Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
It’s a free fishing weekend in New York both Saturday and Sunday. There are also a few kids fishing events taking place on Saturday at either end of the county. The Hooks for Harry Contest will take place in Olcott starting at 8 a.m. at the Town of Newfane Marina. A new free kids’ contest will also be held Saturday at Veteran’s Memorial Park in the Town of Niagara starting at 8 a.m. with registration.
Lower Niagara River fishing continues to change based on the water conditions as moss is now becoming bigger factor. However, there are some good fish still being caught from Devil’s Hole throughout the river system all the way down to Fort Niagara. Smallmouth bass dominate the catch, and they are being caught on crayfish, minnows, and artificials such as Ned rigs. Target 10-20 feet of water for the best action. Walleye action is slowly picking up if you can present worm harnesses moss free for a reasonable timeframe. Try moving around to drifts with less moss and check the rigs often to clear moss and make sure they are working correctly.
Alan Raymond with The Wicked Worm in Youngstown reports that anglers are catching smallmouth bass all along the banks of the river. They are using anything from small plastics to live bait. Some folks are getting sheepshead as a bi-catch for the bass. More than 80 kids turned out for the kids contest held recently in Youngstown and the biggest fish was a 17-inch largemouth bass caught off the docks at Fort Niagara State Park.
Capt. Anthony Ellis of Redemption Fishing Charters reports Lake Ontario transition has happened, and he is in summertime fishing mode. Fish are on bait and feeding heavily. Find some bait and most likely you will find fish. Cut bait has been his choice of lure with an occasional spoon. You can find fish just about anywhere but if you want those big ones find bait in cold water down deep and they are there. Best depth for him has been 40 to 70 feet down over 300 feet of water for consistent action, but for the bigger fish he has been targeting 100 feet down or more. On a side note, the steelhead are active and they have been big and healthy.
Capt. Mike Johannes of On the Rocks Fishing Charters fished slightly west of Wilson on Sunday. The most productive water was 200 to 300 feet of water. There were some strong currents that changed direction as he moved deeper. He had to constantly change his heading to adjust for the changing current. His riggers were set between 51 and 86 feet down and each had sliders, with the high spoons producing steelhead and coho salmon. He also had 450 and 500-foot copper lines out. Wire diver bites came between settings that got them down to between 80 and 100 feet. He had several lures and e-chip paddles working. Meat behind a frostbite or an appleseed paddle caught a few good kings. Appleseed, frostbite and 2 face magnum spoons were his best. There were schools of bait everywhere. The best bite was before 9:30 a.m.
The Summer Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby is set to begin June 27 and run through July 26. Over $43,000 in guaranteed cash and prizes will be up for grabs, including a $15,000 Grand Prize check for the largest salmon. There are four divisions, including salmon, lake trout, brown trout, and rainbow/steelhead. For more information on registration outlets and weigh stations, visit loc.org.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
2026 LOC DERBY DATES
*Summer-June 27th-July 26th
*Fall-Aug 21st-Sept 7th
Sodus PRO-AM
Main Event: July 18 – 19
1K a Day July 15 – 19
Big Fish Friday July -17
Wayne County Youth Fishing Derby
The Wayne County Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs is presenting the Annual Wayne County Youth Fishing Derby which started on June 15th and will continue until July 31st. This summer fun outdoor event is celebrating its 29th year, inspiring youngsters to enjoy the sport of catching fish.
- Ages 4-16
- Registration only $5.00
- Derby Dates June 15th-July 31st, 2026
- August 9th 12-3 Sodus Point Fire Hall the Wolcott McDonald’s Award Ceremony
- Register Online at youthderby.com
Lake Ontario
Today started foggy, however it’s better than the blow-offs last week. Charters are finding kings in 150 to 250 fow down 90 to 100 fow.
You can start straight out from Sodus Bay and move west towards Hughes’ Marina. The set-up has been riggers, dipseys, and flat lines. Cut bait, mag spoons and flasher flies is the most productive presentation.
