Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
An important meeting is being held this Monday, September 19 at Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport starting at 6:30 pm. If you are a Lake Ontario drifter, troller or tributary fisherman, you’ll want to attend this meeting. Members of DEC will be discussing what their proposed plans are for 2017 when it comes to salmon and trout stocking, based on recent forage base assessments. This is your opportunity to listen to the proposal and voice your concerns. On Sept. 23, the King of the Creek salmon contest – from both boat and shore – is being run by All in the Same Boat Tackle, 2911 Lockport-Olcott Road, Newfane through November 6. Call 638-4158 for more info or visit abstackle.com. And speaking of salmon, one of the hottest spots has been the Niagara Bar at the drop off. Salmon are stacked up there like you wouldn’t believe. Capt. Mike Johannes of On the Rocks Charters out of Wilson went 15 for 18 matures last Saturday on the Niagara Bar before the wind picked up and cut the day short. Fish were in 80 to 200 feet of water down 50 to 80 feet on wire divers set on 3 out 160 to 180. Out of the 15 boated, 14 were caught on meat behind large flashers and twinkie rigs. His best flasher was a white King’s Flasher. He also caught some on white/green Bechhold flashers. When running the larger flashers, a speed of 2.2 to 2.4 is best. They were marking a lot of fish and quite a bit of bait when they were there. Olcott also has a fair number of fish hanging inside of 80 feet of water according to Wes Walker at the Slippery Sinker. Plugs, cutbait and flasher-fly are working there for matures. They are starting to pick up a few off the piers and some browns, too. Browns off the piers in Wilson, as well, with spoons. Both harbors have a mix of warm water fish. A few trout and salmon have been caught at the dam, but mostly warm water fish have been hanging around.
Lower Niagara River
Salmon numbers are slowly starting to increase for the shore guys. A few have been caught on spoons; some have been caught on spinners. Rattlebaits will also work for you. NYPA Platform casters are out-producing the boaters right now as far as salmon in the river. That said, the boaters are still doing well on bass and walleye – especially downriver and on the bar. Worm harnesses for the walleye; tubes and live bait for the bass. Capt. Randy Lingenfelter reports that fishing has been good with soft baits and crayfish if you still can find them. B.A.S.S. pro Ray Van Horn fished on his boat recently, throwing Strike King Soft Baits doing very well. Baby Rage Craw in three inch. They were catching 25 to 30 fish a day. One of his charters caught a 6.5 lb. smallie last week. Several local media were in town last weekend and managed to get some decent smallmouth bass. The New York Power Authority’s Wildlife Festival, held at the Visitor Center, 5777 Lewiston Road, Lewiston will be Sept. 24 and 25 from 10 am to 5 pm both days. Everything is free! This is the area’s version of National Hunting and fishing day and the event is co-sponsored by the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs. Get ready to have a great weekend!
Upper Niagara River
Bass are still the best thing to go after with tubes, spinnerbaits or live bait like crayfish and shiners, fished off three-way rigs. Know where you are at all times in the river because there are severe restrictions in Canadian waters – on bait and on calling in before you venture across the line … or is it as you cross the line … or is it when you are in Canadian waters. Not quite sure because we’ve been getting different answers from different people.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Lake Ontario report
There was little activity yesterday with 3-5 foot waves keeping anglers off the lake. As conditions settle down and temperatures are much cooler, we will have to see how things set up. The lake fishing has been good with some nice salmon being brought to the net. One angler managed to secure a nice 34 pounder over the weekend. With temperatures cooler in the extended forecast, the fish will likely continue to make their way towards the river. Look in 60-90 feet of water with cut bait, spoons and flashers and flies all working well.
Oswego River Report
According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
The water level has been between 1000-1600cfs for a few days with the flow being 1210cfs this morning. the river water temperature is still in the 70s but temperatures over the seven day forecast are calling for highs in the low to mid 70s and cool overnights. Anglers have reported a few salmon at the dam but not a lot of activity as yet.
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:
The lake fishing is still very good with kings staged in 60-80 feet of water off the Salmon River. The best lures have been #4 J-plugs and Michigan Stingers and A-Tom-Mik hammer flies. The Salmon River is running at 335cfs. A few kings have been moving into the river but still no major push as yet. There is a small pod of fish in the estuary.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel:
Yesterday the majority of anglers we spoke with fished the DSR. Some of them saw fish, while others did not. The anglers who were on the water at first light reported the most fish movement. The anglers who started later in the morning or mid day said that not much was moving. Just a reminder that the Lower Fly Zone in Altmar reopens today.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Many kings have been reported at the upper part of the run yesterday morning, many hook-ups and a few landed. The water temperature is now 66 degrees.
Oneida Lake Report
Cooler temperatures have arrived and with that hopefully a more active walleye bite. Look in 20-25 feet of water with blade baits working well. The bass bite has slowed down a bit as there is plenty of gizzard shad for them to feed on. Look for surface activity and you will likely find some fish.
Sandy Pond report
The pond is heavily weeded but anglers are finding a few bass with jigs and plastics.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The staging kings have been straight out from Sodus Bay; however, it’s been a difficult bite. They are being marked in 100 to 275 feet of water, down 80 to 90.
The ones that hit have been taken with cut bait on Dipsys # 3 setting. The flashers have been green and white dots if that is any help.
The kings are 30 plus pounds and dark. They are there…it’s just been a tough job to get them to hit.
Some are coming on spoons, however the meat rig is the best bet.
There are smallmouths in 20 to 30 feet of water near the channel at Port Bay. They are hitting soft shell crabs.
Bays
The bays are cooling down a bit from extremely hot temps. The largemouths have been coming from Sodus Bay. There have been quite a few late summer bass tournaments and the catches have been excellent. Fish any shoreline which has weeds.
Remember…this is the best time of year for bay fishing.
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
Anglers were catching bluegills, bass and a few crappies near Widewaters on Sunday. If you don’t have a boat, fish from the shore. Many anglers fish near the locks. When they open, the flush of water attracts fish.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The weather for the next week or so seems to have higher than normal daytime temperatures and cooler and normal night time temperatures or at least that is what the weathermen say.
There doesn’t seem to be much boat action on our portion of Lake Ontario but the pier fishermen are just starting to get some hook-ups.
This is also the time of year when many fishermen’s minds and hearts start turning towards hunting season.
With the shorter days and longer nights water temperatures should start dropping towards that magic number to signal the start of the spawning migration for trout and salmon.
On Lake Alice there has been an upswing in the Bluegill catch rate and also the sizes of the catch especially around the Waterport Bridge area.
Also the bass fishing productivity has increased due to some cooler water temperatures.
With September also half gone, tributary fishermen are preparing for what should be a great tributary season.
Please remember that the St. Mary’s Archers Club Catch and Release Tournament will be held from October 19th to the 21st this year.
It’s a great time for some great competition, fantastic food and some of the finest tributary fishing to be found anywhere.
A word to the wise. We fished Pulaski for 4 days out in front of the river in 100 feet of water. We got blown off as usual, but did boat some nice Kings. It was an enjoyable trip, until we stopped for breakfast in down town Pulaski on the last morning. When I got home I had 4 rods and reels missing from the boat. I couldn’t see the boat from the diner because we had to park next to the building. Be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your gear.