Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
For the Niagara River, walleye and smallmouth bass seem to have gotten the message that summer patterns are upon us here on the lower Niagara River. Bass have set up nicely throughout the river using traditional structures such as drop-offs, rocks, and current breaks as ambush points and that’s where you want to place your baits. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, dropshots, and live bait rigs have all been producing fish both shallow and deep. Alan Raymond with The Wicked Worm in Youngstown reports smallmouth bass have been cooperating along the bank. Some big ones were caught at Youngstown’s north dock along the wall. Walleye fishing is also good right now and it’s just in time for the Fishing Fur a Better Tomorrow which benefits the SPCA of Niagara. The contest is taking place August 1 and for further information call Mike at 807-9127. The top areas recently have been Artpark, Pine, and the Niagara Bar area using worm harnesses with orange, chartreuse, and gold blades. Jigs and crankbaits have also produced some fish.
Numerous big fish came into the scales for the final weekend of the Lake Ontario Counties summer derby that concluded Sunday. 88-year-old Jimmy Adams of Herndon, Pa. hauled in the Grand Prize king – a 29-pound, 14-ounce salmon – to win $16,000. Runner-up was a 28-pound, 10-ounce reeled in by Zach Palmer of Ithaca. First-place brown trout was Jim Kerns of Niantic, Conn. with a massive 23-pound, 3-ounce fish. Top Steelhead was a 14-pound, 3-ounce Olcott fish reeled in by Josh Wittcop of Lyndonville. The biggest laker taker was Jon Novitsky of Rochester with a 24-pound, 10-ounce fish.
Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn in Olcott reports good action off Olcott in 350 to 550 feet of water, placing lures 60 to 80 feet down. Meat rigs have been the hot ticket for king salmon. Spoons are also working in black, green and chartreuse colors. For brown trout, start with 60 feet of water and work out with small spoons. The Niagara Bar was hot for brown trout over the weekend and John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda reported catching over 30 fish in one day. The result was four fish on the derby board that same day. Biggest Bar brown was a 16-pound personal best biggie for Wade Winch of North Tonawanda.
Capt. Anthony Ellis of Redemption Charters reports there are fish from 100 feet of water out to 400 feet. Find the 53-degree water with bait pods and you will find fish. Spoons and meat will do it for you and get fish in the boat. Depth to fish has changed almost daily. One day it’s 50-60 feet down; the next it’s 100 feet down. There’s been some crazy currents out there this summer. His 50 to 70-foot riggers are working. Divers out 150 to 200 clicks will put you in the fish zone.
In the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association Club Tournaments last weekend, the big winners were: Adam Gierach of Pendleton and his Team Diversion, who won the Curt Meddaugh Memorial tournament Friday with three fish totaling nearly 59 pounds off Olcott in 300-400 feet of water. The LOTSA King Salmon Tournament on Saturday was won by captain John Dombrowski of Cheektowaga with Team Duzy Carp weighing a 23.12-pound salmon he caught off Wilson in 400 feet of water. Winner of the 3-2-3 contest involving the best three fish over two days of fishing, Tim Ludlow of Orchard Park on the Keep Reeling team scored over 62 pounds of fish fishing out of Wilson in 400 feet of water. They also caught the biggest salmon of the weekend with a 25-pound king, a fish that earned an extra $1,000 from the LOC Derby for the largest salmon caught by a LOTSA member.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
During the LOC Summer Derby awards ceremony a few of the winners said it was their first time fishing for trout and salmon in Lake Ontario. With that information being said…make sure you sign-up for the fall contest. Catching your king salmon for the first time will give memories and could mean extra cash in your pocket.
The LOC Derby link is below.
Currently, the 300 to 500fow has been the best depth. The riggers were down between 90 to 150fow. Straight out from Sodus Bay has been the best location to start trolling.
Meat rigs, flasher flies, and Stinger UV Wonderbread spoons are working.
Bays
Fishing has slowed in Sodus Bay. Largemouth bass are being caught, although they have been smaller. The perch have left the bay and entered the lake. Try 8fow off Brown Road in Lake Ontario east of Port Bay.
Port Bay has bluegills and rock bass on the east side of the bay. Silver bass have dominated the catch. There are some perch in the bay, although too small to take home.
Both the south and north DEC launch sites have plenty of parking for vehicles and trailers.
Erie Canal
Largemouth bass are hitting at Widewaters. Fish the south side of the canal. Some anglers were catching bass and panfish on the east side of Widewaters where the canal narrows. You can also set up from the trails on the north side of Widewaters near the Port Gibson Bridge.
