Pictured above: The newly wed Kimballs enjoying their honeymoon catching big fish together
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario
The king salmon fishing in Lake Ontario is one of the hottest bites going, especially in the waters off Niagara County! “Salmon fishing has been on fire at the Niagara Bar in 120 to 180 feet of water,” says Jake Joseph of Jiggin’ Jake’s Charters. “The fish zone has been 60 to 80 feet down. Dipsy divers are out 180 to 240 feet with flasher fly combos; riggers down 65 to 85 with flasher and cut bait combos. Best colors have been mostly pearls and greens. Smaller fish have been coming on spoons and some steelies have been mixed in, being taken on sliders and king lines. Wilson and Olcott are also offering up some great catches, too. Just take a look at the Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby leaderboard at loc.org. John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda reeled in a 27-pound, 9-ounce salmon off of Wilson last Sunday (but launching at Olcott) and his fish would beat out Lee Beaton’s Grand Prize leading king, a 27 pounder, also caught out of Wilson back on July 1. Van Hoff caught his king on a Northern King spoon over 450 feet of water. Van Hoff’s Grand Prize lead would be short-lived as two more fish would come to the scales that Sunday that would tip the scales even more – a 29-pound, 8-ounce king hauled in by Ed Klejdys of North Tonawanda while fishing on the Niagara Bar and a 30-pound, 13-ounce Chinook that was reeled in by Richard Peaslee of Lowman while fishing out of Fair Haven. If the last name of Klejdys sounds familiar, his son Steve is the current leader in the Lake Trout Division with a 23-pound, 13-ounce Niagara Bar laker. On Monday of this week, a new rainbow leader came out of Olcott, knocking out the leading Wilson fish – a huge 17-pound, 4-ounce steelhead that was caught by Adam Robinson of Portland, Oregon while fishing with Capt. Vince Pierleoni and Thrillseeker II.He caught it on a Dreamweaver spoon in charteuse signature series. Tuesday brought us a new Grand Prize leader out of Point Breeze, a 31 pound, 10 ounce king reeled in by Kristin Wilson of Rockstream, NY. We have until July 30 to post up some bigger fish and that will probably happen if the weather continues to cooperate.
Lower Niagara River
Joseph also reports that “walleye are starting to show up in Lower Niagara River and the green can at the mouth. You just have to work for them. Worm harnesses on the bottom with three-way rigs. Bass fishing is good as always!” Bass can be caught from Devil’s Hole to the mouth of the river on a variety of baits like minnows, crayfish, worm harnesses, spinnerbaits, tubes and drop shot rigs. Shorefishermen have been struggling in the gorge because the shoreline access has been limited due to the high water levels. In addition, the Devil’s Hole stairs are closed until next spring. There are still plenty of other access points to use, but that one is being reconstructed.
Upper Niagara River action continues to be good for both bass and walleye with an occasional musky showing up.
The 27th Annual Erie Canal Fishing Derby ended last Sunday and the first place winners are waiting for the awards ceremony to take place July 23 at the Gasport Fire Hall starting at 3 p.m. All the first place winners – both for the adults and for the kids – will be in two separate drawings for the Grand Prize. For the adults, a boat, motor and trailer; for the kids a kayak. Some great fish came to the scales during the 12-day event. Top bass was a 4.94-pound largemouth reeled in by Chris Walczak of Amherst. His son, Keegan, checked in with a 9.65-pound northern pike to take that division. Albert Whaley of Tonawanda was the winner in the walleye category with a 5.19-pound fish. Big bullhead was a 2.25-pound fish reeled in by Anthony Moule of Lyndonville. Top catfish was a 14 pounder weighed in by Charles Rizzo of North Tonawanda. First place carp was a 28.02 pound fish out-muscled by Mike Boncore of Buffalo. Sheepshead winner was Todd Wells of Medina with an 11.39-pound fish. Yes, the Erie Canal has some impressive fish swimming around in it. Another great job by Steve and Lynn Harrington of Gasport.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
After being as high as 15,000cfs over the last few days, the water flow is running at 10,100cfs this afternoon. This higher water makes it difficult to fish along much of the river. Anglers are fishing along the river walks, east and west, for walleye, sheepshead and smallmouth bass.
Lake Ontario report:
The salmon fishing continues to be very good. Anglers are finding an active bite in 150 to 200+ feet of water. Spoons and flasher and flies along with cut-bait are working well. Closer to shore, brown trout are still taking spoons in lemon lime and grog patterns getting their attention. Smallmouth bass are active in 10-20 feet of water with crayfish and tube jigs getting the job done.
