Western New York Fishing Hotline
November 6 to November 13, 2009
Attention Anglers: 2009-2010 Freshwater Fishing Licenses are in effect October 1st, 2009 through September 30th, 2010. Licenses can be purchased at all DEC regional offices and other license issuing outlets (most town clerk offices and many sporting goods stores). Licenses can also be purchased online or by phone 1-86-NY-DECALS (1-866-933-2257).
Lake Ontario and Tributaries
Mature king salmon (chinook salmon) caught
by father and son team on the Summerville Pier.
The last of the migrating king salmon (chinook salmon) have made their way into the Lake Ontario tributaries. There are a few fresh kings left, however most are either spawning or post spawn "gray ghosts". The majority of hook-ups are now with brown trout, steelhead and coho salmon. Eighteen Mile Creek and Oak Orchard River are your best bets for trout and salmon this weekend. Both have moderate water flow with a slight stain and anglers report consistent catches of trout and salmon. Egg sacs, skein, egg pattern flies and streamer/bugger patterns have worked well for migrating trout and salmon. Fishing on the smaller tributaries continues to be tough due to low and clear conditions. Despite low water, some fish are holding in streams like Twelve Mile, Marsh, Johnson and Sandy Creeks. When fishing clear conditions, downsize your presentation with small hooks, flies, single eggs and light fluorocarbon tippet.
As the tributaries stack up with fish, they also stack up with anglers. Fishing pressure has been very heavy at times on the major streams. When fishing in areas with heavy angler pressure, please remember to respect the land, water, fish and each other.
Eighteen Mile Creek anglers be advised that 30,000 fall fingerling coho salmon were stocked on October 30th in Olcott Harbor. Some of these delicate 5-6 inch fish do migrate up to Burt Dam and readily hit smaller baits. Please carefully handle and release these sub-legal fish so they may return in a few years as strong adults.
When weather permits, anglers are catching steelhead, brown trout and coho salmon from the piers along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Productive baits include egg sacs, skein, spoons and firetiger J-Plugs (J-13). Good locations to try include the piers at Wilson Harbor, Olcott Harbor, Golden Hill State Park, Oak Orchard Harbor and the Genesee River. Trout and salmon catches have also been reported by anglers casting or trolling in the harbors.
Lower Niagara River
With the king salmon run starting to taper off, steelhead are now the focus for boat anglers working the popular trout and salmon drifts. Devils Hole and Artpark boaters are catching mostly steelhead on pink and chartreuse egg sacs. Skein and kwikfish have also accounted for a portion of the catch. Shore anglers are catching steelhead and a few salmon along Artpark State Park, Devils Hole State Park and Whirlpool State Park. Egg sacs, skein, egg pattern flies, spoons and Vibrex spinners have all produced. Use extreme caution when shore fishing at the Whirlpool and Devils Hole as slippery rocks and strong currents can make these areas hazardous.
The boat launch at Lewiston Landing is currently closed for upgrades. The first of two concrete pads has been poured and will soon be pushed into place. Work will last about two more weeks. During the closure, anglers can launch at alternative sites including the Village of Youngstown launch (limited parking capacity) and Fort Niagara State Park (50 vehicle and trailer capacity, fish cleaning station).
Be aware that lake trout season is closed as of October 1st and will re-open on January 1st. Any lake trout caught on the Lower Niagara River or Lake Ontario during the closed season should be released.
Honeoye Lake
Yellow perch anglers are doing well in 15-20 feet of water with fathead minnows or spikes near the bottom. Late afternoon till dark has been decent for crappie close to the weedline. Fathead minnows have been the ticket for crappie.
Hemlock and Canadice Lakes
Bass action has been good just outside the weedline on bass shiners. Crappie catches have been decent in the same area on fathead minnows.
Canandaiqua Lake
Anglers are catching decent numbers of yellow perch at the south end of the lake on fathead minnows. Look for active schools, starting in 30 feet of water.
Surplus Broodstock Trout Stocking
Randolph Fish Hatchery completed their annual fall stocking of broodstock trout in Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties between October 9th and 27th. All breeder trout stocked were over 2 years old, between 12-30 inches long and were stocked in waters where trout fishing is permitted all year. The following waters have been stocked: Allen Lake- 200 brook trout; New Albion Lake- 100 brook trout, 100 brown trout, 100 rainbow trout; Case Lake- 200 brook trout, 100 brown trout, 100 rainbow trout; Harwood Lake- 100 brook trout, 100 brown trout, 100 rainbow trout; Quaker Lake- 450 brown trout, 200 rainbow trout. Birch Run Ponds and Red House Lake were also stocked this week with broodstock trout. Call the Randolph Fish Hatchery Stocking Hotline at 716-358-4950 for updates.
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.
