Click on the image above to subscribe to our weekly fishing reports.
2023 Fishing reports by Ron Bierstine, Orleans County Sportfishing Coordinator
No major impacts expected here on the WNY south shore of Lake Ontario from the Nor’easter. The major snow accumulations are expected east of here with maybe 1 – 3 inches from the wrap around Lake Effect Snow thru tonight. A cold NW wind is expected today and thru some of tomorrow and then another slight warm up thru the end of week with high 40’s°F forecast. Flows all around like in the Oak and area smaller tribs are mostly being maintained at about medium flows with slightly stained water color going toward clear. The end of week warmup may again get some run-off rolling bumping flows back up to slightly high with more color to the water. On one of these spates of water or some future blow out, hopefully, we’ll see more fresh steelhead action. Looks like for now we are living off the numbers of earlier run fish (when it was milder) that are mostly staged up nearer the dam on the Oak and a few fresh fish trickling in thru downstream areas. A future warm up along with high and off color flows will tell the tale if spring steelhead are still queued up waiting to move upstream. There’s light fishing pressure all around. Expect to work the fast water sections on the Oak thoroughly or other smaller tribs for a few steelhead hookups or some silver browns. Check out the pretty steelhead caught from the Oak this past weekend in the pic below. Just a few suckers in the Oak for now. The mild winter that has turned into a cold and snowy spring might have the typical Feb/Mar action shifted more toward Mar/Apr or even later, so we’ll have to wait and see what the weather and future high water flows may dish out.
Thanks to a few days of previous warmer temps with snowmelt, all the tribs are up with nice fishy flows by steelhead standards. Given the time of the year and milder water temps it should be a good trigger for fresh fish migrations. Thru yesterday there was no impact from the snowstorm here on the WNY Lake Ontario south shore and likewise the forecasted end of week snow storm is expected to have minimal impact for accumulations here. Temps are forecast to be highs in the 30’s °F and dropping back down at night, so flows should hang in for now or begin to drop back slowly like in the smaller area waterways. Longer range forecast looks like cold-ish weather thru some part of next week so it may be the seasons are averaging out with pay back from the milder winter! Flows in the Oak are slightly high with a strong head of turbine water and no overflow water. Viz is about 2 feet and slightly stained but might color up just a touch more thru the rest of the week. The other area smaller tribs east and west of the Oak have high flows with about 1 foot of visibility. Look for those waterways to turn and drop now and thru the mid week offering up some good drifting chances. Real light fishing pressure on the Oak where guys reported tougher steelhead action like thru the past weekend, but that was when flows were lower and clearer. Browns are making a pretty good accounting of themselves, especially by spring standards with a mix of fresh silver fish and colored up holdover fall fish – both in the Oak and Sandy. Now and into April as the weather and water flows may dictate could offer up the best spring steelhead action so get out there and hit the cold water chances while they last!
Flows in the Oak are clearing slowly and hanging in somewhere between medium and slightly high. Water color has improved to about 1 plus feet of visibility. Upstream swamp headwater supplies seem brim full so look for flows to be pretty well maintained and on a continued slow clearing. Any future precipitation could raise flows and bring back dirty water color. So for now the drifting and swinging conditions look pretty good. So far we are probably looking at some fish from earlier higher water and new fish trickling in on medium-ish flows instead of one bigger batch of fish on a blow out event. Stay tuned though for any future high water that could really perk things up. The other area smaller tribs have medium flows and slightly stained water color. Good drifting and swinging chances there too with warming water temps and the chance for some fresh fish. There could be fresh steelhead, fresh silver browns or drop back fish. Water temps for now are already in the the high 30’s°F on the Oak and probably going higher with the forecasted warmup thru the end of this week. Chance of rain and colder temps and windy conditions for the end of the week but back to relatively mild temps again by the weekend. Fishing pressure is over-the-all pretty light and manageable. With no real winter to come out of and trib and open lake water temps all on the warmer side, who knows for sure how the steelhead gods will play things out over the next couple months?!
More of the up and down temps that we’ve been experiencing so far this winter. After a quick hit of real cold weather this past weekend, we are back to mild temps that are forecast at least thru this week. Chance of even warmer unseasonable temps for next week. Some rain showers and gloom and breezy conditions today (Tuesday). The showers did not amount to much and there is the chance for more rain showers and wind for the end of the week. Since we are not getting cold temps and/or snow, hopefully we can get rain along with the warm temps to help maintain flows. A big precipitation event that blows out the waterways with a resultant drop down to fishable conditions could be just what we need to kick off spring steelhead action. For now flows in the Oak are moderate – or optimistically almost medium and mostly clear. Good drifts on lighter leads are still scoring some hook ups on some dark and slightly silver fish. There’s no part of the driftable or castable or swingable waterway that is frozen over. The other area smaller tribs have a fair amount of icing. Flows are moderate to medium and slightly stained at least where you might be able to find a slot with open flows to drift. Look for those smaller waterways to open back up again slowly like thru the end of this week or weekend. Flows will likely just open up minus any blow out, as long as there is no significant precipitation.
