Eastern Finger Lakes / Central New York Fishing Report
Mike Crawford of upstateguideservice.com
Late summer patterns are still solid for the lakes of the North Country. Trout are stuck below the thermocline in the Finger Lakes.
Trollers are doing well. Light tackle anglers…those without downriggers… are struggling with soupy conditions, algae blooms and thick beds of millfoil infesting the shallow margins of the lakes.
The dog days of summer are here but not for long we hope. Perch and bass fishing is starting to pick up on the shoals of Oneida Lake. Crayfish are a tough bait to beat.
In the eastern Finger Lakes the smallmouth are also starting to key in on crayfish while schools of fry are a staple for both the warm water and cold water fish this time of year.
Central New York area trout streams are too warm for the most part to facilitate ethical fly fishing. But a pretty good start to the Salmon Run up on The Salmon River is happening!
So pack your ugly sticks, your sponge flies, your coolers and an extra pair of boxer shorts and get up there!!!
Have a safe and enjoyable Autumn season!
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
It was almost a derby trifecta for Niagara County as the Lake Ontario Counties Fall Salmon and Trout Derby came to a close on Labor Day. The derby kicked off in high gear as Codey Allen of West Seneca reeled in a 33-pound, 8-ounce king salmon out of Olcott on the first day of the derby to take over the early lead and never give it up. They were looking for stable water and headed 10 miles out to over 500 feet of water. That was when he saw 3 rods start screaming. They managed to bring in two of the fish, both 20-pound class salmon. Allen was fighting the big boy, a 33-pound, 8-ounce king salmon that hit a Michigan Stinger spoon in green, black and white behind a dipsy diver set back 140 feet on a No. 2 setting. They won the $25,000 Grand Prize plus big fish of the day, earning another $500.
Top steelhead also came from Olcott. Nicholas Dougherty of Lockport was fishing in the same general area as Allen on the second day of the derby (August 17) over 500 foot depths with his brother Christopher of Lockport and his father Thomas of Niagara Falls. They were enjoying a banner day out of their 22-foot Triumph Chaos named “Thor’s Hammer II” as they caught over 20 fish and hooked up and lost over twice that many. At 9:30 a.m., they had a fish hit that they thought was a salmon. When they finally netted the fish, they realized it was a 15-pound, 6-ounce steelhead. That lunker fish also held on for the duration of the derby, earning a check for $2,750. The lucky lure was a Purple-Glow Moonshine spoon, fished behind a dipsy diver that was set out 88 feet back on a 1.5 setting.
In the Brown Trout Division, only 10 ounces separated first from fifth. Third through fifth came from Niagara County waters. Kim Hubert-Bickel of Newfane was third place with a 15-pound, 7-ounce Olcott fish. Richard Barber of Niagara Falls tied Bickel with a 15-pound, 7-ounce Niagara Bar brown, but hers was weighed in first (tiebreaker). Patrick Barber of Niagara Falls was fifth with a 15-pound, 3-ounce brown he caught on the Niagara Bar. It was the one that was NOT weigh in the derby that would have made the difference. Capt. Vince Pierleoni on the Thrillseeker out of Olcott had a young 10-year-old customer out-duel a 21-pound brown trout the first week of the derby, but he had failed to enter the contest because it was a last-minute afternoon trip.
Meanwhile, it has been a slow but steady pick the last few days out of Olcott according to Ed Dlugozima of Mercer, Pennsylvania. Best fishing for them was in 70-110 feet of water on mostly meat rigs. They also ran down and fished the eastern edge of the Niagara Bar on Labor Day. They found an active school of fish in 80-120 feet of water and spoons were the lure of choice. The crew managed 22 bites, landing 9 in the process. Their 300-foot copper pulled 3 kings; riggers at 50 and 60 feet did most of the damage. High divers 140 feet back on a three setting hooked a couple screamers.
It was another great trip from the Keystone State crew. As salmon move in closer to the creek mouths for staging, don’t rule out deep water action off Wilson and Olcott. Steelhead and salmon are both available and action can be great if you find the fish. Some consistent reports have come in from 500 to 550 feet of water. Fish the marks on your electronics.
In the Niagara River, bass and walleye are going into a little autumn funk with the early migration of a few salmon moving into the lower Niagara River. When that happens, the other species of fish have a tendency to be hot and cold depending on the day. Capt. Ernie Calandrelli of Lewiston reports decent bass action on the Niagara Bar and along the Coast Guard station with crayfish a top bait to use fished off three-way rigs. Walleye are also in the same general area, available all the way up to Artpark and Queenston on a spinner and worm rig. Remember that the limit on walleye in the lower river and Lake Ontario is different than the state regulation. Fish must be at least 18 inches long and the daily limit is 3 per person. Some walleyes are being caught along the shoreline in the Artpark area on jigs according to Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls. He picked up 3 on one outing over the weekend. A few more salmon were reported in the river and a few have been seen jumping in the Devil’s Hole area. Some were caught by walleye fishermen drifting worm harnesses in the lower drifts.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.
