Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
Fishing has been good to very good as the waters of the Lower Niagara River have cleaned up after last week’s windstorms. Browns are the number one target with beads in various shades of green or chartreuse producing the best numbers of bites. The most productive drifts are down river from Lewiston in 15 to 30 feet of water. Look for the areas with the least amount of boat activity as that traffic will shut fish down. Further upriver, steelhead numbers have improved at both Artpark and Devil’s Hole, with beads and Maglips off three-way rigs the best way to present both baits. Lake trout are still being taken as a bi-catch while targeting steelhead so release them quickly as they are out of season until Dec. 1. Alan Raymond of The Wicked Worm in Youngstown reports that smallmouth bass were still at it, with fishermen doing well on medium-size golden shiners. The Niagara Bar sees walleyes and brown trout in the mix when using beads and egg sacs. Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Wet Net Charters reports that conditions weren’t the best his last time out with strong north winds and snow. He managed to catch some steelhead along Artpark using 10 mm chartreuse beads. Incidental lake trout were also caught in the same waters.
Anglers who fish the NYPA fishing facilities should keep in touch with the hotline number to see whether the fishing platform is open. It was closed earlier this week due to inclement weather. Call 286-6662 for updates. Traditionally the NYPA facilities are closed around Dec. 1 for the season.
Bob Wittmann of Tonawanda won the Niagara Musky Association’s catch-and-release Memorial Tournament with a 38.5-inch musky he caught on a Baker bait while trolling in the upper river. William Weber of Pendleton was second with a 37-inch fish he caught while trolling a Legend lure. Third place was Joe Wilczewski of Lockport with a 35-inch musky he caught trolling with Musky Candy. There were a total of 26 participants. Three other fish were caught and released. Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island reported that water temperatures were hovering around 50 degrees in the river so musky fishing should start to improve in the last month of the season. He had two muskies on but lost both at the boat over the weekend.
Karen Evarts with The Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn in Olcott reports that there has been quite a bit of fishing pressure at Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek this week. Brown trout action has been the best it’s been in a long time. Egg sacs are working, as well as VooDoo jigs in green and white; orange, peach and pink beads were also hot under a float. There are a few steelhead starting to show up. Remember that daily limits in the tributaries for steelhead are one fish per person with a minimum size of 25 inches long. Brown trout daily limit is one fish per person with a minimum size of 15 inches long, also in the tributaries.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Maxwell Creek is flowing on the south side of Lake Road; however, it really hasn’t opened to the lake. Possibly with the snow melting and rainfall, the mouth will open.
Salmon Creek in Pultneyville has seen some steelhead action because it’s opened to the lake because of the Yacht Club’s channel.
Pier fishing is another option; however, our recent snow has made that too slippery and dangerous.
Yes…I did mention snow. Our good friend “lake effect” has made an early appearance.
Bays
The relentless wind has kept most anglers off the bays. The perch are in both Port and Sodus Bays and as soon as we receive some calm days, launch your boat and start the perch search.
Fish off the points and for Sodus Bay try the north end between the islands.
Continue to use your 2-inch grubs with a yellow tail 12 inches above your sinker. Make sure your spikes are fresh. They will ignore old spikes. Spikes are “Maggots” for your information.
Sodus Bay boats can be launched at the Margaretta launch on the west side of the bay or Bay Bridge Sport Shop at the south end. The lower water level will make Margaretta difficult as the dock is not a floater. Launch at Bay Bridge where you can get in your boat without a “ladder.”
Port Bay has the south and north DEC launch sites from West Port Bay Road. Both are in great shape for boats with enough parking for the trailers.
DEC docks have been pulled so use caution when you launch. Be careful with a south end launch as the water level is extremely low. Don’t destroy your props.
*Hopefully, we will have a great ice fishing season like last year. The weekly fishing updates will be reporting the thickness of safe ice during this winter. Spray some silicone on the bottom of your sled and get your shanty ready for some Wayne County perch.
Erie Canal
Anglers casting from Widewaters’ north trail were catching all sorts of panfish…excellent tasting bluegills.
This section of the canal is not drained and will freeze for the ice angler.
The canal is currently closed for recreational boat traffic.
New York, the open season (harvest) for largemouth and smallmouth bass, collectively known as black bass, runs from June 15 to November 30, with a catch-and-release season from December 1 to June 14.
