Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
Action in the tributaries picked up considerably with the recent rains last week. More rain is expected this week so that run of fish should remain consistent. At Burt Dam, there are good numbers of fish … and fishermen. Go during the week (if you have the option) to lessen the fishing pressure. Salmon and brown trout top the list of available species at the dam with an occasional steelhead thrown in for good measure. Bill Joseph of Pennsylvania waited until those recent rains and came up with his sons. The result was a limit of salmon for their coolers. Egg sacs or egg imitations are the top baits at the dam. In the deeper holes down the creek, boaters are using treated egg skein fished under a float. In the harbor, casters and trollers are using stickbaits or spoons. Ditto off the piers … if the north winds die down long enough for you to get out there. Leading fish in the King of the Creek contest is still 30 pounds from boat and 28 from shore. Perch and pike are available in both Wilson and Olcott harbors. There should be some browns in both 12 Mile creeks but we’ve not had a report yet. No reports from the lake.
Lower Niagara River
Salmon are still hitting in the gorge from both boat and shore. Treated egg skein from boats fished off three-way rigs; shore casters using eggs, spoons, spinners or rattle baits. Jigs will work, too. Look for fish-holding areas further up in the gorge. Trout are starting to move into the river system now that water temps have hit below the 60 degree mark. Bass are still available, as are walleye. The Niagara Bar has been off limits with all of the north wind that’s been blowing.
Upper Niagara River
Musky action should be getting better with the water temps dropping below 60 degrees. A few fish have been caught but weeds have been a problem for some of the trollers and casters. If you want to find out more about musky fishing, stop in to the next Niagara Musky Assn. meeting November 1 at the Eldredge Club, 17 Broad Street, Tonawanda starting at 7 pm. Guest speaker will be DEC fisheries biologist Chris Legard. Bass are still hitting at the head of the river and walleye can be caught along Bird Island Pier and Broderick Park.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
The river flow has dropped to 10,500cfs as of this morning. Although there is rain in the extended forecast, hopefully it will not be excessive.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
The king plug bite has been just short of awesome and the rainbow bite is starting nicely. Had a crush fest on Tuesday, all released to fight another day. Who says you can’t get them in muddy water. The river flow is running at 10,500cfs this morning.
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.
Salmon River Report
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The recent rain and high water have helped to move fish around through the Salmon River and area streams such as the Sandies and Grindstone Creek have had a good deal of activity. The weather has helped to extend the salmon season.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
The water level has dropped to 500cfs and anglers have indicated that the visibility has improved. Leaves are a factor but that is normal for this time of year. The reports from anglers varied depending on where they fished and what they were fishing for. We still have some groups looking for salmon while other groups are only looking for steelhead. Those looking for salmon are doing well in the mid to upper section of the river in and around the gravel areas. Overall the anglers looking for steelhead had a slow day. A few groups got into steelhead first thing in the morning while others covered lots of water and had a tough day.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Reports are indicating anglers are finding some kings in the river and smaller steelhead. Action has been slow with just a few hook ups here and there. The lower end seemed to be doing better than the rest of the river but still fairly slow.
Oneida Lake Report
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
Anglers are reporting a good perch bite along the North shore of the lake in 10-14 feet of water. Minnows and worms are working well. There have not been many reports of walleye activity but with the colder temperatures anglers will hopefully begin to see increased action. Casting stickbaits just before and after dark is the suggested application.
Sandy Pond report
There is not much activity on the pond this time of year.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
The water flow in all creeks is darn good, especially after the drought situation. More rain is expected tomorrow.
The salmon are in Maxwell and there are few browns being caught. If the salmon are in… more browns will follow in a week or two.
The kings are hitting egg sacs and anything imitating red eggs. You can fish the north side of Lake Road and cast out with a torpedo bobber. Some anglers are fishing the north end of Maxwell casting cloeos out in the lake.
The other streams also have kings. Bear Creek is on Lake Road in the town of Ontario. Furnace is another stream north of Wolcott.
Pier fishing is a great option, however right now anglers are focusing on streams. Take a trip on Lake Road, which is the Seaway Trail, and fish any small tribs that dump into Lake Ontario.
Bays
Bay fishing has also been great with largemouth coming from Sodus. The pike are also hitting on the east side near the three islands. Perch should be schooling-up for the winter. You’ll just have to find them. Fish the drop-off in Sodus and Port Bays.
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
They still are catching crappies near the Port Gibson bridge and the Widewaters launch site had a few boat trailers parked. My guess is they are still fishing for bass. The canal will drop the water level in a few weeks, however Widewaters will not be affected.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The rain and wind of the past week didn’t stop the 57 entrants in the Archer’s Club Catch and Release derby from enjoying a great time, great food, great friendships and some fantastic fishing.
The surprise was the number of Atlantic salmon that were caught during the event including a 37″ beauty.
It seems like each year of this event just keeps getting better and better.
The weather forecast for the next week is for cooler temperatures and the chance of precipitation several of the days including rain and a chance of some snow tonight.
Flows on all of the tributaries within Orleans County are dropping back from the rains we had.
That increased flow did manage to create movement in the fish to more sections making more fishable waters.
Right now there is a good mixture of fish in the system of all the cold water species, except Lake trout of course, and a good number of salmon are at the Waterport Dam.
On Lake Alice the numbers of Bluegill being caught continues to drop off but Bass are still active and now Walleye are being caught.
On the lower stretches of the “Oak” some perch are being taken but reports have a lot of smaller ones in the mix, good news for upcoming years.
As the colder weather approaches be mindful of the possible icing conditions along our shorelines making for slippery conditions.
Just a reminder that the Erie Canal System will close on November 20th this year and then the dewatering process should start shortly after that.