Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
Action in the lake has been good for a mix of salmon and steelhead out of both Wilson and Olcott. Writer Paul Liikala of Ohio was out fishing with Capt. Bob Cinelli out of Olcott earlier this week and they limited out on kings and steelies, with two salmon in the 20 pound class. Reports coming in show fish in the 250 to 350 foot range in the top 100 feet of water. Some salmon are down 80 to 100 according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker; steelies in the top 30 feet – but that was before the east blow on Wednesday. Don’t know what that will do to the lake. There were some cold water upwellings and some trollers found 39 degree water just 40 feet down in some spots. Smallmouth bass have been hitting in the creeks and harbors. Remember you must use artificials. Anything goes for pike, though, and Wilson has been a good spot. A few perch and panfish in both Wilson and Olcott. More perch are being reported off Golden Hill State Park. A few browns have been caught off the piers on spoons. National Fishing and Boating Week kicks off on June 4 and continues through June 12 as the country celebrates these popular outdoor pastimes. Helping to initiate local angling activities is the 25th Annual Kids Fishing Derby at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge east of Lockport. Registration begins at 7:30 am. The actual contest is from 8 am to 11 am. There will be three different age categories. The event will be held at Ringneck Overlook on Oak Orchard Road. Call 585-948-5445 for more info. The Town of Newfane Marina will host a kids contest on June 25, too. For the adults, the Oak Orchard Open fishing contest will be held Out of Point Breeze in Orleans County June 10-12. To find out more information call 585-589-3103. If you would like to learn more about fishing for king salmon in the summer, Capt. Roger Young with Papa Smurf Charters out of Wilson will be the featured speaker at the next Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Assn. meeting June 9 at Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara starting at 7 pm.
Lower Niagara River
Fishing changed considerable over the weekend with the unseasonably hot weather. Water temperatures shot from the 50’s into the upper 60’s and trout were tough to come by, getting chased out into the lake. Bass have started to turn on even more with artificial baits like tubes and swim baits good options for smallmouth. Silver bass are still around, too. The dreaded moss is starting to show up on the scene a bit more, creating problems for both drifters and casters. Some good news on the stocking front the past week as plants of 33,000 bonus Coho salmon and 8,000-plus brown trout were put into the river. On the boating ends of things, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be hosting a Vessel Exam at the Lewiston Launch Ramp from 10 am to 2 pm on June 4. Call John Roach at 751-2057 for more info.
Upper Niagara River
Upper river action for bass and panfish are available from the head of the river to Niagara Falls. Remember bass must be artificial baits only, catch and release until June 18. Other youth contests coming up include the kids derby at Niawanda Park in Tonawanda on June 18 and a kids event at Widewaters Marina in Lockport on June 19. It will be held from 7:30 am (registgration) until noon. Fishing will be from 8-1 am. Call Phyllis at 417-4198 for more info.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Lake Ontario report
The fishing has been spotty over the last few days. Lakers seem to be the most active with some nice size ones coming to the net. Anglers are finding a few brown trout in the more shallow water and mostly early in the morning. A few kings have been reported but they tend to be on the smaller side right now.
Oswego River Report
The water flow has been fairly steady between 2,000-4,000cfs for the last few days. This morning it is running at 2,630cfs. Anglers are finding sheepshead, smallmouth bass and an occasional walleye or catfish.
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:
Lakers are continuing to get anglers’ attention in 100+ feet of water with cowbells and peanuts working well. Anglers are finding a few browns in the shallow water early in the morning.
According to Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop:
The brown trout fishing in Mexico Bay has been steady with 12-20 feet of water being the best water depth. The successful lures have been Michigan stinger die hard, blue dolphin and mongoose.
Salmon River report
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
We had some beautiful days on the run with clear blues skies, less heat and humidity than we have had lately. Water remains at 185 cfs at the dam and 236 cfs at Pineville. Anglers had a good time with the smallmouth bass today. Most anglers got into a few while some were able to get into double digits. Some nice browns were also taken today with a few in the 18 to 20 inch category. One angler was even able to land a good-sized longnose gar.
Oneida Lake Report
Oneida Lake has been seeing some action with a variety of fish. Anglers found a nice mix of walleye, perch, bass and pike. Walleye were active especially in the early morning and later afternoon with jigs tipped with a nightcrawler being successful. Look for smallmouth bass 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.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
After above normal temperatures this past holiday weekend temperatures are returning to a more seasonal levels and with some much needed rain in the forecast, fishing conditions should be great.
On Lake Alice fishing has been very good.
Largemouth bass are in close, Bluegill and Crappie are spread out and some Walleye are being taken at night.
On the Erie Canal Channel cats are being caught in the 3 to 5 pound class and fishing in the wide waters area is becoming very productive.
Lake Ontario is really turning on with mature salmon in the mix along with good size Steelhead and all the other species being taken.
The 200 to 250 feet of water area seems to be the most productive right now.
Junk lines are doing well with most bites coming in the top 40 feet of water but then there is the occasional bite a bit deeper.
June 10th will be the kick off of the “King of the Oak” series with the Condor derby.
The “King of the Oak” series is a best 3 fish series and there are 4 events throughout the summer.
June 11th and 12th is the 4th annual Oak Orchard Open Tournament.
The 5 Salmon and 5 Trout structure is unique to the Tournaments on Lake Ontario and offers some great challenges.
Salmon River
Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
Water release is at 185 cfs with water temps in the mid 60’s. Douglaston Salmon Run continues to report 2-5 pound Smallmouth Bass in numbers. Some anglers have caught a dozen or more. There are Browns being caught to 18 to 20”.
Brown Trout and Smallmouth Bass are being caught throughout the river and some anglers are fishing the evening hatch at 2A Bridge, Pineville and other major pools. The Upper Fly Zone remains open and currently is experiencing very little pressure.
The Lower Reservoir (164 acres) continues to fish 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.
The Upper Reservoir (Redfield Reservoir) is a 7 mile long lake with two excellent boat ramps. Historically it was a trout lake but for the last several years had been stocked with Walleyes. It is a popular bass fishery with both Smallmouth and Large Mouth Bass. It also contains crappies and a ton of large Rock Bass.