Pictured above: Buffy Frank caught this colorful brown in the Greater Niagara Region this week.
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
A good old-fashioned snow storm hit Western New York this week. In fact, it’s still going on south of Buffalo. So far, it hasn’t touched Niagara Falls USA with snow … but it did impact water conditions in the Niagara River. Rain and high winds hit first, creating a muddy mess in the Niagara River that was quite severe. Just prior to the change, though, the Niagara River was on fire with a focus on steelhead but offering anglers a mixed bag of fish all the way around – from Devil’s Hole to the Niagara Bar. Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Region Charter Service was using MagLip plugs in 3.0 size to take steelhead, brown trout, lake trout, Atlantic salmon, walleye and Coho salmon just prior to the storm. The plugs were fished off three-way rigs. Along Artpark and in Devil’s Hole, boat drifters were also using egg sacs and beads to take trout. Shore fishermen have been picking up trout, too, but it had slowed a bit. With the storm still going on, we don’t know if anyone will be able to fish by the weekend. We may see some of the white stuff by then, too. Water temperatures were still in the low 40’s. In the John Henning Memorial Musky Tournament, Frank Alcorn of Pennsylvania won the Niagara Musky event last Sunday with a fat 47-inch muskellunge trolling with a Legend perchbait. Also just prior to the storm, Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls used egg sacs and spinners to take some small trout in the smooth water before the upper rapids area just before the water plummets over the falls. Remember that lake trout season is closed in the lower river and bass season is now catch and release only all around the state (except Lake Erie).
In the tributaries off Lake Ontario, water continues to be stained but fishable. Some nice steelhead and browns have been caught on egg sacs or egg imitations, jigs tipped with wax worms and fished under a float, beads fished under a float and a variety of flies and streamers. Burt Dam and Fisherman’s Park has fish in it and is probably the most consistent producer. With this being the end of the year, there are a few Christmas parties going on you should be aware of. The Niagara River Anglers Association will be holding it’s Christmas meeting on Monday, Dec. 11 at the Sanborn Farm Museum on Route 31 starting at 6:30 p.m. and the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Assn. has their Christmas meeting Dec. 14 at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Lockport starting at 7 p.m. with the Niagara County Fisheries Board. Also, the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs will have its year-end holiday gathering at the Hartland Conservationists Club located on Orangeport Road in Gasport starting at 7 p.m.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
The river flow has been running between 4,000-7,000cfs for a few days. This morning it is flowing at 5,630 cfs. This level makes more areas along the river accessible. The river walks and behind the hotels are suggested areas to try. Driftboats have been active in the river with anglers finding good action with steelhead and rainbows but brown trout seem to be rather scarce. A cold front passed through yesterday bringing colder temperatures and some snow showers.
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.
Salmon River Report:
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Yesterday the river flow was 500cfs and the water temperature 38 degrees. Just before noon a group of four anglers reported hooking up with 10 steelhead center pinning egg sacs in the lower section. Early afternoon an angler reported three (22-29’) steelhead brought to hand in the lower section swinging flies. Mid afternoon another four steelhead reported from the middle section by floating “pale” egg sacs and swinging a pink woolly bugger. A few other fish were reportedly taken on beads and egg sacs.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
On Tuesday the anglers we spoke with who did well reported that the afternoon was better for them. There is not much change with the water level. We did get some runoff from the recent rain but overall the river is still in good shape. In the upper and lower end of the river anglers who were float fishing or bottom bouncing had the most success with pink and blue egg sacs or beads. For those who were fly fishing, egg patterns, nymphs and small streamers have all produced results.
According to Capt. Troy Creasy of High Adventure Sportfishing Charters:
Steelhead fishing on the Salmon River remains pretty good. The river is still unbelievably crowded for this time of year but if you move around and pick your spots carefully you can get into some decent fish. Beads under floats and egg sacs in blue and white have been taking most of our fish.
Oneida Lake Report:
The wind has been an issue for anglers at times over the last few days. When conditions allowed, anglers are finding some walleye action casting stickbaits from shore just before and after dark. On calm days, daytime anglers are finding walleye in 10-15 feet of water using stickbaits. Smallmouth bass can be found in 10-20 feet of water.
Sandy Pond report:
There is very little activity to report at this time. We will update the report as the weather changes and temperatures get cold enough for ice formation.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Bays
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
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
Well it looks like the vacation from winter like weather may be over with rain and snow in the forecast over the next week or two.
With the on and off rain today, tributary levels and clarity of the tributaries within Orleans County should remain at slightly high to high levels and visibility should stay at around 2 feet.
Decent catches of both brown trout and steelhead/rainbow trout are being reported along with an occasional late run salmon thrown into the mix.
Fly patterns remain with stone flies in black, brown or green, Woolie buggers. egg sucking leeches and egg pattern flies.
Live baits being mentioned are wax worms, spikes and good old night crawlers.
Things seem to be quiet on the lower stretches of the “Oak” but on Lake Alice catches of most of the species are being reported.
The Erie Canal is still partially watered while crews work on some areas that could be a problem if not attended to.