Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
The 35th Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Niagara County Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament was held May 31 and June 1 out of the ports of Wilson and Olcott. The weather was near perfect, the fishing was very good, and it all came down to the wire in determining who the winners were when all the salmon and trout were weighed in at Krull Park in Olcott. After the final basket was put on the scales, it was a pair of anglers named Matt that won the first-place prizes.
Oh Baby/Irish Knots, a team lead by Matt LeClair of Plattsburgh, took top honors in the Professional Division with a score of 514.09 points for two days of fishing (based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound). They won a check for $11,000. Meanwhile, it was the Streaker team led by Matt Dunn of Newfane setting the pace in the Amateur Class with 265.56 points and earning a check for $2,000.
LeClair and company fished deep off the Niagara Bar for both days of the tournament. Day one they had a good spoon bite with a mixture of Yeck and Warrior lures taking most of the fish. However, they did pick up 4 big kings on Big Weenie meat rigs and Familiar Bite cut bait. On day two, they knew they had to improve their box to make up some ground, so they went with a combination of meat and flies, trying to capitalize on the morning bite with those bigger Kings … and it paid off. They were never able to get more than 4 rods in the water until they already had 10 fish in the cooler. The Amateur Division winner was Streaker (led by Matt Dunn of Newfane) and they focused their attention on the waters off Olcott. Again, the salmon came from down deep. They used downriggers and divers to get their baits down as deep as 140 feet below the surface over 300 to 350 feet of water. Spoons and N & D cut bait were the two items that worked best for their presentations. The divers were set 350 feet back on No. 1 setting. Everything wasn’t deep though. Some of the bigger kings came on free-floating sliders off the riggers. John Van Hoff, not fishing the tournament, also did very well on the Niagara Bar, but closer to the ledge. Cut bait off the riggers 100 to 120 feet down over 120 to 180 feet of water was the best. On the divers, they were set at No. 1 and were 270 feet back. Spoons or flasher/fly worked best. They caught over 50 kings, including many 20-pound class fish, over the course of 2 days. If you are launching a boat at Fort Niagara or Wilson-Tuscarora state parks, make sure you bring your boots. You won’t need them if you are launching out of the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott…yet.
In the lower Niagara River, smallmouth bass have been everywhere according to Lisa Drabczyk with Creek Road Bait and Tackle. Tube jigs and swim baits are the way to go. Rage Swimmer and the 4-inch KVD Swim-N-Shiner have been the hot baits for smallmouth bass for Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Region Charters. Walleye are still being caught at Lewiston Landing at night, but action is slowing down according to Drabczyk. If you want to give it a try, use jigs, ribbed plastics and live bait. Some steelhead are still in Devil’s Hole. Use live bait if fishing from a boat. Shore casters are using beads, spinners, spoons and sacs if you can find some dry land to cast from. Bass is the top target in the upper river, too. Some walleyes are being caught off Broderick Park.
Here’s a few kids fishing contests coming up:
· The 24th Annual City of Tonawanda Kids Free Fishing Derby will be taking place on June 15 in Niawanda Park from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration starts at 8 a.m. at the Bandshell in the park. Grab bags will be handed out to the first 200 kids registered. For more info call John White at 692-6306.
· 33rd Annual Niagara County Youth Fishing Derby is June 15 being hosted by the Wilson Conservation Club, 2934 Wilson-Cambria Road (Route 425), Wilson from 8 a.m. to noon. This contest, for kids ages 3 to 14, is based on length. No trout and salmon will be judged. Youngsters may fish any Niagara County waters. Awards presentation is at 1 p.m. For more information call Mike at 585-205-1353.
· There will be a Catch and Release Kids Fishing Derby at Wide Waters Marina, Lockport on June 16 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. for fishing; lunch and awards will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is being hosted by Moose Lodge 617, 204 Monroe Street, Lockport.
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 Oz Angling Tackle:
Reports from the lake indicate the shoreline brown trout fishing has slowed. Of course there are still those that are having excellent outings on any given day, but likely the fish are moving out deeper. Both the trout and salmon are keying in on the bait, and as huge schools of bait fish move out deeper so do the predators. The king (Chinook) salmon are still being caught in good numbers between 55-130 feet of water often suspending about 25-45 feet down. Michigan Stinger spoons and A-TOM-MIK flies have been the most productive baits on the lake thus far.
Larger numbers of walleyes are finally showing up in the Oswego River. Bottom bouncing night crawlers, jigging bucktail jigs, and casting stick baits are the most effective techniques. Many anglers are of the belief that these fish will only feed after dark, but such is not the case here as some of the best feeding windows can occur early morning and mid-day on the river, as well as at night. If you’re simply looking to have some fun and hook into some fish, you can catch good numbers of bass and other warm water species anywhere from the high and low walls on the upper west side, down to the lower river and into the harbor, using a plethora of different baits, from live bait to tube jigs, swim baits, stickbaits, spoons and bucktail jigs.
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:
Sunday a pair of anglers checked in mid-morning with the intent to wet-wade and spincast for smallmouth bass. They worked the lower and middle sections of the run, casting Beetle spin rigs and tube jigs. Between them, they went 12 / 19 bass in the 12 – 15″ range with a few in the 3 and 4 pound range. They reported that there were many more bass in the middle section than the lower part. A handful of anglers spent yesterday afternoon on the run and nearly everyone was able to land a smallie or two. Water flows went up to 1,000 cfs last night.
Oneida Lake Report:
The walleye bite is reportedly picking up as they are following baitfish. Bucktail jigs along with perch colored sonars are working well. Anglers are finding a perch bite in 15-20 feet of water in many areas across the lake. Pickerel are active on the eastern end of the lake. Boaters should continue to use caution with the high water as there is debris floating in the lake.
Sandy Pond Report:
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
After yesterday’s blow, Lake Ontario has settled. The kings are hitting straight out from Sodus Bay in 90 to 120 feet of water. The temps on the top are 51 degrees with 48 down 72 feet.
Charter captains are starting to see a thermocline setting-up which should put the kings in a specific column of water.
The catch this morning has been with UV spoons, bright and black colors, and there have been kings, cohos, lakers and steelhead all hitting off riggers, boards and dipseys.
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.
Flooding has made launching a challenge; however, you can still get your boat in the water on Sodus and Port Bays. Currently, the Margaretta Road launch on Sodus is open and you can use the ramp at Bay Bridge Sport Shop.
The south end of Port Bay at the DEC site is the best location for launching. The docks are under water; however, the ramp is still safe. And the road is smooth, unlike the launch site at the north end.
Anglers were casting in the high water south of the ramp. They were targeting pike.
The pike catch has also been decent between the islands in Sodus Bay. Anglers fishing from canoes caught some nice fish last week. The fish hit pike minnows. Not the cheapest bait, but it works.
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 water is high …however, the fishing has been excellent. Widewaters is the best place to launch and the largest area of water between the locks. You can also fish from shore.
The official season for keeping bass starts the third Saturday in June…June 15th. And DEC’s free fishing weekend is June 29-30th. No license is required for fishing in New York State.