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 Oz Angling Tackle:
When the wind has not been an issue, salmon fishing on the lake has been on fire this summer. There is certainly no shortage of fish, and the average size fish is impressive this year. The top ten kings weighed in for the “Fall LOC Derby” range between 29-33 pounds. Anglers are targeting kings as shallow as 100 FOW and as deep as 600 FOW. Meat rigs and cut bait have been the hot item for kings this summer but flasher/flies, spoons, and j-plugs are taking fish right now as well.
Oswego River Report
According to Oz Angling Tackle:
A decent push of salmon has come through over the last couple of days and anglers are getting them both at the dam and off the wall. The fish that are running up at this time are fresh, strong and downright mean. Early season kings tend to win more battles than they lose, and will test your gear and your fighting skills to the max. Conditions for the rest of the week look good and this weekend is looking promising for another push of fish. Drifting an egg sac, skein, bead, or fly along the bottom is a common technique for anglers targeting early run kings at the Varick Dam. The other common technique for targeting early run kings is throwing deep diving lures off the wall. Anglers are still targeting smallmouth bass, walleye, rockbass, sheepshead, channel cats, carp, and longnose gar in the river. Bottom bouncing and slip float fishing with gulp minnows, crayfish, and night crawlers has been effective for catching fish from shore over the past week or so.
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:
Over the last couple of days we have had reports of plenty of hook ups but landing the fish was difficult. The water flow out of Pineville is 409 cfs and from the dam 335 cfs. From anglers earlier in the week reports ranged from “I saw a few, didn’t hook up at all, I did ok”, through “a great day, double-digit hookups, brought a couple in” – did not seem to be any discernible pattern as I had reports from anglers in proximity to each other that were on opposite ends of the spectrum. There were also reports of a nice size Atlantic salmon, a couple of brown trout and even a steelhead.
Oneida Lake Report:
Again the wind has been an issue at times over the last week. There is a bass tournament on the lake beginning today through Saturday so hopefully conditions will be good. Bass have begun feeding on young gizzard shad so look for bird activity and you will likely find some action. The walleye bite has slowed a bit which is typical this time of year as they begin to feed on young gizzard shad but you can still find them in up to 25 feet of water. A variety of baits are working including worm harnesses, blade baits and stickbaits.
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 LOC Fall Derby awards were yesterday at Captain Jacks, Sodus Point. The Grand Prize Salmon was a 33.08-pound king that was caught the first day of the derby. Poor Codey Allen had to look at the leaderboard for 17 days to see if he was bumped. Allen, however, left Sodus Point with a whopping $25,500. It was worth the wait.
Wayne County produced the largest brown trout, adult division. Bruce Raggi caught a 15.13-pound brown near Bear Creek and the youth award went to Connor Vogt, who caught a 12-pound brown fishing Wayne County waters.
Currently, the salmon bite has been in 250 to 300 feet of water, down 90 feet. The kings are hitting everything; meat rigs, flasher flies, and mag spoons. There has been plenty bait being marked, so look for the hooks.
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.
The wake restrictions have been lifted. Just remember it is currently 5 mph 500 feet from shore.
The docks at Margaretta Road launch are now finished. They are 60 X 60-foot poly deck dock.
All launch sites are open in Wayne County.
The bass are still hitting at Sodus Bay. With less light and cooling temps, the fish are in the feeding mode. Throw out Senkos or other worm rigs and they have also hit spinnerbaits.
Some perch and bluegills are being caught in Port Bay. Use small rubber minnows tipped with spikes.
There have been largemouths at the south end of Port Bay, close to the DEC ramp. This launch is off West Port Bay Road.
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.
Erie Canal
Canal fishing continues to be hot. The bass are typically in the 5-pound range. The kayak anglers were fishing Sunday. A few of them fish every Sunday, working the Widewaters area. Catfish are still biting cut bait, worms or pieces of shrimp.
Orleans County
Lake Fishing Report
Orleans County Tourism and Capt. John Oravec, Tight Lines Charters
Wow! The week running up to Labor Day featured some tough weather and rough water! The cool part about August at “the Oak” is the big west winds deliver the mature Kings into the Orleans County/Lake Ontario Ledges. The big Kings are in!
Over Labor Day weekend, good catches of 10 to 20 pounders came out of 90 to 120 FOW east and west of Point Breeze. A 29#+ monster was landed on a Caledonia, NY “rec” boat by a young boy. What a thrill! Yours truly had a veteran group including a 10 yr old niece from South Carolina who used the fighting chair on Troutman 2 to haul in 2 whoppers over 24#! Way to go, kids!
Labor Day may signal summer’s end but for anglers who come fish Orleans County its the start of king-time. Get rigged, cut bait, meat-rigs, Flasher / fly J-plugs, pier casting spoons. Rattle crankbaits. Be troll-ready for great in-shore ledge flats and pierhead trolling for the Point Breeze Pigs.
Our structure – river mouth flow and estuary access makes these big fish accessible to shore/pier anglers small boat and big charter trollers for weeks to come.