Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
April 1 was the designated opener for the NY Power Authority Fishing Platform in the Niagara Gorge and the reservoir is now open for business as of April 1, too. However, a wind storm is ripping through the region today and a high wind warning is in place. Thanks to those winds, the Power Authority Platform is closed today. It’s underwater. If you want to check before heading down there so you don’t waste a trip, call 796-0135 Ext. 45 for regular updates. We’ve been told that the ice boom wasn’t going to be pulled until there was less than 250 square miles. Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature. The wind broke the ice boom loose today. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.
Lower River action has been up and down … like the water. Egg sacs, beads, spoons and spinners are all working from shore. Boaters are using egg sacs and minnows when the conditions call for it. Capt. Mark Vilardo of Kingfisher Charters reports that his last trip out saw clearer conditions in the Devil’s Hole area but varying degrees of stain further down river below the power plants. Clarity depends on wind and runoff. Finding the best color is key. When the winds aren’t a factor, the Niagara Bar has been productive for browns and lake trout. Large golden shiners have been the bait of choice on the bar according to Vilardo.
Out in the lake, Capt. Matt Yablonsky with Wet Net Charters has been working the shoreline from Wilson to Fort Niagara in 8 to 15 feet of water for cookie cutter browns with a few bigger ones mixed in. Aidan Pachucinski of Collins reeled in a 15 pounder using a firetiger Rapala. Other hot baits have been Junior Challengers and MagLips in 2.5 sizes, all bright colors along the mud line using Offshore inline planers. Down off Olcott, best depths have been 12 to 18 feet of water with clown-colored Scatter Raps. At least that worked for John Van Hoff and Wade Winch of North Tonawanda over the weekend.
Trout are still available in 18 Mile Creek. Anthony Henley of Buffalo hit some nice ones over the weekend fishing a jig under a float. When the water clears again, look for perch in Wilson and Olcott harbors and off the piers. With all the north wind, not too much action off those piers, though. The weather has not been cooperative.
If you like fishing for bullhead, the Wilson Conservation Club will be holding its 5th Annual Niagara County Bullhead Tournament from 5 p.m. on April 6th to 1 p.m. on April 8. Call Eric at 628-6078 for details. You can also register at the Slippery Sinker in Olcott. The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association is looking for some volunteers to help put their pens together and get them ready for the salmon and trout stockings April 9. On April 7, volunteers will be meeting at the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott at 9:30 a.m. to work on the pens. For more information contact Alan Sauerland at 504-7789. At the LOTSA meeting on April 12 at Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara, 4487 Lake Ave. (Route 78) Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Thrillseeker Charters will be the featured speaker starting at 7 p.m. talking spring kings. Don’t forget that the Niagara County Federation of CC will be holding its annual awards banquet on April 14 at Terry’s Corners Fire Hall starting at 5 p.m. Call Dave Whitt at 754-2133 for advance sale tickets.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau
Oswego River Report
The water level has been running well over 10,000cfs for the last few days reaching almost 16,000cfs yesterday. This morning it has dropped back flowing at 11,200cfs. With the higher water level, very strong winds and dropping temperatures there was not much to report on Wednesday from the river. Temperatures are expected to be below normal for the next week with scattered rain and snow showers. Anglers willing to brave the elements might try the river walk behind the hotels for steelhead.
Notice: The bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. For more information, visit our website at visitoswegocounty.com and click on the Fishing Report along the top bar on the home page.
Salmon River Report:
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop & Motel:
The river flow is up to 1500cfs through Friday night. The driftboats have been taking advantage of the higher flows and floating most of the river. A few bank anglers are fishing the lower end of the river, but the majority of them are fishing the upper end of the river between Altmar and Pineville. For those anglers who are not comfortable with the current water level, some of the smaller local tributaries are another option. Earlier in the week anglers who were fly fishing had the most success dead drifting with pink San Juan worms and squirmy worms or indicator fishing with egg patterns. Anglers who were float fishing had the most success with pink and blue egg sacs or pink worms.
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
A couple of hearty anglers braved the rain and wind and fished Tuesday afternoon on the run. The high flows made things tricky, but one of them went 1/2, landing a nice brown. Unfortunately, the weather yesterday made for tough conditions with winds 25-40+ mph and temperatures dropping from an early high of 49F down to the mid 30s.
Oneida Lake Report:
There is not much to report from the lake as we are in between ice fishing and open water fishing which is coming soon. Just a reminder that walleye season closed on March 15 and will reopen on May 5.
Sandy Pond report:
The pond is quiet this time of year as we wait for open water fishing. A reminder that walleye and northern pike season closed on March 15 and will reopen on May 5.
