Eastern Finger Lakes / Central New York Fishing Report
Mike Crawford of upstateguideservice.com
The State of New York has delivered an executive order to close all public boat launches and guides and charter fishing operations are deemed non-essential businesses that are to remain closed.
Trout streams in Upstate New York have been in excellent condition since the statewide opener of April 1st and many streams are heavily stocked. Water temps are rising and some insect hatches have begun!
Excellent lures are small gold Panther Martin spinners, # 5 countdown rapalas and of course, the night crawler. Fly fishers are swinging streamers and dead drifting nymphs.
Please consider and use proper catch and release techniques for stream trout. With plenty of time on everyone’s hands these days, the local trout streams are busy.
Tip: Learn how to safely release a fish
While everyone should be following safe social distancing practices, it is a good time to get your kids outside, on a nearby creek or pond and get them fishing!
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
COVID-19 impacts continue to be felt throughout the fishing community, leaving people a bit confused as far as what is happening with the local fishing scene. Charter captains are shut down. For the most part, marinas are shut down. Launch ramps – DEC and State Parks are open. A few others run by towns or villages are still open. Lewiston is open and so is Olcott. The ramps at Fort Niagara, Wilson and Golden Hill state parks are all open, with a caveat. There are no amenities, no restrooms. Take your garbage with you. If you are using the launch ramp, make sure you abide by the social distancing guidelines. Don’t be packing a 21-foot boat with 4 people. Be respectful of others. If not, there will be no other choice than to see access shut down in the problem areas. For now, take advantage of the good fishing opportunities that we have in this area.
The Olcott launch ramp opened back up on Tuesday morning, but there are no workers or amenities. Action out in the lake continues to be good for salmon and lake trout in 50 to 70 feet of water according to Roy Letcher of Newfane. Wilson has been a hot spot of late. Spoons and stickbaits are both working to take fish. Wade Winch of North Tonawanda launched his boat at Fort Niagara and hit the Niagara Bar for some Easter action. He hit 3 kings, an Atlantic salmon and a lake trout using DW Orange Crush spoons 60 to 80 feet down over 200 to 220 feet of water. Try netting a king salmon by yourself on a boat if you are looking for a challenge. The piers are still producing a mix of fish including some nice brown trout when the water isn’t too muddy coming out of 12- or 18-Mile Creeks. Cast spoons or stickbaits. Cooler temperatures have kept steelhead around for some possible action, drop backs who have finished with their spawning. Smallmouth bass action has started and are moving into the lower stretches of the creeks. Bullhead can be found most anyplace according to Letcher.
Water clarity was limited in the Niagara River after Monday’s winds that topped 60 miles per hour in some places and brought us nearly an inch of rain. Less than 2 feet of visibility was reported by Lisa Drabczyk of Creek Road Bait and Tackle in Lewiston. When the waters start to clear, look for good trout fishing to continue in the river. Water levels have been high in the river, especially after the winds pushed water into the eastern basin. The New York Power Authority reminds anglers that the Fishing Platform, the stairs leading down to the Devil’s Hole shoreline and the access stairs off Upper Mountain Road to the Reservoir are all closed at this time. For updates on access call 286-6662. Shoreline fishing for trout is still available using spinners or other hardware, drifting eggs or egg imitations under a float in the clearer water tight to shore.
For those planning ahead, the Spring LOC Derby has been canceled for May 8-17 and the Niagara County Pro-Am Tournament set for June 5-6 has been canceled. The Erie Canal Fishing Derby has been canceled for the July event, originally set for July 16-26 but now set for July 15-25, 2021 in Niagara and Orleans counties. Stay safe out there and be sure to maintain your social distancing.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
There are a few steelhead in Maxwell. Today the creek flow is excellent. Use egg sacs or bright green or red beads. You can fish using a torpedo bobber on the north side of Lake Road where the current is slower. The south side is for a faster retrieve.
Lake Ontario
The surface temps straight out from Oswego today are 38 degrees. Yesterday’s blow has created some excellent mudlines, and if the wind diminishes you could fish the lake tomorrow.
The reports from the few anglers fishing Ontario are the browns are close to shore in 20 to 30 feet of water. Trolling with the boards west towards Bear Creek has been productive.
The usual stickbait colors are working. Bay Rats, bright colors.
As of today, April 14, DEC State “unmanned” launch sites are closed. The information concerning boat ramps changes frequently so be sure to check the DEC web page.
Bays
Some crappies are being caught at the south end of Port Bay. (Launch is open) There are suspended down two feet over 20 feet of water. Use bright white plastic bait under a bobber. Tip your bait with spikes.
Most of the perch in the bays have spawned and are not biting like a few weeks ago. You can still catch them using white or shad colored rubber, however they have scattered.
The pike season opens May 1st and Leroy Island on Sodus Bay is one of the better locations for catching northerns.
Anglers fishing from Bay Bridge on the south end of Sodus are catching panfish. If the weather warms, we will have bullhead action from the bridge.
Remember while your fishing from your boat, you need to wear your pfd until May 1st.
Erie Canal
Fishing has been slow on the canal. If we have warmer weather canal waters will warm and the crappies, sunnies, and bluegills will bite.
Safety Precautions from DEC
While enjoying the outdoors, please continue to follow the CDC/New York State Department of Health guidelines (leaves DEC’s website) for preventing the spread of colds, flu, and COVID-19:
- Try to keep at least six (6) feet of distance between you and others.
- Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands, hugging, and kissing.
- Wash hands often or use a hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Avoid surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs, handrails, and playground equipment.
When fishing, DEC recommends avoiding busy waters and following the guidelines on DEC’s website about fishing responsibly in New York State. If an angler arrives at a parking lot and there are several cars, they should consider going to another parking lot. If an angler is fishing upstream, they should fish downstream of the other angler or consider fishing another day. Anglers fishing from boats should be able to maintain at least six feet of distance between one another. For more information about the benefits of being outdoors safely and responsibly, go to DEC’s website.
New York State is open for fishing and DEC encourages anglers to recreate locally at a nearby waterbody. New York’s lakes and streams offer great opportunities for fishing in a wide array of settings across the state. Even during the current COVID-19 public health crisis, getting outdoors and connecting with nature while angling in New York’s waters is a great way to help maintain mental and physical health.
Orleans County
There was some rain through Monday with the strongest winds subsiding and breezy conditions forecast through this mid week. Temps are back cool with a cold night forecast Tuesday and the rest of the week highs only in the 40’s°F. That’s plenty cool enough to prolong tributary steelhead chances with no great spikes in water temps experienced yet. Flows in the Oak are slightly high and mostly clear although its likely that water color will become dirtier over the next day or two. Flows consist of turbine water with diminished overflow water.
Fishing pressure is real light and just prior to this latest rise in flows, guys were mainly finding a few scattered pods of spawning fish. There is still the chance for a few fresh fish migrations or some small jack steelhead now on the latest rise in off color flows. Smallmouth bass should become more prevalent too. The other area smaller tributaries have high and dirty flows and should be on the retreat if there’s no more significant precipitation through this mid and end part of the week.
Rivermouth and shoreline casting or small boat trolling chances look good in between the windy days. The next day or two after a blow when the near shore aqua green waters are within casting range is typically best. Some quality hard fighting browns have been caught.
Non member users are reminded to treat the Archers Club property and fishing privilege with utmost respect and to follow changes in allowed access during the COVID-19 crisis.
Warren county north area