Published: August 30, 2007 10:41 pm      

FISH FINDER: It’s the last weekend for LOC Derby

1. Lake Ontario and tributaries

Fishing has been good to very good for anglers working the waters in front of Wilson and Olcott for salmon and trout as we approach the final weekend for the Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby.

The popular event ends on Labor Day, with the Awards Ceremony to take place at the Roger Robach facility in Charlotte. The current leader is still the 31 pound 15 ounce king salmon reeled in by Mike Fox of Niagara Falls. Steve Klejdys of North Tonawanda is still leading the laker division with a 21 pound, five ounce Niagara Bar fish. Anthony Adamec of Ohio is the top rainbow reeler with a 16 pound, three ounce fish. Big brown so far is 14 pound, five ounces and caught by James Lemmons of Pennsylvania. Still no walleye on the board yet. Wes Walker at the Slipper Sinker in Olcott reports brown trout inside of 60 feet of water with small spoons if you want to target them. However, most people are going after either salmon or steelhead. Salmon can be found in as shallow as 60 foot depths at first light, but most of the action has been in 80 to 120 feet of water on the bottom with flasher-fly, magnum spoons or cut bait. Some trollers are also using whole herrings. Good steelhead action, along with some kings and cohos, could be found in 150 feet of water to over 400 foot depths, keeping spoons in the top 60 feet of that water. Dick Conley of Lockport had some excellent action working those same off-shore waters on Tuesday, with the top 65 feet being the most productive. They did stick one downrigger into 105 feet of water with the hopes of picking up a rogue king and they took two steelhead that deep, too! Action off Oak Orchard has also been good. Capt. Mike Waterhouse reported good fishing and reeled in a limit by 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Flasher-fly and spoons did the trick. Fish Odyssey dates are Sept. 15 to 23 and registrations are now available. Check out www.fishodyssey.net for details.



2. Lower Niagara River

Fishing continues to be good for both bass and walleye in the lower river and on the bar. Bass action has been decent from Artpark to the Bar and all the drifts in between on live bait or tube jigs. Walleye fishing continues to be good in the river on worm harnesses. Salmon fishing is just around the corner and if you want to learn how to do it, you might want to check out the Capt. Frank Campbell seminar at Gander Mountain, Tonawanda, at 7 p.m. Sept. 5.



3. Upper Niagara River

Bass fishing is also at a peak in the upper section of river above the falls. Use live bait like crabs off the shoreline at the foot of Ontario and Hertel streets, around the locks or in the Small Boat harbor. From boat, fish the head of the river, around Strawberry Island or any reef or shoal that offers structure. Some walleye are still being caught in the Emerald Channel on worm harnesses.



4. Lake Erie and tributaries

Perch fishing has really taken off the past week, especially between Cattaraugus and Sturgeon Point, according to Pat Van Camp at Big Catch. Walleye fishing continues to be good from Buffalo to Dunkirk, with the same program we’ve been mentioning week after week all summer long. The same goes for the smallmouth bass fishing. Excellent catches are being reported from Seneca Shoal and Meyers Reef to Waverly Shoal and the Round House. Live bait, tube jigs or drop shot rigs are the best methods for taking fish.



5. Chautauqua Lake

Not too much changed from last week. Smallmouth bass are being caught off the docks at upper Dewittville Bay, pumpkinseed-colored 3-inch tubes around the docks in front of the condos are the way to go. Muskie trollers doing well trolling in the northern basin in 20-36 foot from Long Point to the Bell Tower at Chautauqua Institution. The walleye bite has been pretty slow. Largemouth are being caught at the outlet, all the way down to the Jamestown launch, casting the shoreline with spinnerbaits, buzz baits and top waters. Chartreuse and brown for spinnersbaits and buzzbaits.



6. Finger Lakes-inland waters



- Oneida Lake — Walleye fishing has been slow on the lake. You might be able to pick a few fish up by slow trolling in some of the deeper holes. Use a spinner and a worm. Bass are hanging in 6 to 8 feet of water. Use crayfish, worms, stickbaits or crankbaits.



- Cayuga Lake — Lake trout fishing is one of your best options in 80 to 100 feet of water. Jigging spoons or trolling spoons have been the best approach. You may also pick up an occasional brown trout or landlocked salmon.

Bill Hilts Jr. is the outdoor sports specialist with the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation. Contact him at bhiltsjr69@cs.com.