Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
It’s the countdown for this year’s Lake Ontario Counties trout, salmon, and walleye derby! The derby ends at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
At the time of this report, it was Tim Condes of Wilson leading the way for the $15,000 Grand Prize with a 22-pound, 13-ounce king salmon he caught out of his home port with his father, Capt. Hank Condes aboard the Blade Runner. First place salmon is Dan Walker of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a 22-pound, 11-ounce Wilson salmon. The top brown trout is a 19-pound, 5-ounce fish caught by Jeff Wawrzasrek of Rochester. Big lake trout so far is a 19-pound, 15-ounce fish reeled in by Wayne Culverwell of Ransomville, and the leading walleye is 9 pounds, 1 ounce, weighed in by Richard Farmer of Dexter. Check out loc.org for details.
With the LOC Derby going on and the Wilson Harbor Invitational events just around the corner, information is sparse. Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn in Olcott reports that well there are a lot of people fishing. Most fishing seems to be west. Mixed reports as far as depth, but 100 to 200 feet of water seems to be where many of the boats are fishing. It’s been spoons and a meat program catching fish. Best colors have been greens and blacks. John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda returned to the same general area he fished the previous weekend and did well for the opening weekend of the derby. However, he couldn’t quite crack the derby minimum for salmon at 20 pounds. On Sunday alone, he caught 25 salmon and lost another 10. Most of the kings have been 14 to 22 pounds. A fair number of Coho salmon are also being caught with orange being a hot color. Evarts also reports perch are being caught off the piers in Olcott; bullhead and crappies in Olcott Harbor.
A few trout are still hanging around in Devils Hole and elsewhere in the Lower Niagara River according to Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston, but it will not be long before they make their exit for the cooler waters of Lake Ontario. The fish that are being targeted by anglers are being caught mainly off three-way rigs with minnows. Larry Lladowski was able to film a show for Midwest Outdoors with steelhead being the stars and few lake trout also willing to show off this past week. All over the upper and lower river, smallmouth bass have been cooperating on a few baits including swimbaits, Ned rigs, and drop shot set-ups, but the most effective has been jerkbaits with bigger bills to dive to 9 to 12-foot depths. Several fish in the 6-pound category were enticed into biting the stickbaits this past week. One key to the presentation is a long pause on the retrieve. Some walleye are being targeted and taken in the lower river including a giant 34-inch fish reeled in by Mark Davis during the filming of an episode of his popular show, “Big Water Adventures.” The fish was taken on a blade bait and was released for another angler to enjoy.
Matt Wilson of Lewiston enjoyed some great bass fishing this week around Fort Niagara. Using a 6th Sense jerk bait and a Strike King jerk bait, it was lights out. He shut the electronics down and had a fun day fishing like he did when he was a kid. He then ran into the river and fished structure like docks, bank contour changes, and thick rock shorelines. He caught 43 bass for the day, the biggest going 5-1/2 pounds. He also caught three bonus brown trout.
In the gorge, Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls has seen his catch transition from cold to warm water species. He’s seen a few lake trout hanging around, but with the combo of the water temperatures and a lack of baitfish heading up the river, the lake trout are on their way out. In the last week, white bass, sheepshead, smallmouth bass, and other species like sturgeon and musky have all moved in and are cruising the shoreline. Ziehm has been catching everything on his white minnow head jigs.
This Saturday, May 11 is the start of the Trout and Salmon Slam, a precursor to the Wilson Harbor Invitational Salmon Tournament set for May 18 and 19. The Salmon Slam is a 7 fish contest over 7 days of fishing and you must decide what 7 fish you want as part of your catch. Those same 7 days is a $1000 dollar a day king salmon contest for $150 a boat. Fish must be a minimum of 20 pounds to cash in. If no one catches one that big, the money rolls over to the next day. The Skip Hartman Memorial Pro-Am Tournament is set for May 31 and June 1 out of Wilson and Olcott. Check out details at www.lakeontarioproam.net to register.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The LOC Spring Derby runs until Mother’s Day, Sunday the 12th. Catch a 25-pound king and win some big bucks.
Today, the charters are going deep for kings. The browns are not a part of the plan. Three-year class salmon are being netted, which equates to an excellent long-lasting fishery. Go 120 to 300 fow and use spoons and flasher flies.
Straight out from Sodus Bay and west towards Hughes’ Marina will put you on spring salmon.
For the competitors, don’t forget the Sodus Pro-Am and the LOC Spring Derby which runs until May 12th.
Bays
The perch have spawned, and they are not the easiest to find. For Port Bay try near the channel and off the points. Fish deep in 20 to 25 fow. They are not eating shad so forget the shad rubber 2-inch minnows for now.
Jig chartreuse and white Charlie Brewer Sliders grub. It has an excellent tail that will get you perch. Cast out or jig right under your boat.
The Sodus Bay perch are off the drop-off at the east side of Shaker Heights. Or fish at the north end next to the islands. The perch have been deep so jig 25 feet.
Some pike were caught trolling the shallow water out from Skipper’s Restaurant. Also, the east side of LeRoy Island.
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. The water level in Sodus is still low, however it is rising slowly. 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
Some crappies and bluegills were caught at Widewaters. Some cats were also hooked near Palmyra. Cats will chow-down on worms or shrimp.
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 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.
Oswego County
Fishing in Oswego County has been nothing short of amazing, with lots of options! Head offshore for salmon or stay close for browns.
Lake Ontario – Oswego
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Browns can be found from 5-40’. Look for colored water or slide out so the fish can go a little deeper to feel safe.
In tight, stickbaits with 1 color and mini divers are getting the job done. If you head out a little deeper, drop your riggers down 10 to 20’. Keep your two, three, and four color leadcores and slide divers at 30-60’
We recommend stickbaits in “Baby Bass,” “Tennessee Shad,” and “Black and Silver.” For spoons try “2 Face,” “Gold Perch,” “Tuxedo,” “Rosemary Baby,” and “Diehard.”
When targeting salmon 60-200’ has been best; especially 2-3 miles east and west of the lighthouse. We recommend:
- Downriggers 30-80’ down
- 5-10 color leadcores
- 200-300’ coppers
- Divers from 70-180’
- Spoons: “NBK,” “Diehard,” “Lances 2 Face,” “UV Gator,” and “UV Widow”
- Flashers in “White Green Dot,” “Capt Valium,” and “Hammertime”
- Flies in “Green/Glo,” “Hammer Live,” and “Live Lime Mirage”
Lake Ontario – Mexico
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
If you are looking for brown trout action your best bet is to head north of the Salmon River and put out a spread of lines from the surface to 20’ down. Fish 15-30’ of water. The creek mouths are providing the only colored water lately.
Salmon anglers are heading out to 80’ and fishing far offshore to 240’. But the best action has been in 120-200’, just east of 9 mile point. Along with kings there have been lake trout and browns mixed in.
The same techniques and baits are working as in Oswego.
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.
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS at Pineville
The Salmon River reports are over for the winter and spring season.
During the spring and summer months, a variety of species are plentiful. Including smallmouth bass and northerns. Check back with us in early September when the salmon make their way into the river system and we report on the first chinook!