Upstate New York Fishing Report for September 22, 2016

Greater Niagara Region

Bill Hilts, Jr.

Lake Ontario And Tributaries

On the eve of National Hunting and Fishing Day activities for this weekend, it looks like there will be plenty of things going on to see and do. If you want to wet a line, the Niagara Bar is still a place to be for a salmon bonanza … if the forecasted northeast wind doesn’t do too much damage to the waters. It looks like a beautiful weekend otherwise and the Niagara Bar is holding mature kings getting ready to run up the Niagara … we hope! Target the red can at the drop off to take your salmon, using flasher-fly, cut bait or spoons. J-plugs will also work for you. Just get your baits into the fish zone using downriggers, dipsy divers, lead core line – whatever it takes. Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Region Charters took his 20-foot Lund out to the drop and used dipsy divers to take five nice kings by employing spin doctors and flies behind his dipsy divers. It proved to be much better than trying to drift for kings in Devil’s Hole, trying to satisfy customers looking to catch a salmon. Over in Wilson and Olcott, brown trout are starting to show up in small numbers. Ditto for kings in Olcott. A small slug of salmon showed up in the harbor but not at the dam yet. There are a few fish around there, but nothing to write home about. Bass fishing has been better. Don’t forget that the King of the Creek salmon contest is being run by All in the Same Boat Tackle from Sept. 23 to Nov. 6. There is a boat and a shore category. Call 638-4158 for more info. There was a good turnout at the special DEC meeting held in Lockport last Monday. For a position paper on this, check out www.dec.ny.gov. Make your comments by Sept. 30 at fwfishlo@dec.ny.gov.

Lower Niagara River

Anxious anglers are waiting in force to try and catch these king salmon in the last stages of their lives. The NYPA Fishing Platform is one of the hotspots for your best chance for a king salmon. Casting spoons, spinners or crankbaits can catch fish, but the best is yet to come. Other shore anglers have been using spoons, spinners and jigs to take a mix of fish, including bass and walleye. River water is still 74 degrees. Bass fishing has been spotty. Some days are better than others. Look for the active fish by moving around the river and the green can at the mouth. Live bait like shiners will work; tubes and Ned rigs will catch some fish, too. With the NYPA Wildlife Festival going on Sept. 24-25, co-sponsored by the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs, remember that there’s also a kids fishing contest that’s part of the Festival. Just catch a fish in Niagara County and bring it to the scales at the NRAA fishing pond. Lots to see and do from 10 am to 5 pm each day. It’s free and a great family activity.

Upper Niagara River

A few musky were active the past week, but you really might want to wait until water temperatures come down a bit before you start putting any heavy pressure on them. Ryan Shea of the Brookdog Fishing Company had been focusing on bass this week, but he still had a couple follows on his fly while casting the upper river areas. Bass action continues to be fair to good, depending on the day and the conditions. Be careful around the Canadian boundary and don’t venture across that line without calling in. Abide by the bait regulations, too.

Oswego County

Mary Ellen Barbeau

Lake Ontario report

There is heavy salmon action in the lake just off the harbor with doubles and triples being reported. Cut bait, spoons and flashers and flies are working well.

Oswego River Report

According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:
We had a spike in the water flow on Monday to about 4200cfs. Unfortunately it didn’t last very long and the flow is back down to 1200cfs this morning. The salmon are slowly trickling in and are heading straight to the dam. Only a few are being caught from the wall at this point. Temperatures by the weekend will be in the 60s so a cool down is coming.

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 Salmon River is running at 335 CFS. There was a solid run of kings moving through the Douglaston Salmon Run yesterday morning with good action for most anglers. There are fish throughout the river now with the best fishing down low. Some nice Coho’s are being caught as far up as Altmar but no large concentrations in any one spot. The best is still to come with excellent catches on the lake still happening.

According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel:
Tuesday was another hot and sunny day with the temperature reaching near 80 degrees. Despite the blue skies and plenty of sunshine it didn’t stop the fish from moving through the lower end of the river. We had reports from anglers getting into fish at the Ball Park, Town Pool, Staircase and Black Hole. Suggested patterns are comets, estaz eggs, egg sucking leeches and woolly buggers.

According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Yesterday’s fishing was the best of the young season. While the upper section of the run fished better early morning, throughout the day and throughout the run nearly all of our anglers reported double-digit hook ups and numerous fish brought to hand. Even into the early evening the fishing remained good. The good news is that the estuary seems to be holding additional fish and the lake reports suggest there are fish waiting to enter the river.

Oneida Lake Report

Temperatures this week did warm back up but by the weekend, an extended cool down is expected. The walleye fishing has remained challenging but the change in temperature will hopefully spark more activity. 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

There has not been much activity on the pond. Anglers are getting a few bass using jigs and plastics.

Wayne County Fishing Update

Chris Kenyon

Lake Ontario

They’re on the bottom and not hitting easily. Try out from Hughes Marina in 100 feet of water dragging the bottom with copper. The meat rigs are still working, however spoons and flies will catch the salmon.

The word from the charters is to fish the marks. At this point don’t worry about temperatures. In a couple of weeks’ pier fishing should take-off and if we get any rain the streams will produce fish. Currently the only aquatic life in Maxwell Creek are frogs.

Bays

Bass fishing has been hot in Sodus and Port Bay. Fish the weedlines. Be careful of low water, however you still can launch from DEC docks.

Autumn is the best time to fish the bays. There is little boat traffic and your query is on the bite before the colder temps come.

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

Canal fishing has been excellent. This is the time of year when boaters are traveling the canal and the locks are opening and closing all the time…a great place to cast your bait.

Orleans County

Orleans County Tourism
The end of summer this week will be singled by much cooler temperatures by the end of the week.

Some rain on Friday may entice some salmon to make their way at least part way up the tributaries within Orleans County.

Those with smaller boats are having some luck close to the tributaries mouths as are the casters from the piers.

Part way up Oak Orchard River some Perch are being taken but reports have a good number of smaller ones in the mix.

On Lake Alice the Bluegills have become very active around the Waterport Bridge area and of course Bass are still being taken throughout Lake Alice and other small ponds and lakes including the Erie Canal.

With hunting season just around the corner fishing pressure is down slightly.

As the tributary season starts to ramp up it’s good to review those good safety practices and check again all for your gear, including your waders to insure another great season.

Salmon River

Michael De Rosa – Zero Limit Adventures – Tailwater Lodge
Water flow continues at 335 cfs with some extra run-off due to recent rains. DSR has seen some ups and downs with early King Salmon but there have been good movement the last couple of days with everyone seeing fish and most experiencing hookups. Several steelhead and brown trout have been caught at the DSR. Fish are moving throughout the river with boat captains reporting success.

Significant numbers of Kings continue staging in the lake in front of the river with some Cohos reported. Again, the prediction for “a very good run” seems to be holding. It seems the time is now!

Both Upper and Lower Reservoirs, as well as the Upper Fly Zone, are experiencing very little pressure. The Upper Reservoir continues to produce good catches of Smallmouth Bass and Walleyes. As soon as the weather begins cooling expect a good topwater bass bite in the reservoirs with very little fishing pressure!