Use worms or small jigs tipped with spikes.
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:
Wow! Of late there’s been some great fishing action off the Oak Orchard and Orleans County waters! With an agreeable stretch of summer weather at not too hot and not too stormy – trolling anglers have been into exceptional catches of Kings, especially in the offshore waters. Has it been fish jumping in the boat easy? Well not quite, it still takes reading the conditions, managing your spread and speed and sticking with it. But most anglers are dialing it in offshore with long leaders, a mix of rigger/wire/dipsey rods and definitely some meat in the program. Trolling anglers are boating lots of plump Kings. The salmon are probably averaging in the high teens – many in the 20’s and with the occasional bigger fish close to 30 like the grand prize summer LOC King of 29 lbs 14 oz that we reported on last week.
Now for some more Orleans County bragging rights!
It was almost a sweep for the summer LOC from Orleans County and nearby waters. There was the grand prize King of 29 lbs 14 oz… Then there was the top brown trout of 23 lbs 03 oz… And then the top laker at 24 lbs 10 oz… And also the top youth salmon of 25 lbs 08 oz… Only missing was a top fish in the steelhead division. Yet Orleans County waters still placed 5 top 20 steelhead in the division. That’s not too shabby a haul for the Oak Orchard home waters. Score one for the consistency that these WNY Oak Orchard, Johnson and Sandy waters can provide!
Jim K. from CT got his hawg 1st place brown trout fishing out of Sandy Creek on the Money Pit boat on July 10. It came on a 3 color lead core line in only 25 fow when some cool water moved near shore. It was a 15 – 20 minute battle at around 6:30 AM. Regular salt water anglers, fishing partners Jim and Jeff were definitely impressed with the Lake Ontario action and were first time LOC derby participants. They’ll be back for more big brown and salmon action!
Jon N. from Rochester got his 1st place laker fishing out of Bald Eagle on the Always Something boat on July 25. They were bottom bouncing cowbells and a gambler rig off a rigger east of the Devils Nose in about 113 fow. The rod popped and at first they thought that it was stuck on bottom until they felt some head shakes. After a good battle the big gomer came in and helped the boat place 2nd in the Sandy Creek Shootout. And in another chalk it up to first time derby participation, Jon gave away a bigger laker he caught earlier. He advises everyone in the derby to for sure read all the rules now!
Cade S. from Westfield in the youth division got a 25 lb 08 oz King fishing with his dad on the Smokey boat. Cade is a veteran salmon angler of sorts, because he knew after catching bigger salmon last year and not being in the derby, that this year he’d have a ticket. And it paid off for sure with smiles all around at the LOC awards ceremony at Rileys Bar and Grill on Sunday July 26.
Owen K. got his 11 lb 09 oz steelhead for 14 place in the summer LOC on July 25 fishing out of Bald Eagle Marina on the One More boat. They were out in 400 – 450 fow running a program for Kings and doing pretty well with 20 plus bites and 15 big Kings landed. The big steelie hit a 400’ copper A-Tom-Mik flasher fly and meat rig. It cleared the water completely on 2 jumps then tired and they got it in the net. A nice surprise among all the King bites!
It looks like mostly agreeable weather ahead, chance of winds enough for an advisory later today or tomorrow. There’s lots of good open Lake trolling time ahead, and even if its not a derby contending fish you’re after – there’s good fishing memories awaiting you at the Oak and Orleans County.
Oswego County
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The salmon fishing out of Oswego has been off the charts. In Mexico Bay, most anglers are targeting brown trout with good success, but the king salmon are beginning to work their way eastward.
Lake Ontario – Oswego County
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
With the ATOMMIK Invitational coming up this weekend, most anglers have been tight-lipped about current conditions. However, what we have learned is that the salmon bite has been outstanding.
Anglers can start in 100 to 150 feet of water and catch a mix of king salmon and brown trout, or head offshore to the 300-foot range and continue northwest.
Water temperatures have remained deep, with the best temperatures found 90 to 140 feet down. However, the recent north winds should help cool things down.
Flasher/fly and meat rig combinations have been the most productive, although many anglers are also finding success with magnum spoons.
Lake Ontario – Mexico
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
The brown trout bite remains excellent. Spoons continue to be the bait of choice.
As we turn the calendar to August, we all know the large pods of king salmon will begin moving into the waters just outside the world-famous Salmon River.
For now, anglers targeting salmon have been heading west toward Nine Mile Point and even farther to the Five Stacks. The best action has been coming in 175 to 300 feet of water.
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