Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
Christmas is less than a week away and if you have an opportunity to hit the water, the hot hand right now is the lower Niagara River and Niagara Bar – hotter than even James Cook and the Buffalo Bills! Mark Romanack with Fishing 411 TV Show was in town this past week fishing with Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Wet Net Charters and they had a banner day on the water catching fish for another Niagara Falls USA-based fishing episode.
This was what Romanack had to say:
“After visiting the Niagara region countless times the last few years, I thought I had seen it all. Not even close. Recently, I teamed up with my buddy Captain Matt Yablonsky of Wet Net Charters to target trout on the Niagara Bar near the mouth of the Niagara River. Our team at Fishing 411 TV has fished this water a bunch of times over the years, but never in the fall. To say we had a good day of fishing would be a colossal understatement. Literally we were fighting fish non-stop. The mix was a steady diet of quality lake trout and brown trout. The magic bait? You guessed it, the Mag Lip 3.5 was lights out all day long. It would be hard to imagine a trout and salmon fishery that can top what we experience time and time again in the Niagara Region of Western New York.”
There are still some salmon on the Niagara Bar, too, according to Capt. Frank Campbell. That same Mag Lip, fished on a three-way rig, has been catching multiple species of fish. Walleyes are also being caught, but minnows or shiners work best for them right now.
In the lower river, Capt. Connor Cinelli of Grand Island continues to do well on steelhead in Devil’s Hole and along Artpark with pink or yellow egg sacs off three-way rigs. For him, he uses Emerald shiners for brown trout on the Bar. The bigger the bait, the better your chances of catching trout and other species of fish. Shore action has also been decent for shore casters using spinners, jigs, beads, and sacs in the gorge. However, Ray Mahtook of Youngstown has been catching brown trout off the docks in Youngstown by casting spoons like Kastmasters or any knockoff-type spoons.
Steve Brzuszkiewicz of Marilla did some drifting in the upper river with Emerald and spot tail shiners. His best success was with Emerald shiners, producing all the walleyes that he caught last weekend, bouncing bottom with three-way rigs.
Merry Christmas to all!
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Two inches of rain fell over the last couple of days. Now we have excellent flow in Maxwell and other streams. You might have to wait a day or two for the deluge to subside.
Try the northern end of Maxwell where there is less rapids.
The steelhead will be holding in the pools on the south side of Lake Road. Use egg sacs and if you have a hook-up, try to keep the trout from leaving the pools. Once they are in the rapids…they usually disappear.
Don’t forget the other streams. Salmon Creek in Pultneyville, and the Wolcott stream near Furnace Road all hold browns and steelhead.
Remember the regulations for Lake Ontario tributary fish. Three in combination, not to include more than two Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than one Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and one Brown Trout in the tributaries.
Bays
The Port Bay perch are in the bay because the channel has closed. But…they were hiding last week. After a few weeks of action, the fish are now resting. They are probably waiting for some ice!
It’s hit or miss for the perch in Sodus Bay. You need to move around. There hasn’t been much bait in the bay, so the perch have been entering the lake.
If you decide to try the lake, make sure it’s a calm day. Currently Lake Ontario’s temperature is around 44 degrees which is almost identical to Sodus Bay.
Bass season has closed except for catch and release fish until June 15th.
Pike season will continue until March 15th and when we get safe ice you should concentrate near LeRoy Island.
Erie Canal
For this week the best spot to fish is Widewaters. The crappies and bluegills are hitting small bright jigs tipped with spikes.
You can launch at the park, however use caution because the docks are out.
Anyone underway in a boat less than 21 feet in length anytime between November 1 and May 1 must wear a securely fastened life jacket.
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
The high water is back. This week the Oswego is very high and dirty, leading to tough fishing. The Salmon River is also high but we predict a drop by the weekend. Overall, just concentrate on the slow edges and be careful wading.
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS at Pineville
The latest highwater has pushed a lot of fish to the slow water edges to get out of the heavy current. As the water drops, most fish are staying on the slow edges with temperatures hovering a few degrees above freezing. This leads to fish to holding traditional winter spots.
The high water has also drawn in a few new fish, so don’t be afraid to fish from the DSR to Altmar.
Steelhead are spread out throughout the river right now. We have heard of many new fish from Pineville to the Ballpark. An area that was quiet before the big water.
Best baits have been natural colored beads in 10-12mm. Try Glo Chartreuse, Mottled Glo Roe, Tangerine and Muskegon Madness. Egg sacs in blue, purple, peach and pink have been producing well. Also don’t be afraid to toss a pink worm this time of year.
Oswego River, Oswego NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS
Before the big rains the fishing had been ok. Overall there have been good numbers of steelhead and plenty of browns showing up now that the spawn is done.
Beads remain the best bait in 10-12mm sizes. Try chartreuse, oranges, and a combination of two colors, such as Starburst, Tangy, Atomix Yellow and SUV Orange.
Just above the powerhouse has been a very productive spot. As the water remains high don’t overlook the kiddie pool. A lot of fish hold there to get out of the heavy currents. We’re seeing them hit jigs, beads and stickbaits.
Tight Lines!
Note: Click here to see a map of the areas that are closed due to construction.
Welcome to Oswego County – Watch the Video
Welcome to Oswego County. Nestled in the heart of the Empire State. A place where nature’s splendor mixes with vibrant communities.
A destination that excites the senses, and where each season paints its own masterpiece. Whether you long for sun kissed skin. Or lake effect snow. Or fall’s symphony of colors.
Discover 900 square miles of pristine landscapes, dozens of lakes, and countless trails. Whether kayaking the Oswego Canal, or casting a line on the legendary Salmon River.
Fuel your adrenaline at three racetracks. Or lean into the history that helped shape this country. From daring stories of the Underground Railroad to the depths of maritime heritage.
Whether you crave adventure. Or quiet relaxation. Let the sounds of a good time contrast with peaceful solitude.
Oswego County boasts a rich tapestry of experiences waiting to be uncovered. Come celebrate the arts, food, music and culture.
And, as the sun sets, you’ll be left with a sense of awe. And timeless memories. Welcome to Lake Ontario, welcome to Oneida Lake, and welcome to everything in between.
Discover more at visitoswegocounty.com
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.