Published: December 13, 2007 11:37 pm      

FISH FORECAST: Niagara River trout are hot as waters clear

COMMENTARY

1. Lake Ontario and tributaries

It was still uncertain what the rain was going to do on Tuesday to many of the local tributaries. If anything, it would help 18 Mile Creek a little and pull a few more fish in. However, because things have been so dry for so long, much of the precipitation was probably getting absorbed. We’ll know what effect it will have by the weekend. Burt Dam area was holding some trout with steelhead at the top of the list. Ray Mahtook of Youngstown fished the dam earlier in the week and was casting a variety of baits before he started hitting some browns on egg sacks. He really hadn’t been seeing very many fish, but when they turned on he ended up catching a half dozen. Steelhead had been the primary focus recently and they seemed to be hit-or-miss for anglers casting egg sacks, egg imitations and a long list of fly patterns, nymphs and streamers. Water was still low and clear before the rain. The rain certainly won’t impact places like Keg Creek — there’s too much of a barrier between the creek and the lake to let fish in. Four Mile Creek might be a good one to check out this weekend. Perch and other panfish are still available in either Wilson or Olcott harbors. The rain probably opened some of the shallower holes back up again and we could see a decent amount of snow going into the weekend if weather forecasts hold up.

2. Lower Niagara River

Capt. Frank Campbell sends word that fishing was turning on nicely for boat captains drifting minnows, egg sacks or Kwikfish from Devil’s Hole to the Niagara Bar. Steelhead were at the top of the list, followed by lake trout and brown trout. When the waters cleared last weekend, the fish were hungry. That consistent fishing has continued as water conditions were near perfect. The final day of lower river musky fishing is Saturday. Just a reminder that lake trout season is closed on the New York side of the river; open in the Province of Ontario. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather forecast of snow and wind doesn’t impact the lower river too severely. Word was that they were starting to put the ice boom in at the head of the river where it meets with Lake Erie. Don’t forget that the Niagara River Anglers Christmas party is Monday at the LaSalle Sportsmen’s Club starting at 7:30 p.m. In addition, the NRAA has a special evening planned to celebrate their Silver Anniversary. The gala event will be held Jan. 19 at Antonio’s Restaurant and Banquet Center starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 each; $45 a couple. For more information contact Dave Faccini at 297-9316. You won’t want to miss this one.

3. Upper Niagara River

With the water clearing last week, Heidi at Big Catch reports that perch fishing has been good at the foot of Ontario and near the lighthouse. They’ve also been picking up perch at the foot of Ferry Street, the Small Boat Harbor and around Beaver Island State Park. Minnows and worms are both catching fish. If it’s not too slippery around the Peace Bridge, trout should still be available for hardware casters.

4. Lake Erie and tributaries

Tributaries are still holding many trout, with steelhead leading the way. Cattaraugus Creek was leading the way, but it may not be fishable by the weekend with the rain we received at mid-week and the snow in the forecast. Your best bet might be some of the small to mid-sized creeks like Silver, Canadaway, Chautauqua, 18 Mile, Cayuga and Buffalo. Silver had been good at the time of this writing based on reports coming in. Egg sacks, streamers, nymphs, woolly buggers and egg pattern flies were all working to take trout. Depend on where you were along the lake, some areas were expecting as much as 10 inches of snow, which could make the going a bit more difficult. Dunkirk Harbor was still yielding some nice steelhead off the platform and the city pier. Casting stickbaits like Rapalas or fishing with minnows has been the best two approaches to catching fish.

5. Chautauqua Lake

Not too much changed from last week other than the lake is wide open again according to Craig Robbins. Bass were still hitting artificials like tubes and stickbaits around Warners Bar and around Rock and Grass Island. Crappie were still hitting in some of the open canals such as around Ashville Bay Marina and Smith Boys Marina.

6. Finger Lakes-Inland Waters

Honeoye Lake — Dan Sharp sends word that it’s still open water on the lake and there hasn’t been too much activity going on. The only ice fishing that he’d heard about was earlier in the week on Loon Lake in Steuben County where up to two inches of ice was being reported and some people were giving it a go. After the rain on Tuesday, though, ice conditions deteriorated and no one was trying it. They were forecasting up to 10 inches of snow around Honeoye Lake area for Thursday and Friday.

Oneida Lake — The eastern end of the lake has been hot for walleye fishing from shore with Sonars and Bass Pro Lazer Blades. Black-chrome or blue-silver stickbaits are also catching fish.

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