Upstate New York Fishing Report – May 25, 2017

Greater Niagara Region

Bill Hilts, Jr.
Just a quick reminder on water levels: There is still a state of emergency along the Lake Ontario shoreline for high water levels. This isn’t really going to affect the fishing that much, but the Niagara County Sheriff is asking that boats creating a wake stay at least 500 feet from shore. This doesn’t include trolling. Caution is advised for floating debris when you are out in the lake moving around. The problem seems to be launching. The best spot to be right now is the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott. Fort Niagara has an open launch but you need boots up to your knees or above. Golden Hill State Park launch is closed and Wilson-Tuscarora Park is day to day (but you need hip boots for sure). It’s worth the effort for the good fishing!!

Congratulations to all of the winners in the Lake Ontario Pro-Am Tourney out of Wilson and Olcott last weekend. The Screamer team led by Dave Antenori of Pennsylvania was on a mission. After placing second in the Wilson Harbor Invitational the weekend before, they wanted to take the first place prize in the Niagara County/Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament held May 19-21 out of the ports of Wilson and Olcott. After catching a 12-fish tournament limit the first day, he was poised to be in a perfect position as he sat in second place – behind Team Maverick and Capt. Chris LoPresti. After a blow day on Saturday, it was all business on Sunday as the team boated another limit and won the Niagara County version of the Pro-Am and the $15,000 prize with a score of 471.02 points (10 points per fish and a point per pound). Second place was Maverick led by Capt. Chris LoPresti, taking home a check for $7,500 with a score of 448.59 points. Third place went to Dirty Goose/Cold Steel led by Capt. Casey Prisco ($5,000) with 447.79 points, followed by Vision Quest and Capt. Pete Alex ($2,500) with 429.84 points. Big fish for the tournament was a 24.04 pound king salmon caught by Thrillseeker led by Capt. Vince Pierleoni. He won $300 plus a new Raymarine Axiom Unit.

In the Amateur Division, it was Mother Moose winning the $500 prize and a special Cup for the three day event. Anonymous, last year’s cup winner led by John Muehl, won the Day 3 contest for the amateur open but it wasn’t enough to repeat. Big fish for the day was Dipsy Ranger with a king salmon weighing 19.23 pounds. In the Amateur Open, each day was a separate contest. Day one winner was Dipsy Ranger led by John Nevlezer. Day two winner (by drawing due to inclement weather) was HK1 and Chris Petrucci. Big fish prizes, good for $500 and an ITO Flies prize package were: Day one – Mean Machine and Kyle Hovak with a 19.43 pound king salmon; Day two (drawing) – Streaker and Matt Dunn; Day three – Dipsy Ranger with a 19.23 pound king salmon.

Best action for kings and cohos has been out in 110 to 300 feet of water. DW Super Slims and Spin Doctors with the new A-Tom-Mik stud fly doing pretty good right now in the top 80 feet of water. Riggers, dipsy divers and 200 and 300 feet of copper. Browns can still be caught inside of 50 feet. Congrats to Jon Eckert of Lockport who reeled in a 30 pound king last Thursday out of Olcott on a flasher-fly. He was fishing with Capt. Mark Vilardo, Kingfisher Charters.

Lower Niagara River

Fishing action is still good in Devil’s Hole where boaters were using minnows and egg sacs to take trout off three-way rigs. Try coloring up the minnows with Pautzke Fire Dye in chartreuse. Steelhead, lake trout, silver bass and smallmouth bass are still all being caught from boat and shore but water temps are heating up so the trout won’t be around long. The New York Power Authority stated that the fishing platform was closed down again on Monday due to high water levels. It will remain closed until water levels recede. Before you head down fishing there, you might want to call 796-0135 Ext. 45 to see if it’s open. White jigs were working for Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls earlier in the week when he caught silver bass, smallmouth and lakers. No problems at the Lewiston launch ramp but Fort Niagara is having some issues with the high water. The south ramp is closed. As waters continue to rise, the north ramp could be closed soon, too.

Upper Niagara River

Fishing action has been good for a mixed bag of fish the past week. Decent walleye have been caught along with bass and lake trout. Good numbers of lake trout are showing up as bass casters target catch and release smallmouth.

Mike Crawford of upstateguideservice.com

We have enjoyed a few days of spectacular weather here in Central New York this week. But it appears that the rain will return in the days ahead. The high water will subside and water levels will recede…eventually…and none to soon for many folks with waterfront real estate on the southern shore of Ontario and other locations such as the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Climbing water temperatures find fish in transition. Post-spawn warm water species like Pike, walleye and perch, have strapped on the feed bag on local lakes making for very good fishing.

Cold water species, like trout, are reaching peak activity. Fly fishing is very good now and will only get better in the weeks ahead here in the Eastern Finger Lakes and Central New York.

The lake trout in the big lakes are ushered out of the shallows by water temps exceeding 50 degrees. And they are in transition as well, beginning to school heavy, and concentrate in deeper water.