Flows in the Oak, and really all around, are looking pretty good by winter time steelhead standards. Read – slightly high and slightly stained with lots of good water cover for steelhead to be anywhere they want to be in the watercourses and good drifting chances. Flows in the Oak are slightly high with something now approaching 2 feet of viz. Flows in the other area smaller tribs should be around med and slightly stained. No major icing that we are aware of. Temps are forecast in the lower 30’s°F for highs and dropping back into the 20’s° at night with some colder temps in the upcoming forecast. Chance of mixed bag precipitation and snow thru tomorrow and early Thursday. No major accumulations beyond a few inches expected here on the WNY big Lake Ontario Plain. Look for flows all around to continue to drop and clear and we might begin to see some icing at least in the smaller waterways. Fishing pressure real light with only a handful of guys out on the Oak in the mid week period. Reports of some medium fresh steelhead and a few spirited chromers thrown in. Any given half day outing yielding something like a few hook ups.
Flows in the Oak are high and stained with about one foot of visibility. Depending on your perspective some might call it only slightly high. Either way there’s still a good head of turbine flow that’s full bore or close to full bore and the water color is slowly getting better. Drifts now will definitely be more productive then a few days ago. Overflow levels are diminished. On recon today I saw only a few guys parked at the dam. No icing anywhere and the downstream slow water is wide open. Other area smaller tribs have med flows and slightly stained water color something like 1 – 2 feet of visibility. Looks like a nice fishing window right now in those smaller tribs that normally might be frozen up this time of the season. Chance of fresh steelhead on the backside of the last higher flows or at least the past fall’s browns and steelhead should be redistributed. No major chill down seen in the near term forecast and there is some rain or showers going over to snow showers forecast for Thursday and Friday. Any significant precipitation could raise all the trib flows back high and dirty. Without any persistent cold or snow or ice hanging in, these precipitation events are going to keep water color on the stained side.
At a Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association (LOCBA) meeting held at the Irondequoit Fish and Game Club, Brian Weidel of USGS spoke about the results of the 2022 Spring alewife sampling. Here’s a link to the report. Mild winters or short duration cold weather lasting into spring is generally considered good for alewife survival, and hopefully a so far mild winter will bode well for alewife. Trout and salmon rely on alewife in particular in the open Lake waters of Lake Ontario.
Flows in the Oak are restored thru the turbine channel. As of today flows were high consisting of something close to wide open turbine flows and a little bit of overflow water. Water color was stained with probably greater then a foot but less then 2 feet of viz. The other area smaller tribs have med or slightly high and stained flows. Johnson is probably more stained then say Sandy. So far thru today the heavier rains have been south of here and the trend looks like the Oak is on the rise while the smaller tribs are barely dropping or holding steady. Temps are cooler here then points south and more rain or showers are expected at least thru tomorrow. Any significant rainfall could raise flows up more with dirtier water color. As quickly as flows were restored in the Oak over the past weekend the fishing likewise perked up again with some steelhead hooked and a few knarly Kings clinging to a hopeful life. You could help give them their last meal! Everything is wide open to fish and its going to take a cold snap to get things iced back up again. At least flows are stronger which helps combat icing back up. No serious cold snap is seen in the near term forecast. This Jan timeframe is historically a bit of an in-between time frame so any action is a bonus after the fall “runs” and before later winter/early spring steelhead. So hopefully if it stays mild we’ll look for rain or if it goes cold we’ll look for snow so that good trib flows will prevail for steelhead action. Fishing pressure is real light I saw just one car on the Oak. Could be guys were finding easier fishing flows on the smaller waterways.
Archived Fishing Reports from 2022
We are on the backside of some challenging wind, snow and cold temps. And we barely got clipped by the worst of it like SW of the area around Buffalo got it! Thanks to the abrupt cold and snow and wind all the tribs are essentially frozen in. Even the Oak thanks to starting out so low at the onset of the cold weather at the start of the past weekend, is mostly frozen. Downstream slow water spots are for sure locked up and even upstream all the way to the dam is frozen except for a rivulet here and there or if you were to break something open. Total snow cover in the immediate area may only be 6 inches give or take, but the snow is wind swept bare in spots or drifted in feet otherwise. Going SW or just by the nature of the LES bands having moved around, accumulations will be more in different nearby areas. The weather is a changing again according to the near term forecast, with above freezing temps expected day and night starting about Wed/ Thu and lasting at least thru the begin part of next week. All the trib flows will be on the rise and melting and probably going off color. We’ll have to wait and see how much they rise and open up and how much additional snow accumulations like in the Oak upper watershed get things rolling.
