Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
What a week! It’s been a flurry of activity, starting with three derbies at the same time last weekend. The Orleans Rotary Fishing Derby ended last Sunday, leaving two derbies left going into this weekend – the Fall LOC Derby that ends on Labor Day and the Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey that ends on Sunday, August 25 at 1 p.m. It’s still not too late to enter either. First to the fishing. Out of Wilson, Capt. Alan Sauerland of Instigator Charters had the pressure task of producing some fish for governors Andrew Cuomo and Ned LaMont of Connecticut on Tuesday morning. They managed to catch a few steelhead and the crew lost a 20-pound salmon at the back of the boat when the fish jumped out of the net. At least, that was the way Sauerland told it. They were fishing 8-10 miles out. Out of Olcott, Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Thrillseeker reports that mature salmon are highly scattered with all of the wind changes. Salmon can be caught from 50 to 500 feet of water. Good steelhead can also be found in deeper water where conditions are more stable. Fishing should only get better. With winds out of the south or southwest, look for mature kings to begin staging. Hats off to the Reel Alewives of WNY who won the Reelin’ for a Cure Tournament out of Olcott and Wilson last Friday. The team, fishing aboard the White Mule with Capt. Bob Cinelli of Newfane weighed in a 6-fish limit of 114 pounds with a big fish of over 25 pounds. A total of 36 boats competed in this year’s event, all lady teams from 4 states.
In the Niagara River, Blake Kowalski of Tonawanda was bottom bouncing with a worm harness near Strawberry Island, managing to catch 3 walleyes and a few smallmouth bass. Then he hooked into something big. He wasn’t quite sure what it was until it was near the end of his 2 hour battle – a big sturgeon. It broke his line just a short distance from his boat. What a battle. In the lower Niagara River, walleye action continues to be good both in the river and on the Niagara Bar. The leading catch for the Walleye Division of the Fish Odyssey is a 10-pound, 10-ounce fish reeled in by Vincent Gebczyk of Niagara Falls using a harness. Leader for the special Southtowns Walleye prize for largest walleye caught by a member is Bob Patterson of Niagara Falls with a 9-pound, 10 ounce lower river fish. Lots of room for improvement for the adults and the kids in the Fish Odyssey. Check out www.fishodyssey.net for details or to register. It ends Sunday at 1 p.m. You just have to register prior to fishing.
The Fall LOC Derby runs thru Labor Day with a $25,000 Grand Prize. The early Grand Prize leader is Codey Allen of West Seneca with a 33-pound, 8-ounce king salmon caught out of Olcott. Top steelhead is a 15-pound, 6-ounce Olcott fish reeled in by Nick Dougherty of Lockport. Leading brown trout right now is 15 pounds, 13 ounces caught by Bruce Raggi of Farmington while out of Wayne County. Remember, no fishing license is needed if you fish in Lake Ontario or the lower Niagara River thru Labor Day.
The winner of the $4,000 Grand Prize in the Orleans County contest was Julie Schaeffer of Sligo, Pennsylvania with a 29-pound, 6-ounce king salmon caught out of Point Breeze in Orleans County. Top brown trout was a 13-pound, 3-ounce Point Breeze fish caught by Georgia Barkdoll of McConnellsburg, Pa. Keith Tessier of Hilton took first place in the lake trout category with an 18-pound, 4-ounce fish. Top steelhead was a 17-pound, 15-ounce fish caught out of Olcott by Laurie Jankowski of Sloan.
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.
Notice: Now through Labor Day, New York State is offering free fishing on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Also, 30 state parks along the shores are offering half-price vehicle entry and camping.
Lake Ontario/Oswego River Report
According to Capt. Andy Bliss of Chasin’ Tail Adventures:
Fish are really scattered in 80-600+ feet of water. The best advice is to start your troll heading north until you find some fish and work them. We are catching them from 45-120 feet down. Spoons and meat rigs have been the most consistent but flies are going to become the mainstay over the next 5-10 days.
According to Capt. Troy Creasy of High Adventure Sportfishing Charters:
We had to sit at the dock early Wednesday morning and wait for the storms to pass. Once the lightning had cleared the area we headed out and it was one of the most ferocious bites of the season. After an hour of searching, 15 fish hit the deck as fast as we could set the lines. We hit the dock with a four-man limit just a few hours after we left.
Oswego River Report
According to Oz Angling Tackle:
After several rainstorms over the last few days, the river flow rose to 10,000cfs over the last day or so. It is beginning to settle back flowing at 7,880cfs this morning with cooler pleasant days ahead. Throwing plugs (Thundersticks, Hot-N-Tots, Kwick Fish) off the wall is a great way to intercept one of these early season kings, as well as wading up to the dam and using flies or egg imitations. We will keep you posted as the reports come in.
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:
Heavy rains yesterday morning gave way to clearing skies in the afternoon. A handful of anglers fished the run but saw very little in the way of fish movement. Only a couple of salmon were spotted and no hookups reported. The water from the reservoir remains at 185 cfs and the current flow at Pineville is 216 cfs.
Oneida Lake Report:
Activity has been a bit slow over the last few days on the lake. Rain and some storms have been a part of the weather pattern during the last week or so. A cold front is ushering in cooler temperatures and pleasant weather is in the extended forecast. Anglers are finding some activity in 25-40 feet of water with blade baits and stickbaits. You will likely find a bass bite in 5-15 feet of water.
Sandy Pond Report:
Activity is quiet on the pond which is typical for this time of year.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The warm water was pushed into shore with the west wind, however east winds could change that. The problem now is not the king bite or where to find temp breaks. The issue is the current warm front and pop-up Storms.
Be careful and always check your radar before and during anytime on Lake Ontario.
The salmon have been in 200 to 350 feet of water, down 60 to 80 feet. The spoon bite has been the best with meat rigs and flasher flies working.
Most of the ramps in Wayne County are open for business. You should not have any problems launching a boat. As of today, Monday August 19th there is still a no-wake restriction on Wayne County waters. That could change any day.
The Loc Fall Derby runs until Labor Day, so you have plenty of time to hook a $25,000 Grand Prize king. Currently, a 33 pounder leads. Hughes’ Marina has weighed some nice kings and browns
No NYS fishing license is needed for the Fall Derby.
Check the leader board at loc.org
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.
The docks at Margaretta Road launch are now finished. They are 60 X 60-foot poly deck dock.
To launch at Port Bay, use the south end DEC launch off West Port Bay Road. The north end road is still closed as of August 19th.
Port Bay waters have produced some perch at the channel. The perch stay out in the lake all summer and return to the bays in the autumn. They do hang-out in the channel where the water temps are mixed.
Sodus Bay has been the hotspot for bass this year. Tournament anglers are catching five pounders. The water level is lower so there is plenty of weedlines to throw out worm rigs, targeting big mouth bass.
If you need tackle Bay Bridge Sport Shop and Davenports at the south end of Sodus Bay are always opened. B-E Fishing in Ontario has everything you need to put you on the water.
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
Bass are hitting at Widewaters and if you launch at the Clyde ramp and go east, you have plenty of water to fish before the next lock.
The catfish are still on the bite near deeper pools. Throw out shrimp. They love it!