Published: September 26, 2008 12:25 am      

FISH FORECAST: Final weekend for Fish Odyssey; wildlife festival set

1. Lake Ontario and tributaries

King salmon are slowly starting to make their return to their “home” streams — wherever they were stocked — and this is when the Olcott pen project should really be paying dividends. Salmon are staging off the Olcott pier heads right now and water conditions are a little messed up going into the weekend with the recent lake roll-over. Capt. Bob Cinelli of Olcott reported that some nice mature kings have been taken in 30 to 50 feet of water on plugs and spoons and that fishermen are consistently taking fish off the piers and in the harbor now. Mixed reports on what was happeni ng at Burt Dam and some fishermen we spoke with didn’t see too much earlier in the week. However, Dawn Wilson with Fishermen’s Park was confident that the fish would be up there and was planning on opening the park officially for fall fishing action — which means it will cost you a couple of bucks to park there. For anglers fishing off the piers, try casting firetiger jointed Rapalas or Thundersticks; glow in the dark spoons like Little Cleos or Kastmasters; or fishing egg skein under a float from a small boat in the harbor. Some guys like to troll with stickbaits or body baits. With the Fish Odyssey going on, the top salmon right now is a 31.33-pound Olcott king caught by Wilfred Wittcop, Jr. of Barker. Top Rainbow is a 14.15-pound fish caught off Wilson by Ray Cassel of East Aurora. Leading lake trout is a 22.39-pound Niagara Bar fork-tail hauled in by Bob Turton of Sanborn. The big carp so far is a 29.06 pounder reeled in by James Bartz of Batavia while fishing in Orleans County some place. We’re guessing it’s the Oak. Mark Daul of Youngstown took some time out to fish Wilson Harbor for largemouth bass and northern pike on Wednesday with Chet Kimball of Niagara Falls. They caught pike to 32 inches long and bass up to 4-1/2 pounds. Best lure was a blue-silver Bill Norman plug, trying to stay in the channels in around 10 feet of water. Terry Swann reports that they’ve actually been catching largemouth and pike in both branches of 12 Mile Creek. Poppers and spinners are working on the bass in the shallows, with the best time being an hour and a half before dark. Just a reminder that the new license year starts up on Oct. 1. Mike Waterhouse at Point Breeze reported that some salmon are in the Oak Orchard river right now, but the best is yet to come. Mature kings are available in front in 25 to 50 foot depths and he did well on a mix of salmon and trout in 150 to 200 feet of water on flasher-fly combos in purple, white and or green-glow.

2. Lower Niagara River

Some nice salmon are being caught in the Devil’s Hole area of the lower river, but some of the better salmon action has been from shore in the Whirlpool. The New York Power Authority Fishing Platform, normally a hot spot for salmon when they first move into the river, is facing some tougher conditions with the No. 1 generator down for regularly scheduled maintenance. Some fish are being caught there, including salmon, carp and a good number of silver bass. Charter guys are drifting the hole for salmon and both Kwikfish and treated egg skein are working. The fish are slowly starting to favor the eggs over the artificial lures. The walleye board finally filled up with three fish on Wednesday. Leading the way is a 7.6 pound — eye pulled in by Dave Barr of Lewiston. A few nice bass have come from the lower river and out on the Niagara Bar on worm harnesses, with at least one making the Fish Odyssey board. The Fish Odyssey continues until Sunday and it’s still not too late to register if you’re going out fishing. This weekend, the NYPA Wildlife Festival will take center stage at their Visitors Center in Lewiston adjacent to Niagara University. The Festival is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Lots of family activities. Last year, 25,000 people couldn’t be wrong. On Sunday, it will be the only weigh-in site for the derby, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Fish Odyssey awards ceremony will be around 4 p.m.

3. Upper Niagara River

Some big bass are starting to move into the upper river to perform their fall feeding frenzy and Thompson’s Hole is a lways a good bet for a big fish or two. The big bass in the Odyssey so far is a 6.02 lunker weighed in by Brendan Walsh of Niagara Falls while fishing in Lake Erie. They are still catching some nice bass at the foot of Ferry and Ontario streets. The Erie Canal bass action continues to be be good around Gasport according to Craig Wagner of Lockport and Steve Brauen of Gasport. The caught 33 bass in under three hours of fishing this week, all on bubblegum colored plastic worms. Bill Edmister of Pendleton reported that he caught some fish at Glenwood Lake earlier in the week, mostly panfish, but they did take some bass.

4. Lake Erie and tributaries

Speaking of Lake Erie, some nice bass are being caught any place where there is structure. Try the head of the river near the round house or along the Buffalo Harbor breakwalls with shiners, crabs or tube jigs. Drop shot rigs with Berkley Gulp will also catch fish. You can find bass in 15 to 40 feet of water. Perch are still hitting off Cattaraugus Creek in 60 to 65 feet of water on minnows. Speaking of the Catt, steelhead are starting to run up. If we get any significant rain this we ekend, look for those numbers to increase considerably.

5. Chautauqua Lake

The bass bite continues to be good in most of the traditional areas on crayfish, leeches, worms and Berkley baits. Yellow perch are hitting fatheads just outside the weedline. Bluegill have been hitting in the creeks and canals all around the lake on wax worms.

6. Finger Lakes-Inland Waters

Honeoye Lake — Perch, crappie and bass are keeping anglers busy, with some activity picking up a mid-week. For the bass, try late afternoon with bass shiners, surface lures or spinnerbaits. Walleye can also be caught at dusk with worm harnesses. Panfish are still a bit deeper according to Dan Sharp at Honeoye Bait and Tackle. Use small jigs tipped with wax worms or spikes in 16-18 feet of water.

Canadice/Hemlock lakes — Crappies and other panfish are hitting fatheads. A few trout are being reported from shore on crawlers and bass minnows.

Canandaigua Lake — The perch are still on fire in most of the traditional areas. Use small worms, crabs or fathead minnows.

Bill Hilts Jr. is a past president of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association. Contact him at bhiltsjr69@cs.com.