Pictured above: Matty Wagner of Tonawanda caught this two-tone steelhead at Burt Dam on an egg sac. According to a fish pathologist, this was probably the result of some type of spinal injury.
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
After digging out from the March snow storm last week, things are finally settling in to more spring-like conditions. Not everything is perfect though. The weather forecasters are calling for some rain this weekend, especially Saturday and Sunday. That should get all of the streams flowing nicely once they settle down from higher water levels. A gradual increase in temperature has been good for melting off the snow at a slow and steady pace. Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek have been the place to go as steelhead and browns continue to be the primary target. We’ve had reports of some fresh steel coming into the creek in the last couple of days so this will be a good time to take advantage of some migrating trout. There is a mix of both pre- and post-spawn steelhead. For post-spawn trout, look for meat like worms and minnows. Pre-spawn is more of an egg sac or grub bite. Jigs will work, too. You just have to figure out what the fish want. Twelve mile and Keg Creek should both be good options, too. In the harbors of Wilson and Olcott, some perch and pike have been biting. Remember that pike are out of season. The piers still have some ice on them but that should be gone after the weekend. With some ice chunks in the harbor, look for some shoreline trolling to take place starting next week. The Wilson Conservation Club bullhead contest is set for April 7-9. Mark your calendar. On April 8, the LOTSA pen rearing project will start at the Town of Newfane Marina starting at 9 a.m. They will ready the pens and get them in the water to prepare to receive the fish.
Speaking of fish, if you are wondering when they will be stocking Hyde Park Lake, Gill Creek and Oppenheim Park Pond in Niagara Falls, mark April 5 on your calendar. Oppenheim Park Pond, along Niagara Falls Blvd. in Wheatfield, will receive 100 browns and 200 rainbows around 10 a.m. Hyde Park Lake in Niagara Falls will receive 200 two-year-old browns and 1,650 yearlings at 11 a.m. In addition, Gill Creek will be the recipient of 540 browns from Buffalo Avenue upstream to the dam at the lake.
Lower Niagara River
Action has been decent from both boat and shore. No major winds or rains caused the water to muddy up so it’s been pretty consistent for both boat and shore fishermen. Best drifts have been Devil’s Hole and Artpark, but you should be able to find trout throughout the river system – steelhead and lake trout with the occasional brown thrown in. Egg sacs have been working best on the steelhead; minnows for the lake trout. Pautzke fire brine has been working on the minnows to color them up a bit, but the clear has been working on the eggs before you tie the sacs up. Boat drifters are using 3-way rigs to bounce the bottom. From shore, casters are still using spoons, spinners and egg sacs, but the hot bait the past week has been jigs. Tip a jig with a Gulp minnow or offer one up with a lot of flash, color and hair. Both steelhead and lake trout have been hitting. April 1 will probably see the NYPA Fish Platform open up again, as well as the reservoir. The NRAA John Long, Sr. Memorial Raffle and Feast is April 1 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Niagara Active Hose on Lockport Rd. in Niagara Falls. The Antique Tackle Show is Saturday, March 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on North Canal Rd., Lockport.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
The water flow is running at 10,800cfs this morning. We do have some snow melting and the extended forecast into next week is calling for some precipitation each day. Temperatures will be warm enough for the precipitation to be rain so we will have to see how this effects the level.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Yesterday we had 15 degree temperatures and 30 mph winds. Tough day on the water. Warmer temperatures are expected today with light winds. First catch of the day was a nice steelhead. Tuesday’s trip brought a nice mix of steelhead and browns to the net.
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 the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Tuesday we had six anglers on the river fishing hard but only one met with limited success in the lower section. Tough conditions yesterday with cold and wind and the flow increased to 1500cfs. Two clients fished the lower section with no success. The fish will likely be hard to get to today due to water conditions and they will be sulking as soon as the bright sunshine hits them. Warmer temperatures but some rain expected over the weekend.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel:
In the upper end of the river the fish have been holding in and around the deeper holes and runs as well as the deep water drop-offs adjacent to the gravel areas. In the lower end of the river the fresh fish have been holding along the inside seams and softer edges of the transition water. For those anglers who are fly fishing, single egg patterns and nymphs have produced the best results. For those anglers who are bottom bouncing or float fishing, egg sacs and beads have been most productive.
Oneida Lake and Sandy Pond Report:
Although we had cold temperatures, we also had heavy snow last week and the wind has been a factor. Temperatures over the next week will be in the 40s. We have little to report from these areas as we patiently wait for open water season.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
The water flow at Maxwell Creek is perfect. There are browns and a few steelhead being taken by anglers fishing both sides of Lake Road. Currently, there is no ice build-up, however a few cold days predicted might change that.
The trout are hitting red beads, egg sacs and small red spoons. You can also try Kast Masters, or Little Cleos.
They have also caught browns in Bear Creek in the town of Ontario. All the streams in Wayne County are close to Lake Road, which is the Seaway Trail.
Because of the iced-over bays, stream fish is the only option for anglers.
Bays
There is just enough ice on all the bays prohibiting any boat launching. The only thing you can do is look at the embayments. We have just completed the second consecutive “no ice” fishing season.
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 also has just enough ice cover to stop boat launching. Just wait until we have open water …then the crappie fishing in the canal begins.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
Well spring is here at least on the calendar but not by Mother Nature’s standards.
Yesterday was spring like but today feels more like January than mid-March.
Then by the weekend more spring like conditions will return and continue into next week.
This cold snap again today will keep the ice around for just a while longer but most of it should be gone by the first part of next week.
On Lake Alice things are still pretty much closed down with the icing conditions.
On the upper portion of the “Oak” steelhead and brown trout are still be caught near the dam and in the portions of faster moving water.
The open sections of the mid waters of the “Oak” are producing Perch, Northern pike and even an occasional Walleye, But Walleye season is closed for the time being.
All of the smaller tributaries are still iced over in the slower moving water sections.
Don’t forget that on Saturday, April 1st they will be assembling the pens for the pen rearing project so please come out and lend a hand.
Only 45 more days until the 1st day of the Spring LOC Derby.