NIAGARA FALLS — 1. Lake Ontario and tributaries

Fishing derbies and tournaments are filling up the fishing calendar right now, making for some tough reporting on the water. The real story is what’s been happening this week with the Lake Ontario Counties Spring Derby. It started out with an impressive 27-pound lake trout catch by Jeremy Sage of Spencerport from the Niagara Bar last Friday morning and LOC Derby organizer Dave Chilson of Fairport was both happy and sad — happy to see some nice fish come to the scales; sad that it would kick off with a fish that could nearly have won it last year.

Before the opening weekend was over, though, Chilson would only be shaking his head even more. First, John Shay of North Tonawanda brought a 27-pound, 11-ounce laker to the scales at Youngstown’s Petroy Marine while fishing with Capt. Matt Yablonski of Wet Net Charters. Before Saturday was over, Tony Mang of Youngstown would amaze derby contestants with a remarkable 32-pound, 14-ounce spring king salmon while fishing a spin doctor and squid out of his home port.

Over in Olcott, the division-leading salmon was a 28-pound, 5-ounce king hauled in by Carlos Tello of New Jersey while fishing with Capt. Bob Cinelli. A Northern King spoon did the trick. As of this writing, all 20 lake trout on the board came out of Niagara, along with 20 of the top 21 salmon.

The top steelhead is a Niagara River fish, as well. Jonathon Pensyl of Lockport was using an egg to take his division-leading 16-pound, six-ounce steelie. For brown trout, top fish is a 16-pound, 13-ounce fish caught by Cody Mcnutt of Ohio while fishing with Rod Master Charters at Irondequoit Bay.

Top walleye, a division that was reintroduced for the derby, comes from Oswego where an 11-pound, 15-ounce fish leads the division, caught by Patrick Watts of Oswego.

The derby continues until 1 p.m. Sunday with the awards to follow at Captain Jacks in Sodus Point starting at 5 p.m. Top two fish in each category need to be present, with their fish. Check out www.loc.org for updates.

Compounding the information problem is the fact that the Scotty King of the Lake Tournament will be held in Wilson starting today and running through Sunday. Both Wilson and Olcott harbors are holding perch, pike and bass, with pier fishing still an option for cohos and browns if the winds cooperate. Some steelhead are still hanging out in Eighteenmile Creek near Burt Dam, but the warm water fish like rock bass, black bass and pike are slowly taking over.

If you want to learn how to catch spring salmon in the lake, the next Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association meeting this Thursday will feature Capt. Dan Evans of Lone Wolf Charters out of Wilson. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara 4-H Building, Route 78, Lockport.

2. Lower Niagara River

Trout action continues to be good as drifters work Kwikfish, minnows and eggs to take steelhead, lake trout and the occasional brownie. Other warm water fish are starting to turn on, as well, like bass and perch. Some decent reports have come off the sand docks for perch. Remember that the smelt dip and fry run by the Niagara River Anglers is tonight starting at 6 p.m., part of the Lewiston Smelt Festival that runs Friday and Saturday.

3. Upper Niagara River

Northern pike, perch and crappie are being caught in some of the slack water areas as the waters start to warm up and turn these fish on.

4. Lake Erie and tributaries

Smallmouth fishing has turned on and fishing for the special trophy season fish has been very productive for the media in town to take advantage of these hawgs. Mike Pehanich of Illinois reeled in the biggest so far Wednesday when he was using live bait to take a 7-pound, 1-ounce smallie from the Myers Reef area. Most of the fish have come from 15 to 35 feet of water with Yum tubes and grubs, in addition to live bait. The break walls around Buffalo Harbor are also holding good numbers of fish. Perch action around Seneca Shoal was good this past week as well. Some trout are still hanging the lower sections of Cattaraugus Creek, but as the trout are leaving the bass are starting to turn on. The Sturgeon Point launch ramp is scheduled to reopen May 15.

5. Chautauqua Lake

The walleye bite continues to be good in Dewittville Bay in the evenings. Use worm harnesses along the weed edges with chartreuse or pink blades. Best depth has been 8 to 12 feet of water. Good numbers of perch are still being caught in the Bemus Point area.

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