. It’s been a short one lately though. Lake trout fishing has slowed up some but still capturing plenty each trip. The winds and cold fronts have been killing us this week.

Oswego River Report

The water flow has been running low (between 800-2,000cfs) over the last few days. This morning it is flowing at 964cfs. A reminder that bass season opens on Saturday, June 18. Anglers are finding sheepshead, smallmouth bass, walleye and catfish. Even a few largemouth bass have been reported. Worms, minnows and stickbaits are working well.

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 fishing is slow on the eastern end of the lake right now. Anglers are finding a few lake trout and perhaps a brown trout or steelhead here or there but there is no consistent pattern at this time. A reminder that bass season opens on Saturday.

Salmon River report

According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Yesterday there were several anglers on the Douglaston Salmon Run. Reported fish brought to hand were smallmouth bass and brown trout. River temperatures were taken and read 58F. The river flow is running at 185cfs. There is no precipitation in the forecast through the weekend with temperatures gradually climbing to near 90 degrees by Sunday.

Oneida Lake Report

After some windy days over the last couple of weeks, conditions have settled down and the forecast looks good through the weekend. Walleye fishing has been spotty in both shallow and deep water. Early in the morning or later in the day seems most productive. Stickbaits and bucktail jigs tipped with a worm are suggested baits. Bass season opens this Saturday, June 18. Anglers are finding bluegills and pickerel in shallow water.

Sandy Pond report

According to Woody’s Tackle:
The pond is getting heavily weeded so it’s becoming difficult to fish in some areas. Anglers are fishing in the deeper water for walleyes trolling worm harnesses.

Wayne County Fishing Update

Chris Kenyon

Lake Ontario

It stopped blowing after two full days of gale force winds. Six to 10 footers do not bode well for trolling.

Today, the seas are calm and the browns were an early bite because of the stained water. Water temps on the surface were 60 degrees and some small kings came from 150 feet of water hitting spoons. The copper line out from the boat was working. Put it out 300 feet.

Some steelhead have been 40 down over 150 fow and the lakers have hit cowbells on the bottom in 180 to 200 feet of water.

The rest of this week is predicted to have less wind, so there should be more reports from charters.

Bays

The crappies are hitting at the south end of Port Bay. They have been on the east side suspended over 20 feet of water. They will hit small bright jigs tipped with spikes.

Opening day of bass season starts this Saturday and the parking lot of Bay Bridge Sport Shop will be packed with trailers. Most will fish the weedlines for largemouth using rubber, plastic, or spinnerbaits.

Remember the limit…five fish, 12- inch length.

Pike are hitting on the east side of Sodus Bay between the islands. Trolling works or use pike minnows.

Don’t forget the Wayne County Youth Derby which started last Saturday and runs until July 24th. All the info is on our county web page.

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

Bass fishing will be on the angler’s agenda this weekend. The canal is home to some real slammers…6 to 7-pound fish are regulars in the waters of the Erie Canal.

Orleans County

Orleans County Tourism
First congratulations to all of the winners in the 4th Annual Oak Orchard Open Tournament.

Although weather shortened some great catches were brought to the weigh-in which showed the great abilities of all the entries.

It looks like after the storm tomorrow summer will finally be upon us.

Temperatures will be in the 80s by the end of the week with an almost perfect Sunday for Father’s Day.

After the storms and winds of the past weekend Lake Ontario is still trying to settle out to what are more normal conditions.

Right now the picture is scattered but the best area seems to be the 300 to 400 foot range with fish coming deeper in the water column.

On Lake Alice fishing has slowed a bit with Bluegill still be fairly active.

Of course this Saturday is the opening of Bass season so there should be plenty of action along all our shorelines and even on the Erie Canal.

As one person put it, there should be foam on the water from all of the spinner baits being pulled through the waters on Saturday.