Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
The countdown has started for the onslaught of fall fishing contests in Lake Ontario, set to kickoff on August 20. For salmon and trout trollers, it is the Fall Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby August 20 to Sept. 6. The 18-day contest offers a Grand Prize of $25,000 for the largest salmon and $70,000 in other prizes. Check out www.loc.org. During that same timeframe, less one day, is the Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey Derby August 20 to Sept. 5. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes are up for grabs for 7 different species categories in the adult division, as well as 7 species for the FREE youth division. This year everything is being run out of the Fishing Chaos app on your smart phone and it is being based on length. You must use a commercial measuring board with ¼-inch increments and make sure it is long enough to handle salmon and trout in the lake. Don’t wait until the last minute to pick up your board. Regulations can be found on the Fishing Chaos app or at fishodyssey.net. Finally, the all-women Reelin’ for a Cure salmon and trout tournament will be held August 20 out of Wilson and Olcott. To find out more details check out reelinforacure.com or give Stephanie Pierleoni a call at 481-6388. Get out there and have some fun!
If you want to fish the Canadian side of the river, it was announced this week that fishermen can once again cross the line if they have their Province of Ontario fishing license. You cannot touch shore, anchor, or make contact with another vessel. Capt. Connor Cinelli of Grand Island reports that bass fishing in the Upper River has been very good with crabs around Strawberry Island. The outside of Donnelly’s wall has also been good, as well as above the round house. Smallmouth bass have been hitting crabs around Peggy’s Eddy and on the Bar at the mouth of the river in the Lower River according to Lisa Drabczyk of Creek Road Bait and Tackle in Lewiston. Walleyes are available throughout the river and on the Bar, but you must work for them. Hair jigs and harnesses are both working to take ‘eyes. Low light conditions like morning and later afternoon are best.
Out in Lake Ontario, Capt. Mike Johannes of On the Rocks Charters headed into deep water this week out of Wilson and found good success in 450-plus feet of water, targeting the zone of 50 to 100 feet down with a mix of spoons. His best spoon was a Carbon-14 with a raspberry ladderback, catching fish off riggers as deep as 100 feet and divers set back 200-220 foot. It was a mixed bag of fish that included king salmon, Coho salmon and steelhead. The Niagara Bar action was good over the weekend for John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda, especially on Saturday. Using cut bait and flashers, as well as flasher-fly combos, they focused in 60 feet of water at the drop-off. He caught his biggest king of the year at 32 pounds, as well as a 27 pounder. In addition, they hit double digits on other mature kings for an excellent day. Sunday was not as productive due to weed issues. Capt. Jim Gordon of Appleton did well out of Olcott aboard the Hawg, also out deep in 500-plus feet of water. His hot rod was a 400-foot copper with spoons, fishing the top 90 feet. Again, a mixed bag of fish was reported. Pier action has been tough out of Olcott due to construction according to Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors. You will have better luck at the Wilson pier.
Oswego County
Report is Courtesy of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning
Lake Ontario Report:
Lake conditions have been very windy over the last week, with lots of changing direction. The last few days have been more calm. We look forward to more favorable conditions the next few days.
Oswego:
This following report is courtesy of Captain Ed Monette of Cannonball Runner Sportfishing.
Fishing this week out of Oswego has been slow. You need to be patient and keep your good stuff in the water!!!
A few stagers are in the 100 to 150 foot of water. Paddles and cut bait riggers down deep have been a must to get them to bite. In 200-700 fow we recommend a combination of spoons, flasher flies and meat riggers. Hot spoons have been Michigan Stinger NBK and diehard. Flashers have been a mix. Steelhead are also being caught off various spoons.
Brown trout are being caught in 100 fow or inside. This is changing daily as the wind hasn’t been consistent.
Mexico:
Report is Courtesy of Captain Jason Hamilton of Crime Pays Sportfishing
The fishing in Mexico Bay has been very tough for the last 14 days or so. There are kings scattered from 90 to 300+ feet of water but currently not big numbers and they are grumpy. Anglers who choose to grind and search are being rewarded with just a few bites per trip. Meat behind 8 in Echips with Twinkies is taking the bulk of the bites.
The lake trout fishing has been the savior for charters running north. Many are finding lake trout in 130-140 feet, running cowbells on the bottom. The lake trout have been pushing further north daily but can be found from about the 42 line north.
Good luck and tight lines!
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Look for bait and hooks before you set up. Go west out of Sodus and try 200 to 400 fow. Temp breaks varied, however down 90 fow worked this past weekend.
Kings hit spoons and meat rigs off the riggers down 90 and the divers out 350 feet.
The “Big One” is coming up. Just ten more days until the LOC Fall Derby. You catch the largest salmon, and you walk away with a cool $25,000.
LOC Fall Salmon Derby Aug 20th – September 6th
$67,400 Total Cash Pay-Out
$25,000 Grand Prize for the largest Salmon
Three Divisions:
Salmon, Rainbow/Steelhead, Brown Trout
Cash Prizes for Salmon division
First Place $5000, Second Place $2000, Third Place $1100, Fourth Place $900, Fifth Place $700, Sixth Thru 10th place $400, 11th Thru 15th $200, 16th Thru 20th $100
Cash Prizes for Brown and Steelhead divisions
First Place $2500
Second Place $1000
Third Place $550
Fourth Place $450
Fifth Place $350
Sixth Thru 10th Place $200
11th Thru 15th $100
16th Thru 20th $50
$1000 Big Fish Daily Prizes!
$500 for the largest Salmon and $250 for the largest Brown and Rainbow/Steelhead
entered. Daily prizes carryover if no fish entered meets the minimum. No Daily Prize September 6th.
$1000 cash award from LOTSA, $500 for the largest valid LOC salmon entered between 8/20-8/28 and $500 for the largest valid LOC salmon entered between 8/29 – 9/6 2021. Both entrant and witness must be LOTSA members and noted on the official LOC weigh-in to be valid.
Weigh In closes at 1 pm on 9/6
Bays
The largemouth bass are hitting in all Wayne County bays. Sodus and Port Bays are the largest embayments in the county.
Fish early because recreational boat traffic makes it difficult to lock in your favorite spot, especially Sodus Bay which gets three foot-boat wakes during the day.
The bass are in weed cover near the south end and off the many points in the bay. The best place to launch is Bay Bridge Sport Shop at the south end of the bay.
The bass will hit weedless worm rigs, or you can use some topwater bait for some extra fun.
For Port Bay anglers, launch on the north barrier bar off West Port Bay Road. The road is bumpy so trailer your boat slowly. The south DEC ramp is closed.
The Wayne County Youth Derby is over, and the final leaderboard has all the information and fish caught by the young anglers.
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.
The 2021 New York State fishing guide can be found at https://www.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.
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
Canal water is warm which has fired-up bass fishing. You can net 6-pound bass near Widewaters. You can also shore fish near pull-offs along Route 31. Fish the lock west of Lyons. When the locks open, the bottom is stirred up creating a feeding frenzy.
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.
Orleans County
This week’s fishing report is from Mike Lavender from Intimidator Sportfishing
Capt. Mike reported that the ups & downs continue on Lady O and this past Saturday was an “UP” judging from young Jeremiah’s smile! These 23 & 25 lbs Kings were caught in 450 to 500 FOW….40 to 120 down, using Dipseys 180 to 220 just slightly west of the Oak. Captain Mike’s recommendation is using mainly a flasher fly bite… yellow flashers, blue green flies.
