Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
The local fishing community is gearing up for a huge celebration of our natural resources with the opening of the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls Jan. 20-22. This year’s event will be the best ever. Speakers like Bassmaster Pro Mark Menendez, Fishing 411 TV hosts Mark and Jake Romanack, Electronics Expert Lance Valentine and Walleye 101, Ice Fishing Legend Dave Genz and the Ice Team will be supporting a huge display by Clam Outdoors and much, much more! Some 70 different speakers will be dishing out 130 seminars over the course of the three days. Over 125 vendors will be displaying their products and selling the heck out of them. This is an event focused on fishing and please help us pass the word – education is the key for so many things to expand, enhance and improve our sport. Become part of a fishing movement. Check out niagarafishingexpo.com.
Lower Niagara River
Timing was perfect for fishing to turn on because one new attraction to the Fishing Expo is morning educational lessons on the river with some area charter captains. Four hours of fishing with in-depth instruction for a show special rate. Information can be found on the Expo website or you can contact 523-0013 to find out details. The river has a nice green color to it and boat captains and customers have been catching fish from Devil’s Hole to the Niagara Bar. Steelhead, lake trout, walleye and even a teenage king salmon hit a shiner at the mouth of the river. Shore anglers have been catching their share of trout in the gorge, using spoons, spinners, jigs and beads. Some good news on the stocking front – the lower river will now receive a dedicated stocking of 15,000 brown trout each year instead of receiving only surplus stockings. They will also receive some surplus browns if they are available. Great News!
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
It’s a bit of a mess in the creeks but some fish are being caught, like the 21 pound, 2 ounce brown trout caught this week by Charles Young of North Tonawanda while fishing a jig in 18 Mile Creek near Burt Dam. The rain on Tuesday brought a few more fish into the system and the warm up is turning a few perch on when the water is clear enough. It looks like it will hit the 50 degree mark this weekend. Water conditions are stained so you might want to check out the Expo this weekend … and learn how to catch more fish. Don’t try the ice in Wilson even though 4 inches was reported last weekend. Stop into the Expo instead and visit Clam Outdoors! Timing is everything.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
After several days of rain this week, the water flow is up to 14,100cfs. This flow makes many areas along the river unfishable. A few brown trout have been caught behind the hotels and a driftboat or two have been seen in this area.
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:
Not as many anglers were on the water yesterday as the previous day and the few anglers we spoke with reported having a slow day in the upper end of the river between Altmar and Pineville. Anglers in the lower end of the river were able to get into a few fish while bottom bouncing or float fishing with egg sacs and beads. Some days have been better than others but anglers have also been getting into a few fish in the Lower Fly Zone on nymphs.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Similar reports this week from our guests, overall fairly quiet. That said the majority of our guests did hook a fish or two. Just a few did better and reported 3-4 on the line. Those guests who did catch fish were mainly using spawn with blue being the color of choice. Our guests nymphing or swinging flies had a tough day as no hookups were reported. Several guests did comment that the fish they caught were bright chrome hens.
Oneida Lake report:
Reports vary on the ice conditions on the lake. Anglers were out off of Constantia yesterday but reported areas of pooled water on the ice with the rain we have had. Temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid 40s over the next several days with nighttime lows at or above freezing. With this in mind, conditions can change on a daily basis so use extra caution. According to anglers the bite has been tough with a few perch being reported.
Sandy Pond report
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
Reports are indicating we still have ice on the pond. However, we are going day by day with these weather conditions and the condition of the ice can change quickly. Anglers are finding a very good perch bite along with some pike and crappies are active at Greene Point. Particularly with the stretch of weather we are in, use caution and check the ice frequently as you go.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
The water is clearer than last week; however, it’s now raining and there is supposed to be an inch coming today. So…the flow should be good, but not sure on muddy water.
Anglers have been catching a few steelhead out of Maxwell using egg sacs. You’ll need some heaver sinkers to keep the bait close to the bottom.
Bays
The safe ice we had might be in jeopardy with today’s rain and the warmer temps predicted this week. There was 6 to 8 inches on Port and Sodus Bay, however that will be less after today.
If we get freezing temperatures the ice will be slippery…but safe. Currently, use your spud and make sure you have at least 4 inches.
The perch have been hitting with a mix of small and large fish. The numbers have been great, you just need to let the smaller ones go back down the hole.
So…. we have our safe ice, however none of the bays freeze uniformly. You can follow the crowds if you are not sure. It’s still not safe for any machines.
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 frozen but with today’s rain who knows what the thickness will be.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The rain of the past day or so and the milder temperatures should again give good flows to all of the tributaries within Orleans County.
Water clarity may diminish over the next day or two with the increased run-off but all in all, conditions should be good to very good for some great fishing opportunities, unless you’re an ice fisherman.
Conditions should be good for some great brown trout and steelhead fishing, so don’t let this opportunity pass you by.
Ice fishermen just can’t seem to catch a weather break so far this year but February is coming and who knows what that will bring.
The end of this week starts the Sports Show Season and I will be in Charleston, West Virginia for the West Virginia Trophy Hunters show.
Also this weekend will be the Greater Niagara Fishing & Outdoor Expo.
Great exhibitors and a full slate of seminars that you really don’t want to miss are all available to you under just one roof at this show.