Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
It’s National Fishing and Boating Week! Take a kid fishing! National Fishing and Boating Week, slated this year for June 3-11 across the country, is highlighted with several kids fishing contests here in Western New York. Each year, fishing and boating activities are celebrated on a national level to help increase awareness for these popular activities. You can find out more information through the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation at takemefishing.org.
Over at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, there are plenty of fishing opportunities. It all starts June 3rd with a stop at the Visitor Center located at 1101 Casey Road in Basom anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Loaner fishing gear and free bait will be available for the day.
On June 10, there will be a Kid’s Fishing Derby sponsored by the Pendleton Lions Club at West Canal Park and Marina located on Tonawanda Creek Road, North Tonawanda from 9 a.m. to noon. More kids contests are coming next week.
In the fishing department, there is not too much Lake Ontario information available this week with the Niagara County Pro-Am out of Wilson and Olcott this Friday and Saturday. As a warmup, the Don Johannes/Pete DeAngelo Memorial 3-fish/Big Fish contest will be June 1 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $100 per boat. Call Capt. Mike Johannes at 523-1727 to sign up. We will have a recap for it all next week. Capt. Nate Stephenson of Triple J Charters out of Wilson reports that he has been out the last few days, targeting 300 to 400 feet of water off 4 Mile Creek and caught a mixed bag of fish. Stephenson has been getting steelhead in the top 20 – 30 feet using 150 feet of weighted steel with a 6-inch spin doctor/peanut fly set-up. The salmon have been coming from 40 to 60 feet down. On Sunday, the fish were only biting on a west troll. Most of the fish came on spoons and spin doctors and flies.
In the lower Niagara River, the dreaded moss is starting to rear its ugly head, but it’s still manageable at this point. Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston reports bass and walleye are cooperating, but you must work for them on some days. Night fishing for walleyes off Lewiston Landing is producing some fish with plastics. Bass like tubes, swim baits, and Ned rigs during this artificial-only catch and release season. There are still a few trout hanging around, but they are on the way out.
Upper river action for bass and walleyes is producing a few fish, but for the most part the bass are starting to spawn. There are still a few pre-spawn fish around. Remember the bass season opens on June 15 for the regular season.
A State of Lake Ontario meeting will be on June 6 at the Irondequoit Fish and Game Club in Rochester starting at 7 p.m. The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association will be holding its June 8 meeting at the North Amherst Fire Hall in Amherst and Captains Gary Katta of Kongo Sportfishing and John Forbes of Times Two Charters will be talking about Lake Erie walleye fishing. It starts at 7 p.m.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Charters are working water straight out from Sodus Bay and west. The kings are still scattered; however, some were caught in 120 to200 fow. Look for the bait.
Water temperatures are 50 degrees from Rochester.
UV Bomber Long A divers have been working, trolling from Hughes’ Marina west. Lake trout are hitting in 120 fow on the bottom using cowbells with peanuts.
Bays
Now that Memorial Day is history fishing the bays is quieter. The perch are still in the embayments. Sodus Bay has action between the islands and near the channel. You can also catch perch at the breach.Use shad colored bait 2 or 3 inch.
Pike have been caught on either side of the bridge to LeRoy Island. Use live bait or large bright spoons.
Bass season starts in two weeks and Sodus Bay always produces lunkers. Launch your boat at Bay Bridge Sport Shop or Margaretta Road from Route 14.
Port Bay still has perch in the bay near the channel. They usually enter the lake after spawning, however there is plenty shad bait to keep them in the bay.
Port Bay launch sites are at the north end barrier bar and the south end ramp off West Port Bay Road.
Erie Canal
The canal is officially opened so fish near the locks. When they open it stirs -up the bottom and the fish come to eat an easy meal.
There have been some channel cats caught near Palmyra and Widewaters has bluegills, crappies, perch, and a few walleyes.
Bait for fishing is available on the south end of Sodus at Davenports and Bay Bridge Sport Shop.
On Port Bay Jarvis Bait Farm is open on Brown Road. The signs are on East Port Bay Road at the junction of Brown Road.
Toadz Bait is near the end of West Port Bay Road.
Notable Freshwater Fishing Regulation Changes
The following list offers a summary of the most notable fishing regulation changes resulting from the adopted rulemakings described above.
- New statewide regulation for rainbow trout, brown trout, and splake in lakes and ponds. The season will now be open year-round, with a five-fish daily limit, any size, with a “no more than two longer than 12 inches” harvest rule.
- Statewide Atlantic salmon regulations will now allow for a year-round open season.
- Ice fishing is permitted on all waters in New York unless specifically prohibited with the exception of Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties where previous rules remain.
