Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
The recent weather rollercoaster has been tough on fishermen. Many areas received a pile of rain this past week, creating higher flows in the streams like 18 Mile Creek below Burt Dam and into the Harbor at Olcott. The water was pushing 170 cubic feet per second down the creek, which should attract some fresh fish into the system. The water is stained, though, so use brightly-colored jigs fished under a float, salted minnows, live emerald shiners or nightcrawlers to try and trick a trout to hit. Steelhead, brown trout and the occasional Coho salmon are still showing up. The harbor is wide open, thanks to the rain and temperatures in the upper 50’s this past week. Both pike and perch should be available if you want to try and chase them. Off the piers, casting spoons or spinners are options, but only if the wind is not blowing out of the north. Today that wind is out of the northwest and the piers are under water. Ice over in Wilson is shot. You also have an opportunity to do some pier fishing there if the winds cooperate. Some of the smaller streams like Keg or 4 Mile could be open if the flow has increased enough, but we’ve not had any reports yet on those tribs. This could be your lucky day!
Niagara River
Ice is still coming down the river and the water is stained – two strikes against anglers from both boat and shore. The ice was causing some problems for drifters and casters, ice coming down from Lake Erie after the high winds and rain really created quite a turmoil. We’ll have to play it by ear when anglers can get back on the water again. Steelhead and lake trout top the list of targets right now, but you have an outside chance at catching a brown trout or a walleye, as well. Shore casters are using spoons and spinners in bright colors; boaters are drifting plugs like MagLips and Kwikfish lures; egg sacks or egg imitations; as well as minnows. Use those baits from three-way rigs from boats, once the ice has disappeared. If the winds cooperate, take a drift or two out on the Niagara Bar to see if there are any active trout around.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
The water flow is currently running at 9,870cfs. With a good deal of rain in the area at times last night and today along with snowmelt from the warm temperatures, this flow may increase over the next couple of days. Activity has been rather quiet this week with the weather.
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 Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
With the combination of very mild weather and rain we’re losing snow quickly so keep an eye on the water level which is running at 1500cfs currently. My dad and I took advantage of the mild weather yesterday and fished the DSR landing several chrome steelhead while float fishing with egg sacs.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:Just a few anglers here yesterday enjoying the sunshine. Guests using spawn bags did manage a few fish but worked for them The fish that were caught were very fresh – a few scales were reported to be falling off in the net and their tails were chrome. Nice to hear there are some “brand new” ones showing up with the higher flows. Our guest swing flies reported having a tough go. Please be careful when wading as runoff will increase and shelf ice will break off.
Oneida Lake report:
Reports vary on the ice conditions on the lake. Anglers are indicating the area off Lewis Point has some solid ice but down in the Constantia area it is questionable. We have had a couple of warm days with temperatures hitting 50 degrees today and some heavy rain today. We will be back to seasonable daytime temperatures and nighttime lows in the teens through the weekend.
Sandy Pond report
According to Green Pointe Marina:
Reports are indicating that there is 6-7 inches of ice in many areas of the pond. With the warmer temperatures we had yesterday the snow has melted leaving a good amount of slush on the ice. Temperatures are going to drop again later today with colder daytime temperatures and nights in the teens over the weekend.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
There is ice build-up on the banks of Maxwell Creek. Currently, Wayne county is experiencing ice pellets and frozen rain. Tomorrow it will be in the 40’s so who knows what the stream will look like. There were a few steelhead caught late last week. They were hitting egg sacs.
Bays
The ice on Sodus Bay is six inches thick depending on where you drill your holes. There is safe ice on the east side and by the docks on the west side. They are catching perch; however, you will find a variety of smaller ones. They are hitting bright jigs tipped with spikes. But, the good news is… there are plenty of perch.
The jigs that glow seem to be working.
Port Bay has the same thickness of ice; however, the wind is cranking at 30 plus, so no one is on the ice. Tomorrow will be warmer and less wind. Port Bay, like Sodus, has plenty of perch…you need to release the small ones and keep the 10 to 12-inch fish.
So…. we have our safe ice, however none of the bays freeze uniformly. You can follow the crowds if you are not sure. It’s still not safe for any machines.
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 canal is now frozen so you can try fishing the Widewaters section east of Newark on Route 31.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The up and down temperatures continue with us being in the warmer temperature part of the swing for now.
Rain of last night and more rain and snow in the forecast should keep the water levels in all of the tributaries within Orleans County at moderate to slightly high levels and water clarity at stained to slightly stained through the rest of this week and into next week.
Most of our tributaries are at least partly open and should remain so with the warmer weather.
The bad news is that there is a lack of safe ice for ice fishermen to be on and that shouldn’t change for the better anytime in the near future.
The partial icing conditions also means that small boats cannot access the lower portion of the “Oak” presently.
The good news is that the thawing conditions right now, both brown trout and steelhead are on the move throughout the system and fresh fish are entering the system.
Both natural and artificial baits are working well including woolie buggers and nymphs in a variety of colors, wax worms, salted minnows and spikes.
With the ever changing weather conditions please be mindful of your surrounding conditions as they may quickly change.