Pictured above: John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda caught this 9 pound steelhead fishing Lake Ontario on the Niagara Bar last weekend.
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
The Erie Canal Fishing Derby is set to kick off today, July 3 and run through July 14 from the Upper Niagara River to Albion in the canal proper (no tributaries like Tonawanda Creek in Pendleton). Fish species include walleye, bass, catfish, bullhead, pike, sheepshead and carp. Check out www.eriecanalderby.com for details. In the Summer LOC Derby, a 27-pound, 13-ounce king salmon is the early leader. Check out loc.org for a current leaderboard. The derby ends on July 28th. The Niagara Bar action was good the past week according to John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda. He was reporting a nice mix of fish, including two Atlantic salmon, while working his riggers, dipsy divers and 7 colors of lead core. Spoons worked best for him as he focused around 45-degree water 80 feet down.
Bob Magra of Lorain, Ohio had a successful trip to Wilson last week. He fished four days and managed to reel in 14 kings, 1 big laker and one nice steelhead. Five of the salmon were over 15 pounds, including 2 over 20. They fished 80-280 ft. in the top 80 feet. He caught all the big fish except one on two-face spin doctor with a pro-am A-Tom-Mik fly 180 to 250 behind a magnum dipsy.
Capt. Tim Sylvester of Tough Duty fished this week out of Olcott. Fish were taken from 125 to 275 feet of water. There was also a decent bite out from 350-400 feet of water. Things should pick up soon as the weather was beautiful on the lake the past few days. Mostly king salmon but they also caught a 10-pound Steelhead and some lake trout. Karie Johns of Zanesville, Ohio was fishing off Olcott this past week and reeled in a true 30-pound king salmon – two days before the start of the Summer LOC Derby. She was using a Diabolical Meat Rig with N&D cutbait.
In the Niagara River, bass can be caught with regularity from Lewiston to Youngstown below the falls, but the dreaded moss is becoming more of an issue as water temperatures continue to increase. Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston had his son Peter out recently and they caught 25 smallmouths by using a drop shot rig that offered Strike King Zero plastics for enticement. No reports of steelhead in the river with the warmer water.
The NYPA fishing platform in the lower river is still closed due to the high water. Call 796-0135 Ext. 45 to find out if it’s open. Also, the fishing pier at Joe Davis State Park is also closed. Have a great – and safe – holiday and weekend!
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:
Flat calm to mega salmon chop Sunday morning and the kings were feeding! Targeted water depth was 100-340 feet.
According to Capt. Andy Grisenthwaite of Broad Horizons:
Fishing on Lake Ontario out of Oswego, NY has been pretty good this season! High water has not affected the fishing at all! Salmon fishing is good and plenty of browns are available also. Meat rigs, moonshines, and stinger spoons are working well.
According to Oz Angling Tackle:
The water flow has continued to drop running at 7,010cfs. Anglers are finding some nice smallmouth bass, walleye, freshwater drum and catfish. 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:
On Monday, two anglers hit the run early in the morning and came off midday having landed a handful off smallies. The morning water temperature was reported at 63F, but rose to 70F by lunchtime. The water flow is scheduled to be 185cfs through July 5 when it will be adjusted to 350cfs.
Oneida Lake Report:
Anglers are finding a good walleye bite with worm harnesses in deeper water. There is also some activity in shallow depths on bucktail jigs. Jigs are also taking bass in shallow water out to 25 feet. 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. Activity is typically quiet this time of year on the pond and with the high water fishing conditions are more difficult.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
It’s a holiday week, however boat traffic on the lake will not affect the excellent salmon fishing. It continues to be another great season with kings, lakers, cohos, browns and steelhead all being boated.
There are reports of the thermal setting-up in 50 to 60 feet of water over 100 to 140 feet. The kings are hitting straight out from Sodus Bay and Hughes’ Marina.
It is still a spoon catch for the kings and cowbells and peanuts for lake trout. A monster 30-pound laker was caught off Hughes’ a couple of days ago.
Remember, the LOC Summer Derby continues through July 28. All the info is at http://www.loc.org/
Currently, a 27-pound king leads the contest.
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.
Boat traffic will be on the bays this holiday week, however the speed limits will keep the wave action down, so you will be able to fish the weedlines and docks quietly.
The largemouths are hitting spinnerbaits and wacky worm rigs near the points on Sodus Bay. The high water has left mats of weeds floating in the bay, so keep your nautical eyes open.
Some smallmouths were caught near the Sodus Bay channel. They were hitting rubber minnows tip with spikes.
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
Kayak anglers were casting at the north shoreline near Widewaters. The largemouths are in the canal, especially at Widewaters.
In a few weeks the channel cats will have spawned and they will be ready to bite.
Fish the deep pools near Palmyra using cut bait or shrimp. The cats give an excellent fight.