Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
Winter arrived in Western New York the past week, but Niagara County was spared from much of the lake effect snow that hammered Buffalo and south. High winds and heavy snows did have an effect on some area waters though. Niagara River conditions are not good right now for a few reasons. The wind created muddy conditions and the seiche that resulted from those high winds caused high water in the river. That high water is starting to come down, leaving behind an icy shoreline. Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls says that if you are going to venture out in the bitter cold to fish the shoreline, make sure you use something like korker ice cleats or some kind of traction device on your feet. Always bring a 50-yard piece of rope in your gear bag and if you encounter any ice shelves, do not stand on them. Fish with a friend. His last trip out, just prior to the storm, water conditions were changing by the hour. Silver and chartreuse jigs were his best lure offerings. Stay safe out there. It may be a few days before conditions allow for it and the shore casters will be the first to target fish once waters start to clear.
The winter fishery is in full swing now according to Scott Feltrinelli of Ontario Fly Outfitters. Water levels are either dropping or becoming frozen. We had a nice bump in creek levels late last week, offering anglers a chance to get out on the local Lake Ontario tributaries and catch a few brown trout and steelhead. Feltrinelli personally saw a mix of fresh lake run fish mixed with some holdover fish. The number of fish is less this time of year, but so is the angling pressure. Anglers should keep warm by staying on the move and working multiple locations. Singles are scattered around for those willing to walk and work. In colder waters it’s a good rule to fish your offering low and slow as fish are sluggish in cold water. The upcoming week looks to be a frozen proposition at best with temperatures in the low 20’s for most of the week.
Make sure you mark your calendar for the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo set for Feb. 15 to 18 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center. The website has all the information that you need at niagarafishingexpo.com and this year there will be free parking for attendees.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Maxwell was flowing strongly on the south side of Lake Road. The north side was slower. Try the north side with egg sacs thrown out under a torpedo bobber.
The steelhead are in Maxwell… just be careful with the extreme current. Wish we had that flow a month ago!
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
I guess we should talk about ice fishing. We might have safe ice by this weekend. Keep in mind the temps will be great, however the wind usually messes-up the thickness.
With calm winds and mid-teen temperatures, we might have 4 inches by this weekend.
If you have ice fished the bays in the county, you know the sections that will be safe first.
I would spud my way out with first ice and stay away from the tributaries flowing in the bays. With our recent soaking rain, the current under any ice thickness will be strong.
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 will be the first place to dig holes in the ice. By this weekend it should have 4 inches. This section of the canal has perch, bluegills, crappies, and sunfish.
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:
Thanks to lake effect snow over the past weekend, the area received 4 – 6 inches of wind blown snow. Temps have turned cold with highs below freezing. The lake effect snow machine continues to churn with advisories still in place for south and west of the area. That forecast for continued cold and the chance for the WNY south shore of Lake Ontario to be brushed by some of the Lake Erie lake effect snow continues pretty much thru all this week. Look for windy conditions about mid week and chance of an area wide snow around Thursday. Long range forecast says chance for warming temps next week. Longer long range forecast calls for cold and winter like for end of January and into February.
Fishing pressure has fallen off thanks to the weather, but for any angler willing to hack the conditions there are pretty good opportunities for steelhead hookups, especially in the Oak. It’s exciting to see the steelhead action responding well to each spate of higher water lately. Flow conditions so far still looking good at about med levels, about 2 ft of slightly stained visibility. No significant icing and even the downstream frog water remains mostly open for now. Other area smaller waterways still have about medium flows and are slightly stained. There’s greater icing conditions there but you might still find some fast water drift spots still fishable.
All around though, I’d look for dropping and clearing flows as the cold catches up with the waterways. Any downstream flat water, even on the Oak, will be heading to frozen conditions sooner then later. Smaller area tribs, especially, will be dealing with greater icing conditions. And snow can make any part of open water flows somewhat chunky without the benefit of significant daytime warm-up.
Oswego County
Water levels on the two most popular Oswego County rivers have been at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Salmon River has been at winter minimum flows this week while the Oswego has been high and dirty.
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS at Pineville
With a lot of water this week, the fish have been condensed into the deeper holes. This led to some really good fishing when you found them. There has been a good mix of fresh and dark fish this week.
Overall, 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 Egg sacs in purple, blue, peach and white. The old pink worm has been taking a few as well! Jigs have also been taking more fish in the low water. Whites with a touch of color, such as pink, peach, chartreuse, black or browns. Don’t be afraid to tip your jigs with wax worms.
Oswego River, Oswego NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS
With the high and dirty water the past week not many Anglers have been finding success on the Oswego River. But if you give it a go, the best bet is to go big. In these conditions try beads in 10-12mm sizes. Chartreuse, oranges, or combinations of the two colors. Try Starburst, Tangy, Atomix Yellow and SUV Orange.
Just above the powerhouse has been a very productive spot. And 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.