NYS DEC LOCAL FISHING HOTLINE
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Western New York Fishing Hotline
September 3 to September 10, 2010
WANTED: Lake Ontario Bass Anglers to participate in a Lake Ontario Black Bass Angler Diary Program. For more information, click on the link to the right. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/65533.html
Lake Ontario and Tributaries
The nearshore chinook salmon (king salmon) action is starting to heat up as mature kings begin to stage in preparation for their spawning run. Out of Olcott, anglers are catching mature kings in 50-100 feet of water (fow). The
Large brown trout caught off Olcott Harbor with gear run near the bottom.
Salmon action has been hot on the Niagara Bar. Trollers are catching good numbers of mature king salmon with some coho salmon mixed in. Anglers start to pick them up in 40 fow, however better action can be found all along the ledge, up to 100 fow. Flasher-fly or flasher-cut bait combos run near the bottom is the way to go.
The first of the mature kings catches have been reported from the piers, however catches of brown trout and steelhead are more numerous. When the bite starts in earnest, casting glow spoons at night works well for staging king salmon. Good locations to try include the piers at Wilson Harbor, Olcott Harbor, Golden Hill State Park, Oak Orchard Harbor and the Genesee River.
Lower Niagara River
Fishing for smallmouth bass and walleye has been hit-or-miss for boaters this week. The first of the king salmon have started to show in Devil's Hole and off the New York Power Authority (NYPA) fishing platform. When fishing at the NYPA platform, be sure to have a strong, long handled landing net to bring caught salmon up to the fishing deck. NYPA will be shutting down the turbine closest to the fishing platform for maintenance starting on October 8th. Since salmon catches are best when this turbine is on, September is the month to get down there and fish.
Honeoye Lake
Daytime anglers have been catching a mix of smallmouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and a few walleye in 18-22 fow. Smallmouth bass and the occasional walleye have been hitting jigs with nightcrawlers and jigs with leeches. Perch and sunfish have preferred red worms or jigs with grubs.
Conesus Lake
Smallmouth bass anglers have done well fishing crayfish on the bottom in 30-40 fow. Anglers have also picked up some nice bluegill outside the weed edge at the north end. Morning or late afternoon are good times to target northern pike along weedlines. Anchoring outside of the weedline and fishing large golden shiners under a float works well.
Inland Trout Streams
The area streams are low, clear and in the need of some rain. There is no real consistent fly hatch happening at this time. Fly anglers are using terrestrials (ants, beetles, grasshoppers), stimulator patterns and nymphs to entice strikes. Spinning anglers do well using little spinners, salted minnows and worms. If you are a catch and release angler and are using spinners, it is a good idea to outfit your spinners with one hook rather than a treble hook.
Inland Trout Stocking
Many of the region's streams and lakes are stocked each spring (March through May) with thousands of yearling brown, rainbow and brook trout. In addition to yearling trout, many waters also receive generous numbers of two-year old brown trout that average 14 inches in length. All of the region's trout stocking waters have now been stocked. For a complete list of stocked waters by county and number of trout stocked, view the Spring Trout Stocking pages. Public Fishing Rights Maps are available for many stocked trout streams and wild trout streams in the region.
If you need more fishing information or would like to contribute to the fishing report, please call or e-mail Mike Todd ((716) 851-7010; fwfish9@gw.dec.state.ny.us). Good Luck Fishing!
The fishing hotline can also be heard at (716) 855-FISH.
Central New York Fishing Hotline
September 3 - September 10
WANTED: Lake Ontario Bass Anglers to participate in a Lake Ontario Black Bass Angler Diary Program. For more information, click on the link to the right. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/65533.html
DEC is still gathering input on the overland transport of baitfish. Input will be accepted through September 10, 2010. For Pros and Cons of Baitfish Regulations and Options, or to submit a comment please visit Baitfish Overland Transport Meeting.
Region 7
Lake Ontario
Anglers are catching salmon from Oswego to Port Ontario in 60 to 140 feet of water. Fishing down 50 to 90 feet with flasher & fly rigs in green, white, glow and chrome are working as is cut-bait and j-plugs at this time. Smallmouth bass are still being caught around Mexico point on crayfish and minnows.
Oswego River
The river flow is down from last week and is at 7,350 cubic feet per second (cfs) as of 09/02. There are reports of a few salmon in the river. Sheephead and catfish are still biting in the river on nightcrawlers and cut-bait. Smallmouth bass are biting on minnows or crankbaits.
Salmon River
The river flow is back down and is at 335 cfs of 8/25. There is work being done on the retaining wall in the village of Pulaski along the Short Bridge Pool; so that area will be unfishable. There are reports of a few salmon entering the river real early in the day.
