Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
Fishing action in the lower Niagara River continues to be good to very good from Devil’s Hole to the Niagara Bar, but that will probably change for a few days due to weather impacts earlier this week with a second event coming in this weekend.
Capt. Barry Schultz of Schultz Sportfishing reports he did well on the Niagara Bar earlier this week using Keitech swimbaits on jig heads and drop shot rigs, catching salmon up to 18 pounds, as well as brown trout, lake trout, walleye, and smallmouth bass.
Capt. Connor Cinelli of Cinelli’s Fishing Adventures reported very good action with Capt. Ned Librock of Pendleton and Chris Brown of Lewiston this week. They reeled in steelhead, lake trout, and walleyes fishing Devil’s Hole on three-way rigs, with the primary bait of Emerald shiners that Cinelli dipped from the upper Niagara River. He noted that bait has been plentiful, looking more like spring than winter. Despite the cold temperatures and using gloves, they still managed to have some great fun (despite all the snags) until low temperatures got the best of them. Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston didn’t need to go any further from the launch ramp in Lewiston than the Artpark drift with Gary Hall of Niagara Falls and Brian Hall of Youngstown his last trip out. Using pink egg sacs off three-way rigs, they managed to haul in nine nice steelhead on a dozen hookups in just a couple hours of fishing.
It was the Mike and Mike show again on Monday. Mike Rzucidlo and Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls hit the gorge shoreline, hammering rainbow/steelhead using spinners, KO Wobbler spoons, and jigs. They had 8 feet of visibility, but that’s all going to change with the wind and rain. Shore action will be the first to allow for fishing opportunities once the conditions start to improve.
In the Newfane/Olcott area, Matt Vogt of Newfane hit 18 Mile Creek recently and found a bit slower bite than his last trip there. Water conditions were still a bit cloudy from the rain but it was finally starting to clear up a bit. The water has been relatively slow at clearing up, but the trout don’t seem to mind too much. Not a lot of fish were making appearances. Vogt caught some trout on hair jigs he tied himself.
Every year, Chuck Booker of Amherst hands out awards for Anglers of the Year in his various lure categories, taking into consideration lures, locations, methods of fishing and success rates. In 2023, Booker acknowledged these local anglers from Niagara County:
Jason Schultz of Newfane in the Fly Division and Shane Stark of Newfane in the Stickbait Division. In the Youth category for kids ages 15 and under, Brady Edmister of Lockport topped the In-line spinner division; and Emerson Austin of Pendleton topped the P5 division. Congratulations!
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Wayne County had 5 plus inches of snow over the weekend. It’s now melting so the stream banks are safe. Steelhead are being caught at Maxwell on the south side of Lake Road.
The flow is steady so find the smaller pools and throw out egg sacs or bright red small spoons.
The pier heads won’t be safe for walking. It’s too slippery at the present time however, with rain coming you might get a chance to fish before weekend weather predicts freezing temperatures.
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
Bay fishing this week will be a challenge. The south end of Port Bay has a skim of ice. You could launch a boat on the north end; however, you will be fighting a strong southeast wind.
The perch are in Port and Sodus Bays, but this week would not be the time to fish from a boat.
Next week the temperatures will drop and maybe we can get some ice. All we need is consistent below freezing temperatures and less wind. Hopefully, ice fishing will return to Wayne County.
How would you like next week’s report given you ice thickness information?
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
Widewaters is covered with slush and there are no openings to even fish from the shore.
You need a week of cold temperatures before you put your shanty on Widewaters.
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.
Orleans County
Orleans County Sportfishing Coordinator Ron Bierstine:
It’s steelhead season on the Oak! In terms of the weather, we had about 5″ of snow this past weekend but temps warmed above 40° yesterday and today, melting most of it. We are anticipating some extreme winds today with the High Wind Warning ending Wednesday morning. Temps will be hovering in the low 40°F with a mix of snow and rain most of the week. Winter will return Saturday through the MLK holiday on Monday as a cold front approaches bringing in highs in the low 20s°F.
Click here for a detailed NOAA weather forecast.
Show Season Kicks off this Month!
- Fly Fishing Show – Edison, NJ (Same location as Suffern World) – January 26 – 28, 2024
- Greater Niagara Fishing & Outdoor Expo – Niagara Falls, NY – February 15 – 18, 2024
- Sportsmen’s Show & Outdoor Recreation RV’s & Boats, Monroeville, PA – February 16 – 18, 2024
- Springfield Sportsmen’s Show – Eastern States Expo, MA – Feb. 23 – 25, 2024
- Empire State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show – Suffern, NY – Feb 29 – March 3, 2024
- West Virginia Fishing, Hunting & Outdoor Sports Show – Morgantown, WV – March 2 – 3, 2024
- Connecticut Fishing & Outdoor Show – Mohegan Sun Earth Expo Center, CT – March 22- 24, 2024
Oswego County
The high water is finally gone on the Salmon River, but the Oswego has been rising. The Salmon River is now on the low side but fishing has remained good! Just concentrate on the deep holes.
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS at Pineville
As the water goes down, most fish will move to the deepest water. Thankfully the high water also drew in a few new fish so don’t be afraid to fish the entire river.
Steelhead are spread out throughout the system right now. Black Hole, Town Pool, 81, Compactor, Sportsman, Pineville, Trestle, Wire and Schoolhouse are all go to spots.
The best baits have been natural-colored beads in 8-10mm. Mottled Glo Roe, Lighten Up and Dead Egg. Egg sacs in purple, blue peach and white have been producing well too. And don’t be afraid to toss a pink worm. Jigs have been taking more fish in the low water. Try whites with a touch of color (pink, peach, chart) and black or browns.
Oswego River, Oswego NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS
The Oswego fished well last week with the drop in water levels and increased clarity. But after the snow event this past weekend, followed by more rain and warm weather, things don’t look good moving forward.
In these conditions, bigger is better. Try beads in 10-12mm sizes. Chartreuse, oranges, combination of the 2 colors. Ex. 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. Lots of fish hold there to get out of the heavy currents and actively hit jigs, beads and stickbaits.
Tight Lines!
Note about shore access: construction along the Riverwalk is complete in most areas, but much of the high wall remains closed. Click here to see a map of the areas that are closed due to construction.
Fishing for Salmon River Steelhead – Featured in On the Water Magazine
When you consider that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation stocks more than 120,000 Chambers Creek-strain steelhead in the Salmon River system every year and the returning fish can weigh more than 10 pounds, you begin to understand the reason. If that’s not enough, the largest steelhead tend to enter the river in December. It’s not uncommon to hook fish that are 15-plus pounds. Of course, landing one of these Salmon River steelhead is another story.
Welcome to Oswego County – Watch the Video
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.