Greater Niagara Region
Bill Hilts, Jr.
Monday of this week saw the NYPA start the process of removing the ice boom at the head of the river. As of Thursday, there was still 3 or 4 percent of the lake ice to push through the system. Lower Niagara River trout action continues to be decent. Artpark is still a good spot to be from boat and shore. Steelhead are the top target using large emerald shiners according to Lisa Drabczyk at Creek Road Bait and Tackle in Lewiston. Boaters are averaging 8 to 10 fish per trip that also includes the occasional brown trout and lake trout. Egg sacs will also work for trout. If you get the right wind direction, Kwikfish or MagLips off three-way rigs can work well. Shoreline casters will use No. 4 spinners, spoons or jigs. If you prefer using a float, use an egg sac or an egg imitation. Jigs will work, too.
No smelt yet, but boats are continuing to mark pods of bait on the bottom in the middle of the river. Cooler temperatures due to ice chunks coming down the river could be affecting the nightly runs. The Lewiston Smelt Festival will be on May 3 if you want to check out the smelt fry provided by the Niagara River Anglers Association, Tops Lewiston and the Niagara River Region Chamber. The action kicks off at 5 p.m. with live music, a smelt eating contest and more, all at Academy Park this year across from Tops.
In the Upper Niagara River, DEC’s Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) ran a sting out of Beaver Island State Park when several calls came through the violation hotline (1-844-DEC-ECOS) claiming illegal activity going on. ECO’s from Erie County hit the upper Niagara River at Beaver Island and managed to nab an illegal catch that resulted in numerous violations. Three guys were dipping emerald shiners with nets when they started catching perch, which is illegal to do. They ended up with 3,537 yellow perch, way over the limit of 50 per person. They also netted carp (187), rock bass (14), and sunfish (2). If you see illegal activity going on, make the call. It works. Many of the fish were still alive due to the quick action of the officers and a large number were successfully released.
Out in Lake Ontario, Capt. Joe Gallo of E. Amherst fished in 65 to 70 foot of water Easter morning in front of Wilson to fish lake trout. The Two Bulls crew went 20 for 29 on lakers using glow flashers and blue/purple spoons. Jim DeGirolamo of Derby hit 7 to 10 feet of water between Wilson and Olcott to catch browns and lake trout using 3-inch firetiger Renosky stickbaits. Matt Tall of Wilson was using a stickbait off Wilson in 48 feet of water to take a beautiful 13-pound Atlantic salmon that was caught and released this week. There are still some steelhead and brown trout in the tributaries, but bass are slowly replacing them. Pier action has been spotty off Wilson and Olcott. Remember the Lake Ontario Counties Spring Trout and Salmon Derby will be May 10-19 this year. Check out details at www.loc.org.
To branch out on the club’s “teaching fishing” philosophy, the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association (LOTSA) will be moving from the classroom to the lake to provide some hands-on experience for interested anglers who are members of the club. (Become a member at www.lotsa1.org for $10). On June 9 out of Wilson, Capt. Joe Gallo of Two Bulls Sportfishing will take out six anglers (at a cost of $75 each) from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., showing off the daily routine of a charter captain from start to finish. The proceeds will benefit the club’s pen rearing project in Olcott. Call Gallo at 998-2296 to reserve your spot. Space is limited.
Oswego County
Mary Ellen Barbeau of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.
Lake Ontario/Oswego River Report
According to Capt. Tom Burke of Cold Steel Sportfishing:
What a day on Lady O on Tuesday! I can’t stop thinking about the incredible fishery we have! Kings and lots of them. Not to mention brown and laker action mixed in.
According to Capt. Andy Bliss of Chasin’ Tail Adventures:
Another good day on Ontario. Both Cold Steel Sportfishing Charter and my clients wanted a day of lake fishing so we put the groups together and took them to the lake. The Brown trout bite was crazy but the salmon had lockjaw. BayRats and Michigan stingers took all our fish in colors across the board.
According to Oz Angling Tackle:
The river is running at 11,000cfs this morning. Steelhead are all over the upper half of the river with limited spots to target them from shore with this water level. Drift boats have been doing well on steelhead with a few browns mixed in. Shore anglers fishing the lower end of the river are finding brown trout on the west side by throwing spoons, jigging swim baits along the bottom or bottom bouncing egg sacs and worms. Anglers are finding smallmouth bass (catch and release only at this time) on the east side by jigging along the bottom with swim baits or slip float fishing with jigs.
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:
According to the Douglaston Salmon Run:
We had 20 anglers hit the run yesterday and the majority surveyed reported landing at least one steelhead. A handful shared reports of going 3/5, 6/7, and even 12/14 on drop backs with a few smallmouth bass mixed in. The angler with the most reported steelhead on the line noted that they were all caught in two locations to which he jokingly referred to as “drop back hotels.” We’ll let you decide where those might be! The water flows are posted to remain at 750cfs through midnight tonight.
According to Whitaker’s Sport Shop and Motel:
The anglers we spoke with reported seeing good numbers of fish still spawning as well as fish that have completed the spawning process and are dropping back. The drop backs have been scattered throughout the river and the spawning fish have been holding in and around the gravel areas of the river. Anglers who are fly fishing have had the most success dead drifting with egg patterns around the gravel areas or covering lots of water while swinging streamers with sinking leaders. For those anglers who are float fishing, pink and blue eggs, beads, pink worms and marabou jigs have all produced results.
Oneida Lake Report:
As the open water season gets underway, anglers are finding a perch bite in 10-15 feet of water. Minnows and spikes are the choice of bait. Anglers are also finding a few crappie and bullhead. A reminder the opening of walleye season is Saturday, May 4.
Sandy Pond Report:
There is little activity to report from the pond. A reminder that walleye and northern pike seasons open on Saturday, May 4.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Brown trout action continues with close to shore fishing. The wind has been somewhat of a problem, however when the charters can leave the docks, the excitement begins.
Today is an off-shore wind and there is still a mudline on the lake. Often the best way to fish stained water is to troll in and out between clear and muddy waters. BT’S love the cover.
Bay Rats and Rapalas have been working with a black and silver color. Spoons are also working in the deeper water.
Today, the water temperature from Rochester is 43 degrees. The warm pockets in Wayne County are off Maxwell Creek, straight out from Sodus and Port Bays, and near the power plant in Ontario.
Along with browns, some nice cohos are being caught.
Bays
The crappies and bullhead are hitting at the south end of Sodus Bay. Today, the air temperatures are going to hit the 70’s, which will fire-up the bullhead fishing.
The perch are still being caught in the bays. After they spawn, they will head towards the lake.
May 4th is the opener for pike and Sodus has plenty of the toothy fish. Concentrate between the islands in Sodus for pike.
You can rent a boat at Bay Bridge Sport Shop and won’t have far to go to catch crappies and bullheads.
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
Anglers were fishing at Port Gibson yesterday. They were using small jigs and fishing from the shore for crappies. Widewaters has a launch site at the county park west of Newark. The water level is perfect.