Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
Mother Nature has been playing with the conditions on the lower Niagara River, and this has impacted fishing success. The massive amounts of rain the area received has been changing the water color and that has altered the bite for both bass and walleye. Some anglers are catching walleyes in the Stella and Artpark drifts according to Alan Raymond with The Wicked Worm in Youngstown. On Saturday, there was a window of opportunity for great walleye action on the Niagara Bar and numerous big fish were caught. Worm harnesses and jigs have been the top baits. Walleyes are a little more spread out so start in deeper water and drift up the ledge to shallower areas. Sixty feet of water is a good starting depth. Numbers of bass are being caught along the bank from Artpark to the Coast Guard station. The best action was on the Niagara Bar with crayfish presented on a three-way rig or drop shot rig. The most consistent water depths were 15 to 25 feet. Once you locate an area holding fish, concentrate your efforts there.
Capt. Mike Johannes of On the Rocks Charters reports fishing out of Wilson was very good the past week. He was fishing just east of port about 2 miles. The best bite was between 100 and 250 feet of water. He deployed a few spoons, but the bites came on flashers and meat. The white and green dot spin doctor with a UV or glow stud rig was his best set-up, especially early in the day. Captain Valium and frostbite e-chip flashers with stud rigs also worked well. Most of his fish were coming on a rigger set 90 feet down, but he was also catching mature kings between 50 and 115 feet down. Divers out 210 feet were taking fish as well. Salmon action off Wilson was also good for John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda over the weekend. Starting out in 400 feet of water, he used divers and riggers to get his spoons and flasher-fly presentations into the fish zone 50 to 70 feet down. His divers were back 185 clicks on a No. 2-1/2 setting. Most of the fish they caught were king salmon up to 20 pounds, but they did catch some nice steelhead, too.
Capt. Jim Gordon with the Hawg boat out of Olcott did well on kings targeting 100 to 350 feet of water with meat rigs and the “Jimmy” spoons (green, black and glow) 50 to 65 feet down. Karen Evarts with The Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn in Olcott reports that the brown trout action has been good off Wilson and to the east of Olcott. Cut bait is on fire for king salmon. Hot flies have been purple mirage and kryptonite. Use green flashers.
Mark your calendars for the Reelin’ for a Cure Ladies Tournament on August 21 and the big Fall LOC Derby that runs from August 21 until Sept. 7.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Straight out from Sodus Bay the catch has been between 150 to 350fow down around 100fow. The kings were 15 to 20 pounds, with a mix of steelhead. Meat rigs are working and Stinger Mags Carbon 14 and Green Tuxedo are productive spoons.
Go a little deeper out from Port Bay, when the winds are calm…not like yesterday’s south “boisterous blow.”
Between 350 and 550fow has lite the screens and flasher flies, cut bait, and spoons are all working. It has been an August king bite in Wayne County.
Don’t forget the LOC Fall Derby starts August 21st.
Bays
Bay fishing can be defined with the “dog days of summer” phrase that actually means the sultry, hot, inactive days of summer. That is the current situation in Sodus, Port and Blind Sodus bays.
The largemouth are in Sodus, however they have been small.
Some smallmouths and small perch are being caught near the Sodus channel.
Port Bay has been very green and dirty. There are catches of small perch, and bluegills… mostly coming from the east side of the bay. Silver bass (white perch) are fun to catch on ultra-lite gear, using 2- inch Charlie Brewer Sliders.
Launch at the north end because the weed cutters are leaving a mess on the ramps at the south DEC site. It has been tough on the bottom of trailers.
Erie Canal
All the wind that has occurred at the north end of the county has not affected fishing Widewaters. This is one of the benefits of angling the Erie Canal.
Largemouth are on the south side of Widewaters, and they are larger than the Sodus Bay fish. There have also been catches of pike, bluegills, and some crappies.
Swifts Landing in Palmyra is a nice place to catch bass and panfish, while enjoying a family cook out. 4100 Hogback Hill Rd, Palmyra.
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
*Fall-Aug 21st-Sept 7th
Get in on the action and win your share of the $140,150 in Cash Prizes in the 2026 LOC Event. Check out leaderboard
We’ll keep the link to the leaderboard so you can see all the action during the fall derby.
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:
We are on the backside of heavy area rains through yesterday with more wrap around precipitation for Monday morning, and then some westerly stronger winds. The Niagara Frontier received 3 – 4 inches of rain in less then 24 hours so look for area tributaries to be running high and stained and pumping that water out into the Lake. This week’s weather ahead is looking decent, no major heat waves and chance again for precipitation by mid or end of week.
Nearly all Charter and rec anglers are having continued almost exceptional action right now. Kings are plentiful, most trollers are targeting them in the off-shore zone. There are some nice steelhead mixed in with those good salmon catches too. If you can get any of the smaller or immature fish in like on a rigger road without too much ado and it looks in good shape, its probably not going to limit your limit on bigger fish if you’re able to release that fish. Most all reasonable presentations at a fair speed and the right depth are getting bit – some anglers aren’t even getting their whole compliment of rods in the water.
Capt. Lou B. of Get the Net Charters says, “Saturday fishing out of Bald Eagle was nothing but spectacular! Most boats were taking good Kings all day. Our best water was 90 – 110 fow early, then 200 – 240 later in the morning. It was mostly a mag spoon bite for us, with active fish feeding heavily. Riggers, divers and copper lines all took fish. It was so busy we could only run 4 – 5 rods at a time.”
The Getting Wet rec boat recently had good mixed bag catches of salmon and steelhead on riggers and Chinook divers. Most of their bites came on green and black and gold combo spoons.
Capt. CJO of Tightlines Charters aboard Troutman2 is getting limit catches. “We are running half the standard number of rods and limiting out in a few hours. Anywhere from 100 – 500 fow has been good with fish attacking my “O frog” spoon – all that’s needed!”
Oswego County
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Salmon fishing is off the charts in Oswego County! We kept hearing how incredible the salmon bite was on the western end of Lake Ontario this spring. Well, those fish have finally made their way home! Let’s just say the reports weren’t exaggerated!
Lake Ontario – Oswego County
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Salmon fishing has been best in 200–600 feet of water, with most fish coming 80–140 feet down. As for baits, run whatever you have the most confidence in. Some anglers are doing exceptionally well on spoons, while the boat next to them is catching fish exclusively on flies.
This time of year meat rigs are always king, though!
Summer Tributary Report
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
In addition to salmon and trout fishing, Oswego County provides excellent opportunities for warmwater species along the shores of Lake Ontario and throughout the Salmon and Oswego rivers.
Oswego Harbor offers outstanding smallmouth bass fishing from the Varick Dam to the lighthouse. Fishing around the break walls provides excellent cover for bass and the occasional walleye.
The Salmon River estuary is also a great destination for northern pike and largemouth bass.
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