Upstate and Western New York Fishing Report – July 7, 2021

by OTW Staff July 8, 2021

Greater Niagara Region

Frank Campbell

The summer LOC Derby is producing some big fish out of Niagara as it continues through July 25. Three of the top 4 salmon – including the grand prize leader – come from Niagara as of this past week. Current leader is a 30-pound, 7-ounce salmon caught by Dave Miller of Lancaster on cut bait while fishing out of Wilson with Capt. Lou Tepas. Top brown is 16 pounds, 3 ounces reeled in by Kim Bickel of Newfane fishing out of Olcott and the top lake trout is from Henderson harbor at 20 pounds, 11 ounces weighed in by Rosalie Trump of Sackets Harbor. First place walleye is from the Niagara River, a 10-pound, 10-ounce ‘eye reeled in by Burt Lickers of Niagara Falls. The LOTSA club tournaments will be held July 16 and 17, 3 events with cash prizes. You must be a member. Sign up for all at www.lotsa1.org. Remember that the club’s next meeting is July 8 at the Town of Newfane Marina starting at 7 p.m. Guest Speaker is Chris Petrucci on derby fishing tactics. On to the fishing.

First place walleye in the derby right now is 10-pounds, 10-ounces from the Niagara River, reeled in by Burt Lickers of Niagara Falls.

The current LOC Derby Grand Prize leader is a 30-pound, 7-ounce king salmon reeled in by David Miller of Lancaster while fishing with Capt. Lou Tepas while fishing out of Wilson.

Joshua Miller of Lockport with a 29-pound, 10-ounce Olcott king that is currently leading the salmon division in the Summer LOC Derby.

The leading brown trout in the LOC Derby is a 16-pound, 3-ounce fish reeled in by Kim Bickel of Newfane on July 5.

Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Youngstown, who runs his big boat out of Wilson, reports that salmon and trout are located from 80 to 350 feet of water with 2 basic areas, inside in 80-150 feet of water and then outside from 250-350 feet of water. Meat and spoons are taking most of the fish. A lot of fish is being found in the top 70 feet on spoons and some deeper fish are being caught on meat and attractors. Capt. Roy Letcher of Newfane agrees that there has been some “crazy good fishing” from 60 feet out to 300 feet of water. Put your baits in the top 80 feet for a mixed bag of salmon and trout. Best baits have been spoons or cut bait with the best bite early in the morning from Wilson to many points east. Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston continues to work the waters around the red can at the drop-off of the Niagara Bar to catch a mix of kings and cohos on spoons in the top 50 feet over 70 to 100 feet at the drop. In harbors like Wilson and Olcott, good numbers of bowfin, rock bass and bluegills are being caught, as well as largemouth bass according to Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors in Olcott.

Scott Rohe of Cheektowaga with a big Olcott salmon from this past week.

Mike Erdt of Williamsville caught this salmon fishing out of Olcott.

Mike Erdt steelhead — Mike Erdt of Williamsville with a big Olcott steelhead.

Bass fishing is starting to pick up and the moss is getting better according to Lisa Drabczyk with Creek Road Bait and Tackle in Lewiston. At the NYPA fishing platform located in Devil’s Hole, crayfish has been a hot bait for smallmouth bass. Do not rule out the lower Niagara River for the walleye category for the Lake Ontario Counties Summer Derby. Drabczyk reports that a 10-pound, 10-ounce walleye was weighed in this week by Burt Lickers of Niagara Falls. In the upper Niagara River, Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls reports good black bass action on jigs and No. 3 spinners the few times he has been out this week.

Oswego County

Report is Courtesy of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning

Pictured is Maddie Lafrance from Washington, Maine, with a 24lb king caught on the vessel Northeastern 4 with Northeastern Sportfishing on July 2nd on a 400 copper on a moonshine mag size spoon green flounder pounder spoon.

Lake Ontario Report:

The last week we have seen a lot of wind from multiple directions creating for some great fishing and tough fishing and consecutive days.

There is a lot of moving water, which spreads the fish out and does not allow them to settle in.
Looking ahead, we expect a more settled weather pattern, which should lead to more consistent fishing.

This week the Oswego Pro Am is being held on Saturday and Sunday, in Oswego. Friday is the Sticks Big Fish Friday event. The Tri County Challenge is also in its 2nd week. So, there’s lots going on in Oswego County right now. Get together with some friends and sign up for one of these great events! More info at oswegoproam.com.

Cary Richardson from Boone, North Carolina.12 pound steelhead caught on a stingray black UV on June 18.

Oswego:

The following report is courtesy of Captain Bob Pultorak of T-K Charters.

Currently, we are targeting Kings and Coho Salmon, steelhead, and brown trout.

The lake is starting to set up into three layers, with the upper-level temperature at 68 degrees, a rapid drop for the middle, and then the bottom layer.

Browns and Steelhead prefer the warmer water 55° to the surface. For kings and coho, we recommend fishing the thermocline in the lower level 40 to 50°

Spoons are the favorite for browns and Steelhead. Stingray and magnum spoons seem to be best.
While the salmon love attractors and meat combinations. Although big spoons are also productive. Such as moonshine or Michigan Stinger, going fast at 2.7 to 3.5 mph. We slow down our meat and Twinkie rigs, usually at 2 – 2.7mph

For kings, our best setups this week have been white, green dot 10” spin doctor with a frog meat head or green Twinkies. And Moonshine mag in black and silver. Stingray Pickleseed is still landing browns.

