Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Recent rains earlier in the week triggered a big slug of salmon and trout into many of the Lake Ontario tributaries like 18 Mile Creek in Newfane. While the water is a bit high from all the rain, conditions should be good in a day or two. There’s plenty of fish in the system for anglers to catch. Scott Scheffler, Marina Director for the Town of Newfane and heading up Fisherman’s Park at Burt Dam, also noted that they have been using a Ranger ATV to haul people to and from the fishing areas, a benefit for those fishermen who could use a little helping hand for access. Fresh fish can be found in all of the deeper holes further down towards the harbor and fish are still being caught off the piers and in the lake according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker. At least when there isn’t northeast or northwest wind chasing anglers off the piers. Casting spoons, spinners or stickbaits are all good approaches off the piers or from anchored boats. Another popular method is to use treated egg skein under a float. You can anchor or drift. Over in Wilson, Terry Swann of Wilson sends word they are picking up some perch off the piers, as well as some nice trout. Use spinners and spoons for trout; live bait for the perch.
Lower Niagara River
The lower river salmon action has been continuing on a consistent clip to the delight of boat fishermen and shoreline anglers. Casting glow in the dark spinners and Little Gem spoons under low light conditions work best. Rat-L-Traps can also produce salmon, but some brown trout started showing up in the gorge this past week according to Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls and they hit the rattlebaits and spinners. One angler, who preferred to remain nameless (because he called in sick) was 10 for 16 on salmon (9 kings and a coho) while fishing with his father in the gorge. Treated egg skein fished under a float did the trick. That was from shore! Sounds like some more fresh fish hit the river. The fishing platform has not been as productive as years past for some reason. Fish are available there. It won’t be long before lake trout start showing up to spawn. Remember that the season is closed now until the end of the year.
Upper Niagara River
In the upper Niagara River, bass and walleye are still available. For musky, water temperatures are still in issue as Lake Erie is still 67 degrees, the warmest it’s ever been for this time of year. A lot of work has been accomplished on the 2018 version of the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls. Dates will be Jan. 19-21. Mark your calendar. Check the website out at niagarafishingexpo.com.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Lake Ontario Report
The lake fishing is winding down for the season. The same baits are continuing to work well in more shallow water – flies and flashers, spoons, cut bait and j-plugs – for those interested in a last lake trip.
Oswego River Report
With the rain we have had this week the river flow is up to 8,330cfs this morning. The flow dropped quickly yesterday but just as rapidly spiked to over 8,000cfs by this morning. Anglers are using stickbaits, smack beads, egg sacs and skein under a float from the walkway as this flow limits some of the areas that would be accessible.
Notice: The bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. For more information, visit our website at www.visitoswegocounty.com and click on the Fishing Report along the top bar on the home page.
Pulaski Area and Salmon River report:
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Yesterday morning the River Patrol reported the upper section most active with fish moving through and steelhead being caught. The middle section was a bit slower and the lower section quiet. Later in the day the top section was still seeing a lot of fish and the lower part of the middle section saw kings, steelhead, and one nice 30 inch brown trout brought to hand. The weather has turned noticeably cooler with some rain but that didn’t have the positive effect we were hoping for. The upper section of the run continues to provide the most consistent action. Water level remains at 335cfs from the reservoir and is currently 482 at Pineville.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
Over the weekend we had nice weather and anglers did well throughout the river. Fish are spread out from top to bottom and anglers in the Upper and Lower Fly Zones have been getting into a mix of kings and cohos with pale colored egg patterns. Black egg sucking leeches with a pink or chartreuse head as well as brown or olive woolly buggers have also been producing steady results. Active areas have been the Ballpark, Town Pool, Longbridge/Staircase and the Black Hole. Anglers have reported that the salmon are spawning in the gravel areas of the mid to upper section of the river. Just a reminder that if you’re in town this week, the hatchery will begin collecting salmon eggs today.
Oneida Lake Report:
Cooler temperatures were needed to see some good fall walleye fishing and they have arrived. Casting stickbaits from shore just before and after dark is a good application at this time of year. Look for perch in about 10-15 feet of water using minnows. Surface activity may indicate smallmouth bass that are feeding on gizzard shad.
Sandy Pond report:
Weed growth is making conditions difficult which is typical for this time of year. A few anglers are using weedless baits for bass.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
While fishing Port Bay for perch and crappies last week, the salmon were rolling around everywhere. This is a great time to fish the pier heads at Port and Sodus Bays.
Yesterday’s rain has created a surge of salmon for the autumn run.
There are a few charters fishing in 400 feet of water, looking for young kings and steelhead. They are using spoons off the riggers.
Little Cleo’s and Kastmasters are great spoons for casting in the Sodus Bay channel waters.
The rainfall, which was three inches in some places, has created a decent flow in the streams. Anglers were catching kings in Salmon Creek in Pultneyville and there is probably a decent run at Maxwell. No reports from Maxwell, however the rainfall should make Maxwell come alive.
Bays
The perch fishing in Port and Sodus Bays has slowed considerably. They must be moving around because it has been a fantastic autumn for perch and crappies.
Fish the drop-offs with artificial minnows. Use the two-inch variety with a sinker tied five inches below.
There is a great population of crappies in Port Bay, however they are small, not nine inches which is the size limit.
Don’t forget you need to wear a PFD the end of this month.
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 hitting at Widewaters and near Lyons, next to the locks. There are pull-off places to fish along Route 31 if you don’t have a boat.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
This is the time of year that the crispness in the air and the changing of the leaves begs us to get outside and enjoy the wonders that Mother Nature is providing us with.
With the amount of rain we have received over the past several days, flows on all of the tributaries within Orleans County are at a slightly high level and slightly stained water clarity.
Salmon are being reported in all our tributaries and the water flows are keeping them on the move and spread out and brown trout are starting to enter the tributaries.
When the weather cooperates, fish are still being taken in Lake Ontario especially in those close to shore waters.
On the lower stretches of the “Oak” perch are starting to show up in some decent numbers from the County Marine Park to the bridges area.
The upper stretches of Lake Alice are still producing some nice bass, mostly smallmouth, but Bluegill and Crappie fishing has dropped off a bit.
The Archers Club Catch and Release Fly Fishing Derby will be held on October 18th, 19th and 20th this year which is always a great event.
Tomorrow will be the last day of operation for the Erie Canal System but will not signal the beginning of the dewatering procedure.
There is work to be done on the canal so water will remain in the system for awhile yet.