It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster ride in the weather department, which can have a direct impact on fishing success. Pick the days and the species you want to target after perusing the weather forecast. It’s the time of year to pay attention to boating regulations, too. If you operate a boat less than 21 feet long, you must always wear a life vest from Nov. 1 to May 1.
Lake Erie and tributaries
The yellow perch fishing has been good to very good in Lake Erie when you can get out. Capt. Jim Hanley of Angola scored a great catch for his most recent outing with three Ohio anglers – Dan Czartoszewski, David Dies and Steve Dies – and it was consistent action in 52 to 54 feet of water off Cattaraugus Creek using a Sabiki rig outfitted with emerald and golden shiners. He didn’t see fish on the fish finder, and he had his bait right on the bottom to get them to hit. Hanley did well on smallmouth bass while fishing out of Sturgeon Point in 12 to 35 feet of water, again using emerald shiners. He also did well using drop shot rigs with Berkley flat worms and umbrella rigs. Bruce Kowalski with TAAR Outdoors in Lake View reports that it has been quiet for walleye, but the perch out of the Catt are in good numbers. The best depth has been around 55 feet. Tributary action has been decent, and the streams have plenty of steelhead. There have been some reports of a few salmon being caught. The best baits for steelies have been egg sacs, beads and worms. John Jarzynski of Lawtons reported a pink salmon was caught in Chautauqua Creek this past week.
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Niagara River
If you are looking for a good backup plan for bass fishing when you can’t get out on Lake Erie, Capt. Jeff Hippert of Lake Erie Trophy Bass Charters insists that the Niagara River is a great option. While most of the time he focuses his efforts above Niagara Falls from Grand Island to Buffalo, the lower Niagara River can be a good secondary choice. The river offers multiple species fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass, musky and northern pike at certain times from May to November. On a recent upper river trip, he caught 15 bass up to four pounds using 3.3-inch swimbaits and drop shot rigs. When the temperature comes down a bit more, it will be game on for some great fall action in the river. Not only will the number of fish increase, but the size will, too. Add tubes or Ned rigs for artificial bait options. Live bait options include shiners and crayfish if you can find them. In the lower Niagara River, action is starting to pick up after a tough weekend for trout, bass and walleye anglers from boats. Capt. Joe Marra of Niagara Rainbow Charters worked egg sacs and beads off three-way rigs along Artpark to hit a mix of trout, but he had to work for them – especially with the north wind. Boat control is key when fishing the river and he used his trolling motor to keep baits in place, as well as to give him speed when he switched over the Mag Lips and Kwikfish lures. Shore anglers are doing well as Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls can attest. The water has a little stain, but visibility is good around 4 to 5 feet as of Monday. His best lure continues to be a white and chartreuse colored No. 4 spinner and chartreuse/orange bucktail jigs. Ziehm landed a couple browns, four steelhead and a few kings with some lake trout. Lake trout are out of season. He caught a coho salmon, too. Kowalski noted that there are some salmon around if you want to target them with treated egg skein. You can also try casting for them with stickbaits in the Devil’s Hole area.
Lake Ontario and tributaries
Karen Evarts at the Boat Doctors Tackle Barn in Olcott reports that brown trout action has been very good, but there is a significant amount of angling pressure. Not everyone understands that the daily limit for brown trout in the streams is now one per person and the minimum size is 15 inches. For steelhead, the daily limit is one per person and the minimum size is 25 inches in length. Bruce Kowalski at TAAR Outdoors in Lake View reports Burt Dam has a great run of brown trout. The best baits have been flies and egg patterns. There are salmon mixed in. At the Oak Orchard River, anglers are doing well on salmon and trout, both browns and steelhead. Use skein for salmon, beads and egg sacs for browns and steelhead. Casting off the piers in the evenings with glow spoons is still producing. Ron Bierstine with Oak Orchard Tackle agrees that the Oak action has been good, and the trout fishing should continue through November and into December. Float guys drifting beads report decent fishing for kings and browns, with some steelhead, Atlantic salmon and coho salmon mixed in. He said that Sandy Creek is holding some decent brown trout numbers and to head upstream to get away from the crowds or fish the middle of the week.
Chautauqua Lake
The walleye jigging bite continues to be tough according to Capt. Mike Sperry with Chautauqua Reel Outdoors. The fish are scattered during the day. He caught some fish in 40 feet of water last week but it’s not consistent and you have to make several drifts to pick up a few. There are several schools of white bass following schools of Emerald Shiners on the north basin. They’re aggressive and fun to catch when the walleye bite is off. There are lots of yellow perch as well. Musky fishing continues to be good trolling crank baits on the south basin. Jointed Stalkers, Leo Mojoes, and 22 Longs fished in the prop wash out to 50 feet back has worked best. The casting bite has been slow the last couple of weeks.
Finger Lakes
Skaneateles Lake: Fishing is fair to good for smallmouth bass reports Capt. John Gaulke with Finger Lakes Angling Zone. Plenty of rock bass are available (this is a great lake for 10-inch eating-sized rockies), along with some nice perch and occasional other species (rainbow trout, pickerel). Fish in 10 to 25 feet of water using anything that imitates a crayfish or perch fry.
Owasco Lake: Bass, perch and pike are active says Gaulke. He even saw some nice fish in the outlet at Emerson Park. Try swimbaits, stickbaits, and spoons for the northern pike. Jerkbaits, both soft and hard, should score on bass.
Seneca Lake: Gaulke hasn’t been out, but northern pike fishing should be underway and decent based on his intel.
Cayuga Lake: Expect good lake trout jigging for mostly post-spawn fish. Work from Wells College down to Taughannock/Myers for good opportunities on lake trout and occasional rainbows.