Upstate and Western New York Fishing Report-July 7, 2022

Greater Niagara Region

Frank Campbell

The Summer Lake Ontario Counties Derby or LOC as everyone calls it, kicked off with a bang on July 2. Big fish were caught all around the lake, starting with the current Grand Prize leader – a 28-pound salmon reeled in by Bruce Raggi, Jr. of Farmington and fishing out of Wayne County. Second place salmon overall, and first in the salmon division, was Jason Hayes of Michigan with a 27-pound king he caught out of Wilson. On the same day, he also reeled in a 12-pound steelhead that took over the lead for that division. Matt Ashmore of Hamlin caught the first-place brown trout while fishing out of the Oak, a 15-1/2-pound fish. In the lake trout division, the leader is a huge 29-pound, 3-ounce fork tail from Henderson Harbor. The derby continues until July 31, and you can still register. Fish the same day if you sign up before 7 a.m. Check out loc.org for a complete leaderboard. Of course, you must be in it to win it. Capt. Roger Young of Papa Smurf Charters took his daughter and boyfriend out fishing last Saturday for fun fishing. Of course, you know the rest of the story. Sarah Young of Terryville, CT reeled in a 31-plus pound salmon out of Wilson for the biggest salmon of her life. She was not in the derby.

Lake Ontario fishing action has been good. Capt. Joe Oakes of Salmon Boy Charters reports that fishing has been great for him. Best bite is in 400 plus feet of water. Spoons in the top 60 feet are producing the best results for kings, cohos and steelhead. Capt. Roy Letcher of Burt reports Raylee Peterson of Pennsylvania caught a 15. 4-pound brown trout in front of Olcott over the weekend in 80 feet of water. There have been plenty of fish in the 100-foot to 400-foot depth range, both kings and steelies. Meat and spoons are working best for him.

In the Niagara River, the rainbows are still hitting for Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls. His focus has been above Niagara Falls, not too far from the mist. Small jigs are best and No. 3 spinners are also working. The bait has thinned out and so the chromers are becoming scarcer. Moss is still an issue. Not too much has changed in the lower river with moss continuing to be a problem. Smallmouth bass, white bass and sheepshead are the top 3 catches. Remember walleye is a category in the Summer LOC and as of this report there were no fish entered in the division.

Hats off to Capt. Carl Martin of Pendleton, skipper for the Dublin Up team. They won the Summer Big Boys tournament last Saturday out of Point Breeze, the team’s second win in a row out of the Point. They also won the Orleans County Open in June. Next Friday is the Curt Meddaugh Tournament and Saturday is the LOTSA Club Salmon Tournament on Lake Ontario. Find out details at lotsa1.org.

Oswego County

Lake Ontario

Click Here of the 10 day Forecast

The salmon are here; they can be found from 90-350.’ But they have been most active at 46-58’ water. Find that range in the column and you’ll find feeding kings.

Flashers and Meat rigs have been the best option. But the salmon have shown interest in mag spoons. Carbon 14, Pickle Seed, and SSW have been performing the best.

Green jeans, kryptonite, and bullfrog have all been good too – pulling illusion, pro Am, and Dirtygoose twinkies.

Mexico, NY – Lake Ontario Report

Click Here of the 10 day Forecast

Browns have been very active this week in “the Bay.” The most productive water has been 85-115.’

Downriggers with cheaters have been very effective. But also coppers from 300-400.’

We’re also finding plenty of kings mixed in with the browns. Diehards, Golden shiner, Green Dolphin and NBK’s are our go-to recommendations.

Oswego Pro-Am Tournament! – Watch the Weigh In

Come challenge Great Lakes anglers from far and wide in the 27th annual Oswego Pro/Am. July 9th and 10th in the great city of Oswego, NY. Weigh-in for the tournament is held at East Side Park. Situated between two hotels and directly on the harbor, it offers a convenient location with beautiful views.

More info at: oswegoproam.com

Wayne County Fishing Update

Chris Kenyon

Lake Ontario

Grand prize in the LOC Summer Derby is currently a 28-pound king caught in Wayne County. Make sure you sign-up for the best derby on Lake Ontario waters.

The summer kings are here, and 20 pounders plus are being caught from Hughes’ Marina area east towards Sodus and Port Bays.

Fish in 200 to 300 fow down 90 to 120 feet. The bite has been flasher flies and Mag spoons. Riggers and dipsy divers have been the best spread.

The LOC Summer Derby continues to July 31st.

Lake Ontario tributary regulations: Three fish in combination and not to include more than one Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and One Brown Trout.

Bays

Holiday boating has made it a challenge for fishing Port and Sodus Bays. If you fished early or late you had a chance to hook some huge largemouth in both bays.

Cast near the docks and in the weedy sections. Senko rigs are the favorite.

The channel to East Bay is open for smaller boats. Pike and blue gills are hitting in that small bay between Port and Sodus Bays.

Some perch are still being caught at the Port Bay channel. Use small jigs tipped with spikes.

The holiday weekend is over so now the perfect time to fish the bays.

Erie Canal

Catfish are being caught near Palmyra. Fish the deeper pools using raw shrimp. Worms will also work. Use your 7- foot ultra-lite for some exciting fights.

Largemouth bass are being caught everywhere on the canal, however Widewaters has always been the hot spot.

Keep informed from the NYS Canal web for changes and restrictions with canal waters. Keep informed about 2022 canal hours.

There are no tolls or fees for recreational use of the Canal system this year.

Notable Freshwater Fishing Regulation Changes

The following list offers a summary of the most notable fishing regulation changes resulting from the adopted rulemakings described above.

• New statewide regulation for rainbow trout, brown trout, and splake in lakes and ponds. The season will now be open year-round, with a five-fish daily limit, any size, with a “no more than two longer than 12 inches” harvest rule.
• Statewide Atlantic salmon regulations will now allow for a year-round open season.
• Ice fishing is permitted on all waters in New York unless specifically prohibited with the exception of Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties where previous rules remain.
• New specific dates replaced floating dates for statewide season openers to include:
  • May 1 – Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel, and Tiger Muskellunge.
  • June 1 – Muskellunge. (Note that in 2022, DEC will allow for the fishing of muskellunge beginning the last Saturday in May to accommodate previously planned fishing trips)
  • June 15 – Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
• A five-fish daily walleye limit in Oneida Lake.
• A new regulation to limit the growth of the walleye population in Skaneateles Lake. No daily possession limit; 12-inch minimum size limit, open year-round.
• The statewide sunfish daily harvest limit has been reduced from 50 to 25 fish
• The statewide minimum size limit for crappie has been increased from nine inches to ten inches.