Pictured above: Buffy Frank of Lockport was casting a Booker wobbler when she reeled in this big northern pike off the Olcott pier.
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Fall was in the air last weekend as cooler temperatures and rain triggers some early movement into the Niagara River and closer to the mouths of area streams. Staging kings off Wilson and Olcott were finicky the past few days, forcing boats to head out for more stable conditions starting in 300 feet of water off Wilson and Olcott. It was a spoon program for Capt. Mike Johannes of On the Rocks to take a mix of salmon and trout out deep. His last trip he was 7 for 13 on salmon and trout – not as good as it’s been but it kept his customers happy. Staging kings should be cooperating again soon. Use J-plugs, flashers with cut bait, flasher-fly or magnum spoons for the kings and some trout are also available in the same waters. The piers at Olcott were hot on Monday and Tuesday according to Karen Evarts of The Boat Doctors in Olcott. J13 Rapalas in perch and firetiger were working for Mark Vogt of Newfane Tuesday, but Booker glow spoons and spinners have been catching fish, too, according to Evarts. Nothing to speak of in 18 Mile creek yet.
In the Niagara River below Niagara Falls, small schools of mature salmon were seen moving up into the gorge area. Lisa Drabczyk of Creek Road Bait and Tackle was reporting salmon action off the NYPA fishing platform in the gorge over the weekend and early this week. Nothing from boats in Devil’s Hole. Bass and walleye are still hitting from shore along Artpark and further down river, too, for boaters dragging crabs, shiners and worm harnesses along the bottom on 3-way rigs. The river water temperatures dropped 5 degrees from last week but so far that has not made a huge difference. If cooler temps prevail, it could trigger more of a river run of kings.
In the meantime, make sure you mark Sept. 22-23 on your calendar for activities. Sept. 22 is a kids fishing derby at Hyde Park Lake in Niagara Falls from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Young anglers from 6 to 16 are eligible. Register at the Oasis Pavilion off Robbins Drive in the park. Sept. 22 and 23 is the NYPA’s Wildlife Festival, co-sponsored by the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs in honor of National Hunting and Fishing Day. The event is held on the visitor center grounds adjacent to Niagara University both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. And just so you know, Saturday Sept. 22 is a free fishing day being declared by the state in honor of National Hunting and Fishing Day. Everyone 16 years of age and older do not need a license, but you must abide by the regulations. Good luck and good fishing!
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Lake Ontario Report
The weather has been difficult over the last few days. Saturday the wind was an issue, Monday it rained and yesterday although the lake was calm, the fog was very thick for much of the day. Conditions were improving by noon time. Anglers have reported that the bite has been a bit slower at times even with the number of fish showing up on fish finders. With the cooler weather anglers were targeting shallower depths including 100 feet and under. Flasher/fly combinations have been working well.
Oswego River Report
Along with an increase in water flow over the last day or so, the first push of salmon have made their run into the river. The river flow reached 7,000cfs yesterday but is back down to 3,030cfs this morning. Anglers are finding action both from the wall and up at the dam. Egg sacs, thundersticks, and float fishing skein are all working well.
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 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:
The cooler temperatures helped to push a number of salmon into the estuary and up into the river. Lake anglers are finding shallow water, up to about 80 feet off the Salmon River, is producing a good bite with some still out deeper. Flies/flashers and spoons are working well.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop:
Yesterday the anglers we spoke with who fished the lower end of the river reported having a very good day. The most productive fly patterns were comets, woolly buggers and egg sucking leeches. Bottom bouncing with blue egg sacs was also very productive.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Numerous client comments about the fish action the later part of yesterday were characterized by one client relating that his friend hooked up only three times during the day but that during the last hour he hooked up 15 times at least. This is typical of this time of the year, “first light, first bite”, followed by a series of lulls in activity from about 8:30 AM through the mid-morning into early afternoon. The fish are there, just laying low especially if there is bright sunshine. Then a “fish-on!” switch seems to be flipped around 4 PM, lasting to the end of legal fishing hours. The River Patrol reports fish movement into the estuary section of the run this morning has been described as “a moderate flow”, echoed by other similar reports from all sections of the run – the consensus opinion was that although there is fish movement throughout the run, it is currently lighter than yesterday. The flow is 335cfs with 470cfs at Pineville.
Oneida Lake Report:
Walleye fishing has slowed down but anglers are finding some in both shallow, 10 feet, and deeper, 30 feet, water. Early and later in the day seem to be the most active. Worm harnesses, jigs and blade baits are working well. Bass are active along the weed beds.
Sandy Pond report:
The pond is typically quiet this time of year.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
After the last north-east blow, things are settling down with the kings in 90 to 140 fow, down 50 to 60 feet.
They have been hitting spoons and meat rigs off the riggers and wire. The immatures are bright silver, while the older kings are dark. There have been some browns caught at the same depth.
All in all, the Lake Ontario fishery is seeing some of the best fishing in decades and it continues.
Pier fishing is starting to pick-up with king catches and some steelhead are also being netted in the Sodus Bay channel. You can cast out heavy spoons…Kastmasters and Little Cleos.
Maxwell Creek is starting to flow, however, there are no reports of trout and salmon catches.
Bays
Autumn is the best time of year for bass fishing. All the bays in the county have excellent bass populations. Fish the weedlines with your favorite artificial bait.
Panfish have been caught off the points in Port Bay. The perch are also starting to enter the bays from Lake Ontario.
The bays are now quiet with most recreational boats gone for the season. Now is the perfect time to launch your boat and catch some fish.
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
Canal waters are starting to cool down which means the fish will start to feed and hit any lure you throw at them. The bass in the canal easily hit the scales at six points.
The launch sites along the Erie are all open. The canal officially closes October 10th for the season, however not all section will be drained for the year. The water at Widewaters will remain at the current level.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism and Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters
This week we were blessed with two fisheries, both inshore with red-hot action! Fishery #1: lots of anglers found a cooperative mixed bag of “feeder” kings, steelhead, Choo and rogue brown trout in the 90 to 130 ft. of water band (FOW). Many reported consistent spoon bite 50 to 70 ft down, 350 coppers and flasher “meat” rigs on 210 divers.
Fishery #2: Several charters (specifically Free Spirit, Rally Killer, Troutman 2, Pisces) moved east and up the ledge to 65 FOW and discovered dense mature kings. I have to say this inner ledge action rivaled the dodger crush of the 1980’s!!!
By 6:30 pm, my guys said “uncle”, worn out from hauling on screaming reel 20-pound class chinook. Many boats agreed that multiple hookups were the norm and my boys scrambled during a 4 timer – all big, all runaway freight train fighting kings using custom “O” Frawg Northern King Spoons. By looking at the calendar, this schools depth (65 ft.), the pink belly on most of the fish and forecast for days of east winds, I expect these salmon are Oak Orchard River bound. (Pink belly kings indicate laying on the bottom where chafing against zebra mussels can occur.)
Expect big fish 10 to 40 FOW very soon! The forecast for the upcoming late week/ weekend is for 80° weather and lighter winds so get ready with flasher fly combos, j plugs and screaming reels. The mature fish are in! Have fun, since the Orleans County Lake Ontario waters are, after all, “the Home of the King!”
Great fish