Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Life is far from normal as we continue to move forward in this changing world. Adding a little bit of normalcy back into our lives is important … like fishing and being outdoors. With some mild weather moving into the region, angling action has been good on a variety of fronts.
Out on Lake Ontario, boats were making it out onto the lake this week to start chasing fish on the big water. State parks have their launch ramps open, as well as the Town of Newfane marina. Trolling the shoreline with stickbaits in 8 to 20 feet of water seems to be the best approach. If there’s a mud line, work the edge by long lining off the back of the boat or use in-line planers. Brown trout are the primary target, but you may also catch a steelhead or Coho salmon. On the Niagara Bar, a few Chinook salmon have also shown up for a nice bonus while drifters have targeted lakers and browns. The piers were also producing some brown trout for casters using spoons and spinners off Wilson and Olcott. It’s getting near the tail end of the steelhead run into the tributaries, but some steelhead and brown trout are still available. A few suckers are starting to show up and the first smallmouth bass should also become available in the tributaries. There are still some bullheads available in Wilson and Olcott, too, if you are looking for a tasty spring meal. Remember that the Niagara County Bullhead Contest has been cancelled for this year. Speaking of contests, no word on the Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) derbies or tournaments like the Wilson Harbor Invitational or the Niagara County Pro-Am events. They are waiting to see how COVID-19 progresses into April.
The strong winds last Friday put a tinge of stain into the river system, but it didn’t shut it down entirely. It has improved every day since then. Conditions were near perfect on Tuesday according to Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island. Pink egg sacs, beads and Kwikfish were all working for him as they targeted steelhead. Lake trout and brown trout are all being caught from both boat and shore, too. Lake trout like big minnows and the Niagara Bar has been a good place to start … if you can get out there. Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls reported 5 feet of visibility this week in the river and was catching trout on both spinners and jigs. Others have drifted egg sacs or beads to hit some steelhead.
April 1 is still the inland trout opener around the state and that doesn’t impact Niagara Falls USA very much because our Great Lakes waters are open year-round. Where it does impact us is at some of the county’s urban stocking sites like Niagara Falls and Wheatfield. Oppenheim Park Pond is the first on the list at 10 a.m. on April 8, followed by Hyde Park Lake and Gill Creek in Niagara Falls the same day. Make sure you maintain social distancing from anyone else fishing. It’s good fishing etiquette anyway, whether you are in the lower Niagara River, a stream off Lake Ontario, on the piers or at a pond or lake in the city. Stay safe out there!
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.
NOTICE: When fishing during these difficult times, the DEC recommends avoiding busy waters. If an angler arrives at a parking lot and there are several cars, they should consider going to another parking lot. If an angler is fishing upstream, they should fish downstream of the other angler or consider fishing another day. Anglers fishing from boats should be able to maintain at least six feet of distance between one another.
Lake Ontario report:
Brown trout are hanging close to shore. They can be caught by casting spoons and stickbaits. Natural colors have been best in clear water. Brighter colors are working when the water is stained. They will concentrate around creek and river mouths looking for warmer water.
Oswego River Report
The water flow had been running over 10,000 CFS but has been between 8,000-9,000 CFS over the last couple of days. This morning it is flowing at 8,850 CFS. This makes many areas along the river fishable. Anglers are finding steelhead with some nice chrome ones in the upper end of the river. Egg sacs and beads have been successful along with Marabou jigs and night crawlers. Remember walleye season is closed until the first Saturday in May.
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. 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:
The water flow has jumped to 1500 CFS at the dam and 1830 CFS at Pineville. Anglers have been finding a good steelhead bite with egg sacs the choice of bait. Fly fishing anglers reported stone flies were top producers with glo bugs and wooly bugger type patterns also taking strikes. The majority of fish caught have been chrome.
Oneida Lake Report:
Anglers are now looking toward the spring open water fishing. Just a reminder that walleye season is closed from March 15 to the first Saturday in May.
Sandy Pond Report:
Activity is rather quiet now on the pond as we transition to open water fishing. Just a reminder that walleye and northern pike seasons are closed from March 15 to the first Saturday in May.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Streams
The steelhead are still in the streams. It won’t be long until that swim to the lake. Maxwell and the other smaller stream in the county have been producing some gorgeous fish.
Use bright red beads or egg sacs…the usual bait.
You can fly fish or use your spinning outfit.
Lake Ontario
Some smaller boats have been fishing for browns close to shore. Charters usually start the season the first week in April.
Reports are coming in that the trout are hitting stickbaits; Bay Rat shallow divers, Southwick and Rapala. From Sodus Bay head west and troll in 20 feet of water.
Bays
Perch are in Port and Sodus Bays. Schools are in 20 feet of water and some are shallower, three to ten feet. The best bait right now is white minnow rubber bait, 2 inches. Tip it with spikes. The most productive presentation is a sinker on the bottom with your hook tied 15 inches above.
Remember while your fishing from your boat, that you need to wear your pfd until May 1st.
If you need tackle and bait Bay Bridge Sport Shop and Davenports at the south end of Sodus Bay are always opened. They both have live bait if you like fishing with small minnows.
They also have plenty of fresh spikes.
Check out the rest of the Wayne County Tourism web page for the locations and hours of local bait and tackle shops.
Erie Canal
Crappies are being caught near the Port Gibson Bridge. You can launch a boat at Widewaters or fish the canal from the shore.
Orleans County
Orleans County Tourism and Capt. John Oravec, Tight Lines Charters
So far, a gradual warming trend is forecast through this week after a cold past weekend. That cold weather has dropped tributary flows some and made for clearing water color. Rain showers so far through this week was not great enough to affect any great change in flows but has maintained a little stain in the smaller waterways. Next chance at significant precipitation is toward the end of the week or upcoming weekend.
We hope everyone is safe and healthy through these most recent events. There are some people out on the waterways, although fishing pressure is over-all light. Looks like a handful of cars at most access spots.
Flows in the Oak are between moderate and medium and mostly clear. Anglers report some steelhead, a mix of spawning and darker fish. Fresh fish are likely trickling in and another spate of higher water would help that cause. There’s still some browns too. Light and small and long lead presentations will give the best chance at hook ups in the lower and clearer water.
Flows in the other area smaller tributaries are moderate and slightly stained. For now, water temps are hanging in cool so even as some fish go post-spawn they may hang around some with a slower retreat to the big Lake Ontario open waters. Look for a mix of spawning steelhead, few browns and now some smallmouth bass. Pretty lipped sucker friends are also becoming more numerous.