Oneida Lake
Walleye fishing has been good with fish being caught both shallow and deep with Shackelton Shoals, Dutchman's Bar and Lewis Point being good. Smallmouth bass fishing has been hot or cold depending on the day. Anglers fishing deep and slow with drop-shot rigs, tubes or plastic craws are having some luck. Largemouth bass are hitting creature baits fished in and around the deep weed edges.
Sandy Pond
Things are slow on the pond but some largemouth bass and northern pike action is still taking place along the outside weed edges. Spinnerbaits, rubber worms and crankbaits are working.
Cayuga Lake
Lake trout fishing has been good around AES, Taughannock and Sheldarke. Lakers are being caught in 75 to 95 feet of water by anglers vertical jigging with plastics. They are also being taken 70 to 90 feet down over 150 feet trolling with flasher & flies or spoons. White or white & green are still working well. Some nice brown trout, rainbow trout and keeper sized Atlantic salmon are also being taken just above the lake trout down 50 to 70 feet.
Owasco Lake
Anglers trolling 65 to 75 feet down over 130 to 150 feet of water with spoons or flasher & fly rigs are catching some lake trout and an occasional rainbow trout. Smallmouth bass are hitting in 10 to 20 feet of water on drop-shot rigs with Berkley Gulp baits. Good colors have been smelt imitating colors and green pumpkins. Look for schools of bait and fish around them for the bass.
Skaneateles Lake
Trolling 50 to 60 feet down with glow spoons is producing some lake trout. Anglers fishing near shore with tube jigs, drop-shot rigs and are catching smallmouth bass.
Otisco Lake
Tiger musky fishing remains good with a few tigers being caught on swim baits, large orange & black bass jigs. Smallmouth bass are being taken in 15 to 25 feet of water on drop-shot rigs with darker colored baits working well. Largemouth bass can be found on the outside weed edges. A few walleye are being taken by anglers trolling 35 feet down with stickbaits.
Whitney Point Reservoir
Fishing has been slow but smallmouth bass are still hitting on surface lures, crankbaits and live bait.
Susquehanna, Chenango, Tioughnioga and Unadilla Rivers
Dark colored tube jigs, like green pumpkin, are still working well for smallmouth bass. Gold Mepp's spinners are also working for the smallmouth bass. Walleye fishing has been slow.
Eastern Region 8
Lake Ontario
Most of the salmon action has shifted to the east, Fair Haven to Port Ontario. Anglers are catching salmon from Oswego to Port Ontario in 60 to 150 feet of water. Fishing down 50 to 90 feet with flasher & fly rigs in green, white, glow and chrome are working as is cut-bait at this time. Good numbers of 25 to 30 pound fish are being reported. Smallmouth bass are hitting for anglers in 10 to 20 feet on crankbaits and plastic goby imitators.
Genesee River
No new activity to report.
Sodus Bay
Largemouth bass are hitting on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and rubber worms fished in the deeper water.
Irondequoit Bay
Largemouth bass fishing continues to be good with fish being found deeper in 15 to 20 feet of water. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and rubber worms are still working. Northern pike fishing has picked up for anglers fishing large spoons.
Seneca Lake
Lake trout are being taken in 75 to 120 feet down by anglers trolling spoons and flasher & fly rigs. There are still some weed mats floating around. Vertical jigging has been producing fish at 100 to 110 feet with chartreuse and white plastics.
Canandaigua Lake
Lake trout are being caught down 70 to 80 feet with flashers & flies and spoons working. Some rainbows are also being taken down 50 to 65 feet on spoons.. Anglers vertical jigging in 85 to 135 feet of water are also taking lake trout on plastics.
Keuka Lake
Lake trout are still being taken by anglers vertical jigging in the Bluff area in 90 to 110 feet of water. Trout are also being taken by anglers trolling spoons and flasher & fly rigs down 60 to 100 feet over 120 to 160 feet of water.
Waneta and Lamoka Lakes
Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing has been good in 8 to 10 feet of water for anglers using bass minnows. Topwater baits are also working well early and late in the day. Muskellunge are being caught on large perch colored crankbaits or stickbaits cast or trolled in 8 to 20 feet of water. Yellow perch are hitting on crayfish fished in 10 feet of water.
