Pictured above: Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
It’s been a roller coaster ride for sure from the fishing end of things due to the ups and downs associated with the weather.
Earlier in the week, record-breaking temperatures shot up to 66 degrees. It’s back down to the 30s but back up to the 50s by the weekend. Lower Niagara River action for trout had been good. The tributaries off Lake Ontario and Lake Erie opened back up again and anglers were catching trout consistently … before the rains came. All the tributaries were high and muddy but as of this morning both 12 Mile Creek in Wilson and Keg Creek were flowing nicely according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker in Olcott.
Over at Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek, water flow has already started to come down and there was about a foot visibility. There should be some fresh fish around. Ice fishing is questionable. Caution is advised any time you are heading out onto the hard water due to the wind and rain we received last go-round of warmth.
Getting back to the Niagara River, the water condition was affected by the dirty water coming out of the streams but there was no indication that fishing had stopped. Condition was stained from the power plants on down but was more manageable above the plants. Shore fishermen like Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls have been casting yellow jigs to take steelhead and brown trout. For boaters, use eggs or minnows when the wind isn’t out of the south or southwest. When it is, use a MagLip or a Kwikfish off a three-way rig. Conditions should be better by the weekend downriver of the power plants.
The WNY Boat Show is underway right now at the ADPRO Training Center located at One Bills Drive in Orchard Park. It’s a great way to dream about spring and also check out some of the boats that are available on the market now. After all, we are surrounded by water here in WNY. It continues through Sunday, Feb. 25.
If boating isn’t your thing, the next big indoor event on the outdoors is the WNY Sport and Travel Expo at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg March 8 to 11. There’s free parking and displays in four different buildings covering everything from fishing to hunting, tourism destinations to outdoor-related products. Check out eriepromotions.com for more information. If you want to learn about fly fishing in the Great Lakes streams, check out Alberto Rey at the Orvis Shop in Williamsville on Feb. 25 starting at noon. Call 276-7200 to reserve your spot.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
With the rain and snowmelt over the last few days, the water level has risen. It reached 18,000cfs mid-week but has dropped back to 15,400cfs as of this afternoon. This is very high and fishing along the river is very difficult under these conditions.
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 Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
With the combination of rain and melting snow from the warm weather, it’s no surprise the water level has increased (1,650cfs) and we are getting significant runoff. On Tuesday the few anglers we spoke with fished the upper end of the river between Altmar and Pineville. They reported visibility was off color from the runoff in the mid to lower end of the river but not an issue in Altmar. Bottom bouncing or float fishing with egg sacs and pink worms was most productive.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Anglers on Wednesday reported slightly stained water with moderate turbidity. A brown was caught in the middle section of the run and other anglers picked away at a few steelies. Overall, most anglers reported really having to work for the bite.
Oneida Lake Report:
The temperature was definitely warmer for a couple days this week. We are back in the 30s today with the next few days expected to be in the 40s. Ice thickness over the weekend was 10-15 inches in many areas and anglers are continuing to find decent ice. However, use caution especially near the shoreline, pressure cracks, running water and old holes. Jigging Rapalas was working for the walleye and the perch bite has been good at times using a variety of bait.
Sandy Pond report:
According to Woody’s Tackle:
Although we have had some warm temperatures this week, there is still 10 inches of ice in many areas of the pond. Temperatures have cooled off from the record-breaking temperature Wednesday and yesterday and will likely be in the 40s over the next few days. The edges are breaking up some so use caution along the shoreline, running water and pressure cracks. As always use caution and check the ice as you go. Anglers have found a decent perch bite although there are a number of small ones and some walleye and Northern pike.
Eastern Finger Lakes / Central New York Fishing Report
Mike Crawford of upstateguideservice.com
A February thaw is anticipated and welcomed by ice upstate New York ice anglers. A week of thaw with highs in the mid 60’ is not!
High air temperatures will shut down ice fishing on the Finger Lakes for likely the rest of the season. On Oneida Lake, Chaumont Bay and the North Country lakes and bays, the ice may survive. Thickness on the North shore of Oneida on 2/20 was 18 to 22 inches in most places with almost two foot of ice in others. Degrading shore ice will be an obstacle to getting out and will negate the use of machines to reach distant shoals.
Fishing on Oneida for many has been hit or miss the past week. Walleyes seem to be in transition and moving into spring mode. Good catches of perch are being found by roaming anglers in search of the vast schools.
A couple hot jigs are 5mm tungsten in chartreuse glow tipped with mousie grubs for perch and clown shad rap jigging rapalas tipped with the head of a buckeye minnow.
Late ice season is suddenly here and fishing (if ice holds on) will get better and better!
Stay on top!
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Stream fishing was great this past weekend with steelies coming from Maxwell Creek. Rainfall won’t be as bad as predicted, however the streams will be flowing.
The best place for Maxwell might be the northern section where the current is slower. There is plenty of parking on both sides of Lake Road. Egg sacs are the best presentation for the steelhead.
Bays
Sodus Bay has 8 to 10 inches of ice, however temps in the 60’s plus rain will eat away solid ice. Stay away from the creeks and don’t even try to fish near open water near the loop. The south end is still safe…but again… that can change quickly.
If you are not confident about where you haul your shanty, don’t fish. Breaking through ice can be a major problem and often fatal for ice anglers.
Where the ice is solid, the perch fishing continues to be excellent with catches of over a pound coming through the holes.
Use Swedish Pimples and larger jigs tipped with eyes and spikes.
Port Bay has the same situation. Rain and temps in the 60’s will melt ice quickly. Make sure you spud your way if not sure on thickness.
Remember, as ice anglers you are visiting the bays, so don’t trespass on land where you don’t have permission to park. And don’t leave stuff on the ice, like propane tanks. Make sure you respect where you are because the hospitality given to ice anglers can end quickly.
Wayne County has an ice fishing guide which gives you the basics of fishing on our bays. Contact the tourism office if you wish the brochure.
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 and Ron Bierstine at Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge
Flows go up, flows go down, flows go back up… Thanks to rain yesterday with unseasonable warm temps, all the tributary flows are high and dirty and headed shortly probably to blown and dirty. Thanks to last week ending with a couple days of cold temps, flows had actually retreated quicker then anticipated and offered a decent fishable window thru the past weekend on falling and clearing flows. There were some on and off steelhead action and anglers had hook-ups on the smaller tributaries too.
The forecast is for warm temps thru the mid week and another chance for precipitation today. After this week, all the tributary courses’ ice should be moved out and probably the ice cover on Lake Alice (aka Waterport Pond). Look for rising tributary water temperatures now, at least in the short term and, if any seasonal cool weather doesn’t return.
Flows in the Oak are nearly blown and stained with probably a foot or so of visibility. There are lots of turbine and overflow water and overflow levels may increase and water color will get dirtier. There are still guys on the waterway today with unknown success. The other area smaller tributaries are blown and dirty. Look for those smaller waterways to be on the mend toward some state of reasonable fishing by the end of the week. Dirty and high water color is likely to hang in for a bit on the Oak with no great cool down in sight and lots of upstream supply. Some steelhead should be well distributed on the backside of some of the highest flows we’ve had in a while.