Lake Erie 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 at 1-86-NY-DECALS (1-866-933-2257).
Lake Erie and Tributaries
Jamie Overturf with his first ever steelhead,
caught on Chautauqua Creek.
A surge of fresh steelhead moved into the Erie tributaries this past week. Good numbers of steelhead and a few brown trout are spread throughout the system, even in the upper sections of the creeks. Steelhead are also starting to show in Buffalo and Cayuga Creeks in greater numbers. Before Thursday's precipitation, the small to medium tributaries were getting low and clear. The runoff added some needed color and all the small to medium sized streams should be in great shape through the weekend. Cattaraugus Creek is running a bit high and off-color. Keep an eye on the water gauge (USGS Water Data webpage), Cattaraugus Creek is generally fishable when flow falls below 500 cubic feet per second. Catches have been good lately and steelhead are averaging about 24 inches long this year, which is larger than normal. There are also many fish in the 26-30 inch range that can easily go over 10 pounds. Spinning anglers do well with egg sacs or spinners and fly anglers see strikes on egg patterns and streamers (minnow patterns, woolly buggers, egg-sucking leeches). When fishing during low and clear conditions, it is best to move stealthily and use small hooks and light lines to fool wary steelhead. Small egg patterns in sizes 12-18 coupled with fluorocarbon tippet in 7-8 pounds are good bets in clear conditions. Anglers can also still catch steelhead by casting spoons from the Cattaraugus Creek breakwall.
Stream temperatures continue to drop. This generally causes a transition in the "productive" fishing time of day. Look for the better bite to switch from dawn/dusk to the warmer, middle of day. Cold stream temperatures will also increase the rate at which muddy water settles out following a water surge.
The use of spoons, spinners and other sinking lures is a favorite of many anglers, but their legal use in or upon Lake Erie tributary streams requires comprehension. Below the bridge closest to a stream mouth, use of sinking lures with a treble hook (3 points) is permitted. From that first bridge upstream to the first barrier impassible to fish, the use of sinking lures that have a free-swinging hook with no more than 1 hook point and a hook gap of no more than 1/2 inch (between shank and point) is permitted. Convert your spoons and spinners with split rings and single hooks. In the creeks, smaller lures are best with size 6 or smaller hooks. Size 1 and 2 hooks are around the legal 1/2 inch hook gap regulation, but are overkill. Not to mention, one snag on a rock or log can widen the hook gap enough to set you up for a violation.
The open lake fishing is winding down, however there is opportunity for good action if weather permits. Yellow perch catches can be good in fall as schools tighten up and move a bit shallower. Try depths of 50 feet plus off Cattaraugus Creek, Foxes Point, Evangola State Park, Point Breeze or Sturgeon Point. Anglers can also give their favorite nearshore springtime areas a go for late season walleye. Walleye typically move back inshore at this time of year to feed before the onset of winter. For smallmouth bass, key on reef and shoal areas in 15-30 feet of water (fow). A drop-shot rig with live crayfish or shiners works well, but tubes or plastics that imitate crayfish, gobies and shiners will also produce.
Dunkirk Harbor Anglers: The DEC Dunkirk Harbor Fishing Platform has been closed due to safety concerns over rotted railings and support posts. The platform will remain closed until necessary repairs are completed.
Upper Niagara River
Muskellunge fishing usually heats up as water temperature drops in the upper river. Large 8-10" tube jigs or large stickbaits are the way to go around Thompson's Hole or the channels near Strawberry Island. Boaters can also target smallmouth bass by drifting in the channel areas. Minnows or crayfish combined with a 3-way rig works well. Anglers are catching a few steelhead at the foot of Ferry Street (Broderick Park).
Chautauqua Lake
Yellow perch catches remain good along mid-lake areas just outside the weedline in 10-16 fow. Minnows are top bait, but worms or grubs will work as well. The crappie bite has off for the past few days. Key on weed edges and in the canals for crappie. Muskellunge anglers have been doing well by casting bucktail spinners or large stickbaits over the weeds in 10-12 fow. Trolling on the outside of the weedline with large jointed stickbaits or crankbaits will also draw musky strikes. Smallmouth bass action in the northern basin has been decent on large golden shiners and crayfish.
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; 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.
