Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
There will be a free fishing weekend on June 24 and 25 allowing everyone 16 years of age and older to fish for free. The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation is holding out a carrot by allowing everyone to fish for free with the idea that it’s a great family activity and it just might be time to give fishing a try as a recreational pastime. Going hand in hand with the free fishing weekend are a couple of kids fishing contests to take advantage of. On Saturday, June 24, there will be the Town of Newfane’s “Hooks for Harry” contest for kids 4 to 15 years of age. This is a memorial event remembering the late Harrison Hazlett of Olcott who passed away last year. It will be held at the Town of Newfane Marina and 18 Mile Creek up to Burt Dam from 8 a.m. to noon. On June 25, the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs and the Niagara River Anglers Association will be teaming up for a kids contest at the NRAA’s Wilderness Preserve on Balmer Road in Youngstown from 9 a.m. to noon. The contest is open for the first 40 kids, and you can register by calling Paul Jackson at 998-8910.
Action in Lake Ontario is slowly starting to improve. However, you do have to work a bit to find your fish. When you do, it can be great fun. It was an enjoyable trip on the lake Kevin Reimers of Wilson and his family that included his dad, Duane, his brother Keith, his son Cody, and Cody’s father-in-law Franco Angelini of Lexington, North Carolina. Reimers set up the charter with Capt. Mike Johannes of On the Rocks Charters for a kind of reunion of sorts. The forecast didn’t look good with rain and some wind out of the north in the forecast. As luck would have it though, the rain stopped by the time they found their fishing spot between 300 and 400 feet of water northwest of the harbor. Johannes used a mix bag of fishing tactics using 200 to 400 feet of copper lines off planer boards, downriggers, and divers to hit the prime fish zone of 50 to 70 feet down. Johannes said his approach was a simple one. Find the bait with active fish around it and then stay on them. For the morning, they boated 14 fish out of a solid 25 releases, catching king and Coho salmon, as well as steelhead. Finding the preferred temperature zone of 46 to 47 degrees at the cannonball on the river was important, as was the trolling speed of 2.8 to 3.2 mph. Reimers is already making plans for a second annual trip in 2024.
In the river, moss continues to be an issue, but anglers continue to battle through the inconvenience as they pursue bass, walleye, and musky. There have even been a few lake trout hanging around in the lower river for casters and drifters. Live bait like minnows and crayfish are working for bass; worm harnesses will work for walleyes, but a few are still being caught at night off the Lewiston Landing area on Zoom flukes and Fin-S Fish plastics. Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston says that there has also been a good spinnerbait bite on bass.
The Lake Ontario Counties Trout, Salmon and Walleye Derby will be held from July 1st through the 30th offering anglers nearly $40,000 in cash and prizes for the largest fish. The biggest salmon will win the $10,000 Grand Prize. First place in each of the five species categories will win $1000. There are weekly prizes that total $3000 – $1000 for the biggest salmon and $500 for the other four categories. Check out loc.org for details. Become a member of the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association for a chance at winning a $750 check for the largest salmon caught by a member at lotsa1.org.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The kings are in Wayne County waters. There have been some northeast blows, which are not the best for pushing temps around, however during the weekend there were some calm days.
Kings have been in 300fow with some temp breaks at 70 down straight out from Sodus Bay.
UV spoons have been working the best. Put your favorite color down. Michigan Stingers UV Frog, Moonshine UV yellow or green, or Northern King Mags bright colors have all worked.
Some steelhead are also being netted straight out from Hughes’ Marina.
Don’t forget the LOC Summer Derby slated for July 1st through July 30th.
Bays
The bass are hitting in Sodus Bay. Weed cutters have been at the southern end so try your Senko rigs on the northeast side of the bay.
Spinner baits have also worked. You can use top water baits during the quiet time in the evening.
Port Bay has bass off the points. Fish the weeds for largemouth.
The perch and other panfish are hitting near the channel.
Erie Canal
The bass are hitting in Widewaters. Weed growth is on the south side of the canal. Launching at Widewaters will give you the largest area between locks.
