Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
Capt. Rich Brant of Tonawanda reports that he was out this week and the Niagara River water cleared up faster than anticipated. The best bite for him has been on minnows off three-way rigs in Devil’s Hole for steelhead, lake trout, and walleye. Remember walleye season closes on March 15. The Niagara Bar has a healthy number of brown trout hanging around the mouth of the river.
Along those same lines, Capt. Connor Cinelli of Grand Island reports that the water is perfect right now. He’s been getting a few steelies and lakers in Devil’s Hole and some nice walleyes in the back eddies downriver. All fish were caught on emerald shiners. He insists that the Bar is loaded with browns whenever the wind cooperates.
In the gorge, shore casters like Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls have been doing well on trout this week. He reported 4 feet of visibility on Monday. Best baits for him have been white bucktail jigs and chartreuse No. 4 spinners. With the 70-plus degree days we enjoyed Monday and Tuesday this week, people must be wondering about the smelt run already. According to Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston, there are some smelt in the river, evidenced by smelt found in the stomachs of the trout right now. However, water temperatures need to come up a bit and a full moon phase needs to come into play before we see any dipping.
Out in Lake Ontario, good pier action was being reported this week by some casters in Wilson and Olcott. Vic Thibault of Newfane had some browns hitting minnows under a float on Saturday in Olcott. The water was a little stained but not bad. On Tuesday, Roy Letcher of Newfane was 6 for 9 on browns by casting gold, silver/blue, and silver/green Little Cleo spoons in some clearer conditions.
The streams are low and clear and some steelhead are being caught in places like Burt Dam in 18 Mile Creek. Lake trolling for brown trout in the shallows is an option when the weather cooperates. Target 15 to 20 feet of water with stickbaits or spoons. For Wade Rowcliffe of Rochester, his best lure over the weekend was a gold and black Smithwick Rogue with an orange belly.
Remember that there will be a Buffalo Niagara Boat Show March 21 to 24 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center this year. Mark it on your calendar!
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
When the fog decided to leave, a variety of boats trolled the shoreline for browns.
Most of the action was west out of Sodus Bay to Bear Creek. The last couple of days have been south wind keeping Lake Ontario calm.
Troll in 10 to 20 fow using stick baits. The brown trout bite has been excellent. Bay Rats and Smithwicks are still the favorites.
Bays
Crappies were being caught in Sodus Bay around docks in 15 fow. Use small jigs tipped with spikes. The same rig used when ice fishing will catch “open water” crappies.
Perch are at the north end of Sodus near the breach. And they are being caught between the islands.
Perch are also being caught in Port Bay. Try the north end points and near the channel.
While you are catching perch I will dust-off my ice shanty…which never left the cellar.
Launch sites for Sodus: Next to the Coast Guard Station and Bay Bridge Sport Shop.
Launch sites for Port Bay: Barrier bar road at the north end of West Port Bay Road and the south end DEC site.
Fish in pairs for safety and remember the docks next to DEC’s sites are not in the water.
Bass season has closed except for catch and release fish until June 15th. Remember this!! You cannot keep any bass while ice fishing.
Pike season closes March 15th.
Erie Canal
Some kayak anglers were fishing Widewaters on Friday last week. That section of the canal will produce crappies in shallow water.
The official opening of the canal is May 17. 2024.
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:
Precipitation thru the past weekend here on the WNY Lake plain was not enough to raise trib flows up. Flows in the Oak and other area smaller waterways are low and clear. Unseasonably warm temps for this beginning part of the week are raising trib water temps into the 40’s°F for the Oak and mid to high 40’s°F for the smaller waterways.
Look for some spawning activity – at least for those fish not already having spawned in the higher off color flows of a month or so ago. Given the warming temps some steelhead are likely trickling in – yet it’s a tough call for migrations thanks to the low and clear and warm flows from what is typically higher and colder and stained flows for this time of the year.
Forecast ahead for the rest of the week is cooling down some with chance of rain or showers tonight/tomorrow and maybe again begin part of the weekend. Rainfall tonight/tomorrow expected at 0.25 – 0.50 inch. Something like a 0.50 in or more of rain likely needed to change trib flows. Lots of calendar time ahead for more steelhead action, especially on more favorable weather or flow conditions, so keep an eye on the weather for changes.
Fishing pressure has been light. Look for fish holed up in deeper water spots like at the dam or downstream thru some of the deeper holes, and fish here and there on gravel. Casting and small boat trolling chances on the near shore of Lake Ontario waters definitely coming on thanks to the warm weather. Anglers are finding lots of eager smallish browns and a few better fish in the 6+ lb range thrown in. Check out the nice medium size brown trout below that posed just long enough for a pic. Those numerous fish are primed to become next fall’s hefty spawning trib fish. A little NE wave action yesterday lead to the nice green and stained water being within casting range from the pier heads for land lubber action. At least one small boat troller at Point Breeze today also getting some hook ups while finding clearer water then yesterday so they are pulling the planer boards in more of the 18 – 20 fow range.
Show Season Schedule
Stop by any of these shows, pick up our travel guides and mini calendar when you introduce yourself to the Orleans County Tourism staff at the following outdoor shows over the next few months:
- Connecticut Fishing & Outdoor Show – Mohegan Sun Earth Expo Center, CT • March 22- 24, 2024
Oswego County
The steelhead spawn is well under way. Fish have been spawning everywhere and the hatchery is loaded!
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS at Pineville
Fish have moved to their spawning areas and the numbers of post spawn fish has been high. This will increase pockets of fish, leading to anglers landing higher numbers.
The best tactic is to cover water. Classic winter spots like the Schoolhouse, Trestle, Sportsman, 81 and Town Pools have started to dry up as fish have moved to the gravel. So, concentrate on the slower deep spots downstream from traditional spawning gravel.
The best baits have been egg sacs in blue, peach and white. The reliable pink worm worm has been taking plenty of fish too! The bead bite has picked up, natural beads in 8 and 10mm have been our “go-to.” But it’s bottom bouncers that have seen the most success this week. A few bank anglers have also had success deploying side planers and plugs.
Oswego River, Oswego NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS
Beads and jigs have been working but the egg bite has really been picking up. We recommend fishing beads in 10-12mm sizes. The best colors have been chartreuse, oranges, and combinations of the 2 colors (e.g. Starburst, Muskegon Madness, and UV Tangerine). For egg sacs, we recommend chartreuse, pink and peach.
As the water levels drops, the river will become accessible to waders, allowing anglers cover more of the river. For now, just above the powerhouse is a very productive spot.
The harbor has also been fishing well lately with the lack of ice. Fishing eggs on the bottom has been taking trout and swim baits and blade baits worked close to bottom have been taking walleye and trout. White, silver and gold are all great colors.
Walleye season closes next week. Take advantage of the season while you still can. Tight Lines!
Salmon River Steelhead – Watch the Video
Steelhead fishing is good on the Salmon River in Upstate New York and the time is now to see your float go down. Join us as we drift the river in search of some of the best steelhead action in the Great Lakes on this episode of Pautzke Outdoors.
To learn more about guided trips with STS Guide Service on the Salmon River Visit: stsfishguide.com To Learn More About Pautzke Bait: pautzke.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.
Welcome to Oswego County – Watch the Video
Discover more at visitoswegocounty.com