Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Lots of good news in this week’s report. It’s a Free Fishing Weekend in New York State. However, you do have to abide by the fishing regulations. Check out www.dec.ny.gov to find out what the regs are in the waters you intend to fish. This is also the weekend for the Hooked on Fishing Tournament presented by the Boys and Girls Club of the Northtowns both Saturday and Sunday. Everything is run out of Gateway Harbor, North Tonawanda. Register June 23 from noon to 6 p.m. or any time after 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more info visit www.bgcnt.net or call 873-9842 Ext. 211.
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario salmon fishing continues to be very good all along the Niagara County shoreline. Good reports are coming from the Niagara Bar to Olcott and beyond. Salmon in the upper 20 pound range were caught all last week and Capt. Dan Evans out of Wilson, fishing in a tournament on the north shore, managed to reel in a 32 pound chunk pre-fishing and released the fish to fight another day. Top lures include a variety of Dreamweaver metal, Silver Streaks and Michigan Stingers. However, the bigger fish seem to prefer the spin doctor and fly combos. The new A-Tom-Mik Stud Fly is really working well, producing that 32 pounder we just mentioned. The spinny was a white crush-glow pattern. Meat rigs are also tricking fish to hit. Yes, Lake Ontario is open for business! Start in 100 feet of water and head north out to 300 foot depths. Salmon seem to be in the top 80 feet of water. And some steelhead have started to move in to accompany the salmon so make sure you put a few baits out for them, too. In other good news, the lake levels have started to come down. According to reports, levels have dropped over 4 inches already and the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Water Board has announced that after the three-day experiment last week to increase outflows, they are going to continue with it to provide additional relief in the lake. The Town of NewfaneMarina launch area and the Lewiston Landing launch are your two best bets for easy boat launch access. More good news is that the Canadian government finally passed a law that no longer required Americans to call into Canada Border Services when crossing the international boundary. You still need a fishing license and need to abide by the country’s regulations, but the hassle of calling in is no longer required. Remember no live bait other than worms in approved bedding or in water. Nothing in dirt. No minnows or crabs. Still, it’s just gotten a whole bunch better. With the Lake Ontario Counties trout and salmon summer derby just around the corner, set for June 30 to July 30, anglers are excited to take advantage of the summer action. Check out loc.org for details. In addition, the New York State Summer Classic Fishing Tournament is on and running through August 31. There are a total of 10 different fish species categories and 55 weigh stations throughout the state. To find out more information, check out nyssummerclassic.com.
Lower Niagara River
In the Lower Niagara River, water temperature are still slowly creeping up there. Lake Erie hit 72 degrees this week so the trout are history. The bad news is that the moss has become more of a problem. Mostly bass were caught this week on jigs, Kwikfish and MagLips. Shore casters in the gorge have been using tubes, swim baits and marabou jigs. Inline spinners will work, too. They can be caught but you will be cleaning your lures frequently.
Upper Niagara River
Upper Niagara River bass fishing also continues to be good, but the moss is putting a kink in that action. Some walleye are being caught at the head of the river and at the head of Strawberry Island on worm harnesses and jigs. The Great Lakes musky season opener was slow, probably due to the warmer water already flowing through the system. For an outdoors update this week, check out www.buffalonews.com/section/sports/outdoors/ to find out what’s happening.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
The water level was under 5,000cfs several days ago but with some recent rain, the level is up to 9,060cfs this morning. This level makes some areas along the river difficult to fish. Behind the hotels is a suggested spot to look for walleye, smallmouth bass and sheepshead.
Lake Ontario report:
There was some decent fishing on the lake this weekend. Anglers were finding some nice brown trout in 20-40 feet of water early in the day. Stickbaits and spoons were working well. Salmon were also active in deeper water 80-200 feet with some nice kings being taken. Spoons, dipsies and flasher/fly combinations are suggested baits.
According to Capt. Kevin Davis of Catch the Drift:
The fishing really improved the last couple of days with very good brown trout fishing and a good king salmon bite. There are a ton of different sized kings around to give you some great action.
