The leaves on the maple trees have started changing color this week. The first taste of fall is beginning. Thoughts of the steelhead runs in our Lake Erie tributaries and also Chinook salmon fishing in Lake Ontario a little further north follow. Last week I spoke with an old friend, charter captain Frank Campbell in Niagara County, who is now the director of outdoor promotions there. We talked about how busy we are this year in both Niagara and Chautauqua County. Fishing is great. Campbell explained to us, using a recent study of Niagara County, exactly how valuable fishing is to the economy of Niagara County – as well as Chautauqua County. According to that study, the world of fishing in Niagara County is estimated at $58.8 million per year in visitor spending. There are several fishing tournaments there, which is a significant factor. The study was based on a survey of 1,165 qualified respondents, 57% of whom said fishing was their primary reason for visiting Niagara County. Fishing is more than just fun. It keeps people in both counties busy.
This time of year, as we approach Lake Ontario’s Chinook salmon season, many of Lake Erie’s walleye charter guides head to the shores of Lake Ontario to handle the influx of anglers looking to catch a trophy salmon. This happens around mid-September. The word of hot fishing action there begins with the 49th annual Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey Derby, which concluded last Sunday. For this derby, some impressive fish were measured using the Fishing Chaos APP.
For adult anglers, catches included a 40-inch salmon by Doug Updyke, a 28-inch brown trout by Matt Vogt, a 31 3/4-inch rainbow trout by Roy Leising, a 21 1/2-inch smallmouth bass by Gabby Geiger, a 37-inch carp by Dan Kelsey, a 31-inch walleye by Mike Pinkham and a 39-inch lake trout by Mike Freeman. Taking first place on the kids side were Odyssey youth anglers: Emma Flaherty with a 35 1/2-inch lake trout, Logan Wilson with a 20-inch bass, Marshall Beck with a 35 1/2-inch carp, Aiden Wilson with a 9 1/4-inch smallmouth bass, Trevor Wilson with a 27-inch sheepshead, Connor Flaherty with a 28-inch walleye and Josh Wittkop with a 38 1/4-inch salmon.
Campbell, who reports weekly on Niagara County fishing hotspots, reported, “Captain Paul Schirmer of Cambria reported good catches at the Niagara Bar drop-off. A highlight was 15-year-old James D. Weed of Shelton, Connecticut, who caught a personal best 12.4-pound brown trout. It currently ranks fifth in the LOC Derby. He worked the riggers all by himself and caught the big brown trout on the ledge in 85 feet. It was eating a spoon-fly combo. He was fishing with his father, James. Schirmer says cold water has come in and scattered most of those brown trout, but there are still plenty to catch. King trout have been coming in in small numbers, but not in large numbers yet. We need good wind to get everything ready. Most of the fish were caught on flies.
Captain Dave Scipione of Lewiston also had a lot of success on the sandbar with the Kantar brothers – two from Yonkers and one from Buffalo. The fish were spread out between 65 and 250 feet of water. They caught brook trout, king and coho salmon, lake trout and a beautiful steelhead trout. They caught all of their fish on Warrior Rodfather and Dreamweaver Green Glow Frog Spoons.”
Campbell adds, “Karen Evarts of Tackle Barn and Boat Doctors in Olcott reports that the best results have been offshore in 500 to 600 feet, targeting fish in 120 to 150 feet. The best bait for adult Chinook salmon has been spoon flies and meat rigs. Brown trout are being targeted in the evenings in 80 to 200 feet with green or caramel spoons. Nothing of note has been seen from the piers yet.”
A friend from Lake Ontario who recently passed away was charter captain Bob Cinelli. If you’re a salmon fisherman, The Tackle Barn is having a sale in Cinelli’s memory this weekend. They’re selling all of his leftover fishing gear. Check it out.
In Lake Erie, walleye fishing is pretty much always good during the hot summer in our three harbors accessible from Chautauqua County: Barcelona Harbor, Dunkirk Harbor and Sunset Bay on Cattaraugus Creek. Boaters trolling in 60 to 100 feet of water and 50 feet of water with stickbaits and spinner/worm combinations can catch walleyes up to the limit daily.
This week our media visitors in Chautauqua County are Ken Perrotte of Virginia and John Hageman of Ohio. They are fishing with Capt. Jim Steel (Dream Catcher Sportfishing, 716-983-7867) and Capt. Jim Plinzke (Fish Hunter Sportfishing, 716-861-8817) out of Dunkirk Harbor. The daily walleye limit in Lake Erie is six fish per angler. Fall yellow perch fishing begins in a few weeks. Get ready. Stay tuned.
You just have to love the nature of New York.
CALENDAR
August 29: NYS Hunter Safety Course, Ripley Rod & Gun, 6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m., plus an additional half day, 9820 Rod and Gun Club Road, Ripley. Register online: https://register-ed.com. Attendance required for both days.
August 31: Labor Day skeet shooting, NSCA-registered event of choice, Hanover Fish & Game, 780 Overhiser Road, Forestville. Registration begins at 8 a.m., shooting begins at 9 a.m. Info: https://hanovercalys.com.
September 1: Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club family picnic, members only. 1 N. Mullet St., Dunkirk.
September 1: Hunting season for gray, black and fox squirrels begins in WNY.
September 2: Hawkeye Bowmen 3D Archery, three classes, $12 admission, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; open to the public; 13300 Clinton St., Alden, NY.
September 6-7: WNY Walleye Association Lake Erie Walleye Tournament. Contact: Ron Kucinski: 716-545-5925 or email: [email protected].
September 7-8: NYS Hunter Safety Course for Bowhunting (September 7) and Firearms (September 8), West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls; register online: https://register-ed.com. Separate registration is required for bowhunting and/or hunter education (firearms).
September 14-22: 2024 early antlerless deer hunting season in New York State (firearms permitted), check specific Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).
September 14: Fourth Annual Chautauqua Lake Falleye Classic, Prendergast Point boat launch, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to all. Registration on site.
September 15: Deadline for waterfowl hunting applications on the Oak Orchard/Tonawanda WMAs. Visit NYSDEC online.