By Bill Hilts Jr.
Greater Niagara Newspapers
NIAGARA FALLS —
Lake Ontario and tributaries — Trout are busting out all over as the rains brought plenty of fishing into the tributaries for their annual spring migration. Additional flow that came about as a result of rain earlier in the week should make for some prime fishing action this weekend all along the lake.
Eighteenmile Creek in Newfane was filling up with steelhead, with an occasional brown trout still showing up in the stretch from Burt Dam to the area below Fisherman’s Park. Egg sacs, egg imitations, jigs tipped with wax worms, straight wax worms and minnows were all catching fish.
Further down the creek in Olcott harbor anglers were casting spoons, spinners or drifting a minnow under a float to take trout. Some perch were also hitting minnows.
Off the piers, a few trout have been hitting for casters. Out in the lake, trolling the shoreline for browns with small stickbaits in silver-black, firetiger, perch or chartreuse colors has been successful.
Over in Wilson, the bullhead action has picked up in Twelvemile Creek and the perch action has improved off the breakwall and in the back bay. The smaller creeks like Keg and Fourmile are holding fish and the best tip is to fish early in the morning before the fish become too skittish.
Lower Niagara River — Action is still consistent, but you have to work for your fish. Not making mistakes is critical for a good day on the boat, with most groups getting 10 to 12 bites a day. Taking advantage of those bites is important to ensure a good morning. Egg sacs, minnows and Kwikfish are the top baits for steelhead in the river, with the occasional brown and lake trout also hitting.
On the Niagara Bar, some lake trout are starting to hit jigs, Kwikfish lures or minnows fished off three-way rigs.
Just a reminder that the Niagara River Anglers Association will be holding their Fifth Annual John Long Sr. Memorial Outdoorsman Feast and Raffle starting at 2 p.m. at St. Vincents de Paul, 2748 Military Road, Niagara Falls. If you have any questions, call JoJo Allan at 628-1460.
3. Upper Niagara River — Not too much to report this week. There should be some trout available along the breakwall along the Bird Island Pier and at the foot of Ferry Street. Perch and crappie should be starting up in traditional river areas around Grand Island as the waters start to warm.
4. Lake Erie and tributaries — Smaller tributaries should be back to a decent flow after the rain at midweek, bringing some more fish into the system. Medium size streams like Chautauqua, Canadaway and Eighteenmile creeks should be good this weekend. Concentrate in the middle to upper hold over areas and use egg sacs, egg imitations or small jigs tipped with grubs.
The Dunkirk fish platform is still producing a few trout with spoons, spinners or fishing a minnow under a float.
5. Chautauqua Lake — The lower basin of the lake is totally open right now according to Craig Robbins of Jamestown. Action for crappies has been taking place around Rock and Grass islands near Lakewood Rod and Gun between the buoys and the weeds in 8 feet of water with 1/64 ounce pink colored jigs tipped with a minnow.
The same program is working in the upper basin towards Mayville off the Boy Scout camp in 10 to 12 feet of water. The ice is jammed up in the central part of the lake but it should open up by the weekend.
6. Finger Lakes-Inland Waters — April 1 is the inland trout opener in New York. Several streams throughout Western New York have been stocked to coincide with this opener. They include:
• Allegany County: Genesee River (Wellsville, Amity), Little Genesee Creek (Bolivar)
• Cattaraugus County: Ischua Creek (Franklinville), Franklinville Retention Pond (Franklinville), South Branch Cattaraugus Creek (East Otto), Mansfield Creek (Mansfield), Forks Creek (Great Valley), Wrights Creek (Humphrey), Great Valley Creek (Great Valley);
• Chautauqua County: Goose Creek (Harmony, N. Harmony)
• Erie County: Buffalo River, Cattaraugus Creek, Cazenovia Creek, Ellicott Creek, Little Buffalo Creek and Sprague Brook
• Wyoming County: East Koy Creek (Gainesville), Little Tonawanda Creek (Orangeville), Tonawanda Creek (Orangeville), Buffalo Creek (Java), Beaver Meadow Creek (Java)
Check the DEC website out at www.dec.ny.gov for actual stocking numbers.
Bill Hilts Jr. is the outdoor sports specialist with the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation. Contact him at bhiltsjr69@cs.com.