Thanks to losing the Canal feed/winter drainage, flows in the Oak are real low. Water color is clearing with 2 ft or so of stained viz. It’s unknown if flows will stay as low as I saw today on recon, but likely flows will remain real low or optimistically may go up to less low. No serious icing yet and all the downstream frog water is open. Look for drop back fish to be living there for now, with the other most productive spots being right at the dam or overflow channel pool. A few pools or slots may hide a fish that didn’t take the drop back trip. Fishing pressure is real light, only a few anglers on the water. A couple of reports thru yesterday mentioned some hook ups on smaller browns and steelhead. The other area smaller tribs comparitively to the Oak anyway, have better looking flows at low to mod and slightly stained viz. Coldish days in the low 30’s F and 20’s at night look to be dropping trib flows to the east at Sandy quicker then flows to the west at Johnson. The forecast ahead for end of week and Christmas weekend looks challenging. We’ll start out with a warmup and rain or showers then a quick transition to much colder and snow or snow showers Fri/Sat. High winds and advisory is likely for something like Fri/Sat/Sun. With any luck we’ll get some measurable liquid precip to help flows out. For now it doesn’t look like a big snow event. The forecasted colder temps without significant precip tho may cause some ice up conditions esp if low flows prevail.
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
A little bit hard to stay on top of trib water flows as it seems like Canal drainage water is being passed thru with select adjustments on the water managers end that only they know about. For now after the past weekend it looks like flows are back down some in the Oak to about med or slightly high and less stained. Flows in the other tribs bracketing east and west look like they are back up some. It’s unknown how much longer Canal drainage flows will last but it likely is not that long. Recent precipitation for now probably not enough to keep flows any higher then low-ish when Canal water is ended. Weather is seasonal for now with highs in the 30’s°F and dropping back at night forecast thru the mid week. End of week there is the chance for mixed bag precipitation and Lake Effect Snow for the weekend. Greater impacts expected SW of here but the south shore of Lake Ontario may get some accumulations. Fishing pressure real light. We are hearing of most guys getting their drifts down and slow getting a few hook ups in the fast water reaches below the dam and a little more action in the downstream flat water possibly as a result of some drop back brown trout action and a few fresher steelhead.
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reported:
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reported:
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
A special shout out to St. Mary’s Archer’s Club for providing breakfast for so many of our anglers and guests this past month and allowing them access for fishing! The team at Orleans County Tourism appreciates it as well as so many anglers we hear from.
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
The weather it is a changing… A cool day today with winds NE off the Lake. Forecast ahead is for a mid week warmup with chance of rain or showers end of week and then sharply cooler for the weekend. The full moon that was maybe responsible for the uptick in migrations just recently is now on the wane. Chance of some Lake Effect Snow this weekend with any accumulations expected south of here off Lake Erie.
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
Courtesy of Jonathan Halpert
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
This week’s fishing report is courtesy of Captain John Oravec from Tight Lines Charters:
Pictured (R-L) is Brian, Dean and Mike from North Tonawanda, NY with a fine king they caught aboard Troutman 2 in 120′ of water just northeast of the Oak! Herring Twinkie Fly rigs fooled some big ‘uns!
Here is a terrific morning catch of Oak Orchard River-bound king salmon from 21-26# from 110 ft of Lake Ontario ledge water. We used wire dipseys with herring strip fly rigs. Recent frontal winds and rain have several salmon spots set up.
First, take advantage of mature king, coho salmon and brown trout’s urge to seek the river waters around the piers at the Point Breeze pier, channel, and bay casting with brightly colored spoons is the ticket, especially predawn and at sunset.
Next be prepared to troll j-plugs around the 3 piers in 5-20 feet of water. I have stayed busy trolling 60-105 ft near bottom with cut bait fly rigs especially on magnum wire divers. Oak Orchard Tackle and Narby’s is stocked for Fall salmon lures and gear. After fishing at the Point both the Black North Inn and the new Gilligan’s Galley (Ernst) are serving up terrific meals either sit down or to go! More upcoming windy systems produce stirred inshore water which releases river scent so expect more incoming big fish! See ya out there!
Capt John “Troutman” Oravec fish on!
From Capt. Mike Grager from Get Hooked Sportfishing: Today we had a young army veteran out for his first time fishing salmon on Lake Ontario!! Today the salmon did not disappoint us! We fished 90-120 feet of water, just slightly east and west of port. Most of our bites today came 70-90 down, with a mix of spoons and flies. Moonshine Carbon 14 was our best today on a 70 rigger, and green Bam!! with an atomik crinkle green fly took our biggest king of the day. Today was probably my last charter of the year, and if so it was great to end on a high note for the season!!
This week’s fishing report is courtesy of Captain John Oravec from Tight Lines Charters:
It’s been a windy week on Lake Ontario off the Orleans County NY Coastline. That being said, the fish holding thermocline is yoyoing between 30′ to over 100′ down. Both inshore structure, mid water and offshore has a mixed bag catch available. King salmon with browns inside of 100′ – kings and steelhead out to 500′ – the bite is good. Flasher/fly and spoons are doin’ it but trout species are favoring spoons. One note: the spiny water flea bloom is in progress so rig your rods with 30-50# mono on riggers and be prepared to check rods often.
Capt. Bob Songin of Reel Excitement Charters posted a video on 6/28/22:
Operation Injured Soldiers Outing
Operation Injured Soldiers Outing
Through Operation Injured Soldiers, Captains Mike Grager, Mike Lavender and Bob Eder took 12 wounded veterans fishing and enjoyed 2 days on Lake Ontario. A special thanks to all involved! Photo courtesy of Mike Lavender.
