Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
Lower Niagara River bass action has been good to very good according to Matt Wilson of Lewiston. He managed to put nearly 40 fish in the boat (and all released) using a Flick Shad and a 6th Sense jerkbait. Most of the fish were smaller, which is a good sign for the future. He was casting points where there was a drastic drop off. He did notice spawning going on in the flats and encouraged people to stay away from those areas.
Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston said that bass and walleye catch rates are improving as the waters continue to warm. You can target both species from Devil’s Hole to the Niagara Bar with swimbaits, jerkbaits, and MapLips fished off three-way rigs. For trout that are still hanging around, use minnows or MagLips. Top plug colors are silver-green or silver-chartreuse. Remember that bass is catch-and-release only and you cannot use live bait to target bass. Campbell also noted that the Fort Niagara launch fishing cleaning station and rest rooms are now open if you are going to be fishing out of the state park.
Tommy Holycross of Wheatfield managed to catch a lake trout off the NYPA fish platform this week, so there are some trout still hanging around the Devil’s Hole area. He caught it on a worm harness while targeting walleye. There are plenty of bass being caught, and an occasional white bass as well. Walleyes are few and far between but are hitting worm harnesses mostly after sundown.
After five straight days of light northeast winds, salmon and trout are scattered right now according to Capt. Mike Johannes of On the Rocks Charters out of Wilson. The Wilson Harbor Invitational Salmon Tournament last weekend was tough as the lake has begun its transition from spring to summer. Johannes fished from Wilson to the bar in 70 feet of water over the weekend and took a mixed bag of Coho salmon, steelhead, a brown trout, and an Atlantic salmon. A couple of boats he talked to later had fished on top of the bar for Coho and did okay. That’s where he would fish now. The Coho were being caught on the normal pinks and hot orange smaller spoons and the orange Coho flashers in about 60 feet of water. When fishing after a northeast wind or when the fish are finicky like this, always keep an eye out for a water change such as a temperature or current break. This is usually identified as a different color water line and it is essential to have good, polarized sunglasses for this. Some 38 teams fished in the WHI last weekend. On Day One, it was team Hell on Reels winning the single day event with 142 points based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound for the best six fish for the day. On Day 2 it was Team Bite Force who won the contest with 128 points using the same scoring system. The two-day overall winner was Capt. Jonathan Forder of the Mister Squirrelly team to set the pace with 238.18 points, two points ahead of Bite Force. Vision Quest and Capt. Pete Alex led the charge in the week-long Salmon Slam leading up to the WHI. His best five salmon and two trout totaled 115 pounds, 7 ounces – three ounces better than Mother Moose and four ounces better than Dirty Goose. The next big event is the Skip Hartman Memorial Salmon Team Tournament May 31 and June 1 (www.lakeontarioproam.net) . Don’t forget the Don Johannes/Pete DeAngelo Memorial three fish/big fish contest on May 30. Entry fee is only $100 per boat. Sign up at the Boat Doctors, the Wilson Gas Shack, or Bootleggers Cove marina. Call Mike Johannes at 523-1727 for more information. The Lewiston Smelt Festival is set for May 24 starting at 5 p.m. and running through 9 p.m. The Chamber will be partnering with The Griffon Brewery and Gastropub and Dimino’s Lewiston Tops.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The salmon have been pushed deeper with our relentless south wind. The Allman Brothers tune “Southbound” is great for the ears, however southbound winds are not great for temperature breaks.
Try 150 to 250 fow, down 65 feet. Use Moonshine or Stingers for spoons with flasher flies in your program. For the bottom lake trout, use cowbells.
If your screen is lit-up with no bites, change your speed.
Bays
Perch fishing has been tough in Sodus and Port Bays. Port Bay had a few perch near the channel; however, the big bite was not happening. Both chartreuse grubs and smelt rubber bait didn’t even interest them.
It’s the same at Sodus with scattered perch at the northern end of the bay. The rock bass are on the bite at Sodus; however, they are smaller this year.
It’s transition time for fishing. The warmer weather should make the bays produce more fish.
The bullhead bite is now over for this season.
