Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
The LOC Derby is more than half over, ending on May 19 at 1 p.m. The current leader is a 25-pound, 14-ounce king salmon reeled in by Robert Mueller from Hamburg. He was fishing out of Point Breeze with Capt. Joe Netti when the salmon hit a Bomber stickbait. He’s the front runner for the $15,000 Grand Prize.
Other leaders include Brian Marketich of Beaver Falls, PA with a 22-pound, 13-ounce Olcott salmon for the Salmon Division. Top lake trout is a 23-pound, 4-ounce fish caught Jerry Unites of Pittsburgh while fishing out of Wilson. Top walleye is a 10-pound, 6-ounce fish from Henderson Harbor, and top brown trout is 17 pounds, 6 ounces from the Rochester area. Check out loc.org for details on the leaderboard.
According to Mark Vilardo of Kingfisher Charters in Olcott, fishing has been good, with a mix of kings and lakers. Start in 70 to 80 feet of water, his best depth, fishing near bottom. Last weekend was a good king bite according to Vilardo. One productive set-up was a glow fly with a white e-chip flasher. Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors reports decent salmon and trout action at the 28-line, too. Black and glow spoons and meat behind a flasher are both working. Some kings were reported in shallower on Tuesday. However, specific details are limited due to the LOC Derby going on and the Wilson Harbor Invitational Tournament on Saturday. Water levels are continuing to rise.
In the Niagara River, water levels continue to pose a problem for shoreline anglers. Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls was 6 for 8 on trout – steelhead and lake trout – using No. 4 spinners and jigs on Monday. His biggest fish was a 13-pound lake trout that he caught and released. On Tuesday, jigs were the hot ticket as he went 5 for 12.
The NYPA fishing platform was closed on Monday due to the fluctuating water levels. Call 796-0135 Ext. 45 to find out if it’s open. Walleye have been hitting around the Lewiston sand docks area at night according to Lisa Drabczyk of Creek Road Bait and Tackle. Boaters can still do well on trout. The steelhead fishing is good up in Devil’s Hole if you got the patience and good boat control with the high water according to local charter captain Jim Rores of Grand Island. Fish are eating egg sacs and minnows up there. There are silver bass around Artpark, eating emerald shiners. The smallmouth on the river are really starting to show up. Minnow imitation tubes are best. Rage swim baits also do well. Try around Fort Niagara.
The Wilson Harbor Invitational Tournament is May 18 and the Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament is May 31 and June 1. Check out www.lakeontarioproam.net for details. The Don Johannes/Pete DeAngelo 3-fish, big fish contest is May 30. Call Capt. Mike Johannes at 523-1727 for details.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.
Notice: Due to high water levels, a local state of emergency order for a “No Wake Zone” has been established for boats 1,000 feet from the Lake Ontario shoreline and tributaries. All motorized boats within 1,000 feet of the shoreline and within these waterways must operate at idle speed.
Lake Ontario/Oswego River Report
Mother Nature has finally given us a break from all of the rainy weather. Yesterday we had a sprinkle here and there but overall a decent day. Today the sun is shining with light winds. Anglers have worked through adverse conditions but have been rewarded with some nice brown trout in the shallow water and kings and a few Atlantics in deeper depths. Spoons are the choice of bait for browns and kings with stickbaits also working for browns.
According to Oz Angling Tackle:
With the continued rainfall, the river flow started climbing last Friday and continues to do so. This afternoon it is flowing at 22,400cfs. This makes shore fishing in some areas difficult for anglers. Warm water species are making their presence known on the Oswego River right now. Smallmouth bass, rockbass, sheepshead, carp, and walleye are abundant in the slower moving water. There should still be some browns and rainbows around too. Water is still a bit dirty, yet plenty of fish are being caught. The bite will improve as the water gradually clears up. Area streams and creeks are also options with the water 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 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 the Douglaston Salmon Run:
The water flow is currently scheduled for 2,200cfs through midnight tonight. Over last weekend one angler scored a solitary steelhead swinging flies throughout the middle and lower sections of the river. Two others had swung flies in the upper section and stated they had brought to hand seven notable smallmouth bass, but had lost track of the total number. They did also get takes from two very small steelhead “smolts” as they were described. These anglers used essentially the same flies, woolly buggers, intruders and streamers. The final angler coming in brought to hand not only a 22-inch steelhead but an estimated 9 pound Atlantic salmon. The flow unexpectedly rose Tuesday over 2,200cfs. We will be closed until the flow drops below 2,000cfs.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
Over the last couple of days with the recent rain it’s no surprise the water level has been increased. As of right now the water levels are very high along with significant runoff. We’ve had no reports from anglers over the last few days.
Oneida Lake Report:
When conditions are good, anglers are finding walleye in shallow water and in 20-30 feet of water. Bucktail jigs and trolling worm harnesses are suggested applications. Perch are responding in 10-15 feet of water and bullhead are active for shore anglers. With the higher water level there is debris floating around so use caution as you boat around the lake.
Sandy Pond Report:
Walleye season has opened and reports indicated the bite was a bit slow. With the cool, rainy weather we have not had a lot of reports.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The salmon bite is on with the kings in 30 to 40 feet of water. Today, the kings were hitting 14 feet over 40 feet. The presentation is spoons and stickbaits with bright colors working the best.
The browns are still in the mix; however the king bite is the main attraction. They are catching the salmon straight out from Sodus Bay.
Don’t forget the LOC Derby. It started Friday, May 10th. Make sure you sign-up for this iconic event.
Bays
The high-water situation has put the bays in a no-wake condition. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office declared a State of Emergency on Sodus Bay, East Bay, Port Bay and Blind Sodus Bay effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday May 11.
SODUS BAY – IDLE SPEED ONLY CAUSING NO WAKE WITHIN 1000 FEET of shore.
PORT BAY, EAST BAY and BLIND SODUS BAY – IDLE SPEED ONLY CAUSING NO WAKE.
If you fish Port Bay, make sure you troll to your hotspot. Obey the speed limit. The south end of Port Bay has still seen crappie action. Fish bright small jigs one mile north of the ramp on the east side of the bay.
There have been pike caught near the islands on Sodus Bay, especially on the north end of LeRoy Island. Cast the reliable Dare Devil spoon in shallow water.
The bullhead bite has not been consistent because of the colder water temperature. They are catching a few off Bay Bridge.
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
The canal water level is not a problem. You can launch at any of the sites in Wayne County. As far as fishing, the crappies are still hitting near the Port Gibson bridge. They are also catching fish and release bass. The official season for keeping bass starts the third Saturday in June…June 15th.