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:
There’s been some early season colder and snowy weather starting from the end of the past weekend. According to the forecast, the temps should start moderating back toward seasonal by this mid-week period and the upcoming weekend. Windy conditions are expected for a couple of days.
The previous cold front deposited some snow for the area, while points south got less. Then, some uncommon NW wind LES set up off Lake Ontario for more accumulations here on the Niagara Frontier. Winds have come around W and SW, setting up the more typical Lake Erie LES bands that may reach the area today, along with rain showers.
Give or take, there were 4–6 inches of wet accumulation for the area that have partially melted. That will mean some cold runoff as it slowly melts during daytime highs the rest of this week and weekend.
Flows in the Oak are med and mostly clear. A slug of “peak” flow Canal water release may raise flows more toward slightly high. Flows in Johnson look to be retreating toward low–mod. The cold temps are likely partially driving that.
Flows in Sandy are about med, and so far, no one has reported any chunky flows there. But there is the chance for colder or slushy flows there on that smaller, exposed waterway. Look for lowering flows there after “peak” Canal water release is reduced, unless run-off can maintain the existing good fishable flows.
With this change in the weather and snows, it looks like fishing pressure is taking another step back. Good for the anglers still out there because there is still plenty of good hook-up opportunity.
Archers Club parking has ended, but remember, anglers can still fish there afterwards by accessing from the dam or Park Ave Fishing Trail spot and keeping to the immediate bankside water at the Archers Club.
The passing cold front and snowy conditions may have made for a little tougher fishing action lately, but plenty of anglers are still doing good on Atlantics on the Oak with some browns and steelhead and those occasional few fresher Kings. Browns and Kings are spread out on Johnson, and the lowering and clearing and colder flows there could make for harder hook-ups. Still good brown trout action on Sandy, and that should last as long as the good fishable water flows hang on.
Oswego County
Fishing remains excellent throughout Oswego County, with both the Oswego and Salmon Rivers producing exceptional action.
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Steelhead fishing on the Salmon River has been nothing short of outstanding. Anglers who can get away from the crowds are being rewarded with bright, hard-fighting fish. Reports have been strong from the Douglaston Salmon Run (DSR) all the way upstream to the Fly Zones.
A variety of baits have been producing well, including:
- Egg sacs in blue, white, and pink
- Beads in 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm sizes, as long as they resemble natural eggs
- Glow bugs and Estaz flies
Focus your efforts on fast-moving water with enough depth to provide good steelhead cover. Productive early-season locations include Staircase, Ballpark, the “Secret,” Trout Brook, Snag, Bovines, and Barrel.
Oswego River
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Fishing on the Oswego River remains limited to the Low and High Walls, as the red warning light has been flashing for the past 13 days with no sign of change. Action has been best during the first few hours of daylight off the Low Wall, with fewer hookups reported from the High Wall.
Beads in 10mm sizes—particularly green, chartreuse, and orange—have been effective.
With large numbers of shad flushing down the river, white marabou jigs have also been an excellent backup choice.
Please note: there is significant construction on West 1st Street, so plan accordingly.
Please Consider the Following Year-Round Notice: There are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. The Oswego Fire Department offers loaner life jackets at no charge through its “Loaner for Life” program. For more information contact the fire station at 35 E. Cayuga St. by calling 315-343-2161. Click here for the current water flow.
Additional Oswego County Locations
North Sandy Pond:
A few cars were spotted at fishing access paths, but there wasn’t much activity earlier in the week. The water level was low with little flow. As of today (Wednesday, 10/22), there’s been more activity, with anglers spotted under the Woodville bridge. There’s also an increased flow of water that seems closer to normal levels, but little angler success.
South Sandy Pond:
A few vehicles were parked at fishing access walk path locations, but no anglers were visible earlier in the week. Little to no flow. As of today (Wednesday, 10/22), many anglers were spotted upstream under the bridges at Ellisburg, Joslyn Rd, and Monitor Mills Rd. Water has also risen a little to a more normal level with decent flow. There have been a couple of kings caught.
Little Sandy Creek:
Water seems to be on the lower side. Some flow.
Grindstone:
There is some flow, but there have been no anglers spotted.
Little Salmon:
Water is on the lower side; some flow. There has been decent angler success at the Jellystone campground, all catching kings. Otherwise, it’s been slow.
Request a Free Fishing Map for Salmon River!
Designed to slip into your pocket, this map covers popular public and private fishing locations, as well as boat launches. The best news: it’s completely free!
Contact the Oswego County Tourism Department:
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.