Pulaski Area and Salmon River report:
According to Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop:
The brown trout fishing off the buoy line in front of Nine Mile Point has been good some days and slow the next. The best lures have been Michigan Stingers. A few kings are being caught along with some steelhead in deeper water. Spoons and flies and flashers have worked well.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
Activity has been slow the last few days with no anglers on the run. The water temperature was 68 degrees Saturday morning but the water flow is up to 400cfs through today. It is also expected to be 400cfs for the weekend.
Notice:The Salmon River Fish Hatchery building continues to be closed due to construction. The grounds, including picnic area and fish ladder, are still open dawn to dusk. We anticipate construction to be finished early summer. You can reach the hatchery at 315-298-5051, Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
Oneida Lake Report:
With bass season opening this past weekend, anglers were finding some action in shallow water along the shoreline and in deeper water around the shoals. Lures such as chatterbaits and topwaters are working well.
Anglers continued to find a walleye bite using blade baits or trolling worm harnesses. Look for a good perch bite in deeper water with minnows.
Sandy Pond report:
According to Dave Wood of Woody’s Tackle:
There is not much to report from the pond. The high water is limiting access with only a few anglers reported on the water. The DEC boat launch remains closed. Those anglers that are able to access the water will likely find Northern pike and walleye along with some perch.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Lake fishing continues to be excellent. Straight out from Sodus Bay in 100 to 140 feet of water is the location that has been catching fish.
The kings are hitting flasher/flies back 250 feet on the dipsy and down 80 on the riggers. Green appears to be the color.
The lakers are in 200 fow down 140 and hitting cowbell rigs. Some charter captains are using copper for the kings…out 400 feet. That’s a lot of fun to reel-in.
Don’t forget the Sodus Pro-Am coming-up in July, Water levels are receding some, so there should be no issues in a few weeks. The web is sodusproam.com The main event is July 15-16, 2017.
Bays
Bass season started last Saturday and although there is still high water, many boats could launch and fish. They just couldn’t zip across the bays to fish their hot spots. Reports were positive for some lunker largemouths being caught.
The no wake conditions remain on all Wayne County bays, so that will make getting to your preferred location very difficult. Currently, Port Bay doesn’t even have an open launch site.
Hughes Marina has a launch site, so you can head east on the lake and gain entrance to Sodus Bay or launch at Bay Bridge or Margaretta Road.
It sounds like a broken record however, the speed on the bays is still idle. It’s a Wayne County Emergency condition. There is no restriction on Lake Ontario.
Check out the rest of the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops. waynecountytourism.com.
Erie Canal
Most of the launches on the canal are open and bass fishing is always productive on canal waters. With high water ruining bay fishing, the canal is a great option. Widewaters is the favorite location, just west of Newark. There is plenty of parking for trucks and trailers.
On Father’s Day, there were plenty of bass boats fishing the canal west of the Port Gibson bridge.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism
Occasional rain and thunder storms are in the forecast into next week along with more seasonal temperatures.
On Lake Ontario the king of the lake, Chinook salmon, have made their presence known in a big way.
Fishing in the 100 feet of water range has been very productive all along the shoreline of Orleans County.
Most fish are being taken in the lower portions of the water column, from 60 feet down and with a mixture of lure combinations but cut bait seems to be the most productive.
Some Lake trout and steelhead are also being caught but not in the numbers of the kings.
Near the mouth of the “Oak” Perch and bass fishing is good to very good.
Lake Alice is producing some decent numbers of both Large and Smallmouth bass along with a combination of pan fish.
I haven’t had a good report from the Erie Canal fishermen as of yet.
Returning again this year is the Drew’s Crew, Fishing for a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.
The derby will take place on July 15th this year and will follow the best 3 fish format that is so popular.
The entry fee is $50.00 cash with half going to the prize structure and half to Juvenile Diabetes research.
This year you will be able to fish out of either Point Breeze or Bald Eagle Marina but the weigh-in will take place at Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina.
You must be entered by 7 AM on the 15th and the weigh-In closes at 3PM so please don’t be late.
Why join us for a fun day of fishing while supporting this great cause.