Memorial Troll in honor of Paul Czarnecki
This week’s fishing report is from Capt. John “Troutman” Oravec from Tightlines Charters:
This week’s report is from Capt. John “Troutman” Oravec from Tight Lines Charters.
Ron Bierstine has wrapped up his stream fishing reports for the season. Meanwhile, we’ll be tapping into our charter captains for updates.
Captain Bob Songin from Reel Excitement Charters gives an impressive report from yesterday, April 25th as he trolled west to the Bar in Niagara County. On their way to Wilson Harbor, he reports that they started catching browns and cohoes just shy of Shadigee in 7-10 FOW. On the west side of Shadigee just past Flat Top, they hit their first King and the further they went, the better it got. Consistently doubles & triples all throughout the area, in 7-10 FOW, then followed along the green water (as opposed to the murky brown water). View his full report, “From at the Oak to the Bar” at https://www.facebook.com/robert.songin.9/videos/412662933560159
Starting this weekend, they will be fishing at the Bar chasing Kings then return to the Oak around Memorial Day as the Kings migrate east.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Another cold snap: cold temps today with highs around 40°F. Windy too, with rain showers but at least no snow from the latest storm here on the WNY Lake Ontario Plain. We got some rain last night but not enough to effect any great change in trib flows. Think something like flows going from low to not so low. We’ll be back to more seasonable temps for mid and end of week with a chance of showers Thursday. Warmer temps near 70°F are in the forecast for the weekend.
One positive for the continued cold weather is trib water temps have not spiked high yet. So with light angling pressure in the Oak, a few drop backs, spawners and fresh fish have been encountered in the low and clear flows. One angler for the beginning part of this week reported good action. The lower flows will concentrate the available fish in a few good lies or gravel spots. I’m not hearing a lot from the other area smaller waterways but you can bet patient anglers could find some drop back action or a few fresh browns or steelhead in the lower reaches. There are miles of water for fish to be dropping back from compared to about only a short mile of Oak water. On the backside of this latest cold weather and accompanying wind, the land lubber casters and small boat trollers and small boat casters should be able to get back on those near shore brown trout in semi stained water while the cooler water and bait hangs around.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Some rain on the order of a 1/4 inch fell last night but not a big change in trib flows. Amazing how when the vegetation awakens and the runoff equation changes. Warm temps are forecast today and tomorrow and seasonable thru the beginning part of the weekend. There’s a chance of rain or storms later tomorrow and, you guessed it – another significant cool down for the end of the weekend or start of next week! At least whatever trib and near shore Lake Ontario trout action that is underway is not likely to experience a temp spike anytime soon.
Flows in the Oak are moderate and mostly clear. Thin reports from anglers, so far, the beginning part of the week but thru the past weekend guys were still into a few fish. Look for dropping back steelhead from the dam, a few spawning fish and a chance for fresh fish trickling in. Other area smaller tribs have low to moderate flows possibly getting a little bit of stain from the most recent precipitation. Since 1/4 inch of rain did not do much it looks like 1/2 inch or more of rain in a storm or otherwise would be needed to effect any positive change in flows. Civilian small boat trollers reported to be having good brown trout action so that tells me the land lubber casting chances should be good too. Look for cooperative wind and wave action now and thru mid week with chance for higher wind forecast at the end of the week and subsequent tougher dirtier water chances.
Click here to view Capt. Bob Songin of Reel Excitement Charters’ Lake Fishing Video Report on Facebook.
4/8/22: First time fishing on Lake Ontario, Meagan Hardner caught this lake trout in 50 feet of water straight out of Oak Orchard aboard Get Hooked Sportfishing.
Picture of the Week, 4/8/22:
Mike Grager from Get Hooked Sportfishing provided us with this week’s picture of the week from April 8th. First time fishing on Lake Ontario, Meagan Hardner caught this lake trout on spoons trolled within 10 feet of the bottom, in 50-60 feet of water straight out of Oak Orchard. “We had tried for brown trout in close, but they didn’t cooperate for us, so I moved out deeper to try to find some lake trout.”
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Here we go on a nice warm up again for more seasonal spring like temps this week. Then forecast is cooler again in the 40’s° for the upcoming weekend. Warmer temps here tempered some by cooling lake breezes. Chance of rain showers hit and miss thru the end part of the week. Some rain now on the frontside of this latest warm up wouldn’t be a bad thing to bring the trib flows back up and add some color to the water. The next spate of water could bring in the fresh spring steelhead looking for warmer water. One warm water 40-50°F hook-up is worth a half dozen 32 point something F hook ups! For now flows in the Oak are something like a notch less then medium and going clear. No big concentration of fish in any one spot that we know of, except for the stranded for now overflow fish. Those fish deserve a chance to immigrate back out to the Lake if caught and released back into the turbine channel. Through the past weekend and beginning part of this week, guys reported a few hook-ups by either working the holes, the dam, or swinging spawning staging spots. Look for more fish going to gravel on the no doubt water temp warm up this week. Look for some hook-ups by covering that different water and putting in a few hours. A brown or two mixed in.