- New specific dates replaced floating dates for statewide season openers to include:
- May 1 – Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel, and Tiger Muskellunge.
- June 1 – Muskellunge. (Note that in 2022, DEC will allow for the fishing of muskellunge beginning the last Saturday in May to accommodate previously planned fishing trips);and
- June 15 – Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
- A five-fish daily walleye limit in Oneida Lake.
- A new regulation to limit the growth of the walleye population in Skaneateles Lake. No daily possession limit; 12-inch minimum size limit, open year-round.
- The statewide sunfish daily harvest limit has been reduced from 50 to 25 fish: and
- The statewide minimum size limit for crappie has been increased from nine inches to ten inches.
Oswego County
Spey Nation Returns in 2023 — Part of Swing the Fly!
August 11-13, 2023
Spey Nation will now be a three-day event at the Pineville Boat Ramp and Tailwater Lodge on the Salmon River in New York and feature a combination of presentations open to the public as well as casting and fishing classes requiring a fee and pre-registration.
Free On-river Demonstrations will take place from 8am to 2 pm on Saturday 8/12 at the Pineville Boat Launch:
- 8:30am – Lines, Tips, Rigging – Rick Kustich
- 9:15am – Waterborne Casts – Nick Pionessa
- 10:00am – Touch and Go Casts –Topher Browne
- 10:45am – Creative and Effective Presentations for Swinging Flies – Walt Geryk
- 1:00pm – Adjusting the Cast for Fishing Conditions – Jeff Liskay
Visit their website to read more
Lake Ontario – Mexico, NY
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
The fishing hasn’t been easy, even the lake trout (typically a good alternative for this time of year) have started their “northern migration.” But overall, 140-165’ has been the most consistent depth for fishing.
Browns are still being caught from 15 to 40’ of water. The fishing in front of Sellkirk has been relatively good. Alternatively, you can head west to catfish and troll to the buoy line. Browns have been suspended from the surface down to the bottom, so spread your lines out and cover water if you want to increase your chances. Try to find an active pod of feeding fish. A few kings have also been mixed in, especially toward the plant.
Lake Ontario – Oswego
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Brown trout has been the fish of choice the last week in Oswego. The best bite has been from 10 to 40’ of water. Early, the shallow water has been productive, and then as the sun comes up the deeper 20-40’ zone has been most productive. We recommend flat lines in the shallow, and when you move out start applying 2 to 5 color leadcores.
Try dark and naturals early, with brighter colors in the high sun. Smaller size spoons have been working the best. “Gold perch,” “Fat Nancy’s,” “UV Yellow Tux,” and “Pickle Seed” have all been good.
The kings have spread out and have been harder to find. But 90-250’ has been the best. Meat rigs, running deep, have been taking some bigger kings.
Military Appreciation Luncheon and Fishing Event at Wright’s Landing
June 10, 2023
The third annual Veteran Fishing and Luncheon event will be held on Saturday, June 10th from Noon to 5:00pm at the City of Oswego’s Wright’s Landing Marina.
• Visit the City of Oswego website for more info
DEC and Local Partners Host Public Meetings About Lake Ontario
- Meetings Scheduled for 6/6 in Rochester and 6/21 in Mexico.
- DEC Fisheries Staff to Share Current State of Lake Ontario Sport Fisheries
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Bureau of Fisheries Chief, Lake Ontario Unit Leader, and respective regional fisheries managers will be on-hand at two upcoming public meetings hosted by DEC partners in Rochester and Mexico. DEC experts will talk about the current state of the Lake Ontario sport fisheries and take questions on a wide array of management actions and research taking place on the lake and tributaries.
The Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association is hosting the second meeting in DEC’s Region 7:
What: Lake Ontario Sport Fishery Public Meeting
When: June 21, beginning at 7 p.m.
Where: VFW Hall, 5930 Scenic Avenue, Mexico, NY 13114
Throughout the spring and summer, both the Oswego and Salmon Rivers offer a variety of fishing opportunities, including panfish and bass. The Oswego also offers carp and walleye opportunities.
Year-Round Notice (Oswego River): There are mandatory personal flotation device zones on the river. The Oswego Fire Department offers loaner life jackets at no charge through its “Loaner for Life” program. For more information contact the east fire station by calling (315) 343.2161 or Click here for the Brookfield Varick Fish Safety brochure.
Free Oswego Fishing Guide
Click Here to Order a Free Guide
The 68-page guide includes a detailed overview of fishing opportunities on eastern Lake Ontario, Oneida Lake, the Oswego and Salmon rivers and a variety of other tributaries, as well as the more than 40,000 acres of public lands available for hunting.