Upstate New York Fishing Report for June 23, 2016

Greater Niagara Region

Bill Hilts, Jr.

Lake Ontario And Tributaries

New York State’s Free Fishing Weekend is set for this weekend, June 25-26, and there are plenty of events for the entire family to keep people busy – and happy – right here in Western New York! In this day and age where nothing seems to be for free any more, the Empire State will offer up an opportunity to fish all around the state without purchasing a license. You do have to follow the fishing regulations in the water you intend to fish however. For salmon and trout, action has started to heat up a little bit out of Wilson and Olcott. Boats have been heading out to 350 feet and beyond off Wilson for a mix of steelies and kings. Action has been a bit closer off Olcott, with some fish being taken in as close as 150 to 180 feet of water – when they can get out there. Spoons are the primary enticement, but don’t rule out flasher-fly or flasher-cut bait, especially for bigger fish. Target the top 60 feet according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker. There are also fish in the 330 to 380 depth contour. The Summer LOC Derby is set for July 1-31. Go to loc.org for details. More cash is up for grabs. The Olcott Lions Club will be hosting its annual kids fishing contest on Saturday, June 25 at the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott from 8 a.m. to noon. Get the kids out and enjoy the local fishing.

Lower Niagara River

Action in the Lower Niagara River has been plagued by moss, but that doesn’t mean you can’t catch fish. Capt. Dave Tripiciano organized an outing for young Shelby, a teenager with Muscular Dystrophy last Tuesday out of Youngstown. Using the expertise of some local fishermen like Tim L., they managed to lift Shelby’s 350 pound wheelchair into the boat and drift for smallmouth around Fort Niagara. They found an area that was pretty-much moss free and caught bass up to 4 pounds. Shelby was granted this trip through an organization called Moment of Peace Adventures of Pennsylvania and, in addition to visiting Niagara Falls (and being the first physically-challenged person to utilize the facilities at the re-opened and revamped Terrapin Point), they had a great time. Tim had been doing very well in that area on smallmouth the two days prior, too. When he fished in the main river, though, it was a tough go with the moss. Shiners were the best bait, fished off three way rigs.

Upper Niagara River-Erie Canal

In the Kelly’s Korners opening day bass contest, it was Dan Hudson of Tonawanda winning with the best two fish weight of 10.25 pounds. Not far off the pace was Bob Hubler of Niagara Falls with a total of 10.07 pounds, but he had big fish that hit 5.75 pounds. He was using a big chub in 40 feet of water to take his lunker catch off Wanaka, where many of the fish came from. Bass are still available in the river, too, with the bass opener in Canada happening on Saturday, June 25. There are numerous events that coincide with the Free Fishing Days weekend and at the top of the list is the Gateway Harbor-sponsored Hooked on the Tonawandas Fishing Tournament held the entire weekend. Register for the event if you are an adult for a nominal fee. Kids under 16 can register for a free youth division. You are restricted as to where you can fish in the Canal, what amounts to about a one mile stretch between Tonawanda and North Tonawanda from the Niagara River to the City line. You can register at area tackle shops or stop down to Gateway Harbor in North Tonawanda on Friday to register. Species categories include bass (both largemouth and smallmouth), bullhead, channel catfish, carp, perch, northern pike and walleye. The weigh station will be open 7 am to 6 pm on Saturday; 7 am to 3 pm on Sunday. This is a transition year for the event as the local organizing committee hands the contest off to the Boys and Girls Club of the North Towns. A new website location for an entry form can be found at gcnt.net and the organization will be taking the lead role after this year. After last year’s wash out, organizers are hoping for some decent weather to show off the Canal’s angling potential and help to showcase this natural resource. Speaking of the canal, some local anglers were worried that the dewatering that was going to take place from Middleport to Brockport on Monday, June 27 was going to affect the Erie Canal Fishing Derby July 6-15. It looks like after three days, the Canal will be opened up from Middleport to Albion; the remainder will be opened by the weekend. A huge Family Fishing Day will also be taking place out of Broderick Park both Saturday and Sunday this weekend starting at 7 am each day, as well. This is their 8th Annual event.

Oswego County

Mary Ellen Barbeau

Lake Ontario report

According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
We have big browns around right now but no numbers on the down side. Seems like our two-year old browns “3-6 pound fish” are not here in any numbers this year. You fish hard to get a few quality fish. 30-50 feet of water is the most active water depth. Laker trout fishing is definitely slowing up due to the large numbers taken out of our area. On an up note, we are starting to mark some kings. We just need a thermocline to set up and we will be good to go.

Oswego River Report

After dropping below 500cfs yesterday, the water flow is up to 1,100cfs this morning. Bass season opened on Saturday with anglers finding a few. Walleyes are active but small in size with only a handful of keepers reported. Anglers are also finding sheepshead and catfish. 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 Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop:
Fishing from the Little Salmon River to the high rocks continues to produce brown trout in 25 to 40 feet of water. The best bait for the browns has been the Michigan Stinger standard UV gator. Lake trout have been active out in 160 feet of water.