Other area smaller tribs are dropping back toward low and clear and warming thru this week. A spate of water there too might drop back fish to downstream spots where guys are drifting and also bring on the last of the fresh run fish. Suckers here and there will entertain you, depending upon your pouty lips perspective and more and more bass will be in the mix too. Look for calmer winds on the backside of choppy Lakeshore conditions that leave that semi stained water in range of the pier head and land lubber caster. Small boat civilian trollers can now launch at the open NYS launch on the west side of the rivermouth!
We received 10,000 steelhead and 113,500 salmon from the DEC today as part of the Pen Rearing Project to keep the lake stocked. Thank you to the DEC, the volunteers and especially Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina for the use of their boat slips/docks this Spring. See the photo below.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
With all the high water we’ve had previously, you might not have predicted any low flows this spring. Then again who would have guessed there’d be a few days in the end of March this cold! So for now, flows in the Oak have dropped back to low and clear. The in between moderate or medium and slightly stained flows came and went pretty quick! Its unclear if these lower flows will hang on, more then likely with temps rebounding thru this mid week that flows will rebound some with a little more stain. At this point rain or precipitation could help bring flows back up too. Seasonable cold today and dropping back below freezing tonight then a nice warmup mid week with chance of rain showers.
Fishing pressure is real light again on the Oak so far today. Just prior to the lowering of flows, guys reported steelhead hook ups at the dam and overflow pools and scattered downstream thru the fast water gravel stretches for spawning fish. Suckers were more numerous too. This is kind of a reset (at least when it warms back up) and with a return to some more inviting flows and stained water there should be new migrations of spring fish. Other area smaller tribs are dropping back like the Oak to low but may be hanging on to a little more color. Look for a bit of a temp shock there and the fishing action back on the rebound as things warm back up.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Flows in the Oak are on the drop slightly after a bump up from the past weekend’s rain. Flows for now are slightly high or maybe one click less consisting of all turbine water at 2+ feet of visibility. You might expect the water color to be dirtier for the height it is. Look for flows to hang in or drop back another notch toward medium in the near term. Decent, fair weather days are forecast thru the beginning part of the week, then seasonably cool for mid and end of the week. Forecast is for precipitation again Wednesday and a chance of showers thru the end of the week. Any significant precipitation could bring flows quickly back up and off color. So, flows, weather and fishing action are somewhat up and down. Nothing new about that for steelhead angling!
Last week, on good flows, there was good action, then tougher again thru the past weekend on higher flows and now this week before another potential rise in flows there are a few more guys out there getting scattered hook ups. Looks like, just today, guys are paying more attention to the gravel spawning spots so they are finding those spread-out fish that were somewhat cloaked in the previous higher water. Those fish committed to spawn are pretty much going to continue to spawn with only minor stalling due to cold water. Water temps had bumped up into the 40’s°F and the ice on Lake Alice is gone.
There should be a mix of spawning and staged fish in the holes with fresh fish trickling in anytime. Then there are those fish more or less landlocked in the overflow pools. Anglers might consider re-releasing those fish in the turbine channel. Without access back to Lake Ontario, those overflow fish are likely goners unless there’s a perfectly timed spate of water later this spring. Fishing pressure is moderate right now and generally guys are moving around – offering chances to fish different spots between the swingers and the drifters be it fly, float or spin.
Other area smaller waterways are at about medium level and back on the clearing to slightly stained from the past weekend rain. Any new precipitation could likewise bring those flows back up and dirty. For now, cool weather and cool water action is hanging on and there’s no serious warmup forecast in the near future. So come get in on the cold water action before the inevitable warmup. Only a sucker here and there reported. A few civilian small boat trollers noted in the near shore/good looking/semi stained waters off Point Breeze. Private launches are available while public launches wait to reopen. Good casting chances for light/med spinning spoon or plug chuckers from the foot brigade.
Another dose of spring feeling is in the air on a slight warmup forecast for this week! Chance of only rain showers with temps approaching 50°F+ on select days. Slightly cooler forecast for the upcoming weekend and hopefully the serious cold is a goner! Definitely breaking toward Spring so get those cold water steelhead drifts in while you can. Flows in the Oak are responding nicely to a few days of previous cold with dropping and clearing. An honest notch or so less (slightly high) then the previous wide open turbine flows with overflow levels diminished. Water color is real nice at slightly stained 2 ft of visibility so drift chances for now are the best they’ve been so far this late winter/early spring period. Hook ups on some fresh fish are coming a little easier then the previous few weeks – check out the latest catch pic below. Water temps are moving thru the mid and into the high 30’s °F and look for 40°F ish+ as the weather warms. Lake Alice ice cover is probably days away from going away. Look for flows maintained around the slightly high/slightly stained for now. Drying out weather could lead to lower medium – ish or wetter weather could lead to higher/dirtier. Other area smaller tribs are at med and slightly stained. Steelhead should be spread thru the waterways and reports of a few fresh, silver browns too. Already hearing of small boat civilian trollers on the near shore Lake Ontario waters having success so casters at the pier heads should be able to get in on that action too. Point Breeze/Orleans County/east side boat launch is still closed while construction is hopefully soon to wrap up. West side state launch slated to open ASAP. The Olcott pier project is completed for land lubbers there to get back out there or the Oak Orchard piers.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
A couple days of warm temps and some rain yesterday has the trib flows up and rolling again! Flows in the Oak are high, close to blown and dirty. Flows consist of lots of turbine water and overflow water that started to come back up for the end of the past weekend. Water color is one foot of visibility or less. Most of the area snowpack has now melted although some remains in protected areas. There’s still lots of upstream headwater swamp supplies in the Oak. Flows will likely retreat in the overflow channel thru the mid and end part of the week while turbine flows remain high. Water color will be on a slow mend.
