Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
In the lower Niagara River, action is just starting to pick back up after a tough weekend for trout, bass, and walleye anglers from boats. Capt. Joe Marra of Niagara Rainbow Charters worked egg sacs and beads off three-way rigs along Artpark to hit a mix of trout, but he had to work for them – especially with the north wind. Boat control is key when fishing the river and he used his trolling motor to keep bait in place, as well as to give him speed for lure action when he switched over the Mag Lips and Kwikfish plugs.
Shore anglers are still doing well as Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls can attest to. The water has a little stain, but visibility is still good around 4 to 5 feet as of Monday. His best lures continue to be a white and chartreuse mix No. 4 spinner and chartreuse/orange bucktail jigs. Ziehm landed a couple browns, four steelhead and a few kings along with several lake trout. A Coho salmon was caught, too. You can also try casting for salmon and other species with stickbaits in the Devil’s Hole area as well.
We are starting to get into prime time for fall musky fishing. On his first trip this fall, Gary Laidman of South Wales hit a 45-inch fish using a sucker on a quick strike rig. He was fishing with Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island. If you are looking for a good back up plan for bass fishing when you can’t get out on Lake Erie, Capt. Jeff Hippert of Lake Erie Trophy Bass Charters insists that the Niagara River is a great option. While most of the time he focuses his efforts above Niagara Falls toward Buffalo, even the lower Niagara River can be a good secondary choice. The river offers multi-species fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass, musky, and northern pike at certain times from May to November. On a recent upper river trip, he managed 15 nice bass up to four pounds using 3.3-inch swimbaits and drop shot rigs. When the temperature comes down a bit more, it will be game on for some great fall action in the river. Not only will the numbers of fish increase, but the size will, too. Add in tubes or Ned rigs for artificial bait options. Live bait options include shiners and crayfish if you can find them.
Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors Tackle Barn in Olcott reports that brown trout action has been very good, but there is a significant amount of angling pressure in places like Burt Dam. Not everyone understands that the daily limit for brown trout in the streams is now one per person and the minimum size is 15 inches. For steelhead, the daily limit is one per person and the minimum size is 25 inches in length. Egg pattern flies and egg sacs are working in the creeks. Pier casting is still an option in the mornings and evenings with spoons, spinners, or eggs under a float. If you can get out on the lake, trolling for staging salmon and trout is still an option. Remember that if you operate a boat less than 21 feet long, you must always wear a life vest from Nov. 1 to May 1.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Even with a weekend of rain, the streams are just a trickle. We need more than 1-inch of rainfall to give Maxwell Creek a decent flow. With Lake Ontario’s water levels dropping, the streams need a strong current for late season trout to follow salmon’s movement.
You still have the piers in Wayne County for fishing. The Port Bay channel is currently open, and the Sodus Bay channel never closes. Throw out heavy spoons…bright silver and red.
Be careful on the Sodus Pier. The channel current is strong, and the pier can be very slippery. Bring a long-handled net.
Bays
The Sodus Bay perch are scattered, and you need to move around to locate the larger fish. This time of year, they will start feeding extensively just before ice.
The same scenario is occurring at Port Bay. The perch are moving around. Use white 2-inch rubber with a bright tail and keep your bait up 12 inches from a split-shot sinker.
If the channel remains open, you can fish from shore or a boat. The regular hotspots are the points in the bay. Fish the drop-offs.
DEC has launch sites at the northern barrier bar and the south end at West Port Bay Road.
Erie Canal
Last Saturday some kayakers were fishing Widewaters. There were a few bass boats in the narrows on the west side of Widewaters. The large mouth bass were hitting on the south side of the canal.
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:
Agreeable weather and good water flows in the Oak with good numbers of fall run fish. Most all anglers getting hook-ups on something like the peak or just past peak for Kings with brown trout action picking up. Some anglers for this part of the season are now targeting browns with action likely thru November and into December, depending upon weather and water flow conditions, of course. Float guys drifting beads report some long battles with Kings after the Kings snap up drifts meant for browns. There are steelhead and Atlantic and Coho’s reported too. Check out the pair of pics from Barry of PA with a Brown and Atlantic above.
Kings are spawning with some fish worse for the wear but its not full on zombie patrol yet. Some fresher fish continue to arrive with Kings pretty well spread thru the one mile stretch of water below the dam. Flows are mostly clear at a med – slightly high flow. Some color to the water wouldn’t hurt and that might help with line shy fish. For now though, there’s been no significant precipitation and only some showers are in the near forecast with an expected warm up. Next chance at significant precipitation is the upcoming weekend. Chance of a significant cool down for next week.
Thanks to leaf fall, expect water level fluctuations due to hydropower operations. There’s been a fair amount of angling pressure with guys spread thru the waterways like the Oak and Sandy. Looks like there may be a slight lessening of fishing pressure now for this mid week period. Anglers choosing not to mix it up on the Oak are also plying 18 Mile at Olcott and Sandy. Good brown trout action reported at 18 Mile. Sandy Creek flows are mod or just shy of med and mostly clear. Some good pods of browns reported and they can spread out farther upstream if able to get past downstream pressure.
Archer’s Club Stream Fishing is OPEN
Just a reminder that St. Mary’s Archers Club is now open to the public until Nov. 12th, 2023. Parking is $10. No food service or fishing derby this year. Fishing is still permitted from the immediate bankside areas of the Archers Club on any date not included in the public access dates – as long as access is from permitted access points like at the Waterport Dam or the Park Avenue Fishing Trail. Please be respectful for the use of the club.
Oswego County
Get Hyped for Steelhead!
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Let this be your year to experience the legendary waters of the Salmon River — long regarded as one of North America’s premier steelhead destinations!
It only takes one light tackle hook-up for you to understand why they are called Steelhead. Anglers from around the world will tell you that these underwater lightning bolts do more than steal your bait. By the time they have had their way with you, they’ll have stolen your heart and soul. Whether heading upstream for a fall feeding frenzy or dropping back to Lake Ontario in the spring, these 5-10 lb. “chromers” will give you the freshwater fight that brings you back for more.
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS at Pineville
Salmon numbers have been dwindling down. But steelhead have been entering the river at an incredible pace!
Anglers fishing the DSR reported large numbers of steelhead entering the river over the last week. The best parts of the river to focus on are the DSR through to the paper mill.
The best baits this time of year are anything that imitate a salmon egg. Beads, glo bugs, and soft eggs.
Oswego River, Oswego NY
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• Click Here for the Current CFS
Salmon are still hanging around for those looking to get in on some late salmon action! But most anglers are have switched their efforts into targeting trout.
Steelhead have been actively feeding on salmon eggs. So, concentrate your efforts on the faster water just downstream from the spawning salmon.
The best baits are Egg sacs in pink, chart and white. Beads in naturals work best. Imitating salmon eggs is a must. Just remember not all eggs are orange… don’t be afraid to run dead egg imitations as well!
Tight Lines!
Note: Click here to see a map of the areas that are closed due to construction.
Free Oswego Fishing Guide
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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.