Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
In the Lake Ontario Counties summer trout and salmon derby, 88-year-old Melvin Adams of Herndon, Pennsylvania reeled in a 29-pound, 14-ounce king salmon out of Point Breeze to take the Grand Prize lead heading into the final weekend. Top Rainbow/Steelhead came in on Monday out of Olcott when Josh Wittcop of Lyndonville weighed in a 14-pound, 3-ounce steelie. The derby ends at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Capt. Matt Bedient of 716 Sportfishing has been hitting the waters off Olcott and doing well focusing on 100 to 300 feet of water, 45 to 90 feet down with meat rigs and spoons in targeting king salmon. Capt. Tom Pearse of Reel Adventures Sportfishing reports that this week he is finding plenty of fish out of Olcott in 100 to 300 feet of water. The downside is he is also seeing a population explosion of spiny water fleas. You must remain vigilant on cleaning your lines. Meat is working best on salmon, fishing 40 to 70 feet down.
Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn reports that action has been good between 120 and 200 feet of water – brown trout in closer and salmon out deeper. Meat, flasher-fly, and spoons are all catching fish, but meat seems to be working best.
Alan Raymond with the Wicked Worm in Youngstown reports that bass all along the shoreline is still going strong using Ned rigs. Crabs off three-way rigs are working from boats. Fish are settling into summer patterns on the lower river as both smallmouth bass and walleye are being caught throughout the river system. Bass are falling for a variety of presentations including drop shots, spinnerbaits, and live bait at various depths from 2 to 35 feet off water. Top choice for live bait is crabs, but shiners and leeches will also produce decent numbers of fish. Try to use fluorocarbon fishing line to combat clear water conditions. Walleyes are being taken on various colored worm harnesses in 20 to 40 feet of water. Drifting the Niagara Bar is a great starting location when targeting walleye. Most drifts are now producing some fish.
The LOC Derby isn’t the only game in town this weekend on Lake Ontario. LOTSA has three club tournaments going on, Sonny’s has a king salmon tournament, and the All Counties Salmon Slam starts Friday and runs through August 16. Stop into the Boat Doctors in Olcott for all the details.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The Sodus Pro Am had 25 Pro boats and 22 Ams. The teams fished Saturday, however on Sunday the tournament was cancelled due to Small Craft Warnings on Lake Ontario. To view a complete leaderboard go to sodusproam.com
Thunderstorms are predicted for today, and if we have “calm winds- ha ha) tomorrow the salmon have been found in deeper water.
Try 300 to 450 fow east or west out of Sodus Bay. The set-up has been flasher flies, UV wonderbread spoons, and cut bait.
Some browns have been caught in 40 to 50fow.
The Lake water temps have been 70 degrees out from Port Bay.
An extra-large salmon knocked our Wayne County leader out of the LOC Derby Grand Prize salmon division. The 29.14-pound fish was caught in Orleans County…not fair!
Bays
Some of the larger perch have been caught near the channel at Sodus Bay. You can also catch blue gills and perch next to Newark Island on the north end of Sodus.
The largemouth bass have been everywhere in Sodus. Fish your favorite rig. The Senko 5-inch worms have been productive.
Port Bay action has been off the points (drop-offs) in the bay. The water level is still high, so the south DEC ramp is a wonderful place to start your day. The panfish have been bluegills, sunnies, and smaller perch. Lots of fun using light gear.
An angler tried out in the lake, just east of the Port Bay channel, hoping for some smallmouth bass. No luck today.
Erie Canal
Some anglers were fishing Widewaters, targeting largemouth bass. They are large in the canal. Six pounds plus have been caught. Other sections of the Erie Canal have produced walleye, pike, and catfish. The cats are on the bottom. Use night crawlers or raw cut shrimp.
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
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:
Orleans County is still Home of the King! The Oak Orchard waters continue to pump out some trophy fish – like the current summer LOC Derby grand prize King of 29 lbs 14 ozs. More on this big salmon later… And the top brown trout of 23 lbs 03 ozs was also hooked here in Orleans County waters. Two exceptional fish and both weighed in at the beautiful Captains Cove Motel & Marina!