You can feel the Spring change in the weather now and with ice cover going away on Lake Alice, there will be the typical warming of water temps in the Oak. Likely there are some steelhead in the Oak now and the drift conditions remain challenging to get on them. There were some hook ups thru the past weekend right before this latest rise in flows. Even though I wouldn’t look for turbine flows to change much in the near term, once the water temps begin to rise even a little the drift chances should improve and more fresh fish will hopefully be evidenced all around. Flows in the other area smaller waterways are high and dirty. Most all ice cover looks to be moved out. Those smaller tribs will drop and clear and warm up sooner then the Oak. Look for your fishing window sooner then later whenever reasonable conditions come together.
Forecast is for slowly warming up thru this week with chance of rain/snow showers mid week and precipitation again for end of week. Any significant precipitation will quickly raise all the trib flows up again with the chance for off color flows.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Peach of a day today and it looks like guys are more seriously getting out there this week. Temps forecast today in the 40’s°F and a little bit cooler tomorrow with a chance of rain/snow showers later Wednesday. Seasonable temps for the end of week and chance for a quick significant warmup with rain again around the end of the upcoming weekend.
Flows in the Oak are staying high with some stubborn overflow water that should be receding by about today leaving just the full cranking turbine flows. The previous cold temps sure did clear up the water color with just a nice stain of about 2 ft of visibility. Look for flows to stay up with the stained water color. This mid week warmup should likely only stall the right of drop and clear in the Oak and other area smaller waterways. Any significant precipitation or melt off or runoff could bring all the trib flows right back high and off color again. Flows in the other smaller waterways are about medium and slightly stained, likely offering up a nice fishable window for now. Chance of some fresh steelhead migrations all around now and going forward. Looking forward to more angler reports and success but over all the fishing pressure has been real light. With the previous high and off color flows in the Oak it’s been a bit of a challenge for good drifts and swings. Lots of water for fish to spread out and be anywhere they want to be, including the overflow pools. Cover lots of water and get the drift down and slow and you could find a chromer!
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
The area has been in a bit of a warmup since the end of the past weekend. Forecast is continued warm thru today and tonight with rain likely today/tonight. Rainfall could amount to 0.5 inch or more. After that for end of week and weekend, the forecast is back to cold temps and another round of measurable snow. There is still plenty of snow to melt like in the woods and protected spots and some ice and flooded fields. Thanks to this forecast, flows in the Oak and other area smaller tribs will be (again) on the way to high, blown and dirty. Flows in the Oak are already on the rise today thanks to increasing overflow water. Any rainfall is really going to get things cranking and water color this time is likely to get dirty. Thanks to the flash freeze after end of last week’s high water, even with the overflow cranking, flows did retreat quickly and never really got too dirty to fish in the Oak. Guys kept fishing, especially in the turbine channel (flows can only get so high). The rest of the Oak, like after the confluence, were high water fishable by at least this past Sunday thru about yesterday as the overflow levels diminished. There would have been a similar few day high/stained fishable water window in the smaller area tribs too. So if you’re following this the moral of the story is that the weather is up and down and therefore so are the water levels and fishable conditions. For now in the near term low and clear flows are not in the cards. So when even a reasonable high and stained water window presents itself, that may be the best time to fish. All the water, at least in the fishable mile or so stretch below the dam on the Oak, is open and ice free.
Other area smaller tribs should be open and ice free in the upstream reaches with some lower river ice cover or jams. That may well all blow out after this latest round of precipitation. Its not likely to freeze back up significantly even with cold temps. On the Oak thru the so far not too dirty turbine flows of today, guys have been scoring some fresher steelhead mostly nearer the dam. There could be some fresh fish migrations in the rest of the downstream river course and the other area smaller tribs anytime now thru the spring on these high water events. Try to anticipate dropping and clearing flows and be on the water when reasonable conditions come together!
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Thanks to a return to cold temps and snowy weather, trib flows retreated for the beginning part of this week. This up and down would be mostly unnoticed under ice cover anyway, except for on the Oak. There was a few more inches of snow and more Lake Effect Snow showers are expected today here on the immediate Lake Plain. Forecast is for a warmup with temps around 50°F (and wind) for the mid week and chance of rain on Thursday. If the forecast is realized, with especially significant rain, there is the chance for high or blown trib flows. It is unknown for now if it will be enough to completely open up all the waterways.
The forecast after the warmup for the end of week/beginning part of the weekend is back to cold temps with snow on the backside of the rain – so the up and down, 2 – 3 day cycle will continue. Flows in the Oak are about medium and barely stained with about 2 feet of visibility for now. All the water is open to fish with some bank ice here and there in slack water areas. Bankside movement may be hard in spots if no trail is broken already.
