Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Capt. Hank Condes of Wilson (Blade Runner Charters) said it best as he spoke to a group of front line tourism folks this week in Wilson Harbor: “June isn’t the transition month that it used to be!” The push is on to let everyone know that Lake Ontario is open for business … and that the fishing is great, even in June! Capt. Alan Sauerland with Instigator Charters has been fishing 55 to 75 feet down over 160 feet of water straight out from his home port of Wilson. Magnum spoons are the ticket with the best ones being Moonshine Geezer and Warrior pink spoiler or green spoiler patterns. They caught 25 salmon during this catch and release trip.
Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Thrillseeker reports similar success out of Olcott, 60 to 80 feet down over 60 to 250 feet of water, also with Dreamweaver magnum and super slim spoons at the top of his list. Joe Oakes of Wilson was fishing out of Olcott this week and wanted to try and get his 300 and 400-foot copper lines a bit deeper so put on a J-plug for the heck of it. Yes, that plug took some hits, too.
Next derby is the Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby that runs from June 29 to July 28. Check out LOC.org. Grand prize is $10,000 for the biggest salmon and $32,000 in cash prizes overall. The NYS Summer Classic Tournament is July 1-August 31 with a $10,000 Grand Prize. Check out nyssummerclassic.com.
It should be mentioned that nearly every launch ramp in Niagara County is opened. At Fort Niagara, Wilson-Tuscarora, and Golden Hill state parks you should have at least two people launching the boat due to some higher water around the launch. Bring along boots, too. If you don’t want to get your feet wet, the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott has been able to adjust to keep the feet of boaters dry. The Town of Wilson launch is also a good one in the West Branch of 12 Mile Creek. Boat size there should be 20 foot or less. Don’t forget that the 5 mph speed limit in the lake is within 1,000 feet of the shoreline.
In the Niagara River, the dreaded moss is slowly starting to arrive on the scene as the river hit the 60-degree mark this week. In the lower Niagara River, there were still some steelhead around. Bass and walleye were cooperating, giving a nice mixed bag to anglers. Live bait like minnows fished off three-way rigs is a popular approach but bouncing bottom with a Strike King Zero cut down has been working for bass up to 5-1/2 pounds this past week. Swimbaits and tubes will still work if the moss isn’t too bad. High water levels is making fishing tricky in the Devil’s Hole area and the NYPA fishing platform is under water. The speed limit is still in effect along the NY shoreline so run the middle of the river and take it easy. Upper river action for bass and walleye has also been decent, especially at the head of Strawberry Island. Worm harnesses, minnows, swim baits and tubes are all good baits to use. Make sure you mark your calendar for the Erie Canal Fishing Derby set for July 3-14. Check out eriecanalderby.com for details. Also, next Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, NYS will be offering up its free fishing weekend again. The Olcott Kids Fishing Derby normally held June 29 has been canceled due to the high water around the docks.
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
According to Capt. Andy Bliss of Chasin’ Tail Adventures:
Salmon fishing out of Oswego has been good! Fish are being taken from 80-200 FOW. Most bites are from 40-100 feet down. Spoons are still very productive. With a wide color selection working. Dark and natural patterns early with brighter patterns in the sun. Flashers pulling A-TOM-MIK flies and meat rigs are also taking a large amount of our fish lately. Whites and greens are productive early with chrome patterns when the sun appears.
According to Oz Angling Tackle:
There is a wide range of species being caught in the Oswego River right now from the Varick Dam to the mouth of the river. Among the most common fish being caught are smallmouth bass, walleye, freshwater drum, rock bass, white perch, common carp, channel catfish and longnose gar. Anglers fishing the lower half of the river have been producing mainly smallmouth bass and walleye. Anglers in the upper half of the river are catching a broader variety of fish. Worms and minnows seem to catch just about everything, while bass and sheepshead seem to prefer crayfish.
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:
Tuesday and Wednesday were beautiful days with no rain – what a treat! We had a few anglers take advantage of the drop in water flows and they were able to get into a few bass while swinging flies. One of our season pass holders was able to take advantage of the gorgeous weather yesterday, spending the greater part of the morning into the early afternoon down on the run exploring and experimenting. Unable to bring any bass to hand it still proved to be a great day as he mentioned observing a fair amount of gar and even a bowfin down on the lower end of the property. The flow is currently 750cfs through midnight tonight.
Oneida Lake Report:
Bass season is now open and anglers are finding a good bite in shallow water. Look for walleye in 10-25 FOW Trolling with stickbaits along with jigs and blade baits are working well. Anglers are finding perch in 10-20 FOW across the lake and anglers are finding a pickerel bite in many areas.
Sandy Pond Report:
Conditions are about the same on the pond. Due to Lake Ontario’s high water level, the DEC North Sandy Pond boat launch is closed. With the high water we have not had many reports from the pond.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Out of Sodus Bay and in water northwest of the chute was the action location yesterday. Also, straight out from Hughes’ Marina.
Use spoons and work water from 140 to 200 feet, down 40 to 60 fow. Riggers and wire are working the best.
The catch has been steelies and kings with lakers on the bottom. Cut bait has also been working.
Bays
Wayne County still has 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.
Bass season started last Saturday, the 15th of June. Sodus Bay has launch sites and although it’s a challenge, you can put-in at Route 14 near Arneys or Bay Bridge at the south end of the bay.
The bass are in the weeds at the south end of Sodus. You can’t run fast to get to any hotspots, so keep your bass boats moving slowly.
You can launch at the south end of Port Bay, off West Port Bay Road. The north end DEC site is closed.
The bass have been hitting Hack Attack jigs and swim baits like the Strike King or Storm lures. Working structure and fishing near docks has worked on Port and Sodus Bays.
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 bass boats were plying the Widewaters section of the canal. The fishing was on the slow side because of colder water entering the canal.
Anglers were catching the largemouths fishing the weedlines on the south side of the waterway.
DEC’s free fishing weekend is June 29-30th. No license is required for fishing in New York State.
The limit for bass is five fish over 12 inches in length.