Western New York
Lake Erie and harbors: When conditions allowed anglers to take to the water, they caught walleye, as they have all season. The recent walleye bite has been excellent from Sturgeon Point to the Pennsylvania line. The better catches have been trending deeper in most locations. From west/northwest of Sturgeon Point to Cattaraugus Creek, anglers were seeing good walleye action in 55-75 feet of water. From west of Cattaraugus Creek to west of Dunkirk, there were solid numbers of fish 60-85 feet of water. Limits were the norm for Barcelona walleye anglers in 80-100 feet of water, with the hottest strike zone about 55 feet down. In all locations at depths under 70 feet, anglers were catching both suspended and bottom-hugging walleye, with more fish coming off the bottom. At depths over 80 feet, fish were suspended between 35-70 feet down. There has been a noticeable uptick in incidental yellow perch catches northwest of Sturgeon Point, but no reports of large perch schools, yet.
Best to target lakers below the thermocline, where water temperatures are around 50 degrees. Numbers are generally best in 80-115 feet of water from Dunkirk to the Pa. line. Downriggers with spoons run near the bottom is the most effective tactic.
Niagara River: Smallmouth bass were available throughout the upper river. Good spots to try include the head of the river, head of Strawberry Island, east side of Strawberry and Motor Islands and in the west river along Beaver Island State Park and Staley’s Reef. A three-way rig with soft-shell crayfish works well. Anglers can target muskellunge along weed edges and bottom structure with large tube jigs or stickbaits.
In the lower river, boaters were picking up a few walleye in the vicinity of the Stella drift. Walleye generally show from mid-river down to the Niagara Bar in late summer. Drifting with a bottom-bouncing rig and worm harness or yellow sally rig (with worm) are traditional lower river walleye tactics. Smallmouth bass fishing slowed a bit, but bass were still available from Devil’s Hole down to the bar.
Lake Ontario and tributaries, harbors and piers: The king salmon fishing continued to be very good on the west end of Lake Ontario. However, there have been a few blow days this week and talk of possible upwellings in spots, which would have fish moving around. The deep water zone at depths over 350 feet generally stays pretty stable during wind and mixing events. Recent fishing at those depths has been consistently solid and is a good bet when conditions permit. At depths over 350 feet, anglers have recently been catching good numbers of king salmon of mixed sizes, steelhead and a few coho salmon. Large spoons and flasher-fly combos run 40-100 feet down have worked well. We’re getting closer to the mature king salmon staging period, so don’t overlook near-shore areas of 50-100 feet of water for mature kings at daybreak.
Chautauqua Lake: Walleye fishing along weedlines has been good during low-light periods. Trolling or jigging over deeper water are good daytime walleye tactics. Anglers were catching muskellunge tight to weedlines and suspended in 20-30 feet of water, 10-15 feet down. Weedbeds are a good bet for a mix of yellow perch, white perch, bluegill and white bass.
Central New York
A reminder that there other fishing hotline/reports available for the area. A few of the web sites are: Wayne County Tourism, Visit Oswego County, and Oneida Lake Fishing Report (links leave DEC’s website).
Lake Ontario: Salmon were still scattered as the cold water keeps getting blown around and fish are spread out from 150 to 500 feet of water. When found they were hitting on cut-bait, flashers and flies, and spoons, with green still being a good color choice. Anglers have been fishing those baits off downriggers, wire and divers, and copper line. Brown trout were being taken in 60 to 100 feet of water on spoons. Smallmouth bass were being taken around Mexico Point on crayfish.
Oswego River: Bass should be hitting on tube baits or crayfish. Sheepshead should also be hitting on crayfish or night crawlers, and some channel catfish are also being caught. There have been some reports of a few chinooks making their way into the river.
Remember, the bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are mandatory PFD) zones on the river.
Salmon River: A few salmon were reported in the Douglaston Salmon Run stretch of the river, and if weather conditions and water levels trigger more activity things could heat up early for anglers.
Oneida Lake: Walleye fishing has slowed down, which probably suggests that they have started feeding on young-of-the-year gizzard shad. But some walleye were still being taken in both deep (30 feet) and shallow (10 feet) water. Early and late in the day seems to be best at the moment, and good baits have been worm harnesses, jigs and blade baits. Look for bass around the shoals and deep weed edges. Now that the gizzard shad are big enough for predators to target, keep a top-water bait ready and watch for bird activity. If you see it get to the area quickly, it can often provide some very exciting smallmouth bass fishing as they chase shad to the surface.
Sandy Pond: Fishing has slowed but look for bass around the weed beds.
Sodus Bay and Irondequoit bays: Bass fishing remained good. Try plastics, spinnerbaits or topwaters around shore or over the weedbeds.