Fishing pressure is real light with one or two guys reporting a few fresher looking steelhead hooked up. New migrations of fresh fish could come anytime during this part of the season with good flows or especially with any bump up in trib flows. More then likely flows will be on the rise in the near future and hydro managers could bump flows up beforehand in anticipation of higher run of the river flows to come. We had higher then average Fall water flows previously and there’s good likelihood we’ll have higher then average late Winter water flows in the near future or even thru the Spring. High water drifting as long as its not blown might be the name of the game!
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
I’m just returning from the Fly Fishing Show in Edison, NJ so will need to come back up to speed on fishing info as some angler reports come in. Fishing pressure, no doubt, is light though.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Winter and cold and snow is hanging in. Seasonable cold is forecast to hang in at least thru the week and weekend. Some Lake Effect Snow showers has amounted to a few more inches of fluffy accumulation on top of the 1-2 ft previous snow. Forecast is mostly clear thru the upcoming week, no significant impact expected from the upcoming east coast storm. I for one am glad for some consistent winter weather to at least “reset” seasonal conditions after the mild fall. The hope is this cold weather will be a good thing for later winter and spring steelhead action. For now most all waterways are low and clear. Fast water spots on the Oak remain open with just some bank ice. Careful and hardy drifters have hooked up on some bright steelhead. The other area smaller waterways are mostly iced and snowed in.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Lots of snow across WNY from an area wide snow. Here on the Niagara Frontier, it was heaviest and there are lesser accumulations south of here. Wrap around Lake Effect Snow after the storm may bring all the snow accumulations north and south about equal anyway. Here in the Oak Orchard neighborhood there’s something like 18+ inches of a medium dense snow so there’ll be a good supply of runoff flows when it melts. The week ahead looks mostly clear with seasonal temps and then colder again toward the end of the week. Fishing pressure has been light over the past couple days thanks to the snow storm but guys should be getting back out there and breaking some trails. Flows in the smaller area waterways should continue to drop from around moderate maybe going toward low and clear. Ground flow recharge from strong supplies might keep things up a little higher then typical winter levels but never-the-less things will be icing in or freezing up except for a few fast water slots. In the Oak, flows are moderate and mostly clear and likewise may hold onto those fair moderate flows instead of dropping back to real low. Downstream slow water areas will be freezing and closing in while upstream areas should stay open except for some bank ice. Despite the cold, a few diehards have been out there scoring on a some smaller browns and a few fine looking chrome steelhead. Not big numbers of steelhead but a few that likely came in on the previous higher flows we had and are a good portent to upcoming steelhead action in the more traditional February or March timeframe. Stay tuned!
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
All the trib flows look on the retreat from previous snowmelt and precipitation. A couple of days of cold weather earlier this week probably hastened the retreating flows. Flows in the Oak are one click less then medium or what you might call somewhere in between moderate and medium. A little stain, something like 2 ft of visibility. No icing, even in the downstream frog water just yet. Light fishing pressure with just a handful of cars at each parking spot.
The other area smaller tribs have similar moderate – medium flows with slightly stained water color. There is some icing especially in downstream slow water spots and some bank ice. Upstream fast water areas should be pretty well open, and there is likely barely any fishing pressure. Weather is seasonable warm today and then forecast winter cold with wind for tomorrow and weekend. Next chance at snow for area wide is for the beginning part of next week. Long range forecast looks more or less winter-like thru next week and so this may be the settling in of winter conditions that could last for more than a couple days. Icing conditions should accelerate especially in the smaller waterways Will know more about how anglers have been hooking up as we catch back up on the fishing chatter.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Seasonable cold winter weather for the end of week with some LES happening south and west of here. No accumulations expected here on the WNY Lake Ontario Plain. Slight warm up for the weekend with chance of rain end of weekend and then cold for start of next week. Slight bump up in trib flows yesterday from little bit of rain and snowmelt. Back on the retreat thru today after a cold night. Flows in the Oak were higher yesterday but expecting that to retreat again toward medium and slightly stained. Guys thru yesterday higher up scored a few hook ups on eggs or beads on fresh steelhead while downstream swingers had a tougher go. Other area smaller tribs should be retreating toward medium or lower to moderate and slightly stained. Shouldn’t be any serious icing in yet but there could be some bank ice or chunky flows. Upcoming weekend warm up should keep things open and we might be looking at some more serious icing and retreating flows after that for next week.
