Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
The Lower Niagara River has seen plenty of action over the past week with high numbers of anglers, but fish are still cooperating throughout the system. Brown trout are being caught on most drifts downriver north of Lewiston using beads, minnows, and egg sacs fished off three-way rigs. The best bet for steelhead is still the Artpark drift and Devil’s Hole area with a mix of eggs and egg imitations such as beads. With the water stained, target shallow depths early and work deeper areas as the day goes on. Bass and walleye are also still available using jigs, MagLip plugs, and live bait in the slower water drifts and the Niagara Bar area. The green can on the Niagara Bar has been offering a mixed bag of brown trout, salmon, and lake trout, in addition to smallmouth bass and walleye.
Capt. Joe Srouji of Angler Edge Outdoors reports that fishing has been good despite dealing with big winds and dirty water over the weekend. Fish have been taken on beads and egg sacs from Devil’s Hole all the way down to the mouth of the river. Water has been running murky, but fish are cooperating. Alan Raymond at The Wicked Worm in Youngstown says the smallmouth bass are still being caught and he’s starting to see an influx of trout. Brown trout are being caught at the Coast Guard drift, steelhead and lakers are being caught along Artpark. Some captains used golden shiners from his store, but a lot of trout were caught on beads, too. Natural orange and chartreuse have been the winning colors lately.
Rick Kustich of Getzville reports that he’s seen quite a few muskies around lately and it should only be getting better for bigger fish from now until the end of the season Dec. 15 in the upper Niagara River. He caught one musky this week on a black game changer fly. He said that there are a lot of smaller fish in the river. That will change soon. Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island agrees. Seeing smaller fish is good for the future. He’s hooked up a few so far and water temperatures were at 46 degrees on Monday. It’s nearly game on.
Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn in Olcott reports Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek fishing is still good right now. The creek is loaded with brown trout and there are a few salmon hanging around. Steelhead are just starting to show up. Voodoo jigs, wax worms, beads, egg sacs, and flies, whatever your preference is. They all seem to be working.
Several fishing seasons are coming to an end on Nov. 30 such as the regular black bass season and the inland musky season. The Great Lakes musky season closes on Dec. 15. On Dec. 1, lake trout season will re-open in the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario. Dec. 1 is also when black bass fishing becomes catch and release with artificial lures only. There is one big exception to the bass regs. Lake Erie allows for one fish per person per day, but they must be at least 20 inches long if you want to keep one. Live bait can also be used on Lake Erie for bass.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
When we receive a reprieve from the wind, try fishing the northeast side of Maxwell Creek. Park in the paved DEC lot and walk to the lake. If Ontario is calm cast out into the lake. Maxwell is moving; however, it doesn’t have a large opening to the lake.
Salmon Creek is open because of the channel at the Pultneyville Yacht Club.
Bays
The northeast wind has been brutal. The gusts were clocked at 35 mph. Today it has calmed down, however most anglers are in the woods…tough to find fish in the woods, not even bringing your best spinning outfit.
The perch are in the bays and if you have your boat ready fish the points in Port and Sodus Bays.
The points coming from the land create drop-offs where the perch are located. Move around and search for fish using 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.
Remember you must wear your life jacket (PFD) from November 1st until May 1st.
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
Walk the trail on the north side of Widewaters to the Port Gibson Bridge There are places where you can cast out into the channel.
You will catch panfish and an occasional bass.
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:
“Second” season post King time is solidly underway on the Oak and other area smaller tribs. Not that you can’t still find a few Kings around, and there are always reports of fresher fish, too. Some salmon and likely a few cohos are in the cards these past few years and likely this year, easily through Nov and some part of Dec. Consistent Fall Canal water feed from the Fall Fishing Program probably has something to do with that.
Fishing pressure is falling off somewhat as it usually does this time of year, thanks to holiday time upcoming, big game seasons opening, and cooler weather. But boy, there are great opportunities for brown trout and Atlantic salmon and steelhead angling this time of the year – especially as the precipitation lately is making for good water flows in combo with Canal water feed and upcoming winter drainage.
Flows in the Oak are slightly high and slightly stained with 2 – 3 ft of visibility. There’s plenty of water there to hide most fish passage, and anglers will have to fish the likely fish holding spots or travel ways. Through the past weekend on Saturday, some anglers reported the Oak fished real well with hook-ups on browns and Atlantics and a few steelhead.
Flows in the other area, smaller tribs are up and down some as the precipitation and snow-melt have gone. Right now, it looks like flows are slowly falling with anglers keying in on browns and some leftover and newly running Kings.
We are on the backside of some windy weather with some rain or snow showers. There’s been no significant accumulation here, and the short-term forecast ahead looks seasonal for temps and somewhat stable through the upcoming weekend.
Oswego County
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The weather looks excellent for this weekend in Oswego County, and the fishing is equally strong.
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
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Steelhead continue to enter the river, providing excellent opportunities throughout the entire system. Most anglers are fishing beads, with 10–12 mm beads in orange and chartreuse producing the best results. Egg sacs are also fishing very well, particularly in pink, white, and blue.
Float fishing has been the most productive method, though many anglers are also finding success bottom-bouncing—especially in the higher flows.
Oswego River
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Water levels are up, and the trout bite has been outstanding. When the yellow light is on, anglers have experienced exceptional action. Beads remain the top producer—“beads, beads, and more beads.”
Anglers fishing from the high wall are also doing very well, with beads and jigs being the most reliable choices.
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.
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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.