Limits for northern pike are 5 fish 18 inch minimum.
Limits for walleye are 5 fish 15 inch minimum.
Launch sites for Sodus: Next to the Coast Guard Station (till Memorial Day) and Bay Bridge Sport Shop. Check out the Margaretta site to see if you can launch there. It’s on your right on Route 14 just past Martin’s Marina.
Launch sites for Port Bay: Barrier bar road at the north end of West Port Bay Road and the south end DEC site.
Erie Canal
The kayak anglers were back in the canal on Sunday. There didn’t have any fog or wind which is the benefit of fishing the “ole Erie.”
Crappies are biting under the Port Gibson bridge in 10 fow. Suspend your bright small jigs 2 feet of the bottom.
Some cats were caught in the deeper pools near Palmyra. Use raw shrimp or night crawlers.
The bass season starts June 15th if you wish to keep your catch. Make sure the fish are 12 inches and the limit is five fish.
The official opening of the canal was May 17, 2024. The water level is back for the boating season given anglers more areas to fish.
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:
If you were hoping for some warm weather to maybe heat water temps up – well you got it! So far, the beginning part of the week has been downright hot with air temps in the 80s°F. Not a whole lot of wind lately either, so trollers are finding a lot of warmish water temps out there and not much for down temp breaks. Some of the only wind lately has been feeble lake breezes. There’s been some thick fog at times as a result so use caution out there if you choose to boat out when the visibility is limited. Look for warm weather through about mid week and then a slight cool down with chance of rain showers. Long range forecast may be calling for a more significant cool down around the Memorial Day weekend.
Courtesy of Capt. John Oravec
Fishing pressure for trollers out of Point Breeze remains pretty light. Busy days so far may have a half dozen boat trailers at Point Breeze. One veteran rec boat today marked some bait in 90 fow and what looked like some fish on it. He got a double in 120 fow but couldn’t make another strike so kept going north to 220 fow and had another knock off. Lately its been guys searching out different zones trying to find a good pattern or program.
Capt. J. Oravec from Tightlines Charters reports, “mostly a rigger, spoon program.” He’s been finding some nice spring Kings around 190 fow off the Oak. (Pictured below.) “We had a great catch of salmon with a Fort Lee, NJ group in 200 fow straight out from port. Other boats have been fishing 200+ fow and some others fishing for lakers from the Flats to Kendall on a slow troll near bottom in 100 – 130 fow.”
For landlubbers and casters and drifters there’s been nice bass caught both at rivermouth areas and upstream nearer the dam in the fast water reaches. Enough bass are being caught where it looks like they are now holding their own against the goby onslaught. Anglers who haven’t given up on the perch are also still into some fish in the lower river zones. Not a bucket full, but some good eating sized fish.
Oswego County
The transition period has started to set in along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Browns are spreading out and salmon have become more elusive.
Lake Ontario – Oswego
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Browns have been caught as shallow 8’ all the way to 200’+. But the most consistent action has been in the 25-40’ range. We recommend running 1-5 color leadcores pulling standard size spoons in natural patterns early and brighter ones when the sun comes out.
- Slide divers 30-90’
- Downriggers 10-30’
Those chasing salmon have been starting in 80-100’ and heading north. When they hit fish or start seeing them, they will level off and head east and west on that depth level. Anglers have been finding kings from 10 miles west of Oswego all the way to 9-mile-point.
Stingray size spoons have been best but don’t be afraid to experiment with size. Flashers have been taking more fish as they start heading deeper.
Lake Ontario – Mexico
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
As the bay warms up the salmon have headed back to deeper water and the browns have left the shallows. We recommend looking from 20-50’ for browns and then heading out to 175-250’, off 9-mile for salmon.
When this transition time sets in, lots of captains head north to search for lake trout. This is a great alternative!
- 130-180’ blade colors in blue, green/chartreuse, glow green
- Pulling “spin n glos” in chartreuse/green, glow, silver/chart
Free Oswego Fishing Guide
The updated Oswego County Fishing and Hunting Guide is now available online and in print. The guide features a new cover and an expanded listing of fishing guides and charters.
The 67-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.