Pulaski Area and Salmon River report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The fishing on Lake Ontario continues to be very good. Anglers have been targeting 150-180 feet of water for salmon. Spoons, flashers and flies, and cut bait are suggested baits. Bass fishing also continues in Mexico Bay in 10-20 feet of water with soft-shelled crabs and nightcrawlers working well.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Yesterday was a beautiful July day here in Oswego County. The flows are up running at 1200 cfs at the dam and 1510cfs at Pineville. The run was quiet yesterday but we suspect that as flows recede a few Atlantic salmon and Skamania steelhead may reveal themselves somewhere in the river.
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. You can reach the hatchery at 315-298-5051, Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
Oneida Lake Report:
Anglers are reporting more action this year on Oneida Lake than was taking place last year at this time. Walleye are being taken in 24-30 feet of water with jigs including the Rapala tipped with nightcrawlers a suggested application. Anglers are finding a few perch and bluegills in the mix.
Sandy Pond report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
Conditions remain about the same on Sandy Pond. Access is a bit difficult in some areas but can be done at various marinas around the pond. Those anglers that are out are finding some Northern pike, walleye and bass. The DEC boat launch remains closed.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Here’s the scoop from last week’s Sodus Pro-Am.
“During our pre-fishing, we found salmon out deep in 400 feet of water,” said Captain Tom Burke, from the Cold Steel Team, during the awards ceremony held Sunday afternoon at Marlins Restaurant in Sodus Point.
“We were straight-out from Sodus Bay and we boxed-out on day one,” Burke said. “All the fish were salmon and we were in second place with a score of 262.90.” Scores in the Sodus Pro-Am Tournament are ten points per fish and ten points per pound.
“On day two we worked the same depth,” Burke said. “We found the fish between 80 and 120 feet down over 400 feet of water. They were hitting cut bait, flasher flies and some spoons. Most of the fish were caught with Pro Troll E Chips and A-Tom-Mik twinky rig set-ups.”
The Cold Steel Team scored 246.00 on Sunday giving the team a score of 508.90, a very impressive score for any Pro-Am series.
Second place in the Pro Division went to Finders Keepers another Pro boat that fish’s tournament competition. Captain Tim Thomas and team tallied 469.50 proving once again how close the competition is for Lake Ontario fishing.
In the Amateur Davison Team Jolley Roger took the honors with a two-day score of 317.35. The Rochester team kept their 27-foot Tiara Pursuit in 105 feet of water. “We came to Sodus on Wednesday and fished the 105-foot depth every day,” said Roger Hollis. “We were 2.5 miles straight out from Sodus Bay and we stayed on it for four straight days.”
Hollis said the bite hit cut bait and spoons. “We were running copper back 400 feet and our riggers were back 60 to 80 feet,” Hollis said.
Bays
Bass and pike fishing has been excellent on Sodus Bay. Troll near the islands on the east side of bay. Spinner baits for the pike and top-water bait for the bass.
They are also still catching panfish off Bay Bridge. Crappies are hitting and some largemouths are in the thick weeds.
The no wake conditions remain on all Wayne County bays, so that will make getting to your preferred location very difficult.
Hughes Marina has a launch site, so you can head east on the lake and gain entrance to Sodus Bay or launch at Bay Bridge or Margaretta Road.
It sounds like a broken record however, the speed on the bays is still idle. It’s a Wayne County Emergency condition. There is no restriction on Lake Ontario.
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
Largemouth bass are being targeted during bass tournaments held at Widewaters. These are small private contests; however, they are a lot of fun. The Widewaters is the widest section of the canal and the most fishable waters between the locks.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
Rain is in the forecast off and on through the end of next week but it sounds like more of a quick shower or two than the downpours we have been experiencing lately.
Good news is that temperatures are more summer like over the next week or so.
Lake Ontario water levels are dropping and hopefully this trend will continue.
Some really good news is that the launch ramps on the west side of Oak Orchard River has re-opened for use and this should take some of the pressure off the east side launch rams and the parking lot.
Another great piece of news is that a 31-pound 10-ounce salmon was weighed in yesterday at Narby’s yesterday and is now the Grand Prize leader.
The leaderboard for the LOC Summer Derby is starting to look like the old days as far as weights go.
On Lake Ontario off Orleans County fishing has gone from good to exceptional over the last week.
Fishing in the 100 to 250 feet of water range is where most of the action is taking place and riggers, copper rigs and lead lines set from 65 to 90 feet down are seeing most of the action.
Spoons are back in the mix of lures used but the meat rigs and flasher/fly combinations are still seeing most of the action.
The derby runs through the end of this month so there’s still time to enter and get in on some of the great cash prizes that are up for grabs.
On the lower stretches of the “Oak”, Lake Alice and the Erie Canal, conditions are return to more summer like conditions and catches.
Bass are still the main catch but you never know what that next cast may bring.
The Erie Canal Fishing Derby ended This past Sunday with some great catches showing up on the leader board.