Mexico:

This report is provided by Capt. Adam and Mike of Northeastern Sportfishing.

Over the past week we have had two main targets. Option one being kings and steelhead, offshore in 150-300 fow. Option two being brown trout inside of 100 fow. The Kings and steelhead can be found from 150-300 fow plus feet but the best for us has been 150-225 fow (some boats west have done better deeper).

Our biggest tip: if you DO find a pocket of fish, stay on them! Steelhead have been upper column 40-70ft down, caught on high riggers, coppers, and divers. The best spoons have proved to be stingray size; carmel dolphin, green dolphin, yellow diehard, the doctor, and chartreuse alewife in both uv and glow. Kings are lower in the column, 80-150 fow. We have experienced some spoon bites but mostly a fly or meat bite. Lighting is key. Early on combos such as stud combos, cannonball rig, glow meat rigs, etc. In the bright sun, we recommend mountain dew, live wire, hammer time with uv rigs, or mirage flys.

Browns have been in that 60-80fow range. The best spoons prove to be frostbite, green dolphin, blonde chick, lemon lime, as well as some varied super slims and northeast troller spoons. Riggers 40 foot to bottom down, 7-9 color lead core, 200-250 coppers and 100-150 divers #1 size #2 setting.

The water level is still on the low side and is currently stable. Tight lines to everyone!

Oswego River Report

Summer means a mixed bag on the Oswego River. Anglers can target bass, carp, walleye, and pan fish. Occasionally a summer run steelhead or Atlantic salmon is spotted in the mix too.

Our recommendation for walleye is to fish on the west side, between the two bridges, especially at night. Most walleye setups will get the job done.

Please check our website for the current CFS, and check back in late-August for the fall salmon report.

Please Consider the Following Year-Round Notice: 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 at 35 E. Cayuga St. by calling 315-343-2161.

Click here for the Brookfield Varick Fish Safely brochure

Click here for the current water flow

Year-Round Notice: 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 at 35 E. Cayuga St. by calling 315-343-2161.

• Click here for the Brookfield Varick Fish Safely brochure.

• Click here for the current water flow.

Salmon River Report:

This time of year usually means bass on the Salmon River. Smallmouth can be very aggressive, so our biggest recommendation is to try a lot of pockets and keep moving throughout the day. They will hit anything from a juicy fly to a crank bait.

Northern pike are also caught at the mouth around port Ontario.

There are lots of boat launches and marinas on the Salmon River, but we recommend calling ahead to make sure the water is high enough to launch. Please check our website for the river CFS, and check back in late-August for the fall salmon report.

Oneida Lake Report:

Walleye season opened the second weekend of May, and with an average depth of 22’ bass can be caught throughout most of the lake. We recommend first-timers who are targeting bass to try the mouth of the Oneida River as well, since it’s easy to identify where the cover is.

Check out our website for more information on charters.

Sandy Pond Report:

The main points of access for Sandy Pond are: Greenpoint, “The Elms,” Wigwam, and the new DEC launch at Stanley Drive.

Popular species throughout the summer include bullhead, crappie, pan fish, northerns, bass, walleye, and the occasional pickerel.

Check back with us in January for our ice fishing report.

Wayne County Fishing Update

Chris Kenyon

Lake Ontario

Flasher flies, cut bait, and green glow spoons appear to be attracting kings, cohos, and some steelhead.
During the holiday weekend Lake Ontario trollers were targeting Sodus west to Bear Creek. They were working 150 to 200 fow.

Some temperature breaks were found 80 to 100 feet down over 200 fow. Some were running copper back 300 feet. Lots of fun reeling that line to the boat!

The LOC Summer Derby started Saturday, June 26th and runs until Sunday July 25th.

Bays

The early morning bass anglers had fun over the weekend, however recreational boats dominated the bay waters later in the day.

Both Sodus and Port Bay have produced largemouths in the weedlined shores and Sodus had some walleyes caught at dusk near the channel.

The walleyes hit purple jigs or dark bucktail jigs. There are not too many in the bays, however a few can be caught near the outlet buoys or near the islands on the east side of Sodus.

Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Federation of Sportsmen Clubs are pleased to announce the 22nd Wayne County Youth Fishing Derby for anglers ages 4-16. The event runs June 19th-July 31st, 2021and covers the waters in Wayne County.

The 2021 New York State fishing guide can be found at dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html for downloading and printing at home. Production of hard copies is finished and have been delivered to License Issuing Agents. Hard copies can be requested by emailing FWFish@dec.ny.gov.

Erie Canal

The canal has some nice catfish coming from the Palmyra section. They are finished spawning and will hit doughballs or cut shrimp. The Port Gibson section of Widewaters has largemouth bass if you concentrate on the south side in the weeds.

Keep informed from the NYS Canal web for changes and restrictions with canal waters. Keep informed about 2021 canal hours. (There will be no fees for the 2021 canal boating season.) May 21st is the scheduling for the canal opening. Hours are 7 am till 5pm. Stay informed with the below web page.

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.