Greater Niagara Region
Frank Campbell
The entire south shore of Lake Ontario is on fire right now reports Capt. Vince Pierleoni of Thrillseeker Sportfishing who operates out of Olcott. Pick your species – brown trout, king salmon, Coho salmon, and lake trout are all in the mix and you can find them from 6 feet of water to 80 feet of water according to Pierleoni. Spoons were the best enticement for him. Early baitfish movements have been coming in shallow and those fish are hungry. With the muddy water coming out of the tributaries with the recent rains, look for a distinct mudline to target brown trout with stickbaits, moving in and out of the line. Don’t be surprised if a salmon or two show up.
Capt. Joe Oakes of Salmon Boy Charters reports that despite the dirty water and crazy weather, fishing remains good for both brown trout and lake trout, with more salmon showing up daily fishing out of Wilson. Best depths have been from 10 feet to 80 feet, depending on what you want to target. Sticks, spoons, and flasher-fly are all taking fish from the surface to the bottom.
Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston reported that he had some media people in from the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers and there were three boats working the shoreline from Fort Niagara to 4 Mile Creek – wherever they could find clear water. When they found it, they did well on Chinook and Coho salmon, brown trout, lake trout, and some bomber bass. They would use the bow mount trolling motor to slowly work the shoreline in 10 to 20 feet of water using small stickbaits.
In the river, Capt. Joe Srouji of Angler Edge saw the conditions change in the lower river as the day went on last Friday. Since then, it has been difficult to fish. He did find some cleaner water on the Canadian side of the river near the mouth. It looks like it should be fishable again for boaters working from Devil’s Hole to the Niagara Bar by today or Thursday this week. With some strong east winds in the forecast for today, having the river available for options will be a great back up plan.
In the Tenth Annual Niagara County Bullhead Tournament last weekend, there were 111 entries in the contest, including 21 youth 12 years of age and under. Conditions were difficult. Brandon Poole of Newfane won the tourney with two fish weighing 4.45 pounds. Second place was Rich Hahn of Grand Island with 4.20 pounds for two fish. Top youth was Ashton Clement with 3.54 pounds for two fish. If you would like to find out more about the proposed hydrokinetic project in the Niagara River, stop down to Black Rock-Riverside Community Alliance located at 52 Amherst Street, in Buffalo on Saturday, April 20th. Scott Kitchen with the Niagara Musky Association will be giving a presentation between 10 and 11 a.m.
Wayne County Fishing Update
Chris Kenyon
Lake Ontario
Because of Saturday’s blow, charter boats stayed moored to the docks. Sunday and Monday was calm with a great mudline in the lake.
Today the dark water is still there because the creeks and the bays push dirty water into the lake.
The mix bag is kings, browns, and some steelhead. The browns are hugging the shoreline in 8 to 15 fow.
Fish straight out from Sodus Bay or troll east to Port Bay.
The salmon are deeper and hitting UV spoons. All sorts of colors work. Orange for the Stingers and orange for the Bay Rat stick baits.
The water temp in Rochester today is 41 degrees.
Bays
The perch are still scattered. You need to start at the drop-off points and move around searching for the fish.
At Port Bay try next to the channel using shad colored bait. At Sodus Bay, fish between the islands at the north region of the bay and straight out from Shaker Heights at the southwest side of the bay.
Some of the DEC docks at the launch sites are in place. The north end of Port Bay is completed, so the south end should be in this week.
Launch sites for Sodus: Next to the Coast Guard Station (till Memorial Day) and Bay Bridge Sport Shop. The water level in Sodus might make the Margarita dock an easier launch site. Check it out. It’s on your right on Route 14 just past Martin’s Marina.
Launch sites for Port Bay: Barrier bar road at the north end of West Port Bay Road and the south end DEC site.
Erie Canal
The crappies are still biting bright small jigs, suspended from water near the Port Gibson Bridge.
The bass season starts June 15th if you wish to keep your catch. Make sure the fish are 12 inches and the limit is five fish.
The official opening of the canal is May 17. 2024.
Anyone underway in a boat less than 21 feet in length anytime between November 1 and May 1 must wear a securely fastened life jacket.
Bait for fishing is available on the south end of Sodus at Davenports and Bay Bridge Sport Shop.
On Port Bay Jarvis Bait Farm is open on Brown Road. The signs are on East Port Bay Road at the junction of Brown Road.
Toadz Bait is near the end of West Port Bay Road.
NotableFreshwater 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);and
- 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: and
- The statewide minimum size limit for crappie has been increased from nine inches to ten inches.
Oswego County
Fishing in Oswego County has been on fire! Lake or river, take your pick.
Salmon River, Pulaski NY
• Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
• Click Here for the Current CFS at Pineville
The week of 295 CFS had the fishing in a rut. But the recent water increase this past weekend really turned the steelhead on. The best bite remains from 2a down to the DSR. Just be careful when wading.
Beads have been effective in sizes 8,10, and 12 mm. Beads with a yellow base are working best, examples are “Lorax,” “No Name,” “SUV Tangerine,” and “Coho Roe.” The classic pink worm has been effective as well.
As always, this time of year, simply cover water and you’ll eventually be rewarded. Tight lines!
Lake Ontario – Oswego, Mexico, Port Ontario NY
Click Here of the 10 day Forecast
Fishing has been great for brown trout. And like last year lots of kings have shown up too. Browns have been in close, 5-20’, with some kings mixed in. But most of the kings are a little deeper, in 30’+.
The best baits have been Smithwicks and Bayrats off planers; especially in “Blk Silver”, “Jailbreak”, “Cisco”, “Ridin Dirty” and “Can’t Afford It.” Spoons in both stinger and stingray sizes have been good too. Such as “Artic Ice”, “UV Diehard”, “UV Gator”, “Ice Frog”, “Black Widow”, “Angry Bird” and “Mixed Veggie.”
Overall, the best delivery techniques for running spoons have been:
- 1,2, & 3 color leadcores
- Mini divers out 10-50’
- Downriggers set to 5-25’
Spey Nation – Presented By “Swing the Fly” – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Click Here For More Information
On August 9th-11th, 2024 Spey Nation is proud to return to upstate New York and the beautiful shores of the Salmon River at Tailwater Lodge.
In addition to all the free and community-oriented fun, Spey Nation is excited to open registration for our lineup of private Spey casting instruction from some of the highest caliber instructors in the country.
Whether you are brand new to the swung fly, or an old-timer looking to consistently squeeze every inch out of your casts, instructors Rick Kustich, Topher Browne, Zack Williams, Jeff Liskay, Nick Pionessa have something on offer for you.
Designed to have the same classes on multiple days so you don’t have to miss a thing, we here at Spey Nation hope you can find the perfect class (or classes) for you!
Free Oswego Fishing Guide
Click Here to Order a Free Guide
The 68-page guide includes a detailed overview of fishing opportunities on eastern Lake Ontario, Oneida Lake, the Oswego and Salmon rivers and a variety of other tributaries, as well as the more than 40,000 acres of public lands available for hunting.
Welcome to Oswego County – Watch the Video
Discover more at visitoswegocounty.com
