Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
As water temperatures begin to drop, look for action to pick up even more on the lower river. Both bass and walleye have been steady, and the first salmon of the year have shown up and been taken from shore. To target kings, try to toss hardware such as spinners and spoons in the whitewater areas such as the NYPA fishing pier. Target low light conditions and use extreme caution when fishing the gorge as the rocks are very slippery.
The best walleye action is on the Niagara Bar with fish up to 12.5 pounds being taken recently by Sean Mooradian of Lewiston releasing the huge ‘eye. Don’t neglect the river drifts as they have been producing nice catches daily. Worm harnesses are the top presentation and a new line of harnesses from RLVNT baits have been hot, with the colors having a purple UV coating from Mad Scientist.
Outdoor scribe Freddie McKnight from Kane, Pa. used the RLVNT harness to produce two walleyes over 10 pounds while drifting the Bar on Monday. Both giants we released as we encourage all trophy size walleye to be. Capt. Dave Scipione of Scipione’s Fishing Charters reports good success for walleyes in Devil’s Hole early using a harness with a ½-ounce weight on his three-way. The key is to get on those fish before the water rises and flows increase. The Stella drift is also producing some nice walleye in 30 to 35 feet of water using the same 3-way/worm harness set-up with a heavier weight between 1.5 and 3 ounces, depending on wind and current. Smallmouth bass were cooperating well on crayfish, either on a dropshot or 3-way rig from Devil’s Hole all the way out to the Niagara Bar in all the traditional drifts. Alan Raymond with The Wicked Worm in Youngstown reports that bass and sheepshead can be found along the shoreline. Walleyes can be caught on the typical drifts and Lewiston docks.
The salmon fishing is at a peak as king salmon begin the early staging for fall runs. On the Niagara Bar, John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda had a phenomenal weekend, catching some 30 mature king salmon at the drop off in 150 to 200 feet of water using all flasher/fly presentations on his downriggers and divers. Riggers were 60 to 90 feet down while the divers were back 185 and 220 on a 2-1/2 setting. Out of Wilson,
Capt. Kyle Kokanovich of Rust Belt Sportfishing reports excellent action in 100 to 180 feet of water out front for a mixed bag of salmon and trout. He found fish trying to stay in temperatures of 45-to-50-degree water, so he was fishing 75 to 100 feet down using meat rigs. He was running white on overcast days and early mornings; switching to chrome/UV later in the day or when the sun came out. Capt. Dave Scipione of Scipione’s Fishing Charters spends most mornings in 75 to 150 feet of water searching for staging kings. His most productive spread includes double glow white pro troll 8-inch paddles with A-Tom-Mik mirage flies; and magnum spoons from DW, Warrior, and Northeast Troller in green jeans, hulk, green glow alewife, rodfather, and carbon-14 all took fish. By 9 a.m. he heads offshore for more consistent action for steelhead, kings, and the occasional Coho.
Over in Olcott, Capt. Matt Bedient of 716 Sportfishing also reports that fishing is as good as it could get. He said that he starts in 100 feet of water and he can troll as far north as he wants and catch fish the entire way. He is using a spoon program, 70 to 100 feet down on riggers and divers. Bedient is catching a mix of mature and two-year-old king salmon as well as steelhead. Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors reports that 70 to 200 feet of water is golden, with trollers using meat and magnum spoons 70 to 110 feet down. Black, glow, and green are all hot color patterns. Some casters are catching pike and bass off the Olcott piers.
It’s the final weekend for the Lake Ontario Counties Fall Derby and there’s still time to catch a winning fish. Jack MacDowell of Hancock is still leading for the $20,000 Grand Prize with a 30-pound, 13-ounce salmon. Lisa Winch of North Tonawanda is leading the Brown Trout Division with an 18-pound Niagara Bar fish. Richard Schmidt of Spencerport took over the Rainbow Trout/Steelhead Division with a 15-pound, 2-ounce fish he caught this week. The derby ends on Labor Day at 1 p.m.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
The king bite is offshore in 400 to 700fow. The salmon are starting to stage, which is normal for this month.
Currently, the catch has been straight out from Sodus Bay and west from Port Bay.
Flasher flies (paddles) are catching kings from 15 to 20 pounds. Meat rigs are also catching fish.
Don’t forget the LOC Fall Derby starts August 21st and finishes on Labor Day Sept. 7th.
A 30-pound king came out of the lake east in Pulaski. Big king salmon this year.
Bays
The rock bass can be caught between the islands at the north end of Sodus Bay. Find 25 fow with a rocky bottom. They are fun to catch on small grubs tipped with spikes.
Some smallmouths are being caught on the east side of the Sodus channel. The largemouths are everywhere you find weeds close to shore. Use your favorite Senko rig. They all work.
The water is still high which makes an easy launch at the DEC’s south end ramp at Port Bay. There are plenty of parking spaces for trailers.
Fish the east end of the bay for some bluegills, perch, and rock bass. Use a 2-inch grub with a yellow tail. You can tip it with spikes or a small piece of worm.
Some smallmouths have been caught at the Port Bay channel. Fish the drop-off at the east side. Worms and minnows on small jigs have caught smallies.