Finger Lakes/Southern Tier
Seneca Lake: Watch out for debris on the lake after heavy rains and flooding the area received last month. It’s still a major issue out on the lake. Lake trout and a few Atlantic salmon, were being taken trolling small flatfish 60 to 70 feet down over 70 to 100 feet of water by trollers working at 2.5 mph.
Keuka Lake: Fishing alewives near bottom in 115 to 125 feet of water was producing lake trout. Jigging at those same depths is also working.
Cayuga Lake: Still watch out for debris on the lake after the heavy rains and flooding from a few weeks ago. Little has changed and lake trout were being taken in 75 to 90 feet of water by anglers vertical jigging. Trollers were doing better, fishing in the 150- to 200-foot range, 50 to 80 feet down. Water fleas have been an issue at times so be prepared to deal with them if trolling. Weedmats are also making trolling difficult at times. Look for largemouth bass on the north end with spinnerbaits, bass jigs or topwaters.
The Mud Lock boat launch was scheduled to be closed as it will be under construction as improvements are being made. This work will likely continue until late October.
Skaneateles Lake: Trolling 60 feet down with small spoons was producing some trout action. Trout are feeding on young-of-the-year yellow perch which have spread out, so keep covering water until you find them. On the south end of the lake the thermocline was reported to be at about 75 feet at last check. Fishing tube baits or drop-shot rigs in 15 to 30 feet of water was working for smallmouth bass and rock bass.
Owasco Lake: Lake trout were being taken in 80 to 90 feet of water by anglers vertical jigging. Trolling 70 feet down over 100 to 120 feet of water was also productive for the lakers, and a few rainbows were also being taken. You still may encounter some water fleas while trolling.
Otisco Lake: Look for walleye in 15 to 20 feet of water; they appear to be very well fed so you may need to use a reaction baits to get them to hit – stickbaits, crankbaits, etc. Look for bass in the weedbeds with creature-style baits. Natural-colored baits were working better last month.
Whitney Point Reservoir: Not hearing much lately.
Chenango, Chemung, Tioughnioga and Susquehanna rivers: Rivers are starting to settle down after the flood events and anglers are beginning to get back on the water.
The Cannon Hole Launch on the Susquehanna River is closed until further notice as a new concrete launch ramp is being installed.
Adirondacks
West Branch Ausable River: Warm weather bumped up water temps and made fishing an early-morning game, but this is typically a great time of year to get out there as water temperatures drop, fishing pressure tapers off and the big browns can be tempted by streamer patterns.
••••••••••
Work was set to begin to upgrade infrastructure and build a new D- Loop comfort station at Nick’s Lake Campground in Old Forge, Herkimer County. Due to that extensive construction project, DEC is advising the public that the campground will be closed and historical use of the property during early bear hunting season and/or casual use is prohibited during construction.
The project includes plans to replace most of the water lines throughout the campground; install an underground electrical distribution system; update campsites No. 75 and 77 to current accessibility standards; and build a new D-Loop comfort station. Burying the electrical lines will reduce storm-related power outages at the campground and eliminate the need for yearly tree trimming.
Long Island/NYC
The shark fishing at the 20-fathom line remained good, with a mix of makos to 100 pounds, brown sharks to 60 pounds and the occasional thresher shark over the 200-pound mark. A few of the makos reached 200 pounds. At the canyons, makos over 250 pounds were reported by anglers targeting tuna and swordfish. Large yellowfin tuna were trolled during the day and chunked at night at the canyons. There was a white marlin hooked up at the Oregon Wreck, along with a few at the Hudson Canyon. Vinny Radziul reported mahi, a 10-foot hammerhead and tilefish at both Toms and Hudson Canyon.
There were mahi caught at the NOAA buoy by casting tins and bucktails, and by anglers trolling for inshore tuna. Yellowfin, most under 60 pounds, and bluefin tuna to 40 pounds were caught trolling plastics, feathers and cedar jigs, and by jigging at the Coimbra and Bacardi wrecks, with a few larger fish caught.
This year the brown tide was not as widespread as the last few years, keeping the inshore fluke fishery better than last season. During this report period, the water cleared up, putting the inshore fluke on the feed in the South Shore bays and inlets. There were still plenty of short fluke and sea robins, but there was a noticeable increase in the number of keeper fluke. Bucktails, spearing/squid combos, and Gulp! Baits all yielded good catches of fluke. On the North Shore, the fluke fishing along the beaches and in the harbor mouths improved, with more keepers reported. Anglers working these North Shore beaches were also rewarded with keeper porgies.