Salmon River report

According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Monday we had two anglers on the DSR. Together they brought over a dozen smallmouth bass to hand. The water temperature was 68F at 6 a.m. with the water flow at 185cfs. Yesterday a father and son spent much of the day on the run catching several smallmouth bass all in the 12-14 inch range. No monster smallies but it was still a great day.

Oneida Lake Report

According to Bartel Road Bait & Tackle:
Walleyes have been caught in 20-28 feet of water with blade baits and a jig tipped with a nightcrawler working well. Also worm harnesses drifted along and over the weeds in 12-18 feet of water have been successful. The bass seem to be in all phases – some are still spawning, some are post spawn. There doesn’t seem to be a right or wrong water depth. Smallmouths are being caught on minnows and crayfish; largemouths are hitting frog baits and plastics in the shallows in less than 8 feet of 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

Today is rather calm if you consider three footers a slight bump in the lake. Yesterday the browns hit heavy in 20 to 30 feet of water. Today the wind changed the temps and they scattered.

Some kings were taken in 300 feet of water down 40 to 100. Charters were using Michigan Stingers UV; Watermelon, Wonderbread and Green Frog for colors.

Today, a nice Atlantic Salmon and a fighting steelhead were netted aboard a Sodus Bay charter.

The lakers have been in 120 to 200 feet of water right on the bottom. They have been in the 10 to20 pound class.

Bays

Some walleye came from the north end of Sodus Bay and near the channel. Panfish are everywhere and the perch were still in Sodus. Usually they head for Lake Ontario after spawning, however this year they appear to be behind schedule.

If you need to rent a boat they are available at Davenports, Bay Bridge Sport Shop, and Warren’s Hook, Line &Sinker at Sodus Point.

They are catching some hefty largemouth bass concentrating near the weedlines. Both Port Bay and Sodus have some serious bass.

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

The crappies were hitting on the south side of the canal at Widewaters last Sunday. They were legal size of 9 inches and longer. The bass were also hitting and the canal has some lunkers. Use rubber or plastic and fish the heavy weed cover along the shoreline.

Orleans County

Orleans County Tourism
To start off, the Erie Canal from Middleport to Brockport will be shut down starting June 27th to drain that portion of the canal.

There are two major repairs that need to be made; one at the culvert overpass at Culvert Road and the other is a culvert wall at Hulberton.

The repair at Culvert Road will be a temporary fix and the permanent fix will be done after the close of the canal season.

When the temporary fix is completed the section of canal between Middleport and Albion will be reopened and the section between Albion and Brockport will remain closed until the permanent repair is completed at Hulberton.

On Lake Alice they are doing well on some nice Largemouth bass casting spinners along the weed beds.

Perch, Bluegills and Rock bass are being taken in 15 to 20 feet of water.

On Lake Ontario the Spinney Water Fleas are just starting to show up but not in any great numbers as of yet.

Fishing seems to be good between the 25 and 26 lines with very good catches of both Steelhead and salmon being reported.

Don’t forget that the Summer LOC Derby starts on July 1st and runs through the end of the month.

Salmon River

Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
The Salmon River water flow is currently 185 cfs with water temps in the mid 60’s throughout the week. The Douglaston Salmon Run continues to report Smallmouth Bass in numbers although not as large as during the last reporting period. There have been two Landlock Atlantic Salmon caught this week when the flow had increased from a few heavy rain showers. There are many stocked Brown Trout currently being caught on the DSR.

There are Brown Trout and Smallmouth Bass being caught throughout the river. The Upper Fly Zone remains open and currently is experiencing very little pressure. The Upper Fly Zone has been experiencing some excellent evening hatches.

The Lower Reservoir (164 acres) continues to fish very well with very little pressure; NO motors so it is perfect canoe/kayak water. Expect large Smallmouth Bass and Rainbow Trout up to 20 inches.

The Upper Reservoir (Redfield Reservoir) is a 7 mile long lake with two excellent boat ramps. There is moderate boat traffic on the weekends but no pressure during the week. The reservoir has been producing excellent numbers of Smallmouth Bass and Walleyes. This is a great place for a family fishing outing (generally, well protected from winds and full of fish, especially large Rock Bass).

Look for any rain that raises the rivers flow as Landlocked Salmon make June/July runs up river to their historic spawning grounds!

For that extra bit of fishing action needed to make your next summer fishing adventure happen, come check out the Tug Hill Fishing Club. The Largemouth Bass are off their beds and the top water bight is improving day by day. This 10lb plus largemouth came top water on a fly thrown by Ronda Spencer of Horseheads, NY while being guided by Michael DeRosa of Zero Limit Adventures.