Erie Canal
Widewaters is still the best place to launch and catch largemouth bass, perch, bluegills, crappies, and pike. There is a kayak launch at the county park, and the quiet water of the canal is the perfect setting to cast out for panfish.
Park at any of the pull-offs on Route 31 near the locks and cast out worms. When locks open, there is all sorts of action.
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.
Orleans County
Orleans County Sportfishing Coordinator Ron Bierstine:
Orleans County open Lake and Oak waters continue to produce outstanding trolling action. Good and strong catches continue to predominate. And lately steelhead are giving a real good account of themselves too. Many trollers looking to stay on what’s been that good off shore salmon bite are most recently hooking as many or more steelhead then salmon. Catch and release of both salmon and steelhead that look strong after coming in quick are being released more and more. That sounds like a win – win for the chance at future good action on trophy sized fish for conservation minded anglers.
The heart of the LOC Fall Derby has been underway and the home stretch is this week thru the upcoming weekend holiday. Maybe you can find your derby glory or at least have a little competitive fun with a good fish on the leaderboard. There’s only one way to win or make the cut – you gotta be in it to win it! Try not to be the guy who catches a derby contending fish without a ticket!
Looks like this week forecast is calling for more of the same this summer – rain and storms. Already for the begin part of the week there’s been an 1 inch plus of precip. There is the good chance for more storms and severe weather for the mid-week period. Watch that forecast and be aware wind and waves can be stronger in and around thunderstorms. Weekend weather will be dry with sun and clouds, temps between 74 to 79 degrees.
Pic Courtsey Robert D.
Robert D and son Jack were fishing aboard the Rigger Mortis boat targeting staging salmon in 100 – 150 fow just east of Point Breeze. “There are definitely stagers in that water, along with all year classes of Kings and steelhead. Our derby steelhead (6th place Fall LOC) hit on a 250’ wire dipsey with a dodger and A Tom Mik fly.” The Rigger Mortis boat and anglers are usually right in on any good action!
Nice big Kings for Mark O., Mike S., Matt O., and Jim B. Pic courtesy Mike S
Four friends and anglers aboard the 18 ft Lund Freetyme have been fishing together for 18 years. They recently made the westward migration to the steadier action off of the Oak. Lake Ontario action can lure anglers from afar and this group hails from Florida, Tennessee and NY. “We fished out of Oak Orchard and have done well in 120 – 140 fow with rigs down 70 – 90 ft. Cut bait and blue or chartreuse spoons have been top producers.”
big mature King aboard
Rob Benders Charter
with Capt, Gerry S! Pic Courtesy Rod Benders
Capt. Gerry S. from Rod Bender Charters says, “all the mature fish are sitting between 120 – 160 fow. White and black meat rigs and black J – plugs and Moonshine hot lips spoons are working for us.”
In the tribs look for elevated flows all around. And potentially going higher with more precip. There are reports of some browns already all the way to the Waterport dam. And a few Kings crashing around frog water areas. Its good to see the Oak water temps haven’t proved lethal yet for any early migrating fish. Still, temps are warm and hopefully the fact that most staging fish seem to still be out around 100 fow will mean that more substantial runs will occur a little later this season on more consistent cool downs.
These high flows are somewhat a new phenomenon tho over recent years so trib anglers should stay ready for more action soon! A few pier casters are already hitting it.
Don’t forget to use your eyes along with your electronics to find any fishy water!
Oswego County
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Salmon season in Oswego County has kicked off! The lake is still fishing great, the Salmon River has been experiencing small pushes for over a week, and now salmon have entered the Oswego River.
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
All Season's Sports with salmon” width=”1024″ height=”512″ class=”size-large wp-image-201253″ /> Staff from All Season’s Sports are enjoying the early run!
Salmon have been steadily trickling in for over a week now. This has helped spread them out throughout the river. But, as always when it comes to early-season salmon, lower is best!
Look for the fastest current and travel corridors to have the most success throughout the day.
Oswego River Report
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
When the early-season fish enter the Oswego River, they are greeted by warm water. They keep moving farther up river in an attempt to find colder water. That’s why the dam becomes the hot spot! They can’t go any farther, but they keep trying!
Please Consider the Following Year-Round Notice: There are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. The Oswego Fire Department offers loaner life jackets at no charge through its “Loaner for Life” program. For more information contact the fire station at 35 E. Cayuga St. by calling 315-343-2161. Click here for the current water flow.
Lake Ontario
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Anglers are finding that the salmon have migrated east, so your best bet is to fish in 100–150 feet of water. From the Salmon River north to the dunes has been great this week, and lots of fish are starting to stage in that region.
Don’t forget that this is the last big push for the LOC Derby, which ends on Monday. The $25,000 grand prize is on the line. Some big fish have been caught this week by anglers without a ticket, so they are out there!
Cormorant Reporting
Courtesy of NYS Sea Grant
New York Sea Grant announces new survey tool to track birds’ populations and impact
In August, New York Sea Grant, a collaborative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York.
Read more about the project here
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
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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.
Click Here to Order Free Information, or email tourism@oswegocountyny.gov