Catfish have spawned and are on the bite. Use shrimp or worms.
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.
Orleans County
Orleans County Sportfishing Coordinator Ron Bierstine:
On the backside of the Oak Orchard Open tourney most boaters were reporting good action on the waters off Point Breeze. That good action for medium sized Kings was through the past weekend and beginning part of this week. Water conditions were mostly stable with warmish water temps recorded nearly top to bottom out to 120 fow or deeper. Along with the warmer water temps there was nice color to the water and good bait reported. Some of the alewives were reported jumbo sized. Captain B. Ashmore aboard the Finnatic worked that water and at first the early morning bite was tough but then the Kings turned on for him later in the AM. Check out his nice cooler haul in the pic (left).
Captain Lou Borrelli of Get the Net Sportfishing had a Father’s Day trip that made for happy sons and Dad. Out of Bald Eagle Marina they fished 100 – 130 fow. At first the biters weren’t committed but soon after the bites turned into solid hook-ups. Spoons were the ticket and any color was good as long as it was black and silver. Riggers at 90 ft down and 550 coppers and 280 – 300 divers all produced. The trip ended on a double with a Warrior Captain Happy glo spoon on the rigger and meat on the 300 diver. The smiles in the pic below say it all.
The good action out there so far is showing a good crop of 2 year old fish. Soon we’ll be looking for some of those big boy mature Kings to be showing up too. Good chance that those stable water conditions won’t be holding through this mid and end week period thanks to E winds. Those winds in the medium range are forecasted about until the weekend. When you get back out there it may be that the fish and bait are broken up or moved deeper thanks to colder water moving in shore. But so goes the sport of fishing and the ever changing challenge of reading the conditions on the water and finding the fish – so good luck!
Oswego County
Lake Ontario – Oswego
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
The fishing out of Oswego has been best in 90-300’ of water. Kings have been feeding from 40 to 120‘ down. Many angles are catching them on spoons with flasher fly combos, but meat rigs are taking their fair share as well. Dipsey Divers from 115-250’ and coppers in 250-400’ have been producing best.
Overall, we recommend fishing the marks and don’t pay as much attention to temperatures.
Hot spoons have been “Carbon 14,” “Black Wiggler,” “Dill Pickle” and “Geezer.” “Whit Green Dot,” “Hammertime,” valium flashers trailing green or glow flies or “Steel Gator,” “Illusion,” and green glo meat rigs have been good early in the day. Chrome patterns have been better in the sun. “Scumline,” “Icehouse” and “Lances 2 Face” with “Warship” and “Stud Rigs.”
Lake Ontario – Mexico, NY
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Most boats are still fishing north for lake trout. But more and more are heading west to deeper water to capitalize on the early king bite. 160-300’ seems to be the most consistent, from the plant to 5 stacks. Otherwise, the fishing in Mexico has been similar to Oswego (see above report).
Tight Lines!
2023 Pro Am Fishing Tournament
July 8-9, 2023
Oswego County Tourism caught up with the event organizers to ask some questions about the tournament:
Q. Who is the Pro Am Tournament for? Can anyone participate?
Anyone can participate in the Pro Am. Captains and guides have to fish the pro division, non-captains/guides have the option of fishing either division. Usually pro teams have four or more teammates and amateur teams have three or more.
Q. How can I register for the Pro-Am?
You can visit one of our local tackle shops: Fat Nancy’s, Woody’s, Sonny’s or All Seasons. There is also an online registration option, which has been posted on our Facebook page and at OswegoProAm.com. You can also call/text the event organizer, Mike Lewis (315) 345.0316.
Q. What is the total (expected) payout this year?
The predicted payout, based on 20 boats in each division should reach $18,000-$20,000 for pro and around $7,000 for amateur. The exact place payouts will be determined based on the final number of boats.
Q. How can I patriciate if I don’t have a boat?
If you don’t have a boat, you can hire a charter and enter the tournament that way. It would have to be in the pro division. We’ve heard there are still captains available, but don’t wait too long to contact them.
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.