Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario salmon action is continuing on a consistent clip to the delight of trollers at Wilson, Olcott and the Niagara Bar. Don’t take our word for it, though. Just ask Capt. Casey Prisco of Matamoras, Pennsylvania who was fishing in the Monroe County Offshore Classic last weekend out of Rochester. He ran his boat 153 miles round trip in the one-day contest, settling in off Wilson. The fish zone was 71 to 111 feet down over 130 to 180 feet of water with a Dreamweaver UV Frog spin doctor and an A-Tom-Mik twinkie set-up with A-Tom-Mik meat set out 205 feet on a diver. Another productive rod was a 10-inch white green dot Dreamweaver spin doctor with A-Tom-Mik meat set down 91 feet. He went 21 for 22 on fish for the morning before running back – catching nearly 84 pounds of fish for five fish. For local captains, the new A-Tom-Mik stud fly has also been a hot ticket for kings, too. Earlier this week, we had some fishing writers from Germany show up in town as part of an I Love NY familiarization tour. They did spend a few hours in the morning catching salmon and steelhead with Capt. Mike Johannes and On The Rocks charters out of Wilson before travelling to their next stop. The day before, they fished the Lower Niagara River for smallmouth bass with Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Region Charters, catching roughly 25 fish on spinnerbaits. The biggest was 6 pounds.
There are quite a few fishing contests in the month of July and two going on right now include the Lake Ontario Counties Summer Trout and Salmon Derby and the 27th Annual Erie Canal Fishing Derby. If you are going fishing on Lake Ontario, if even for a day, make sure you sign up. Day passes are available. Leading fish for the $10,000 Grand Prize is Lee Beaton of Clifton Springs with a 27 pound king caught out of Wilson. Darryl Raate of Fulton is leading the steelhead division with another Wilson fish – this one weighing 13 pounds. Top brown is 16 pounds, 2 ounces and the first place lake trout is 22 pounds, 10 ounces. The derby continues through July 30. Go to loc.org for details.
Meanwhile on the Erie Canal, the derby kicked off on Wednesday July 5 and will continue through July 16. There is a family pass for just $25 if you want to take advantage of a group entry fee. The leaderboard is wide open. Get out there and catch some fish. Find out information at eriecanalderby.com.
The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association is ready to have a party – a fishing party for its members. You can join for just $10 and become part of the festivities, set for July 21-22 out of Olcott. The first event on the fishing calendar is the Curt Meddaugh Memorial Tournament on Friday, a big fish contest that is free for club members. All you have to do is register! Big fish for the day must be weighed in by 3 p.m. at the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott. On Saturday, the LOTSA Club Tournament will be going on all day. This is a big fish contest as well and entry fee is $60. Weigh in at Krull Park by 3 p.m. to be included for the cash prizes. The final piece to the LOTSA fishing puzzle is the club’s 3-2-3 contest over the two days. Best 3 fish over 2 days of fishing, paying out the top 3 weights. Entry fee is $50 for this portion of the contest. The club picnic will be immediately following on Saturday and the awards will be handed out. You can find out more information and also register for these contests at lotsa1.org. And speaking of LOTSA, the next meeting is July 13 at Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara in Lockport and guest speaker will be Capt. Matt Yablonsky talking small boat kings at 7 p.m.
As we mentioned, bass fishing in the lower river has been decent and the moss really hasn’t been that bad. In the upper river, bass and walleye are still cooperating at the head of the river an around Strawberry Island. The best bait has been with a spinner and a worm. Remember that you can now venture into Canadian waters without calling in. Make sure you understand the live bait regulations and you are carrying a Canadian fishing license if you do cross the border.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
The heavier rain across the area late last week is still impacting the water flow in the river. This morning it is running at 12,900cfs. This makes most areas along the river difficult to fish. Fishing behind the hotels is suggested with anglers finding walleye, sheepshead and smallmouth bass.
Lake Ontario report:
According to Capt. Ed Monette of Cannonball Runner Charters:
The fishing in the area has been good. Paddles and meat from 140-350 feet of water are working well. The A-Tom-Mik cannonball rig and stark paddle white with green dots have been good. There is still a spoon bite too.
Pulaski Area and Salmon River report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
The salmon fishing in Lake Ontario is excellent right now. Look in 150-160 feet of water off Nile Mile Point and the western part of Mexico Bay. Spoons, flashers and flies, and cut bait rigs are all working well. The bass fishing in Mexico Bay has also been good in 10-20 feet of water using soft-shelled crabs and nightcrawlers.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
We have had a few nice days weather wise on the run. Monday the water flow was 335cfs with the water temperature reaching 72 degrees in the early afternoon. Two anglers started out fishing the lower end without any action. Moving to the middle section they ended up connecting with five smallmouth bass ranging from 12 to 17 inches swinging flies. The flow remains at 335cfs until 9:30 pm Friday at which point it will go to 750cfs through Sunday afternoon. The water temperature this morning was 64 degrees which is relatively cool for this time of year.
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 some bass along the shoreline and in deeper water around the shoals. Walleye are taking blade baits and trolling worm harnesses and perch can be found in deeper water using minnows.
According to Capt. Troy Creasy of High Adventure Sportfishing Charters:
Tuesday we began our day with an awesome sunrise and we picked away at the walleyes for most of the morning with lots of little ones and a few nice keepers. Mix in some perch and bluegills and a father and son spending time together and it was a good day.
Sandy Pond report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
Reports from the pond are about the same. 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.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The weather over the 4th couldn’t have been any better, but change is coming.
Rain is in the forecast for at least part of this weekend.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, the level of Lake Ontario is supposed to drop about 6″ over the next month which will help a lot of our facilities.
A quick look at the LOC leader board shows the big salmon at 27 pounds already and the board is filling up quickly.
Fishing along the coastline of Orleans County has been good to very good over the past week or so producing good mixed bags of fish.
Perch, bass and Northern pike are still being caught in the lower stretches of the “Oak”.
On Lake Alice, the one comment I got from one fishermen was “I didn’t know that there were that many jet skis in the world”.
Bass fishing in the upper stretches of Lake Alice is producing some very nice fish.
Returning again this year is the Drew’s Crew, Fishing for a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.
The derby will take place on July 15th this year and will follow the best 3 fish format that is so popular.
The entry fee is $50.00 cash with half going to the prize structure and half to Juvenile Diabetes research.
This year you will be able to fish out of either Point Breeze or Bald Eagle Marina but the weigh-in will take place at Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina.
You must be entered by 7 AM on the 15th and the weigh-In closes at 3PM so please don’t be late.
Why join us for a fun day of fishing while supporting this great cause.