Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
The only option in Niagara USA right now is 18 Mile Creek and Burt Dam in the Town of Newfane. Both salmon and trout are available in the creek, with Coho salmon replacing King salmon in the fresh run department. Egg sacs or egg imitations are the preference for catch Cohos. Numbers have been fair. Flow in the creek is less than last week but the water clarity is a bit more stained. Today is a lake effect advisory storm that should hit Western New York for the next couple of days. Expect up to a half-foot of snow. Combined with this are frigid temperatures into the single digits and wind chills below zero. By Saturday, there is some possible rain in the forecast and temperatures in the upper 30s, so that might be your best bet for wetting a line next. If you want to target trout, your best option is with a small jig tipped with a wax worm or spike and fished under a float. Don’t be surprised if you catch some decent perch using that set-up – from the harbor to the dam.
Lower Niagara River
Action from last week continued into this week for trout fishing. The big news is the influx of steelhead into the river system – some fish reaching the 10 pound mark. There have also been a few brown trout caught. Best drifting bait has been the MagLip in a 3.0 size, fished off three-way rigs. Many of the captains are now running these and really like the action that it provides. So do the fish apparently. Silver-green and silver-pink are good colors to start with, but it will probably be based on water clarity. Don’t be afraid to change things up. Shore anglers are working the banks off Artpark for a mix of trout including steelhead, brown trout and lake trout. Remember that lake trout season opens officially on January 1, 2017. Best baits have been BC Wobbler spoons in chartreuse or orange; in-line spinners in chartreuse or yellow.
Upper Niagara River
Not too many people have been out fishing. In the Capt. Bob’s contest that ends on Dec. 17, the largest rudd has come from the upper river, taken on a crappie tube and fished under a float. With the strong winds in the forecast the next couple of days, there’s a good chance it could muddy the river water up and slow things up for a bit. If you are looking for a few ideas for some last minute Christmas gifts, consider a fishing charter from area captains (www.niagara-usa.com); a weekend pass to the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo Jan. 20-22, 2017 at the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls (www.niagarafishingexpo.com); a derby pass for the Lake Ontario Counties events in 2017 (www.loc.org); or a membership in a local fishing club like the Niagara River Anglers Assn., the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Assn., or the Niagara Musky Assn. Stay warm out there!
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
The water flow has been up and down a bit running between 9,000cfs and 13,000cfs over the last several days. This morning it is flowing at 9,390cfs. Conditions will be tough today with high winds, cold temperatures, bitter wind chills and lake effect snow. Temperatures will rebound back into the 30s for the weekend.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
We had very good fishing early in the week. Some of the best quality fish I have seen in years with some beautiful colors. Always released to fight another day.
The bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are Mandatory Personal Flotation Device (PFD) zones on the Oswego River below the Varick Dam. For more information, view the Oswego County Tourism web site at www.visitoswegocounty.com and look for the fishing report along the top bar on the home page. The Oswego Fire Department offers loaner life jackets at no charge through its “Loaner For Life” program. For more information contact the fire station, 35 E. Cayuga St., at 315-343-2161.
Salmon River Report
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
Anglers staying in the motel who fished the Lower Fly Zone yesterday said they worked hard for the few steelhead they got and that the best action was in the morning on nymphs. Other anglers in the motel who fished the lower end of the river reported landing a couple steelhead in the Longbridge/Staircase.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
While not quite as active as the past two days, yesterday our guests reported another solid day of angling down on the run. We are hearing that a good amount of domestic rainbows are mixed in with the steelies. Egg sacs and beads remain most productive and it seems that pink has been the color or accent color of choice. Interestingly, our guests fly fishing have had more success on nymphs or streamers than egg imitations. Copper buggers picked up a few fish along with natural stone fly #8-10 and green BH caddis patterns #10-12.
Oneida Lake Report
Very cold temperatures are expected in the area today and tomorrow with daytime highs in the teens and nighttime lows in the single digits. Although this is good for some beginning ice formation, the wind is an issue today and we will have to see if temperatures will remain cold enough for safe ice. Anglers have been finding a few walleye casting stickbaits just before and after dark.
Sandy Pond report
We are experiencing very cold temperatures along with high winds and some lake effect snow today. Temperatures are expected to be very cold tonight and tomorrow also. We will have to see over the next few days how these conditions affect ice formation.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
We received four or five inches of snow Sunday, however currently it is melting. This is good for Maxwell Creek’s flow.
Some steelhead are hitting egg sacs and beads. You can also float torpedo bobbers on the north side of Lake Road, where the water flow is slower. There is plenty of parking for Maxwell Creek.
Currently, the fishing has been a hit of miss catch rate. They are in the creeks, but they have been a hard bite. Just try different lures or flies.
You can also fish the Sodus pier, however cold temps predicted along with strong winds will build-up ice. Later this week it will probably be too slippery for walking.
Don’t forget the smaller tribs. They may look tiny; however, they have fish.
Bays
All the bays have perch. That’s a good thing for the future ice season. Let’s hope it stays cold. If not, you can still launch boats. The perch are hitting on the north end of Port Bay, where you can fish from the shore.
Use minnows or small jigs with spikes. They are also hitting two inch Berkley Power Bait. Use the shad color.
Remember…if you use your boat you need to wear your PFD from November 1st until April. It must be worn or you’ll be ticketed.
Check out the rest of the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops. waynecountytourism.com.
We have a brand-new Wayne County Fishing Brochure. This publication features where to go, what to use, and what to catch. Call our office for a free fishing packet, including the new brochure. 1-800-527-6510. We also have a new publication on Great Lakes fishing.
Erie Canal
Widewaters is free of any ice and you can launch at the county ramp. The catch of the day is perch and some crappies are also hitting small bright jigs.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The first day of winter isn’t until December 21st but by the end of this week we will be in wind chill factors well below zero.
Lake Erie snow on Thursday and then Lake Ontario snow on Friday are in the forecast.
All of the tributaries within Orleans County are fully open right now but this could be short lived with the forecast.
Fishing for Brown trout and Steelhead has been good to very good as the last of the Erie Canal water is introduced into our waterways, especially the Steelhead.
A number of large Steelhead, over 10 pounds, have been taken.
Fishing pressure is light to very light and with the upcoming cold snap should get even lighter.
Rumor has it that there have been some good catches of Perch taken on the lower portions of the “Oak” recently between the point and the Parkway Bridges.
On Lake Alice things are quiet right now but by the end of this week ice should get a good start and it may not be long before some solid water fishing is available.