Fishing Line
Published: November 18, 2009, 12:30 am
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It’s done and ready. DEC Fisheries Supervisor Paul McKeown announced Monday a completion of all work needed to allow access to the lower Niagara River at Lewiston Landing.
Two large cement pads were poured, cured, and pushed into place to allow boat-trailer access. “The two push docks were in place for use Monday, with the shore side to be replaced with a universal-access floating dock next week,” McKeown said.
Niagara River
Water clarity has been good for both upper river musky hunting and lower river salmonid sallies. Bass and musky season will remain open until Nov. 30, and weather conditions could have boaters on the water as well.
Casters and trollers have seen more musky movement than drifters dropping big-bait rigs. Boaters move along the head of the river and around Strawberry Island for mixed musky follows, hits, and measure/photo sessions. Niagara Musky Association member Josh Kerty noted that Andrew Panczykowsk, musky angler and research volunteer, caught a 51-incher in the upper Niagara “while jigging a black Ninja tube on the bottom near a 30-foot hole.” Kerty added it was his third 51-incher this season.
Steelhead drifting has been basically whacks at egg-sacks. Catch numbers vary from day to day for lower river boaters. But both shore casters and drifters do well on steelies and invading lake trout right now. Colors vary for sack beads and netting, but chartreuse and pink top decor choices right now, according to Capt. Frank Campbell.
Lake Erie
The Cattaraugus Creek west wall has seen minimal activity recently. “Most of the good fish have moved upstream,” said Rick Miller at Miller’s Bait & Tackle in Irving. A few nice steelies cruise the shoreline and casters can make an electrical connection when these trout hit the right shore current.
Boaters and shore casters alike enjoy this fishery, and, as always, trollers and casters should respect the fishing areas of nearby anglers. Boaters at the mouth of the Catt generally respect shoreline casters’ reach distances, but a boat troller or two crossed the line—or lines—recently, with some verbal exchanges noted. The Catt, largest feeder stream along Lake Erie’s New York State shore, offers ample room for casters, boaters, and sightseers along the breakwall walkway.
Shore casters at Dunkirk have to head to the public pier to fish harbor waters. The Harry Probst access ramp will remain closed until repairs are completed.
Perch boaters mainly head out weekends, and 52-foot flats just east of Cattaraugus Creek and Foxes Point continues to produce consistently for larger ringbacks in fair to good numbers.
Lake Ontario
Wilson Harbor takes top honors for both sizes and numbers of perch caught from shore. Irondequoit Bay comes in a close second, but minnow-minding casters often strike a gold mine of yellow perch, often in the 10-to 14-inch range around Wilson.
Irondequoit perchers still hang out at depths of at least 10 feet, with 15-foot humps and drop-offs productive. Olcott Harbor and Oak Orchard Creek waters also offer nice perch numbers. In all good perch-producing places, runts run with the big boys and minnows work best.
Steelhead and browns run the length of Eighteen Mile Creek up to Burt Dam and Oak Orchard Creek up to Waterport Dam.
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