Triggerfish were caught on the artificial reefs, inlet jetties and inshore wrecks. Small sea bass and porgies and were also caught on the artificial reefs and inlet jetties, with the inshore and offshore wrecks accounting for keeper sea bass and porgies. A few ling were also reported on the wrecks, with the best ling fishing reported in New York Bight. The best bait for all species was fresh clam strips.
The snapper fishing was very good, with several club tournaments for kids occurring around the Island this report period. Most of the snappers are between 6 and 8 inches long and were caught using snapper poppers, small tins and spearing fished under a bobber. Pretty much at every inshore beach, dock and canal, snappers were caught.
Blowfish were caught in the South Shore bays and North Shore harbors on small pieces of sandworms. Northern kingfish were caught in the deeper areas in the State Boat Channel between Jones and Fire Island Inlets and off the Robert Moses beaches on sandworms. Scott Jeffery at East End Bait and Tackle reported the Rogers Rock area was excellent for porgies, with some weakfish and kingfish mixed in.
There were no bluefish reported by either inshore or offshore anglers. A few stripers were caught under the bunker schools on both the North and South shores. The best striper fishing was off Montauk Point, where limits of 15- to 20-pound striper, with the occasional 30-pound plus striper were caught trolling tubes or parachute jigs, diamond jigging or using live baits.
The blue claw crab fishing remained excellent, with all forms of crabbing resulting in numerous keeper crabs.
The freshwater fishing remained excellent. Panfish, largemouth bass and yellow perch were caught at most of the ponds and lakes on Long Island, with Stump Pond, Laurel Lake, and the Peconic River some of the top spots for mixed freshwater action.
Guy Zummo
flyfishguy@optonline.net
Capital District
Lake George: Jeff at FISH307 reports the great fishing on the lake continues, with landlocked salmon and lake trout fishing solid all summer long, and smallmouth action good, with the bigger fish being taken at depths of 20-25 feet.
The big lake will host the fourth annual King George Fishing Derby Sept. 14-16, with over $15,000 in prizes. More information can be found at kinggeorgefishingderby.com.
Southeastern New York
Hudson River: Water chestnut beds are starting to break up and the largemouth bass are being caught on hard structure close to the chestnut beds. Smallmouth bass are being caught around “suckholes” and shallow flats using a variety of top-water lures, crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
Stream trout fishing: Use your best judgment and carry a thermometer. If water temps push 70 give the trout a break. Fish early in the morning for the lowest water temps.
Bass fishing: Bass anglers are awaiting cooler water temperature and increased feeding activity on the area’s waters, but some fine top-water action is available early and late in the day. Try the Ashokan Reservoir, Rondout Reservoir, Wallkill River, Toronto Reservoir, Swinging Bridge Reservoir, Round Lake and Greenwood Lake.
Also, DEP reservoirs are worth a look, notably Cross River, Muscoot, Croton Falls, Titicus, West Branch, Rondout and Neversink reservoirs.
Catskills
Beaverkill and Willowemoc: Both had wading possible and were clear at last check. Hatches are mostly Caddis, Olives and small spinners. A hopper/dropper rig is also a good choice. Any hatches have been late in the day. There were some midges in the morning. Terrestrials, nymphs and streamers have also been effective.
Delaware East Branch: Wadeable once again. With the lower water levels, Tricos may still be around. Hatches are mostly midges, Olives and some Caddis.
Delaware West Branch: Was at a good float level at last report. Wading was limited. There are some Olives and Caddis as well as a few Sulphurs and some spinners late morning.
Esopus: Had some wading possible but was off color
Neversink: Was back at more normal levels and wadeable. Terrestrial patterns have worked well.
Delaware Main Stem: Back to a decent fishing level. Late day there was a mix of BWOs, spinners and Caddis.
In general, although the high water has been a problem on the big rivers, the small streams have fished well all summer. These small streams do not produce large fish but a 12-inch trout is a hope.
The recent rainy weather has made for decent terrestrial fishing. Ants and beetles fished along the bank have saved many a fishless day. Summer fishing often means unpredictable hatches. At this time of year, terrestrials and small nymphs are good choices.
Thousand Islands
St. Lawrence River: The big river really put on a show for the finest bass anglers in the world last month, as limits of huge smallmouths made their way to the scales during the four-day Huk Elite Series event. It’s not rocket science right now; a drop-shot rig or tubes should catch fish if you go deep, to 35-50 feet.
Black Lake: Richard at Chapman’s Sport Shop and Marina in Hammond says fishing has been solid of late and will only get better when water temperatures cool. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass have been providing good action, while a few bluegill and crappie are also being taken. The panfish bite, as well as walleye, will really pick up in the coming weeks.
The post New York Outdoor News Fishing Report – Sept. 7, 2018 appeared first on Outdoornews.
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