Pictured above: Matt Tall with the leading ASB Tackle Derby fish
Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
It’s all about the weather sometimes and this week was no different. Yesterday saw high winds with gust to 70 miles per hour locally, which spelled bad news for river or lake fishermen. In the Niagara River, the water went from perfect conditions on Tuesday to chocolate milk on Thursday. With a wide open Lake Erie set as a backdrop to the river fishery, boaters and shoreline casters are at the mercy of what happens on the Great Lake. Every week it seems like a combination of wind and rain has been hampering the fishing action. Lower river drifters were pulling a fair number of fish earlier in the week, with one boat in particular hitting 20 trout – a mix of steelhead and lake trout. Pink egg sacs fished in a three-way rig set-up was the best approach. Other colors can also work, but figuring out what the fish want on any given day is part of the fun. Shore casters have been struggling a bit. Ric Davila of Wheatfield managed to catch a few small lakers earlier in the week casting spoons and spinners. The Niagara River Anglers Association has announced that their12th Annual John Long, Sr. Raffle and Feast is set for April 2 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Niagara Active Hose on Lockport Road in Niagara Falls. Call 628-1460 for information.
Lake Ontario And Tributaries
The streams were high and muddy following the recent rains, but they should come down quickly. In the meantime, look for more frigid temperatures this weekend with lows into the single digits. Remember we spring ahead one hour on Sunday morning if you are going fishing. Steelhead and brown trout are both being caught at Burt Dam but with the stained conditions, you do have to work for them with egg sacs, egg imitations, woolly buggers, jigs tipped with a wax worm and fished under a float … all will catch fish. A few suckers are starting to show up, too. Down in the harbor, some perch and northern pike are being caught. Remember that pike season closes at the end of the day on March 15. The piers should be ice free now, but that could change with the cold temps if we get any winds at all. There were a few reports of some bullhead being caught. The run is still a ways off. Hopefully it will coincide with the Wilson Conservation Club bullhead contest set for April 7-9. Call Eric at 628-6078 for more info. The Western New York Sport and Travel Expo is going on this weekend at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg thru Sunday. Check out the website at eriepromotions.com and look for the WNY Sport and Travel Expo. Fishing has been a little tough for the All in the Same Boat Annual Catch and Release Steelhead Tournament which already started and it will be running through March 25. Boundaries are for Niagara and Orleans County tributaries only. Register at the Newfane shop and pick up rules there. The new leader came last weekend when Matt Tall of Wilson caught a 33-1/2 inch trout. On March 25, the 28th annual Antique Fishing Tackle Show will be held at Elk’s Lodge, 6791 N. Canal Road, Lockport from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5. Tables are available for $15 before March 18; $20 after. For more information call Dan Bedford at 713-9410.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
Just when you think the fishing is going to be tough, some new ones show up. Yesterday was one of the best steelhead days of the year. Reminded me of the good old days. Monday was also a good day with some nice steelhead and brown trout coming to the boat. 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 website at www.visitoswegocounty.com and look for fishing reports along the top bar on the home page.
According to Jake Metcalf of fishoswegoriver.com:
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 the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Tuesday’s reports were mixed. Two anglers had no luck while a third angler reported landing two rainbows and a steelhead. Blue egg sacs were the ticket. Yesterday morning was beautiful but the angling was difficult. High winds picked up in the afternoon and all of our guests had cleared off the water by 3 pm with no hookups reported.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
Yesterday very high winds arrived in the afternoon and late in the day the temperature was dropping. The few groups we had staying at the motel made the most of conditions while getting into some steelhead in the upper end of the river in Altmar. The anglers we spoke with who fished both the upper and lower end of the river reported the water was off color. The water flow is running at 1700cfs through tonight.
Oneida Lake report:
We have had very little to report from these waters. After warmer temperatures earlier this week, the thermometer has dropped into the 30s today. A few days of colder temperatures particularly on Saturday which will see a high only in the teens are coming our way. After having very little ice formation, we will have to see how long these temperatures stay around.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
Maxwell had a clear flow yesterday, however overnight rain could have changed that. But…rainfall is a good thing. The steelhead are in the creek and a few catches were seen on Monday.
Use eggs sacs and fish on both sides of Lake Road. It’s not easy casting on the south side.. between all the fallen trees… however it makes some limited cover for the fish.
The Sodus Pier still has ice; however, the south end is free if you choose to try casting out your Cleos.
Some browns have been reported in the Hughes’ Marina lagoon. Hughes’ is two miles east of Pultneyville.
Don’t overlook the smaller streams in the county. If you are on Lake Road you’ll see those creeks and they do hold fish.
Bays
Perch are being caught on the north-east side of Sodus and near the Yacht Club which is on the west side of the bay. Try 20 to 30 feet of water and use minnows or jig for them, pretending you are on ice.
The 2017 ice season was a bust just like last year. Time to haul the trap from the garage to the basement.
Be careful fishing from a boat as the water is deadly-cold. Don’t forget to wear your PFD.
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
The canal has open water although sections will not be flooded until spring. Widewaters has a ramp and is never drained. There is also a ramp to launch your boat.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
The rain of yesterday and today along with the warmer temperatures will give way to more seasonal conditions and by the weekend expect temperatures in the 20’s with the possibility of some snow showers.
The only good thing that I can say about the weather is that we are that much closer to spring.
All the tributaries within Orleans County are still ice free for now but bank ice could be in a possibility in the very near future.
Both Johnson Creek and the “Oak” are still producing a good mixture of both steelhead and brown tout even with both having slightly to moderately stained water but this rain could change that soon.
Bullhead are starting to be taken in our tributaries but that could disappear with colder weather quickly approaching.
Perch, bass, Crappie and Bluegill are being caught from the Kenyonville Bridge but the numbers are up and down.
The winds have not been very favorable for small boats to work the shoreline on Lake Ontario and I have not heard of anyone producing much from casting from shore.
For most of us spring cannot get here any too soon.
Lastly the pens for the pen rearing project will be assembled on Saturday April 1st so it you’re in the area why not stop down and lend a hand.
This a great project that is a chance to help out in keeping our fishery great.