Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Fishing is great in Lake Ontario and the Niagara River as National Fishing and Boating Week approaches June 3 to 11! Despite record high water levels in the lake, salmon and trout fishing continue to be good in the lake. Some good fishing was being reported over the holiday weekend from John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda while fishing out of Wilson and Olcott. Best depths were 60 to 100 feet down over 200 to 300 feet of water with spoons and flasher-fly combos. Salmon up to 23 pounds were reported the past week. The last day of the month, Capt. Bob Stevens of Sunrise Charters sends word that he did well on salmon west of Wilson in 150 to 170 feet of water so spring action is continuing. East winds have helped to keep salmon boxed in off the shores of Niagara USA.
Lower Niagara River
The lower section below Niagara Falls is still holding some trout like lakers and steelhead. Kwikfish lures worked for Capt. Arnie Jonathan of Lockport last weekend. They boated walleye, bass, suckers and silver bass. One sucker was a potential state record had they known. Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Falls had a few banner days on smallmouth bass casting the shoreline with stickbaits and jerk baits. MagLips were working for trout, fished off three-way rigs. The silver bass action continues to be very good for drifters and shoreline casters. From shore, try tossing jigs or spinners.
Upper Niagara River
Upper Niagara River bass fishing continues to be good. Remember that the regular season doesn’t open until the third Saturday in June (June 17 this year) and if you are targeting bass, you must use artificial baits. Some walleye are being caught at the head of the river and at the head of Strawberry Island on worm harnesses and jigs. Capt. Ryan Shea of Tonawanda also likes to target large carp this time of year on some of the flats, using crayfish imitation flies. Seek out the flats where these fish will be spawning. They can be a lot of fun!
As we mentioned, National Fishing and Boating week is June 3 through 11. To help celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is hosting its 26th Annual Youth Fishing Derby, on Saturday, June 3. The event will be held at Ringneck Overlook, on Oak Orchard Ridge Road. On-site registration begins at 7:30 am. There is no pre-registration or reservations required. Fishing is from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. The event is free and open to youths 17 years old and under, with no experience necessary. If this is your first time, some fishing gear will be available to borrow. Certificates will be awarded for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place participants in three age categories: 7 years and under, 8-12 and 13-17 years. For the boating end of things, there will be a vessel examination on June 3 by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at the Lewiston Landing boat launch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Tom Chiappone for more information at 772-7242. 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 600 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 there, too). It’s worth the effort for the good fishing!!
Central New York And Eastern Finger Lakes
Mike Crawford of upstateguideservice.com
A series of thunderstorms have been rolling through the region for the last week. Lake and area creek levels continue to be high. Severe downpours have again made boating hazardous on area waterways and caution should be used when navigating.
Strong winds on the big lakes made fishing tricky on Memorial Day.
With June upon us I am transitioning from the lakes to the streams to enjoy the best fly fishing of the year. Not everywhere around Upstate New York is getting the heavy precipitation. Do some homework and call bait and tackle shops in adjacent areas to find rivers and streams with modest or normal flows and the hatches should be occurring on schedule.
While May is perp the best fishing month of the year, June is a very close second. The panfishing is very good on the Finger Lakes now and the trout fishing for fly casters and light-tackle anglers will remain good through the month.
My professional guide service brings me to waters all over Upstate New York. Over the holiday weekend I enjoyed hunting big lake trout in the Adirondacks. Please check out my blog to learn more about these strong fighting fish.
Walleye fishing on Oneida Lake is reported to be excellent and awful…depending on who you talk to. Anglers fishing during evening hours from shore are having consistent luck.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
After being down just under 10,000cfs at times this weekend, the recent rain has increased the flow to 14,300cfs this morning. This makes most areas along the river unfishable. Behind the hotels is a suggested area for smallmouth bass, walleye and sheepshead.
Lake Ontario report:
Reports indicate the fishing was a bit tougher over the weekend. Anglers are finding brown trout in 10-25 feet of water with stickbaits or spoons. Head out to deeper water, 80-250 feet, for salmon. Anglers are also finding a few lakers in the mix in the deeper depths.
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 Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The brown trout fishing continues to be very good in 20-40 feet of water from Oswego to Mexico Bay. Anglers are also finding some kings in deeper water from 80 feet out to 300 feet of water. Spoons have been the bait of choice.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Thunderstorms off and on have kept activity on the run a bit quieter this week. Two anglers fished in the afternoon on Monday in the middle section and caught both a nice smallmouth bass and a large needle nosed gar. A slight chance of a shower tomorrow with the pick day of the weekend being Saturday as rain is expected to move in again on Sunday.
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 are finding a decent walleye bite on trolling worm harnesses or artificial lures. Anglers are finding a good yellow perch bite using minnows.
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
Took this fishing report from LOU, a great site for what’s going on around Lake Ontario and tribs. The “Right Tackle” boat fishes out of Sodus Bay.
“Started setting up at 10:00 in 100 fow, headed west till all the lines were in then went north. Picked up a 10 lb. King on a 4 color leadcore with a glow frog spoon shortly after getting setup. Another 10 lb. King on 30 ft. rigger in 120 fow on a greasy chicken wing 20 ft. back. Last fish was a 17 lb. laker on green flasher/ mirage fly on the bottom in 140 fow 14 ft. behind the ball. Stayed between 100-160 fow with best screens 120-140. Caught the 3 fish between 10:00 and noon, off the water at 2:00. Heard a lot of reports of lake trout catches.”
Bays
A few boats could launch at Margaretta Road in Sodus Point. They have been fishing near Newark and Eagle Island on the east side of Sodus. Some 10-inch perch were caught along with decent size pike. The perch will head-out into Lake Ontario as soon as the water warms.
Anglers were catching crappies off the Bay Bridge, the south end of Sodus. No reports from the other bays as the high water has prevented the launching of boats. It was a very difficult Memorial Day weekend for anglers.
Because of the high-water situation, the speed on the bays is still 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 still closed. Again, the speed limit on all bays is idle.
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
There were boats in canal waters near Widewaters on Sunday. The catch would be panfish, however when bass season opens in three weeks, the canal is known to produce some hefty largemouth bass.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The up and down temperatures should continue at least through the middle of June according to the weather forecasters.
The water levels on Lake Ontario are not expected to start dropping until the end of June at the earliest.
Now that we have that out of the way, the good news is that Lake Ontario is open for the business of fishing and the signs are right for another great season.
Indications from the early trawls seem to show plenty of bait and the mild winter has contributed to that plus a longer season for growth of our sportfish.
Our marinas are hard at work raising their docks to combat the higher water levels.
Captains Cove has their new office and tackle shop open at the top of the hill and Bald Eagle has operations in full swing.
The cooler temperatures and some East/Northeast winds have slowed the eastern progression of Chinook salmon just a bit, but that means that they will be bigger by the time they move this far East.
On Lake Alice catches of both Bluegill and Crappie are being taken as well as bass but please remember that bass are catch and release until the 3rd Saturday in June.
Information on the fishing in Lake Ontario out of Orleans County is slowing a bit due to the Condor Derby on the 9th of June and then the Orleans County Open Tournament on the 10th and 11th this year.
By the way this year you can fish this great tournament out of either Point Breeze or Bald Eagle Marina.
Lastly, please be mindful of the high-water conditions and slow to idle speed when entering and exiting our harbors and when close to our shoreline.