Talk with any trolling angler from the start of the spring season and they’ll say that the changing weather and variable fishing conditions has been a challenge. That hasn’t really changed even now when we are into the heart of summer big Lake action. Scattered action has been described as getting somewhat more consistent over the past few days and the LOC Derby results are following suit with some impressive home waters fish. There’s the likelihood of passing storms through today, Tue and then general clearing through the rest of the week. Chance of higher winds and waves with small craft advisory for the mid-week period.
The big summer LOC Derby King was caught by Melvin “Jim” Adams aboard the Get Hooked boat with Capt. Mike Grager. Melvin is a long time Orleans County Lake Ontario angler tracing his earliest charter trip days back to the 80’s and Lucky Charters. Now a happy client with Capt. Mike G. he was recently convinced to get in the derby, and he’s probably happy he did! The big fish came in 120 fow east of Point Breeze on a dipsey rod and an E-chip flasher and clean bait head. Capt. Mike G. says “the action has been real good the past few days for us from 120 feet of water out to the 26 line or 300 fow. There are groups of fish throughout with some guys working out to nearly 600 fow.” Just a few more days left in the summer LOC Derby for that trophy King to hang on to the top spot!
For those on the hunt for big browns the inside waters have been good. Capt. Jon F. of Mister Sportfishing has been finding them in 50 – 80 fow. He says “there’s also a great off shore salmon bite from the 26/27 line and on out.” Who might pull another 20 pound brown off the Oak Orchard ledges? All the signs area pointing toward good numbers of browns with big fish for the fall trib action too.
Over the past weekend Fish in the Box Charters and Capt Tim H. was at the 28 line or around 400 fow where they found the best sonar picture and good temp. They took a couple matures, one on a Leonard Fly and another on a meat rig 90 ft down on the rigger.
Lots of summer left for you to get in on the Oak Orchard and Orleans County big fish action! Come on out and enjoy the now re-opened Black North Inn at Point Breeze too!
Oswego County
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Spey Nation is a three day gathering that includes a Spey School, casting classes and a main event open to the public aimed at education and a sense of community for Spey casters and Spey anglers of all experience levels. The main Spey Nation event occurs on Saturday August 8th, 2026 at the Pineville Boat Launch on the Salmon River starting around 8:30am.
Spey Nation 2026 – Aug. 7-9
What is Spey Nation?
Spey Nation is a three day gathering that includes a Spey School, casting classes and a main event open to the public aimed at education and a sense of community for Spey casters and Spey anglers of all experience levels. The main Spey Nation event occurs on Saturday August 8th, 2026 at the Pineville Boat Launch on the Salmon River starting around 8:30am and includes on-water presentations, Spey rods and lines to test and cast from numerous manufacturers, opportunity to meet with experts in the Spey industry and receive casting tips to improve, tables from other local businesses, a free lunch and raffles to benefit The Mayfly Project.
I’ve never fished with a Spey rod but I’m interested in learning, what do you recommend?
On Friday August 7th and Sunday August 9th there are classes for Spey casters of all levels including beginners. And all the presenters at the Saturday event will be available in the afternoon to answer questions and help attendees with tips to set up their equipment and improve their casting. It would be the perfect venue for a beginner to get started in Spey.
Any special line ups for presenters this year?
In addition to myself (Rick Kutich), Jeff Liskay and Steve Szeliga that live, fish and guide here in the Great Lakes region, the presenters we will include Daniel Ritz, editor of the Swing the Fly Journal from Oregon and Spey casting expert Bruce Kruk from British Columbia. Bruce is well known for his many casting videos that can be found on YouTube and on the Swing the Fly website.
Do you have any recommendations for people before or after the event?
Since Spey Nation occurs a few weeks before the first runs of migratory fish, attendees to Spey Nation can find other activities on the days surrounding the main event. Attendees of the Saturday event may consider registering for the Spey School or a class on Friday August 7th or Sunday August 9th. Registration can be made at swingthefly.com/spey-nation/
You may also consider a hike to the beautiful Salmon River Falls, visiting historic Fort Ontario or go for a chartered fishing adventure on the open waters of Lake Ontario using one of the areas many charter boat captains. Another option is to bring a light trout rod and search the head waters of the Salmon River for wild brook trout.
Request a Free Salmon River Fishing Map!
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
Click Here to Order a Free Guide
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.
Click Here to Order Free Information, or email tourism@oswegocountyny.gov