Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario
The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association held its annual club tournament(s) last weekend and some impressive fish were caught. At the top of the list is the current leader in the Lake Ontario Counties trout and salmon derby, a 32 pound, 4 ounce king caught by Sandra Brown of Clearfield, Pennsylvania. She was fishing on the Niagara Bar with her husband Ed and Joe Yaeger of Amherst. The fish came on a Dreamweaver Spin Doctor and Mirage A-Tom-Mik fly, 60 feet down over 160 feet of water a mile east of the red can. For the LOTSA Curt Meddaugh Memorial Tournament, it was the best three fish for Friday. The Streaker team, consisting of Matt Dunn of Newfane with his dad Marc (also of Newfane), Doug Parker of Lockport and Doug Parker II of Wilson (another father-son duo), won the event. Their three fish total for the day was 66.48-pounds, narrowly defeating 4 Poles led by Marty Polovick of Lockport. Yaeger’s Salmonella team finished in fourth despite having the 32-pound kicker. However, there was another aspect to the two day LOTSA contests. A 3-2-3 contest (best 3 fish over 2 days with 3 winners) was in place, and Yaeger’s Salmonella crew won the top prize with a total of 72.46-pounds. Second place was Matt Dunn’s Streaker team with 70.99-pounds. The Saturday club contest was for big fish and Capt. Adam Gearich and the Diversion II team led the way when Tim Bromund of Colden reeled in a 26-pound, 4-ounce king in 100 feet of water between Wilson and Olcott. LOTSA details can be found at lotsa1.org. Check out the LOC Derby leaderboard at loc.org. The Summer Derby ends on Sunday at 1 p.m. The awards ceremony is a Capt. Jack’s in Sodus Point at 4 p.m.
Lower Niagara River
Fishing action has been consistent. A few more walleye are starting to show up and smallmouth bass fishing continues to be good. Live bait like crayfish and shiners are working for bass; worm harnesses for walleye. Yesterday it was a rowdy crew from Texas fishing with Capt. Joe Marra of Lewiston and the highlight of the trip was a 6 pound smallmouth reeled in by Evan Scanlon – a personal best, caught along the Coast Guard Station.
Upper Niagara River
Upper Niagara River action has leveled off but some bass and walleye are still showing up consistently. The big news this past week was Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island guiding Sawyer Dolce of Orchard Park. Fishing the humps around Strawberry Island, Dolce was drifting a crayfish when a nice bass hit. Affixed to the back of the fish was another tag from the Canadian Tire bass tournament from two years ago. Cinelli had caught two previously in the lower Niagara River. This is his first in the upper river, where the tagged fish were released.
It was a packed house at the Gasport Fire Hall last Sunday for the final grand prize drawing in the 27th annual Erie Canal Fishing Derby. All the first place winners were put into a hat in one of the final orders of business. Lynn Harrington reached into the hat and pulled out an Ace of Clubs – and that corresponded with a card being held by 13 year old Keegan Walczak of Amherst. He won a new boat, motor and trailer from Brobeil Marine in Buffalo, a new Polar Kraft. He ended up giving a high-five immediately to his dad Chris, who was also standing up front as one of the divisional winners. In the youth division, James Benzinger won the new fishing kayak in the grand prize drawing for the kids. He is from North Carolina and comes up every year to fish with his grandparents in the derby. For a complete list of all of the winners go to eriecanalderby.com.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
With the rain the area has received over the last week, the water flow has been running around 10,000cfs. This morning it is flowing at 9,190cfs. This makes most areas along the river difficult to fish. Anglers are fishing along the river walks, east and west, for walleye, sheepshead and smallmouth bass. Just a note that this weekend is Harborfest in the City of Oswego so expect more boat traffic in the river as well as pedestrian traffic along the walkways.
Lake Ontario report:
The salmon fishing is excellent on Lake Ontario. Anglers are finding a very active bite in 150+ feet of water with cut bait, spoons, and flies and flashers working well. Smallmouth bass are taking crabs and tube jigs in 10-20 feet of water.
Pulaski Area and Salmon River report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The salmon fishing continues to be really, really good. Anglers are finding them in 150 feet of water and deeper. Spoons, flashers and flies and cut bait are all getting their attention. There is a perch bite along the shore in Mexico Bay and anglers are finding bass in 20 feet of water in the same location with soft-shelled crabs and nightcrawlers.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
As we alluded last week, it sure seemed as though the stars were beginning to align here on the Salmon River for some summer run Atlantic salmon or steelhead. A cool down in temperatures along with high flows for a prolonged period would draw them in. We then reached the summer base flow of 185cfs and sure enough our guests were rewarded with a number of fall fish, a few smallmouth bass from 8-15 inches and one 21 inch silver bullet.
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:
Fishing is getting tougher on Oneida Lake with the heavy algae bloom. Anglers are finding a few bass and perch along the weed beds using worm harnesses and spinners.
Sandy Pond report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
Conditions have really not changed on the pond. Access is still a bit difficult but can be done at various marinas around the pond. Persistent anglers will likely find some Northern pike, walleye and bass. The DEC boat launch remains closed.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The king bite has been from 200 to 500 feet of water with riggers, dipsys and copper all taking turns with the fish.
Flasher flies are working; however, the spoons appear to be doing better. The word from the charter captains from Sodus is try purple/green Stingers or NK’s.
There has been lots of immatures however some nice 20 pounds have been netted. Steelhead are also being caught down 50 over 250 fow.
The north wind today (July 25) will probably change the bite tomorrow. Look for the marks and don’t always think of deep water. Some kings have been caught in 100 feet.
Bays
Plenty of rain over the last several days will certainly keep the water level on in all the bays. The north end launching site is open at Port Bay. There have been smallmouths caught in the channel.
Sodus Bay fishing has been great, especially for largemouth bass. Fish the weedlines anywhere in the bay.
Perch are being caught near the buoys at Sodus Bay. You can also catch them on the south-east side of the channel entrance.
Try fishing off the pier heads. Cast out in the channel for panfish, pike or sometimes you might hook some brown trout.
The no wake conditions remain on all Wayne County bays, so that will make getting to your preferred location very difficult.
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
Bass fishing has been excellent in the canal waters and anglers are still catching crappies near Port Gibson. If you like fishing for carp try near the locks in Lyons. Cat fish are also in the deep holes, out of the current.