Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
There’s a good story on the 31 pound brown trout caught by Bob Klemm of Pennsylvania fishing with Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Region Charters in the Buffalo News this week. Check out buffalonews.com in the sports section and look for the big fish! Lower Niagara River trout action was spotty from both boat and shore before the storms blew in. Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls scored on some nice trout off the fishing platform just before the water started to change color on spinners. Water levels also increased significantly and they had to shut the platform down for the day. For the time being, forget about any river fishing for at least a few days. There is two inches of rain coming down today; and tomorrow, April 7, it looks like up to five inches of snow. It will disappear quick because the weekend looks good. Sixty’s on Sunday; 70’s on Monday. Finding a place to fish, though, may be difficult with high muddy water everywhere until things settle down. There have been a few smelt reported at Artpark – mostly some bigger adults – but hopefully the best is yet to come.
Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek is high and muddy. So is every other creek. Your best bet for fishing is for bullhead. Some good catching was being reported (before the rain though) from Wilson, Olcott and in the Upper Niagara River. Nightcrawlers, cider worms, chicken livers and shrimp are baits that are being used. The Wilson Conservation Club bullhead contest is set for April 7-9. Weigh in is held out of the Wilson Conservation Club, 2934 Wilson Cambria Road (Route 425), Wilson. The tournament is based on your best two fish with the tie-breaker being the overall length of the two fish. Any Niagara County waters are eligible. Entry fee is $10 for 13 years of age and older; free for junior anglers 12 and under. The fun contest actually starts at 5 p.m. on Friday and runs until 1 p.m. on Sunday. All weigh-ins will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wilson club. You can register at CMC Auto Repair, 418 Lake Street, Wilson or The Slippery Sinker, 5780 W. Main Street (at Jackson), Olcott. If you have any questions, contact Eric at 628-6078.
On Saturday, 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. And if you want to learn more about spring salmon fishing, attend the next LOTSA meeting on April 13 at Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara on Route 78 in Lockport. At 7 p.m., local angler Matt Dunn will pass along some of his secrets on how he won some Lake Ontario contests. Some Daiwa representatives will also be in attendance to talk about their new Great Lakes rods and reels. A few boats have been out in the big lake catching some browns and lake trout. Stickbaits, spoons and flasher-fly combos were all catching fish last Sunday.
The Hyde Park Lake, Gill Creek and Oppenheim Park Pond trout stockings took place yesterday, April 5. Oppenheim Park Pond, along Niagara Falls Blvd. in Wheatfield, received 100 browns and 200 rainbows Hyde Park Lake in Niagara Falls received 200 two-year-old browns and 1,650 yearlings. In addition, Gill Creek was the recipient of 540 browns from Buffalo Avenue upstream to the dam at the lake.
Eastern Finger Lakes / Central New York Fishing Report
Mike Crawford
Moderate to heavy rain fell late last week throughout the region and brought water levels up creating difficult fishing on many creeks and streams in the area on the statewide opening day of trout season. Prior to the rain, heavy snowmelt had water levels rising and cold… But clear.
Last Friday’s rain however created turbid conditions on low lying streams and creeks. The rain did warm the temperature of the water some and that helps to keep things moving in the right direction.
In the Finger Lakes the rainfall aided anglers by keeping flows high and tempting fresh lake-run fish to take a journey upstream. Excellent catches of rainbow trout were reported in the Finger Lake tributaries on opening day. Egg sack’s and nightcrawler’s dominate the best baits for spin fisherman. Fly fisherman use “bubble gum” colored and chartreuse colored egg patterns.
The rain swollen creeks flowing into the lakes gets the attention of lake dwelling trout and salmon that will scavenge in the open lake around these creek mouths looking for a drifting morsel. The stained water lines found in the lakes this time of year are often productive spots to fish and the trollers are out en masse on many of the eastern Finger lakes. Lake trout are being caught in shallow water by anglers fishing light tackle at several locations on Seneca and Cayuga Lakes.
Perch fisherman did well on area lakes this past weekend with the milld air temperatures, overcast skies and calm winds. Good catches were reported on Seneca, Cayuga, and other eastern Finger Lakes.
Panfisher’s are eagerly awaiting warmer water on Oneida Lake and other area lakes so brown bullhead, bluegill, crappie and pumpkinseeds will migrate into shallow water where they are susceptible…Won’t be long.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
With the rain yesterday the river level has increased to 22,500cfs. It’s a quiet day today but rain is in the forecast again tomorrow and Friday. The current level makes most of the river unfishable and the river flow may very well rise more over the next few days.
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:
Spring recipe for high water on the Salmon River: lots of rain over the past few days, warmer temperatures, and more rain in the near future coupled with significant snow melt from the Tug Hill. As a result, the Salmon River is currently at flood stage with a release of 5,200cfs from the dam and the Pineville gauge recording 5,600+cfs presently. While we expect the next few days to be a washout please stay tuned to the waterline as water levels recede. We will keep everyone informed as we learn more. The DSR is closed to fishing until the water release from the dam recedes below 2,000cfs.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel:
With the combination of melting snow still coming off the Tug Hill and the recent rain, the Salmon River is running at flood stage.
Oneida Lake and Sandy Pond Report:
We have no new reports from these areas but open water season shouldn’t be too far off. Just a reminder that walleye season is closed and will reopen on May 6.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Some nice steelhead came from Maxwell this past weekend and there are some browns still in Wayne County streams. The water flow subsided a bit until last night’s rain, however it is fishable.
That might change as another 2 inches is predicted later this week. Use egg sacs under bobbers.
You can also fish from Hughes’ Marina which is two miles east of Pultneyville.
Bays
There are plenty of perch in Sodus Bay. Fish in 15 feet of water on the north-west shoreline. You can also catch them on the north-east side between the islands. Use minnows or spikes and perch eyes. You can launch the south end at bay Bridge Sport Shop or the public launch at Margaretta Road.
They are catching bluegills and crappies off Bay Bridge and the bullhead fishing has started.
Spring is here, however remember you need to wear your PFD while in a boat. The water temperature in the bays is in the 40’s so don’t take any changes.
Port Bay has some crappie action on the south end of the bay. There is an excellent launch site off West Port Bay Road. Use small bright jigs tipped with spikes.
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 water at Widewaters is open with no ice. Anglers primarily target crappies and bluegills during early spring fishing.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
April showers may bring May flowers if it doesn’t flood them out.
The wind and rain of the past several weeks have taken their toll on the fishery in Western New York, but is starting to change very slowly.
Yesterday it was a combination of both wind and rain that helped keep fishermen off of Lake Ontario in the afternoon but actually helped those who were fishing the tributaries and smaller lakes.
On Lake Alice Perch Bluegill, Crappie, Bullhead and Suckers were all in the mix depending on what part of the lake you fished.
Later in the afternoon when the wind really picked up, things, fishing dropped off a bit.
All of this stained to muddy water should give the Bullhead fishermen a leg up if only for a short while.
The “Oak” was pretty much muddy and blown out but the smaller tributaries offered some better conditions with moderate flows and stained water.
When fishermen could get on Lake Ontario, some very good Brown trout fishing was enjoyed with sizes up from what was experienced in past years.
Browns were pushed closer to shore by the winds offering shore fishermen a great opportunity to get in on the action.
More rain is in the forecast for late this week but then the weekend and next week will be a vast improvement.
Only a month to go before the 1st day of the Spring LOC Derby so now is the time to prep all of your equipment and get that derby ticket so you don’t get left out.
This weekend I’ll be in Doswell Virginia for a fly fishing and wine tasting show so if you’re in the area, stop by and say hello.