Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
It was an incredible week for the Lake Ontario Counties summer trout and salmon derby as every category changed, including the Grand Prize leader. James Lapi of Fultonville reeled in a 26-1/2-pound salmon in Oswego County to grab the lead for the $15,000 Grand Prize. That is not safe as these salmon continue to grow. The new brown trout leader will be tough to beat. Jim Kerns of Niantic, Conn. was fishing off Point Breeze in Orleans County when he hooked into a 23-pound, 3-ounce trophy last Friday. Top Rainbow/Steelhead came in on Monday out of Wilson when Tyler Tedesco of Depew weighed in a 13-pound, 14-ounce steelie. Leading lake trout is now a 23-pound, 12-ounce fish hauled in by Paul Kato of West Henrietta while fishing off Rochester. The derby continues until July 26.
Capt. Hank Condes of Bladerunner Charters reports he’s been fishing straight out of Wilson between 300 and 450 feet of water. Standard size DW spoons on riggers 40 to 70 feet down with sliders has been working best. Magnum deep wire divers set on 1 with 11-inch fish paddles and cut bait between 120 to 145 clicks out and 8-inch Pro Troll flashers with flies were working with the deep divers. High divers set on No. 3 out 125 to 145 with standard spoons was another good set-up. His 250-foot coppers with 8-inch Pro Troll flashers and flies and 300-foot coppers with 11-inch fish paddles with cut bait were also producing some big fish. He is catching mature salmon up to 23 pounds.
John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda and Paul Sawicki of Angola worked their magic out of Wilson both Saturday and Sunday as they figured out what the salmon and trout wanted in 300 to 400 feet of water, targeting the top 60 feet with divers, lead core line, and riggers. The hot rod, producing more than three-quarters of all the fish caught, was a diver rigged with a silver Pro Troll flasher and a green Hammer fly set back 185 clicks on a No. 2.5 setting.
Over in Olcott, Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors reports some big salmon were caught over 450 to 550 feet of water, 40 to 60 feet down with A-Tom-Mik meat rigs and Deep Rig artificial meat. Steelhead were coming in the 300 to 400-foot bottom contour in the top 60 feet. Inside fishing was doing well, but salmon sizes were all under 20 pounds, which are still nice fish but not good enough for the derby. Meat and flasher-fly, as well as spoons were all catching fish. Snowflake was one spoon that was working.
Fishing in the lower Niagara River has been good for both bass and walleye despite the moss problem being a factor. The moss seems to be lessening daily so the end is in sight. For walleyes, orange worm harnesses have been the ticket fished off three-way rigs in the Stella drift and on the Niagara Bar. The Fishing Fur a Better Tomorrow Walleye tournament is set for August 1. For more info contact Mike Bartlett at 807-9127. The tournament benefits the Niagara SPCA. Bass fishing has also been good using a variety of methods. Top water action is good under low light conditions in the shallows. Crawfish off three-way rigs at the Coast Guard drift is another good way to catch smallmouth.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Another hefty brown trout was just weighed at Davenports Bait. It was 20 pounds plus. The trout are in 50fow straight out from Sodus Bay. Work the shallow water east or west from Sodus.
The summer kings have been offshore in 400 to 500 fow.
They are hitting uv spoons, flasher flies, and meat rigs.
The Spiny Water Fleas have been horrible. Some advice has been to wipe the fleas off your line with a wet microfiber towel.
The Sodus Pro Am is this week with Saturday and Sunday the main event. See sodusproam.com for mor information.
Bays
The largemouth bass is the main target for the bass boats fishing Sodus Bay. Of course, the Senko Worms are the favorite bait. You can hook them for your favorite rig.
Spinner baits next to the docks have caught some huge largemouths.
The perch, bluegills and some smallmouth bass were caught near the channel.
Try fishing off the pier at the south end of Sodus. Last week the catch was perch and bluegills.
The Port Bay fishing is comparable, except the larger perch are not in the bay. The good news is there are plenty of smaller perch, which will be our catches for the future.
Concentrate near the land points that jut out in the bay. For Port Bay they have the road name: Tompkins Point, Graves Point, and Loon Point.
The drop offs will hold bluegills, and bass this time of the year.
Erie Canal
You can park along the pull-offs on Route 31 near the locks. When recreational boats go through locks, the bottom is stirred and the fishing is excellent. You can catch walleye, pike, bass, and plenty panfish.
Widewaters is the perfect county park to launch your kayak or boat. The bass are on the south side of the canal and they are huge!! We are talking 6 pounds plus.
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.
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
Orleans County
Orleans County Sportfishing Coordinator Ron Bierstine:
Most trollers report scattered action out there on the Orleans County Lake Ontario waters. The weather and winds are changeable and so that can lead to different water conditions almost daily. Some trollers are working inshore waters and some others are moving farther offshore looking for more stable conditions. Neither choice is bad, because good hook-ups can be found in or out. Some good browns are coming nearer shore at mid depths and on different days there’s good salmon action there too. Then off-shore even out to the 34 line or 500 – 600+ fow anglers are roaming about and can find salmon action. Remember it becomes a bigger Lake especially moving offshore to deeper depths so your spread has to cover all that water for any strikes!
The forecast is for hot and humid conditions for this mid-week period. Then just seasonably warm for end of the week but chance for more northeast winds. Many boats lately are starting out in the 50+ fow range for those browns or salmon and then heading north as the sun get higher and hotter. Not a bad strategy unless the winds get gusty from the west or southwest like today, Tue.
Capt. Dave S. from Tracker Charters has been searching for that scattered action and has found some real nice browns and some salmon. He says “real good browns are coming from 60 fow and we’ve found some fish suspended out at the 25 – 26 lines too. There can be a lot of skippers, so try to avoid those spots were they are heaviest if possible. What works one day to the next changes, one day its flies and then the next day its spoons.”
Another rec angler who regularly makes the trek from the southern tier NY just missed the summer LOC leaderboard from his past beginning of the weekend day out. The Getting Wet boat set up in 250 fow and started their troll on a NW pattern. They hit their first salmon in 300 fow and went all the way to 500 fow. Heading back in on a SW troll they hit another big King in 250 fow. The salmon came on a flasher fly on a chinook diver out 145’. For the days action they went 7 for 9 so all in all it was a decent day.
Oswego County
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Charter Fishing Tips
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Time on the water does more than create great memories; it directly supports local charter captains, tackle shops, restaurants, and many other small businesses that make our fishing community strong. There are dozens of small businesses that appreciate your continued support. Now is a great time to start planning and book a charter for the 2026 lake season.
Do your research before booking a trip. Ask the captain what species they prefer to target during the time of year you’ll be fishing. Once you’ve booked your trip, here are a few simple steps to help ensure a great day on the water:
- The night before your trip: confirm where the boat will be departing from.
- The morning of: pick up any food, drinks, or other supplies.
- Be prepared for the weather – dress accordingly.
- Purchase your fishing license ahead of time.
- Arrive on time.
- If there is a first mate on the boat, consider having cash for a tip.
Following these steps will help your day get off to a great start. Then all that’s left to do is relax, enjoy the experience, and remember: you’ll be fishing. Where else would you rather be?
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Free Oswego Fishing Guide
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The 68-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.
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