Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
Water temperatures combined with clear conditions have lower Niagara River trout fishing in a hold pattern. Although decent numbers of brown trout, steelhead, and lake trout are present, the numbers of hook ups are low and occur mainly under low light conditions. Low boat pressure also helps increase your chances for success. Look for the fishing to pick up with cooler temperatures, rain, or wind on Lake Erie – helping to add a little stain to the water. In the meantime, bass and walleye are still available throughout the river with the occasional trout or salmon mixed in. Best baits have been shiners presented on a three-way rig or artificial lures such as swim baits, jerk baits, or MagLips.
Capt. Dave Scipione of Scipione’s Fishing Charters agrees that trout fishing has stalled. This is due to a combination of super clear water with water temperatures that are about 8 degrees warmer than usual for this time of year. All this has been influenced by unseasonably warm autumn conditions across the region. While the trout fishing hasn’t taken off quite yet, there are plenty of smallmouth bass and walleye cooperating in the system. Action has been decent from Devil’s Hole all the way down to the Coast Guard drift at the mouth of the river using golden shiners or Kwikfish/MagLips fished on 3-way rigs. Minnows and plugs have been productive for just about all species. Using 6mm to 10mm trout beads, single egg presentations, or small egg sacs all have been working for a mix of trout, but you’ll really have to work for these fish under the current conditions.
Clear water and lower conditions after Nov. 1 winter water draws in effect will change things up in the gorge. We mentioned Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls going with a lighter line last week and that is a 10-pound Trilene regular monofilament line to help increase his hook-ups. You can also add a fluorocarbon leader at the business end in a 8 or 10-pound test to help.
Lake Erie water temperatures have finally dropped below 60 degrees, but the clear conditions are still impacting fishing action in the upper Niagara River. Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island says the water can’t be much clearer. However, he saw his first musky of the season this week when Kevin Smith of Gorham caught-and-released a mid-40’s (inch) musky on a giant sucker.
Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn in Olcott reports both trout and salmon are continuing to cooperate at Burt Dam and 18 Mile Creek. Leading the way for fish enticements are egg sacs, but some of the baits put out by Pautzke such as Fire Mallows and Fire Minnows in two- and three-inch sizes with VooDoo jigs are producing a mix, all fished under a float. Anglers are still catching them off the pier in Olcott, too, casting spoons, spinners, large Rapalas, and eggs or egg imitations under a float.
The final free fishing day of the year will take place on Nov. 11 – Veterans Day. While this free day pays tribute to our service members and veterans, you don’t have to be a veteran to take advantage of this special day. Remember that you must still abide by the regulations for the body of water you intend to fish. It’s a great time to take a friend, a veteran, or a youngster fishing with you. If you are fishing out of a boat and that vessel is less than 21 feet long, you are required to wear a personal flotation device from Nov. 1 to May 1, no matter how old you are.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Maxwell Creek has no flow. There is a trickle at the mouth, however the lack of rain has left the creek and Maxwell Bay’s water hardly moving. A few good rainfalls of 2 inches or more is needed.
Pier fishing has been excellent, producing browns, steelhead, and a few late-stage salmon. Use your heavy spoons…Kastmasters, Cleos, Dardevles, and Acme Wobblers all work. Keep them bright.
Always use caution while fishing next to the outlets. Sodus has a long pier; however Port Bay is short, but the current can be strong at both outlets.
Bays
The word from Davenport’s Marina is Sodus Bay is loaded with perch. It’s still a searching mission to find the larger fish. If the water is calm, target the entire bay with a 2-inch grub with a yellow tail. You can catch perch from 6 to 25 fow.
Port Bay has seen better catches this week, including some bluegills on the east side of the bay. You can also fish between the channel and Graves Point in 20 fow for some larger perch.
Use caution at the north and south DEC launch ramps. They are very slippery. The docks have been removed for the season.
Erie Canal
Kayak anglers have been casting at the north shore of Widewaters. The largemouth bass are usually on the south side of Widewaters next to the weed growth.
The sections of the canal that are not drained will hold a wide variety of species.
If you drive along Route 31 you can see the sections that are still holding water.
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.
Orleans County
Orleans County Sportfishing Coordinator Ron Bierstine:
You wouldn’t hardly know its the beginning part of Nov by the weather, and plenty of anglers are out there enjoying the mild temps. It almost seems odd to not be suffering through some cold or rain or snow or winds for good fishing! But really the weather lately has been a peach and the forecast ahead is for more warm temps. There is the chance for some rain showers through this mid week period, but no significant precip is expected that would raise or change trib flows much. If you are able to get out there on the Oak or nearby tribs right now you’ll be rewarded with nice agreeable weather and good hook-up chances too.
The area has been dry lately after an earlier start to the trib action that was wetter. With the dry weather, we can be thankful for the Canal Fall Fishing Program water releases in the WNY tribs. Without it things would be a whole lot lower and clearer and skinnier especially in the smaller tribs beside the Oak. Check out the Canal water release schedule here for an update on water flows and future releases leading right up to final winter time draining.
Pic courtesy Glenn & Joshua
Good weather and good fishing is bringing anglers out on the Oak and the other area smaller waterways. Fishing pressure over-the-all is not that bad like on the Oak and most anglers say its manageable. Flows are mod – med and mostly clear. With good flows perking up on Sandy and what’s reported as resultant good brown trout migrations there, some angling pressure has moved to that waterway. While some anglers are crowding the most popular lower river access spots, there is the opportunity to walk away from some pressure. Be respectful of any posted properties or use NYSDEC PFR access spots.
A lot of fishing focus has shifted to brown trout pursuit but there is still King Salmon opportunities like on the Oak at or nearer the Waterport dam. Downstream on the Oak the King numbers are less or a few older drop back fish are on zombie patrol. Upstream on the Oak nearer the dam in the fast water stretches it remains a good mixed bag bite with mostly browns, some Atlantic’s and a steelhead or coho here and there. Getting that drift down and through salmon by changing up the drift or float control is key to making your egg pattern or bead seem enticing. Some fish are being caught on jigs too. Fly anglers are usually the most successful on Sandy’s flows with egg patterns or nymphs. Streamers on unharried fish can also be effective.
Look for more good action ahead through Nov and even Dec as the weather and water flows may stay reasonable. Lots of good fall chances ahead and then winter and spring time steelhead chances!
Oswego County
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The major rivers have plenty of fish, but the smaller tributaries could really use some rain!
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
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The number of steelhead entering the Salmon River lately has been impressive, to say the least. Many seasoned anglers have been amazed by the recent numbers.
That’s the good news! The downside to the current water conditions is that fish aren’t making their way upriver very quickly. However, anglers are starting to see more fish every day.
When targeting steelhead this time of year, concentrate on faster water, as temperatures are still relatively warm.
Effective presentations include:
- Baits that imitate individual salmon eggs, such as beads and Glo Bugs
- Egg sacs
- Spinners and plugs fished on side planers
Oswego River Report
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Releases from some of the Finger Lakes have begun, resulting in a slight increase in water flow. This should help the trout in the system become more comfortable and, hopefully, more aggressive.
The best fishing right now has been from the dam downstream to the powerhouse.
Anglers have been having the most success running beads under a float setup.
REMINDER! The brown trout limit on the river is 1. The limit is 3 fish in combination, but only one brown trout and one steelhead/rainbow may be included in that total of 3.
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.
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
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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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