Eastern Finger Lakes / Central New York Fishing Report
Mike Crawford of upstateguideservice.com
The statewide trout season opener was this past Sunday. Easter. And on April 1st this year the Central New York area streams were found to be high and turbid. Some creeks were fishable and worm dunkers did well on the brown trout while Finger Lake tributary fishermen did exceptionally well with spawn sacks and floats. Lake Ontario tributary fishing is very good throughout Steelhead Alley to the west and north of Syracuse right now. Moderate rains brought fresh steelhead into the rivers and streams mid week. In the North Country of Upstate New York the ponds and lakes are by-and-large still ice covered. Trout streams are at good levels but water temperatures are quite cold. Water in the Eastern Finger Lakes was around 35 degrees as of Saturday and likely has not climbed too much. Its early yet, however, and the forecast is for continued cold and blustery conditions throughout Central New York for the next several days…Not a great forecast for the eager lake anglers. The tributaries and local trout streams have my focus until some warm rains and mild daytime temperatures begin to warm up the lakes.
Fishing for trout that average twelve inches is every bit as fun as fishing for their larger lake-run cousins! Each spring, here in the Syracuse area, the first day of April is greatly anticipated by a multitude of trout heads. Trout heads, young and old, that have endured yet another long grey Syracuse winter and are excited to get outside with a rod in their hand and enjoy a day on the creek. Around here, regardless of heavy snow or driving rain, fathers and sons, brothers and cousins, all get up early and make their way to a favorite hole in a meandering suburban creek to fish for trout. It is a tradition with deep roots. It is, perhaps, more about having some laughs and enjoying the company of friends than it is about catching a trout. And while many area creeks have some natural reproduction of trout,the fact is, without the hard work and resources of Onondaga County’s Carpenter Brook Fish Hatchery, many opening day anglers would get skunked. And getting skunked on the creek on opening day does not make for the best memories!
Please visit Carpenters Brook Fish Hatchery or in person if you find yourself in Elbridge, New York. This hatchery is a valuable local resource that grows future anglers as well as healthy fish!
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
The trout opener for inland streams was Easter Sunday. Naples Creek was running high, however there were plenty of rainbows caught, although it was a challenge for many anglers. An 8.8 lb. trout won the Naples Rotary Trout Derby.
But we are talking Wayne County where the season never closes. Maxwell still has steelhead and they re hitting egg sacs and beads.
The streams are not running as high as last week…we’ll see what rain comes our way the next few days.
Lake Ontario
The brown trout action is ferocious with catch rates in the teens and twenties for half- day trips.
Fish out of Sodus and head east or west. Near Pultneyville the bt action is the best. If you have a smaller boat launch at Bear Creek. The trout are in 10 to 20 feet of water…real close to shore. Stickbaits are Rapala, Smithwick, and Bay Rats.
Tomorrow’s blow will put an end to lake fishing for a few days, however wave action should create some fantastic mudlines. Water temps are currently 38 to 40 degrees.
Bays
Crappie action is still at Bay Bridge and at Port Bay. The perch have scattered, but you can still locate schools if you hunt for them.
Remember, there is a 25-fish regulation on crappies and they need to be at least 9 inches in length. Perch have a 50-fish regulation.
You’ll need to wear a PFD until May 1st and remember if you are dressing for cold weather, you’ll be extra heavy. Don’t take chances because hypothermia is quick and deadly.
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
There is open water on the canal. You can fish near the locks between Lyons and Newark, or you can launch at Widewaters Park.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism and Ron Bierstine at Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge
After pretty good rain at the end of last week, we dodged any significant precipitation through the weekend. Night time temps are dropping back into the 20’s°F and that has tightened up the runoff. Flows in the Oak are high and stained with about 1’+ of visibility. For now, flows are slowly on the clear and turbine flows are likely to stay up around high through the week.
No impacts here in WNY from the latest snowstorm on the east coast. Forecast is for clear today (Monday) and showers tomorrow (Tuesday) and temps in the 40’s near 50°F. There will be a chance of more significant rain Tuesday night and then a wind advisory Wednesday. Flows could be quickly back on the rise with overflow water and off color with anymore significant precipitation.
Anglers through last Saturday reported steelhead hook ups on the Oak and then it was pretty quiet Easter Sunday. The other area smaller tributaries have medium to slightly high flows with stained water color of 1 – 2 ft of visibility. Look for some fresh fish migrations looking to get to gravel areas to stage or spawn relatively quickly. No real big warm up seen in the near future forecast, so at least water temps shouldn’t be spiking high anytime soon – helping to preserve the tributary action.
Land lubber casters at Point Breeze and small boat trollers are having action, finding nice green water within casting range or close in-shore.