Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Not too much going on today. Temperatures are in the single digits with the wind chill … and there’s not much wind. Efforts are underway to install the ice boom at the head of the river off Buffalo, but water temperatures are still fluctuating around 40 degrees. Ice is still a way off. As a result, Niagara River water is still susceptible to stained conditions when the winds are right. With temperatures being forecast in the 40’s this weekend, it should be a good time to get a line wet for some trout action in the Niagara River just before the Christmas holiday.
Earlier this week, a hand full of boaters were catching steelhead using minnows off three-way rigs. Shore guys were using spinners, jigs and streamers to take steelhead, with the occasional brown trout also being caught. Lake trout season opens in New York on Jan. 1, 2020, but it’s open already on the Canadian side of the river. The brown trout action that was hot earlier at Fort Niagara has slowed down. In the upper Niagara River, Denis Kreze of Fort Erie has been hitting some lake trout using a Venom Donkey Snatcher in 18 feet of water. Lake trout season is open in the upper river all year long.
Roy Letcher of Newfane sends word that the water flows have been high with muddy conditions for most streams off Lake Ontario. Those streams could be in good shape by the weekend. With cold weather in the forecast, we could be looking at some of the harbors like Wilson and Olcott starting to turn to hard water soon. Good water was being reported in some of the smaller streams like 4 Mile and 12 Mile, but Keg Creek is closed at the mouth, preventing any fish from entering the stream. After the high water/rain event last week, the water levels have lowered, and fish have come in from the lake. December runoff is a no brainer to catch big lake run fish on the move. Used a large size 6 white Zonker with copper flash. Slush ice can be a challenge when temps hover around freezing. Waiting it out can pay off big. “The sun recedes and with it the conveyor belt of slush ice,” says Scott Feltrinelli with Ontario Fly Outfitters.
Some last-minute stocking stuffers include a season pass for the LOC Derby at loc.org. Save $20 ($10 off the regular price). A 3-day pass for the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo is available from the website at niagarafishingexpo.com. The Expo is set for Jan. 17-19, 2020.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.
Oswego River Report
According to Oz Angling Tackle:
The Oswego River is running high and dirty right now with the snow melt and rain that happened recently. It currently is flowing at 15,700 CFS. With that in mind, high water spots along the shore should produce fish in the days to come as the water clears up. The lower end of the river, downstream of the Rte. 104 bridge, will produce walleye and trout this time of year with the high water flows. Some anglers even fish the lower river at night and do well. Fathead minnows, night crawlers, spikes, meal worms and egg sacs are suggested live bait. Float fishing marabou jigs is an effective technique for catching trout along Lake Ontario tributaries especially in the winter and spring.
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:
A handful of anglers braved the snow and joined us on the run yesterday. Almost all of our anglers were able to get into several fish, again one’s and two’s being the common theme between all. A mix of fresh and colored up fish reported. The middle and lower sections fishing the best. The river flow is up to 1,000 CFS through this evening.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
Over the last couple of days the fishing pressure has tapered off which is normal for this time of year especially as we get closer to the holidays. Yesterday the few anglers we spoke with reported getting into some steelhead in the upper and lower end of the river. Anglers who were bottom bouncing or float fishing had the most success with blue and pink egg sacs. Anglers who were fly fishing had the most success using a strike indicator with single egg patterns or dead drifting with nymphs and small woolly buggers. Lake effect snow has been hitting the area for much of the morning.
Oneida Lake Report:
Winds have been an issue at times recently and are again expected to be strong throughout today. Heavy bands of lake effect snow are also moving through the area with more snow expected Thursday. After that conditions are expected to settle down for several days but be very cold on Thursday and Friday. Temperatures will rebound from the teens to near 40 degrees by Sunday. Anglers can still find walleye casting stickbaits from shore just before and after dark when conditions are decent.
Sandy Pond Report:
No report of activity as we wait for a stretch of cold weather for ice fishing to begin.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
All the streams are flowing after 2inches of rain fell this past weekend. Currently, it’s snowing, and the temps are in the 30’s
It’s transition time for angling in Wayne County, however some steelhead and browns are coming from Maxwell Creek. Use anything red; flies, beads, sacs, or imitation eggs. The water flow is strong on the south side of Lake Road, but you can fish small pools up-stream. The north side is slower where it flows into Maxwell Bay, which dumps in the lake.
Bays
It’s too slushy for boats on the bays and there is no solid ice. The perch are waiting, and this year should be another productive ice fishing adventure. We just must wait.
Remember…if you can do any boat fishing, you need to wear your PFD. That regulation started the last day of October and is in effect until May1st. It must be worn…not thrown somewhere in your boat.
If you need tackle Bay Bridge Sport Shop and Davenports at the south end of Sodus Bay are always opened. They both have live bait if you like fishing with small minnows.
Check out the rest of the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops. www.waynecountytourism.com.
Erie Canal
Sorry to report the canal is part ice and part open water. No one is fishing until we get ice or have a warm winter and the boats are launched.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism and Capt. John Oravec, Tight Lines Charters
Flows in the Oak and other area smaller tributaries were high & dirty through the beginning part of this week and thanks to cold weather returning, are back on the retreat. Cold temps are forecast through the rest of week with a chance of Lake Effect Snow today and tomorrow. Then – you guessed it – back to a bit of a warm up in the 40’s°F for the weekend.
For now, flows in the Oak are high and dirty with less then a foot of visibility. Flows consist of a good head of turbine water and diminished overflow water. Through the rest of this week, flows will likely continue to drop and clear up.
A few guys braving the latest snow and cold temps have still managed some hook ups on the Oak with a few spawning browns, mixed bag steelhead and those persistent Kings. The good drifting opportunities should improve through the rest of this week. Otherwise there are less then a handful of guys out on the water.
The other area smaller tributaries have dropped and cleared quicker then the Oak. On the backside of the latest high water, there should be some fresh fish around in the smaller waterways. That fishable window was a short one though as for the rest of this week it looks like there will be some icing and slushing from the snow and cold. The best bet for now for good open water and lowering flows would be the Oak and the chance for some late browns or fresh steelhead. Flows all around are likely to remain on the up and down cycle we’ve seen so far for December as long as the weather is up and down. The upcoming weekend warm-up forecast seems that way.