Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
The water in the river got quite a bit of color through the weekend into this week reports Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Wet Net Charters. The steelhead bite has been a little picky because it’s getting closer to the spawn. Brown trout have been available to catch in nearly every drift from Devil’s Hole to the lake including the Niagara Bar according to Yablonsky. The best bait for him was using live minnows and fished off three-way rigs by bouncing bottom. He also caught walleyes while targeting them on certain drifts. Remember that walleye season closes at the end of the day on March 15. Alan Raymond with The Wicked Worm in Youngstown reports the weather is starting to wake up and so are the fish. Brown trout are being caught off the Fort Niagara docks using baitfish imitations like Little Cleo spoons. Emerald shiners have been the winning ticket in the river for the last week, everything from steelhead to brown trout and walleye. Raymond reminds everyone that his 2nd annual Spring Steelhead Slam is set for March 28 in the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario tributaries from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Weigh in at the Wicked Worm. Register at the store or online at thewickedworm.com. The warmer temperatures and rain the last week has taken a toll on the water color in the lower river, however there are still options to catch fish. Devil’s Hole still had good water color and produced good action over the weekend for a mix of species with the best action being lake trout on live bait. A few steelhead and browns were found in the mix. That action slowed to start the week on Monday in Devil’s Hole but the marginal water color didn’t stop the brown trout from responding to large shiners off three-way rigs in the slower drifts in the lower section of the river. Look for fishing to continue to be good to very good for the near future as water color is improving daily.
Steve Brzuszkiewicz of Marilla has been hitting walleyes in the upper Niagara River at the foot of Ferry Street on Unity Island, casting ¾ to 1-ounce jigs tipped with plastic swim baits. Minnows were also effective baits to use.
Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn in Olcott reports that there has been quite a bit of activity at Fisherman’s Park and Burt Dam on 18 Mile Creek this week now that the streams are flowing. With heavy rain in the forecast on Wednesday, look for the creek to be high and muddy but when flows come down it should be great for both steelhead and brown trout. Top baits will be egg sacs, single eggs or egg imitations. Also, white- or olive-colored jigs, beads in peach or blue, and live bait like wax worms should catch fish. Other creeks along the lake should also be flowing and hold fish after the rains settle things down. Colder weather is forecast for the end of this week.
There is an Antique Fishing Tackle Show on March 14 at the Elk’s Lodge on North Canal Road in Lockport from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association will be holding its annual pen rearing gathering for salmon and trout at the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott on March 28 starting at 9 a.m. They will be assembling the pens and placing them in the water.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
The Wayne County streams are all flowing steadily to Lake Ontario. Currently Maxwell is roaring, however the water is very muddy. Rain is on the way this week and if the stream can clear-a bit steelhead fishing should be productive.
Try to find a quiet pool and use fresh egg sacs or bright red flies.
We haven’t heard anything about pier fishing; however, the channel current is swift. It’s a great place to cast out for browns. You must be extremely cautious fishing near the channel.
Bays
Ice Fishing is over, however it was a good season, except for the relentless wind. Don’t even try to walk on smaller ponds like Sodus Center that might look inviting. They are not safe, so stow away your shanty.
It’s time to get your boat ready for launching. Port Bay has two sites. The best one is at the north barrier bar next to the channel. The south end will also be safe if we see the water level rise in the bay.
Next week will feature where to launch at Sodus Bay.
Erie Canal
Widewater’s ice is not safe…anywhere. This is another body of water in Wayne County where the fishing is excellent, and the County Park is a great place to launch your boat.
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.
Orleans County
Orleans County Sportfishing Coordinator Ron Bierstine:
There’s a good slightly high and stained water window in the Oak and area smaller tribs on the back side of previous higher flows from warm temps, rain and snowmelt. Looks like the WNY south shore of Lake Ontario is pushing toward spring now. Warmer days, more direct sunlight and precipitation mean it’s spring steelhead time! Oh, no doubt we’ll have some cool days ahead too, but that just helps prolong the cool water tributary window for steelhead action and the remaining or fresh run brown trout.
Flows in the Oak are slightly high and stained with about 1 foot of visibility. There’s a strong head of turbine flows, probably at or near max and overflow levels have diminished. Previous higher and dirtier flows may have retreated somewhat quicker than expected. Look for turbine flows to stay up even as water color may clear up some in the near term. Chance of passing rain today, Tue, and more again tomorrow, Wed. Any significant precipitation could quickly raise flows back up again with dirty water color and overflow water. Snowpack is gone now and so runoff will be more direct with a chance for dirtier water color. Somewhat of a cool down in temperatures is expected for the end of the week.
Light to mod fishing pressure on the Oak is reported with fresh fish action. Even thru the higher and challenging flows of the past weekend, anglers were into some nice steelhead. Look for good drifting chances up and down the water course now when flows are more drift and swing friendly and before any high water may return. Ice cover is gone from Lake Alice so trib water temps could be on the rise thru the higher 30’s or into the 40’s F. Some primed steelhead are likely to stage or spawn despite what the “book” says about higher spawning temps. With up and down weather so too will be the spawning activity. Plenty of redds can be worked unseen in higher and dirtier flows. Success for anglers on the Oak has been with jigs and bait like at the dam, egg sacks throughout the waterway and big dead drifted egg fly patterns or swung flies.
The other area smaller tribs are open through their whole stream courses at med to slightly high flows and stained water color. Look for the same high water window there now for fresh fish chances before any new precipitation might raise water flows again. Just a few anglers are spread thru those waterways finding some steelhead to the west and mostly browns and a few steelhead to the east. Near-shore big Lake casting or trolling action can be at hand too when there’s cooperative wind, waves and slightly stained water color at hand. In most cases, boat ramps and launches are clear of ice or plowed snow, but launch docks are still some weeks away from installation. For trollers its still primarily a small tin boat pursuit with bigger Charters still in prep and shake down mode.
Oswego County
Heavy rain, warm temperatures, and a melting snowpack have created very volatile conditions across Oswego County. Anyone planning a trip this weekend should use extreme caution, particularly around high and fast water.
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Salmon River, Pulaski NY
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Fishing had been decent earlier this week during the brief warm-up, but conditions have since returned to a more winter-like pattern. With the significant rainfall this week, fishing downstream of the Ballpark has become difficult.
Anglers who do make the trip should focus on bright presentations, including chartreuse and pink egg sacs, as well as large, bright beads in 10 mm or larger sizes.
Use extreme caution when wading.
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Oswego River
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Ice has receded, and the harbor has been fishing very well. The recent water increase has helped push fish closer to shore. Jigs continue to be the primary presentation.
Anglers still have a couple of weeks to target walleye before the season closes. Upstream, the High Wall has been producing decent action.
Cold Weather Reminder:
With temperatures forecast to fall below 10 degrees, fish gills and eyes can freeze quickly when exposed to the air. If photos are desired, keep fish in the water as long as possible and limit air exposure to only a few seconds.
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.
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