As the days grow longer and the weather gets nicer boating activity increases. Be safe and always keep a sharp eye for other boaters, especially kayaks, canoes, and other small recreational watercraft when navigating the open lake.

Tight Lines!

Oswego County

Mary Ellen Barbeau

Oswego River Report

After having the water level down to about 8,000cfs for a couple of days it has been up between 10,000-12,000cfs the last two days. This morning it is flowing at 10,000cfs. Anglers are finding smallmouth bass, walleye and sheepshead behind the hotels. If you are fishing for walleyes, early morning or later evening is suggested

Lake Ontario report:

According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Yesterday was a beautiful day on Lake Ontario. Kings, Cohos, lakers and browns all made for a successful outing. Look in the more shallow water along the shoreline for browns and move out into the deeper water for kings, Cohos and lakers.

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.

Pulaski Area and Salmon River report:

According to Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop:
The brown trout fishing remains very good in 15-25 feet of water, with a lot of fish being caught on Michigan Stinger UV Goose and Tonic, UV Die Hard and the Golden Shiner in both standard and Stingray sizes. There have been some kings being caught out of Oswego in 60-140 feet of water on Michigan Stinger Stingrays, Tropical Lighting, and UV Black Tux have been good producers.

Salmon River:

The forecasted water flow for the weekend is:
Until 9 p.m. today, 350cfs
From 9 p.m today until 6 p.m. Sat, 650cfs
From 6 p.m. Sat, until 6 a.m. Sun, 350cfs
From 6 a.m. Sun, until 11:59 p.m. Sun, 185 cfs

According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
With the drop in water level and the warm temperatures we have had, the majority of steelhead have dropped back to Lake Ontario but you may still find the occasional drop back in the lower end of the river. Smallmouth bass fishing in the lower end of the river has been excellent with woolly buggers producing the best results.

According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Three anglers enjoyed a beautiful day on the run yesterday. Between them they accounted for a 14 inch smallmouth bass while swinging flies. Bass have been the most active with an occasional steelhead or rainbow trout being reported.

Notice: The Salmon River Fish Hatchery building continues to be closed due to construction. The grounds, including picnic area and fish ladder, are still open dawn to dusk. We anticipate construction to be finished early summer. You can reach the hatchery at 315-298-5051, Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Oneida Lake Report:

Anglers have reported a decent walleye bite in both shallow and deep water. Round gobies are abundant in the lake which is making it more difficult to attract walleye. Trolling worm harnesses or using artificial lures rather than live bait may be successful. Anglers are also finding a good smallmouth bass bite.

Sandy Pond report:

The fishing continues to be very good on the pond with northern pike and walleye taking worm harnesses and stickbaits. The high water is still causing issues in the Sandy Pond area. The DEC boat launch is closed until further notice.

Wayne County Fishing Update

Chris Kenyon

Lake Ontario

The browns are still hugging the shoreline between Bear Creek and Port Bay. You’ll need to be on the water at 5 am to capture the first bite.

Look for dirty water and temp. breaks. The stained water will hold the fish. If you see a flock of gulls hovering a certain location, troll through that area.

Stickbaits with natural colors are working in 10 feet of water. Charters are using both boards and riggers. The sticks are set at 100 feet behind boards.

Some of the browns are running 10 pounds and all the fish have some of the best colors seen in years.

Later in the day you can slide-out to 150 feet of water with the same set-up. Or fish the bottom for lakers.

Because of the high-water situation, the speed on the bays is idle. It’s a Wayne County Emergency condition. There is no restriction on Lake Ontario.

Both the north and south DEC ramps at Port Bay are now closed. Again, the speed limit on all bays is idle.

Bays

The water levels in all the bays is extremely high. Unconfirmed reports say there should be a draw-down occurring this week. Fishing the bays is tough because of very few places to launch.

Check out the rest of the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops. waynecountytourism.com.

Erie Canal

Canal waters are high, however not as bad as Wayne County bays. You can launch your boat at Widewaters, west of Newark. The crappies are hitting and some walleye have come from the Palmyra section.

Orleans County

Orleans County Tourism
Rain off and on will not help the water level in Lake Ontario any time soon.

According to the Army Corps of Engineers the Lake Ontario water level is still more than 30 inches above normal for this time of year but the level is not expected to go any higher over the next week.

Does this mean that we may start seeing a drop in water levels in the very near future?

When boats get out on Lake Ontario good catches of both Chinook salmon and Lake trout are being reported out in 250 to 300 feet of water but watch out for those white sand bags that are floating out there in the trash line.

Just a reminder that the Orleans County Open Tournament will be held on June 10th and 11th this year with the Condor Derby taking place on June 9th.

This year there are two great ports to fish out of, Point Breeze and Bald Eagle Marina.

You really don’t want to miss out on this great event.

The water level on Lake Alice has started to drop and the water clarity is improving by the day.

White bass seems to be plentiful especially around the Kenyonville Bridge area.

Rock bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Yellow perch and bass are harder to come by but decent catches can be had if you’re willing to work for them.