Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
August is a crazy time of year for fishing because of the number of fishing contests, and because the fishing is usually so darn good. Salmon are reaching their peak size as they slowly migrate back to the areas they were stocked or the places they were spawned and call home. Niagara County is blessed with 30 Miles of Lake Ontario shoreline and the ports of Wilson and Olcott top the list of popular locations. Another great spot is the Niagara Bar, launching at Fort Niagara and Youngstown at the mouth of the Niagara River. There are mixed reports across the board on what people are doing for success. Kings have been reported as close at 100 feet of water and as deep as 400. Other good fishing lines have been 165 feet, 200 feet, 275 feet and others. Depth for lures have been 60 to 100 feet down, depending on temperatures and where fish are on the graph. Capt. Mike Johannes was hitting fish this morning 75 feet down over 400 foot depths off Wilson with a Green Jeans spoon and 400 copper with a paddle and meat.
If you look at the LOC Derby leaderboard for the winners, magnum spoons by Moonshine, Michigan Stinger and Dreamweaver were all in the mix. Spin Doctors and flies, as well as meat offerings will catch fish for you, especially if you are targeting matures. Speaking of the LOC Derby, David Salvalzo of Derby caught a 28-pound, 10 ounce king salmon while fishing out of Wilson to win the $10,000 Grand Prize in the Lake Ontario Counties Summer Trout and Salmon Derby. He also won the $1,000 weekly prize for the biggest salmon. Jim Maziekien of Blairstown, NJ was just 3 ounces back to place first in the Salmon Division. Big Brown trout was a 19 pound, 5 ounce fish reeled in by Aron Brophy of Montgomery Center, Vermont. His fish was just one ounce bigger than Kurt Charland’s Orleans County fish. For the lake trout, Steve Burkowski of Rochester took top honors with a 21-pound, 15-ounce Braddocks Bay fish. You guessed it, the fish was one ounce bigger than the runnerup that was caught on the Niagara Bar by Ed Klejdys of North Tonawanda. Top steelhead was a 14 pound, 8 ounce fish caught by Rick Droshin of Oswego.
The next LOC Derby is August 17 through Labor Day. The next derby on the lake is the Orleans County Rotary Derby August 4 through 19. The Reelin’ for a Cure ladies tournament for cancer is August 17 out of Wilson and Olcott. The Wilson Bicentennial salmon tournament was finally held last Saturday and the winning team was Claire Bear out of Wilson with a three-fish weight of 88.24 pounds. Second place was Dublin’ Up with 84.74 pounds and third was Summer School with 83.38 pounds. Big fish was Papa Smurf with a 20.98 pound king salmon.
In the Lower Niagara River, the moss is pretty much history and bass and walleye are the order of the day. However, every once in a while you end up with a surprise catch. For example. Matt Wilson of Lewiston was bass fishing with a crab and hooked into a 6-foot long sturgeon that was estimated at 100 pounds. It was quickly released. These fish are a protected species.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Lake Ontario Report
After the south winds last week, the weather has cooperated and the salmon have settled into a more normal pattern. Look in 100-300 feet of water with spoons, flies and flashers, and cut-bait working well. Anglers are finding brown trout in more shallow water.
Oswego River Report
Even with the rain we have had over the last few days, the water level has been running between 1,000-2,000cfs. This afternoon it is flowing at 1,160cfs. Anglers are finding a few walleye, bass sheepshead and a catfish or two along the river.
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 visitoswegocounty.com and click on the Fishing Report along the top bar on the home page. The Oswego Fire Department offers loaner life jackets at no charge through its “Loaner for Life” program. For more information contact the fire station, 35 E. Cayuga St., at 315-343-2161.
Pulaski Area and Salmon River Report:
Pulaski Area:
Conditions have settled down over the last few days with anglers finding salmon in 100-200 feet of water. Brown trout have been active in up to 50 feet of water. Spoons are the choice of bait. Live minnows and crayfish are attracting bass off Mexico Point.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
We started the day at 72 degrees (water temperature was also 72 degrees), which rose to a nice warm 81 degrees. The cfs is 185 at the dam and 285 at Pineville. Three anglers spent the morning on the run, one swinging and the other two spin casting. The first angler was able to get into two chunky smallmouth bass, while the duo of anglers caught about a dozen bass ranging from a feisty two inches to several about a foot long.
Oneida Lake Report:
Anglers are continuing to find some walleye early and later in the day with worm harnesses, jigs tipped with a worm and blade baits. Look for a bass bite along the shoals and weed beds. Anglers have been finding perch off the north shore and some pickerel.
Sandy Pond report:
Activity on the pond has been slow with a few bass being taken along the weed beds.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
It’s the last day of July and the salmon fishing is still fantastic. From the first troll in the spring till the last day of July…it’s been the best in decades. And it continues.
Today there is a south breeze which will continue to push the temps around. The word from the charter fleet is to troll 180 to 250 feet of water, down 85 to 110. Just west of Sodus Bay has been productive, however the entire south shore of Lake Ontario is hot.
Cur bait, flasher flies, and spoons are all working. Black spotted spoons have been especially attractive to hungry kings.
Some cohos and steelhead have been caught straight out from Hughes’ Marina, however it’s the kings that are ruling.
Bays
Largemouth bass fishing has been great in Sodus and Port Bays. The are hitting rubber and spinnerbaits. Fish the weedlines and try to get on the bays early.
Perch have been hitting on the east side of the Sodus Bay channel. Use small 2-inch rubber minnows. Hook them on #4 hooks with a few spikes with the split shot down 12 inches. You can cast them out or just jig under the boat.
Check out the rest of the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops. www.waynecountytourism.com.
Erie Canal
Another bass tournament was held at Widewaters this past Sunday. These are not the sanctioned events…just bunch of anglers fishing for fun.
The cats are hitting in deeper poles near Palmyra. Use shrimp or worms for the channel cats. They are all tail and give a great fight on light gear.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism and Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters
As Sonny and Cher once sang: “And the Beat Goes On!” There is a steady traffic of fishing boats. I counted over 50 on the weekend rigged for Salmon action and getting it! Boats from Vermont, Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana, Connecticut, Maine and Pennsylvania.
The stable wind pattern has created a broad pattern of fishing depths which will let you catch fish anywhere from 160 to 350 ft of water – AKA the mid “28 line”. The salmon and now bonus steelhead are lying down 60 to 80 feet down. Remember that due to trolling in deep water currents, wily trollers, add extra cable footage to consistently reach feeding fish. Please remember to release the steelhead and smaller salmon! Those immature fish are the future seasons’ fish population!
Watch the changing weather systems mid week and bring rain gear. Also, be ready, pull your lines and boogie to home port at any sign of thunderstorm activity.
I saw many charters heading in early Sunday, limited out, their boats full of happy, “salmon whooped” anglers. My Boys from Columbus are already set on coming back in 2019.