Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
A great way to get a gauge on the local fishery is to follow the results of area fishing contests. For example, the Niagara River Anglers Association held its annual Roger Tobey Memorial Steelhead Contest on the lower river and in Lake Ontario tributaries last Saturday (Feb. 4) during some pretty adverse weather conditions. Despite cold temperatures, stained water and gusty winds, some fish were caught during the friendly competition. At the top of the list at the end of the day was Ed Waller of Lewiston who hauled in a 9.62 pound steelhead from Devil’s Hole while fishing with Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island. He was drifting an emerald shiner on a three-way rig, with a chartreuse bead above it. Second place was an 8.08 pound steelhead reeled in by Norm Deitrich of Haverford, Pennsylvania, caught on a minnow. He was using Waller’s boat along Artpark at 1:50 p.m. when the fish hit. Third place was Fran Szovati of Cold Springs, Kentucky with a 7.88 pound steelhead. He caught it on an emerald shiner-trout bead combination, fishing with Capt. Ted Kessler of Grand Island – also in Devil’s Hole. Down on 18 Mile Creek near Burt Dam, a few brown trout were caught. Bob Rustowicz of Cheektowaga hauled in a couple nice trout, including a fish that was around 9 pounds. However, he thought that it would never place in the money so he released it. The only fish he brought to the scales was a 5.82 pound brown trout for a special brown division. He missed by .02 pound to place in the money. Winning brown was a 5.84 pound trout reeled in by Capt. Tyler Morrison of Barker. He was using a jig tipped with a wax worm and fished under a float. In the Niagara River, water is still stained but it was starting to clear up yesterday. Capt. Joe Marra of Lewiston caught 8 steelhead yesterday, all on egg sacs upriver. However, as the day progressed, it was getting muddier and Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Youngstown could only muster walleye for customers as visibility dropped to less than a foot. It doesn’t look good for the weekend.
In 18 Mile Creek, Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker in Olcott reports stained water with a flow of about 150 cfs. The creek is open and you have the option of being able to catch a trout but you do have to work for them. The smaller creeks are low and clear.
If you’ve ever thought about giving ice fishing a try, next weekend might be the perfect time … if you can find some ice. It’s a free ice fishing weekend Feb. 18-19 for anyone who wants to sample some hard water fishing around the state. You can find other spots by doing a little online exploring. Make sure you have at least 4 inches of ice. Wilson harbor could be back up to snuff in the back bay, but make sure you check things out first. Meyers Lake near Bond Lake might be an option, too. Give it a go! On Saturday, Feb. 25, there will be the annual rack scoring day with official scorers Dave Muir and Don Haseley at Niagara Outdoors in North Tonawanda. They will be scoring from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Whether it’s a rack you shot last fall, one you found or just an old rack that’s been laying around the garage and you always wanted to know what it scored, stop down and share your story. If you are looking for a fishing boat, check out the WNY Boat Show February 22 to 26 at the Adpro Sports Fieldhouse located at 1 Bills Drive in Orchard Park. Talk with a wide variety of marinas and boating-related vendors. To find out more information go to buffaloboating.com.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Heavy snow, wind, sun, clouds – we had it all this weekend. On Saturday, our clients weren’t going to let a little lake effect snow stop them. They had a great day experiencing the great outdoors with some nice steelhead and brown trout. All released to fight another day. The water flow currently is running at 10,200cfs.
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:
After all the snowfall, on Sunday we had scattered snow showers but no major accumulation. Anglers we had staying in the motel who fished the upper end of the river in Altmar reported having a tough day with no action. The few anglers who did get into some fish reported having action in the mid to lower section of the river while bottom bouncing and float fishing with egg sacs or beads.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
The water flow is running at 500cfs and there were several anglers on the run on Sunday. Reports indicated the middle to upper section saw the most action but a couple of anglers did well in the mid to lower section. Anglers found some nice steelhead, one just shy of 20 pounds, along with an impressive brown trout tipping the scale at almost 14 pounds. Egg sacs, beads, flies, sucker spawn and egg pattern yarn flies were working well. Yesterday anglers reported a rather slow day on the run.
Oneida Lake report:
The weather has been a mixed bag over the last few days. We have had lake effect snow, rain, cold temperatures, temperatures near 50 degrees and wind. In the forecast the temperatures will do a bit of a roller coaster ride with 20s and back to 40 degrees. With this combination, the ice formation is not good in most areas.
Sandy Pond report
According to Greene Point Marina:
Conditions are such that we are recommending no fishing on the pond. We went from open water to a little ice formation and then heavy lake effect snow. We had rain and warm temperatures on Tuesday. At one point early in the week there was 18 inches of slush on the minimal ice formation.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
There is a decent flow of water in Maxwell and a few reports say some steelhead are being caught. Use heavy sinkers or whatever weight you choose to get on the bottom. Egg sacs are working.
You can also fish off the Sodus Pier, however be careful of any ice build-up.
Bays
There is four to six inches of ice on Sodus Bay and anglers are catching perch. The only issue now is the predicted rain and high temps. It’s on its way and rain is ice’s worst enemy.
It’s supposed to be above freezing this week so make sure you know the thickness of the ice you choose to stand-on. Usually, it’s the shoreline ice that is the most dangerous.
The NYS Ice Pro Tournament is still scheduled for the Sodus Event on February 12th. If there is a postponement it will be announced on the web at nysiceproam.com
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 has safe ice; however, today’s rain might eat away some of the hard water. Anglers do catch perch, crappies and bluegills in canal waters.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The temperature rollercoaster continues with temperatures in the 50’s today and then below freezing for the next 2 days.
The good news is that all of the tributaries within Orleans County are at least patricianly open if not fully open.
The bad news is that it has been a very bad year for ice fishermen.
With the days of winter slowly dwindling, a fisherman’s thought now turns toward the first days of spring but Mother Nature could still throw us some curves.
Fishing on the “Oak” is still producing some decent steelhead fishing and there are still some brown trout thrown into the mix.
On the lower stretches of the “Oak” there is open water but I haven’t heard of anyone going for the perch as of now.
I’ll still be at the Great American Sportsmen’s Show in Harrisburg until this Sunday so it you’re in the area stop in.