Pictured above: Jeff Rioux caught this lower Niagara River steelie fishing with Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Thrillseeker
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Christmas is only a few days away. If you are looking for a last minute gift item, consider a lifetime license (if you are a state resident). If you need a present for dad or grandpa and they are 70 or older, you can pick up a lifetime license for just $65 – hunting and fishing together! Also, a guided fishing trip from area charter captains is a great way to get the family out for some fun in the sun – river fishing or lake fishing! Check out https://www.niagarafallsusa.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventure/fishing/charters/ … and don’t rule out a gift certificate from your local tackle shop, too.
Many of the tributaries off Lake Ontario have been low and clear with the lack of precipitation. That said, there will be a significant rain event tonight that could bring up to an inch of rain. Today the high is 50 degrees but it will get cooler by the weekend. Ray Richards of Amherst has been hitting the tributaries several times a week, picking up browns and a few steelhead. When the water is stained, he will use a jig, normally tipped with a wax worm or a salted minnow. However, this week when he went out, he thought he forgot the waxies and still produced a big brown on his marabou jig. The rain should pull some fresh fish into the system and don’t forget about some of the smaller streams like 12 Mile in Wilson, Keg east of Olcott and 4 Mile in Porter.
For the lower Niagara River, the action has been good for most. Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Falls did well last weekend using swim baits to take bass and walleye, minnows and egg sacs to take steelhead and salmon. Two Grand Island 16-year olds – Eddie Verost and Parker Cinelli – celebrated their birthday fishing with Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island (Parker’s dad) and hit the lower river last weekend. They did well on walleye and steelhead. MagLips worked for the steelhead, shiners worked for the walleye. Chris managed to catch a 36-inch pike on a shiner, too. Lisa Drabczyk with Creek Road Bait and Tackle reports egg sacs and beads are also working to entice fish to hit off three-way rigs. For the Jan. 1 lake trout opener, try around the green buoy marker at the mouth. They’ve been stacked up out there according to guys fishing for bass, walleye and browns.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.
Oswego River Report
According to Oz Angling Bait & Tackle:
We’ve been putting our hand-tied marabou jigs to work these last couple weeks and having excellent results. These hungry browns don’t seem to have much preference for size or color, as we’re catching many on a variety of jigs. The 1/16 ounce green head, white body, white tail and 1/8 ounce all black have done the trick. Some browns have not yet spawned. The river flow is currently 12,400cfs with some heavy rain predicted for tomorrow.
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.
Salmon River Report:
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
Yesterday the few anglers we spoke with reported having a good day. The best reports came from the mid to upper end of the river. Anglers reported getting into fish in the head or tailouts of the deeper holes and larger runs. For those anglers who are fly fishing, dead drifting with nymphs or indicator fishing with egg patterns has produced steady results. The most productive patterns have been wiggle stones, steelhead buggers, steelhead hammer, black stoneflies, rusher nymphs, glo-bugs, and steak-n-eggs. Anglers who are float fishing continue to do well on pink and blue egg sacs or beads.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
After colder temperatures earlier in the week and a fair amount of action, the temperatures will be warmer today and particularly tomorrow. Tuesday anglers reported some steelhead along with a few brown trout but no significant numbers. Yesterday the majority of anglers reported rather slow activity with ones and twos the common theme for even the most skilled sticks down on the water. The release at the dam is 350cfs with a reported flow of 519cfs at Pineville.
Oneida Lake Report:
There is not a lot to report from the lake. Temperatures are again up and down this week with 20s on Tuesday and temperatures near 50 degrees expected on Friday. The extended forecast then calls for several days in the 30s. Safe ice formation is a ways off yet.
Sandy Pond Report:
There has been no activity reported from the pond. Although we have had some colder temperatures, we still need a period of steady cold temperatures for safe ice formation.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
The snow is gone, and the temps were in the 40’s yesterday…then a cold front passed through. Currently, the temps are in the mid-20’s with no lake effect snow yet. The streams have a great flow and some anglers were catching steelhead in Maxwell over the weekend.
The trout are in the streams, however it’s the busiest season in the year, so fishing is not on the agenda for the casting or fly angler.
If you do get a chance, throw out egg sacs, imitation eggs, beads or any bright small jigs for the browns or steelhead. Fish both sides of Lake Road at Maxwell Creek.
Bays
Some perch anglers were able to launch their boats at the north end of Port Bay. The fish were off the points in 20 feet of water. It was tough fishing and a lot of moving around was necessary to catch some decent size perch.
Sodus Bay at the south end is skimmed over with ice, however you can still launch your boat at the Coast Guard station at Sodus Point.
Obviously, you need to be very careful if you are fishing from a boat this time of year. Wear your PFD and remember hypothermia is deadly.
Erie Canal
Nothing occurring at canal waters. Just waiting for ice at Widewaters.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism and Bierstine of Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge
Kind of a return to slightly colder temps for this mid week period but the forecast for the end of week is definitely warmer with a chance of precipitation Friday. For now, flows in the Oak are low to moderate and mostly clear. There are still occasional water level fluctuations thanks to hydro-power operations. Unconfirmed, but the dropping flows and today’s fluctuation to low flows could be the planned hydro work that was scuttled earlier this fall. Look for the chance for low or lower or leakage flows in the turbine channel for a day or so. Flows will still rebound through the overflow channel in the interim. (Flows cannot be stopped as they will over-spill the overflow channel if the hydro plant is shutdown).
All the water is open and ice free all the way through the downstream slow water. The other area smaller tributaries have low and clear flows. Any change in flows could perk up some fresh steelhead action and/or redistribute some browns in the smaller tributaries.
Overall, the fishing pressure is real light, with only a handful of cars at each parking spot on the Oak today. And on the smaller tributaries you might not encounter anyone through multiple spots. Action is fair to good for light line careful drifters. Still good swing or retrieve chances too with post spawn browns often eager for a good sized bite other then an egg. Cold and clear and low water makes for sometimes reticent fish that turn on and off through the day. Some smaller tributary guys have reported real good action, while most guys on the Oak are going to experience that on and off action. A few quality browns or steelhead in a few hours time for mid December doesn’t sound all that bad though to me.