The forecast through Sunday is for calm winds. Anyone want to bet on that??
Bays
The bass season started yesterday June 15th. The regs for keeping bass are 12 inches 5 fish. Sodus Bay has always been the hotspot for catching bass, however, don’t forget Port Bay and Blind Sodus Bay on the eastern edge of Wayne County.
Fish the weeds and under docks for largemouths. Both Sodus and Port Bays also have some smallmouth being caught. The ideal set-ups are the basic Senko soft bait Texas or Wacky rigs.
Spinner baits will work under docks. East Bay is shallow, and the pike like the heavy cover. Pike minnows work the best.
Erie Canal
Anglers are now fishing near the locks which are next to Route 31. There are pull-offs to park your vehicles. Now that the Erie Canal is open, the closing and opening of the locks is now producing action with walleye, pike, and bass.
The Erie Canal is now open and will close on October 14th.
There is an excellent DEC site that lists all the boating launch areas in Wayne County: dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/boating/launch-sites/wayne-county
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. On 1298 Route 104 is Ontario Country Max and 625 E Main St. is Palmyra Country Max.
Orleans County
Orleans County Sportfishing Coordinator Ron Bierstine:
Have we moved through tougher fishing and the June transition period already? Could be, and we’ll take it because it was pretty quick. For now most all Charters and recs are reporting solid salmon action again after getting back out there for the end of the past weekend and so far this week.
There were gale or nearly gale west winds last week for Friday and Saturday which eased up on Sunday. That wind could be what pushed the Point Breeze and surrounding Orleans County waters so quickly through the transition. Its never fun watching those days go by when you can’t safely get out there, but in this case the winds seemed to put us right back in the salmon chips! A passing line of showers forecast Monday with a wrap around light east wind, then mostly stable weather expected for the rest of the week with chance of more rain end of week.
Capt. Rob W. from Legacy Charters says the weather has certainly been a challenge. “On Father’s Day the Lake conditions were perfect and the King bite was on fire. Best water for us was 140 – 220 fow with bites coming from down deep. Riggers down 80 – 120 ft, divers out 200 ft+ and big coppers all took bites. The biggest Kings came on paddles and cut bait including our biggest of the day a 22 pounder.”
Capt. Mike G. from Get Hooked Charters said getting out for the past weekend was tough. “Sunday was better with a mixed bag of Kings, cohos, steelhead and lakers. We found our action in 130 – 250 fow both east and west of port. Spoons fished 20 – 60 ft down took steelhead and salmon. Mag spoons and flasher flies produced 80 – 120 ft down for salmon and lakers. We’ll see if conditions change after Monday east winds, but it’s looking like stable weather after that for the next 4 – 6 days.”
Capt. Bob S. from Sunrise II says the fishing is really good right now. “There are fish from 80 out to 300 fow with some great temperature breaks both surface and down. There’s a high spoon bite and a deeper flasher/fly bite for great June fishing!”
Oswego County
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Fishing has really picked up following the last major blow. The salmon bite has improved significantly, while the brown trout bite remains consistent.
Lake Ontario – Oswego County
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Salmon have been found from 150 to 500+ feet of water. The best bite has been deep, as water temperatures are very similar from the surface down to 100 feet.
With the bite occurring so deep, downriggers, divers, and copper lines have been the most productive presentations. Flashers, flies, and meat rigs have all been producing well.
Brown trout have been found from the Port to the College in 60 to 90 feet of water. Short cores, downriggers, and divers have all been taking fish.
Early in the day, dark patterns such as Black Widow, UV Tux, and DWB have been productive. As the sun gets higher, Mongoose, Can’t Afford It, and Circus Freak patterns in both UV and hammered finishes have been producing well.
Lake Ontario – Mexico
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
The brown trout bite has been good from the Corner to the High Rocks in 25 to 60 feet of water. White-backed spoons have been very productive.
Lake trout to the north are always in play this time of year. Set up in 130 to 165 feet of water and work your way north.
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