As water temperatures begin to drop, look for action to pick up even more on the lower river. Both bass and walleye have been steady, and the first salmon of the year have shown up and been taken from shore. To target kings, try to toss hardware such as spinners and spoons in the whitewater areas such as the NYPA fishing pier. Target low light conditions and use extreme caution when fishing the gorge as the rocks are very slippery. The best walleye action is on the Niagara Bar with fish up to 12.5 pounds being taken recently by Sean Mooradian of Lewiston releasing the huge ‘eye. Don’t neglect the river drifts as they have been producing nice catches daily. Worm harnesses are the top presentation and a new line of harnesses from RLVNT baits have been hot, with the colors having a purple UV coating from Mad Scientist. Outdoor scribe Freddie McKnight from Kane, Pa. used the RLVNT harness to produce two walleyes over 10 pounds while drifting the Bar on Monday. Both giants we released as we encourage all trophy size walleye to be. Capt. Dave Scipione of Scipione’s Fishing Charters reports good success for walleyes in Devil’s Hole early using a harness with a ½-ounce weight on his three-way. The key is to get on those fish before the water rises and flows increase. The Stella drift is also producing some nice walleye in 30 to 35 feet of water using the same 3-way/worm harness set-up with a heavier weight between 1.5 and 3 ounces, depending on wind and current. Smallmouth bass were cooperating well on crayfish, either on a dropshot or 3-way rig from Devil’s Hole all the way out to the Niagara Bar in all the traditional drifts. Alan Raymond with The Wicked Worm in Youngstown reports that bass and sheepshead can be found along the shoreline. Walleyes can be caught on the typical drifts and Lewiston docks.
The salmon fishing is at a peak as king salmon begin the early staging for fall runs. On the Niagara Bar, John Van Hoff of North Tonawanda had a phenomenal weekend, catching some 30 mature king salmon at the drop off in 150 to 200 feet of water using all flasher/fly presentations on his downriggers and divers. Riggers were 60 to 90 feet down while the divers were back 185 and 220 on a 2-1/2 setting. Out of Wilson, Capt. Kyle Kokanovich of Rust Belt Sportfishing reports excellent action in 100 to 180 feet of water out front for a mixed bag of salmon and trout. He found fish trying to stay in temperatures of 45-to-50-degree water, so he was fishing 75 to 100 feet down using meat rigs. He was running white on overcast days and early mornings; switching to chrome/UV later in the day or when the sun came out. Capt. Dave Scipione of Scipione’s Fishing Charters spends most mornings in 75 to 150 feet of water searching for staging kings. His most productive spread includes double glow white pro troll 8-inch paddles with A-Tom-Mik mirage flies; and magnum spoons from DW, Warrior, and Northeast Troller in green jeans, hulk, green glow alewife, rodfather, and carbon-14 all took fish. By 9 a.m. he heads offshore for more consistent action for steelhead, kings, and the occasional Coho.
Over in Olcott, Capt. Matt Bedient of 716 Sportfishing also reports that fishing is as good as it could get. He said that he starts in 100 feet of water and he can troll as far north as he wants and catch fish the entire way. He is using a spoon program, 70 to 100 feet down on riggers and divers. Bedient is catching a mix of mature and two-year-old king salmon as well as steelhead. Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors reports that 70 to 200 feet of water is golden, with trollers using meat and magnum spoons 70 to 110 feet down. Black, glow, and green are all hot color patterns. Some casters are catching pike and bass off the Olcott piers.
It’s the final weekend for the Lake Ontario Counties Fall Derby and there’s still time to catch a winning fish. Jack MacDowell of Hancock is still leading for the $20,000 Grand Prize with a 30-pound, 13-ounce salmon. Lisa Winch of North Tonawanda is leading the Brown Trout Division with an 18-pound Niagara Bar fish. Richard Schmidt of Spencerport took over the Rainbow Trout/Steelhead Division with a 15-pound, 2-ounce fish he caught this week. The derby ends on Labor Day at 1 p.m.
Paul Sawicki of Angola looks on.
