Upstate New York Fishing Report – April 23, 2020

Greater Niagara Region

Bill Hilts, Jr.
Happy Earth Day! Good news! There was another Executive Order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently, this one re-opening the marinas and launch ramps, boatyards, and marine manufacturers across the state, if social distancing and sanitation protocols are maintained. However, chartered watercraft services or boat rentals are not yet allowed. We are working on it!

The state was very specific regarding boat launch policies including maintaining social distancing at 6 feet apart, avoiding contact with people, washing hands often or using hand sanitizer, and avoiding surfaces that are touched often such as rails, posts and tie-off cleats. Wearing a mask is required when social distancing cannot be maintained.

In the Niagara River, water was still stained due to excessive winds on and off the past week and every time it was starting to clear, another round of wind would show up and muddy things back up again. Some decent steelhead were being reported by shore fishermen in the gorge, but you needed something with scent, bright colors, or vibration. Spinners and chartreuse Mister Twisters were both working separately. Since the water has been a bit muddy, there have not been any recent smelt reports. In the upper Niagara River, Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls hit some fish off Buffalo tossing a ¼-ounce jig head with a Zoom plastic minnow. Fishing with Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls, they did catch several walleyes and had to release them right away because the season does not open until May 2. Ned rigs are working on bass in the upper river, too, according to Capt. Ryan Shea of Tonawanda.

In Lake Ontario, the fishing is good when you can get out there. Charter captains are still not considered essential for running clients, but they can go fishing themselves to see how the fishing is progressing. Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Newfane was out with his wife Stephanie on a recreational trip last weekend. Salmon and Lake trout are strung along the entire south shore of the lake right now in 20-90 feet of water. Brown trout and some Coho are in 5-20 feet of water. Surface temperatures are now 43-46 degrees depending on depth and location. In shallow water, body baits like Live targets, Bay Rats, and Rapalas in bright fluorescent or shiny metallic colors are best. In the deeper water, DW spoons and Spin Doctor/A-Tom-Mik fly combos in bright colors are working as the water is stained. The salmon can be from 20 feet down to the bottom in the deeper water, and the lake trout prefer middle levels to the bottom. Capt. Joe Oakes of Wilson managed to get out over the weekend out of Olcott and he started off fishing for browns in 10 to 15 feet of water running a mix of stickbaits and spoons. He had a good bite west of Olcott. Then he decided to try for some lake trout but instead found mostly king salmon between 50 to 80 feet of water running a mix of spoons, flasher-flies and stickbaits. He ran the baits anywhere from 15 to 50 feet down. The key was to find the warmer water and the pockets of cleaner water next to the dirty water coming from the river. There is still some pier action and a few straggler drop-back steelhead are in the creeks. Bullhead are still around, too. Pick your pleasure. Stay safe out there!

Wayne County Fishing Update

Chris Kenyon

Streams

Some anglers still fishing Maxwell. The flow is excellent. Hold-over browns and steelhead are hitting bright beads…red or green.

Also, some trout coming at the mouth of Bear Creek in Ontario.

Lake Ontario

The surface temps straight out from Oswego today are 39 degrees. The mudline has created some nice stained water from Port Bay to the power plant in Ontario. You will find the temperature breaks in and out of stained water.

The bad news is the wind which is blowing hard from every direction. Currently it’s cranking at 25 mph North/East and will switch to North/West.

The good news is the fishing has been great when you get on the water. The early kings have been fat and the browns in Wayne County are running 10 to 14 pounds.

Use the boards, riggers, and lead line. Jointed stickbaits and spoons work with blue/green glow a good color.

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.

Some perch are being caught near the north end of Sodus Bay. They have been in 20 feet of water, however the spawn is over and they are a challenge to locate.

The pike and walleye season opens the first Saturday in May and Leroy Island on Sodus Bay is one of the better locations for catching northerns. Some walleye can be caught between the islands. Use black/purple bucktail jigs.

If you are waiting for bullheads, we need some warm water coming from the tribs that empty into the bays. That will fire-up the season. Currently, it’s too cold for the bite.

When they hit you can fish off bay Bridge at the south end of Sodus Bay.

Remember while your fishing from your boat, you need to wear your pfd until May 1st.

Erie Canal

The canal bite is off to a slow bite because of the colder temperatures. The water needs to heat-up.

Boat Launches Opened

Privately-owned marinas, boat launches, and many other recreational marine locations will be reopened after a recent announcement from Governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday.

The statement, made in conjunction with similar ones from the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut, is the latest change to the guidance from Empire State Development on what is and isn’t affected by the governor’s Executive Order 202, which ordered employers to reduce the number of employees working at individual locations to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The guidance regarding privately-owned marinas, boatyards and recreational marine manufacturers allows for operations and boat repair/maintenance so long as the facilities ‘adhere to strict social distancing and sanitization protocols.’ However, watercraft cannot be used for charters or rentals, and any restaurant facilities there must remain take-out or delivery only.

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.

Charters and Guides

The “New York State on PAUSE” Executive Order, a 10-point policy to assure uniform safety for everyone during the COVID-19 response, includes a directive that all non-essential businesses statewide must close effective at 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, and temporarily bans all non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason.

At this time, fishing guides or charters of any size have been determined to be not essential and are subject to workforce reduction requirements of the Executive Order. The full and updated guidance on which types of businesses are determined essential and other designations associated with the order can be found online. For more info https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026

Orleans County

There’s been some precipitation through Monday with windy conditions Tuesday and falling temps with a chance of snow showers but nothing significant expected here on the WNY Lake Ontario Plain. The forecast is for cool temps right through the week and the next chance at rain/snow showers is at the end of the week.

Flows in the Oak are medium and slightly stained with 3 ft or so of visibility. For now water temps have barely even flirted with 50°F so there could still be some late season steelhead chances for spawners or jacks or dropbacks. Smallmouth catch and release chances should only get better ahead. Fishing pressure is exceptionally light.

The other area smaller tributaries have moderate flows and slightly stained water color. We have not heard of much steelhead effort lately from the smaller waterways. For now, at least in the near term, look for trib water temps to remain cool and on the drop and clear if there’s no new significant precipitation. Anglers still able and looking for a big trout fix can look to the larger waterways like the Catt, Niagara or Genesee to hang on to steelhead action.

In between all the wind there’s been good pierhead and shoreline brown trout action and that should hang on for landlubber casters or small boat trollers especially with the cool weather prevailing.

This will be our last report provided for tributary action as the bulk of pursuits shift toward the open Lake. So far this spring, lots of trout and salmon have gotten a free pass especially in the open Lake so look for good numbers going forward and again this fall when the trib season comes back upon us.

Safe social distance fishing is currently open for personal pursuit. We all look forward to the NYS Pause to be over and wish good health and safety to everyone and their families.