Note- we are always looking for new participants in our Angler Diary Cooperator Program for our program on the Finger Lakes. Our numbers have dropped in recent years and we need new cooperators now more than ever. If you fish Cayuga Lake, Owasco Lake, Skaneateles Lake, Otisco Lake or any of their tributaries and want to learn more about this program and how to sign up please contact the Region 7 Fisheries office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 213 or on line at fwfish7@gw.dec.state.ny.us. If you fish Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Conesus Lake, Hemlock Lake, Honeoye Lake, Keuka Lake or Seneca Lake and want to learn more about this program and how to sign up please contact the Region 8 Fisheries office at (585) 226-5343 or on line at fwfish8@gw.dec.state.ny.us. mailto:fwfish8@gw.dec.state.ny.us
If you would like to contribute to the fishing report or need more fishing information or have any fishing/fishing equipment related questions you can contact Jim Everard at jfeverar@gw.dec.state.ny.us Good Luck Fishing.
The fishing line can also be heard at (607) 753-1551.
Lake Erie Fishing Hotline
September 3 to September 10, 2010
Lake Erie and Tributaries
Yellow perch action is the best it has been all summer. The hottest zone for coolers full of perch has been between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point in 62-70 feet of water (fow). Pods of boats have anchored off Fox's Point
Kids have a blast fishing for smallmouth bass on Lake Erie. This group caught several bass off Buffalo in July.
The bite has been fair for anglers targeting walleye between Barcelona and Sturgeon Point. Out of Barcelona, walleye are spread out and anglers have had to work hard for their 3 fish per boat average. Fish are scattered between 75-115 fow with most consistent catches coming between 65-70 feet down. From Dunkirk to Cattaraugus Creek, boaters concentrate efforts in depths greater than 75 feet with gear around 70-80 feet down. Sturgeon Point anglers head west and run gear near the bottom in 60 fow. Worm harnesses will still produce walleye hook-ups, but expect hits and catches of white bass and white perch as well. Minnow type stickbaits such as Renoskys or Rapalas have worked well and will help reduce the hook-ups with non-target species.
The smallmouth bass bite has been fantastic in 25-45 fow near structure such as reefs, rock piles and drop-offs. The top locations include Waverly Shoals, Seneca Shoals, Myers Reef and in front of Sturgeon Point. A good number of bass are also being caught by the Round House and at the north and south gaps of the Buffalo Harbor. Soft shell crayfish combined with a drop-shot rig has worked best, however shiners or goby imitation plastics also work well on the drop. The morning bite has been best.
All the lake trout you want can be found out of Barcelona and Dunkirk Harbors in depths of 120 feet plus. Downriggers with spoons run near the bottom is a good bet, however reports indicated suspended catches from 65 feet down.
Upper Niagara River
Live bait (crayfish, minnows or worms) is the ticket when fishing from City of Buffalo riverfront sites like LaSalle Park, Broderick Park, Squaw Island and the Ontario Street boat launch. Shore anglers commonly catch a mix of yellow perch, sunfish, white bass, white perch, black bass and sheepshead. Muskellunge anglers are catching some musky around Strawberry Island, Thompson's Hole and near the Huntley Plant. Bass fishing around the river has been fair, with crayfish and minnows working better than artificials.
Chautauqua Lake
Lisa Green from Happy Hooker Bait & Tackle reports that this has been a very good summer for muskellunge fishing; "we usually hear of one musky larger than 50 inches per summer, but this year we have had close to a dozen reports of 50 inch musky". Some musky angler troll along weed edges, while others target suspended musky 20-25 down over 30-35 fow. Trolling with large, 51/2 to 8 inch minnow-type stickbaits (especially perch pattern) is a safe bet. Crayfish fished near the bottom in deeper areas beyond the weed edge has been productive for smallmouth bass. Yellow perch catches are widespread on a variety of live bait.
Inland Trout Streams
Seventeen inch brown trout caught on inland section of Canadaway Creek.
The area streams are low, clear and in the need of some rain. There is no real consistent fly hatch happening at this time. Fly anglers are using terrestrials (ants, beetles, grasshoppers), stimulator patterns and nymphs to entice strikes. Spinning anglers do well using little spinners, salted minnows and worms. If you are a catch and release angler and are using spinners, it is a good idea to outfit your spinners with one hook rather than a treble hook.
Trout Stocking 2010
Many of the region's streams and lakes are stocked each spring (March through May) with thousands of yearling brown, rainbow and brook trout. In addition to yearling trout, many waters also receive generous numbers of two-year old brown trout that average 14 inches in length. All of the region's trout stocking waters have now been stocked. For a complete list of stocked waters by county and number of trout stocked, view the Spring Trout Stocking pages. Public Fishing Rights Maps are available for many stocked trout streams and wild trout streams in the region.
If you need more fishing information or would like to contribute to the fishing report, please call or e-mail Mike Todd (716-851-7010; mttodd@gw.dec.state.ny.us) or Jim Markham (716-366-0228; jlmarkha@gw.dec.state.ny.us). Good Luck Fishing!
The fishing hotline can also be heard at (716) 679-ERIE or (716) 855-FISH.