Archived Fishing Reports from 2021
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Christmas rain brought all the trib flows up with stained water color. Forecast thru this week remaining after today is for warm temps in the 40’s°F. Chance of an inch or so of area wide snow tonight on the Lake Ontario plain with 2-3 inches expected to the south. That will subsequently melt. Consider how wet it’s been for months now, the high water tables, saturated fields and brim full swamp headwater supplies and you’ll come to realize the “typical” slow rise and quick fall of trib levels is going to occur more like quick rise and slow fall. Canal seasonal feed and winter drainage water is done or nearly done and the trib levels remain up thanks to the natural run of the river contributions. Flows in the Oak are slightly high with 1 – 2 ft of stained visibility. A good head of turbine water lending fishy water and cover for fish to be anywhere in the water course they would want to be. As a few post holiday reports come in it sounds like guys have had some better steelhead action. By steelhead standards the flows we have now are real nice and could move some fresh fish upstream. The other area smaller tribs have slightly high flows with stained visibility of about 1 foot. Those waterways do seem to be slowly back on the retreat. Look for post spawn browns to be redistributed thru the waterways and the chance for some fresher steelhead. All the waterways are wide open to fish with no icing to worry about for now. Fishing pressure is light to moderate with what looks like a few guys here and there probably enjoying holiday time off. Chance of legitimate winter weather and temps coming on by next week.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Flows in the Oak have retreated some to slightly high and slightly stained. Real nice flows by steelhead standards. First real cold night of the year Sunday night probably tightened things up for flows and runoff in the Oak and smaller area tribs as well. Looks like a good head of turbine water with overflow levels diminished. Just a handful of cars seen at each access spot. Not a whole lot of reports coming back in for the Oak but now with flows that are a little more easily drifted guys should be into a few browns or steelhead. Always the chance at some fresh steelhead migrations that should only improve as we get into the later winter. Downstream frog water areas are all open with no icing conditions yet. Other area smaller tribs are at moderate to medium and slightly stained flows. You can see the Canal drainage influence in the stained color but Canal release flows sure look more tempered in the smaller tribs then say the Oak. Hike some different water spots on the smaller tribs and you should find some brown trout action with a steelhead or two thrown in. Forecast is back to the seasonable warm temps that we have been prone to so far this whole trib season – highs near 40°F for mid week and warmer yet for end of week. There’s a chance of snow showers tomorrow (Wed.) and precipitation at the end of week again. No real change yet seen in Oak upstream headwater flows but shortly Canal water will run out and I’d be looking for some kind of continued lowering flows by end of week or weekend – that is without any new significant precipitation for runoff.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Flows in the Oak are medium and mostly clear. Definitely on the moderate side of medium and not on the slightly high side of medium. For now these are the lowest flows of the whole fall season and are more typical of average fall flows. If any Canal winter time drainage is passing thru it must be tempered like Canal managers said they would do. Light fishing pressure with just a few cars seen at the two access points. I’m hearing of a few hook ups each outing for most guys, and those anglers report putting in the time and working for the hook ups by covering different water with swings or dead drifts. Browns are more likely in downstream water with a few steelhead at the dam. For best chances at steelhead action later this winter and spring we might hope for some more colder and typical winter weather for the in between later Dec/early Jan timeframe. With the flows observed today anglers should be able to cover all the fishy water pretty effectively. Downstream slow water is getting pretty froggy thanks to rising Lake Ontario levels and the lowering upstream flows. The other area smaller tribs I have not laid eyes on directly and should have something like medium flows. Some reports of stained water color to the east which could be a result of Canal drainage. Everything is wide open to fish with no icing conditions. Lakeshore conditions should likewise be wide open if any hardware chuckers were so inclined to make some casts. Warm weather is forecast under windy conditions over the next couple days and cooling down for the weekend.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
So much for the hope of drying out some. A little more precipitation from the end of the past weekend and beginning part of this week has bumped up the trib flows slightly. Seasonably cold is forecast thru about mid week so those bumped up flows are already on the retreat though. Tough time of the year for any serious drying out since everything will wind up essentially as runoff. Forecast ahead is for snow showers today, chance of area wide snow tomorrow and then another warmup for the end of week. Less then 1 inch of snow accumulations are expected here on the WNY’s Lake Ontario Plain. Fishing pressure is light all around and no significant icing conditions are hindering drifting chances. Any below freezing night could make for some skim ice or chunky flows in an exposed waterway like Sandy. Flows in the Oak are still humming along at slightly high consisting of a good head of turbine water. Anglers are toughing it out for a few bites daily on browns or steelhead. There is some downstream frog water action. It might take lots of bobber watching or a few cast and retrieve/swing presentations to hook up on a post spawn brown or staging steelhead. The other area smaller tribs have medium+ and slightly stained flows. Best chance at hookups is going to be covering different spots on the same trib and/or moving around to different tribs. A few guys report their hookups include at least one real good big fish. Keep in mind that any good or better action that might come on will be tough to know about with such light fishing pressure. The only sure way to know is to get out there and make a few drifts!
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
There has been light mixed precipitation thru today with highs in the 30’s°F. Another warmup is forecast thru the mid week with highs in the 40’s°F and another chance at rain Thursday. Flows in the Oak are slightly high consisting of a good head of turbine water. Water color is only slightly stained at 2 – 3 ft of visibility. There is plenty of water cover to hide fish or to encourage any late migrations of browns or early migrations of steelhead. Water level fluctuations are still common thanks to hydropower operations and at least in the downstream fast water areas when flows are reduced, there’s been just a handful of mostly browns revealed. Nearer the dam and just downstream should show a few more fish.
Over all though, the brown trout action on the Oak is tough. A good day might be a couple of hookups with a steelhead thrown in. The other area smaller waterways offer as good or better action by virtue of smaller water courses with the fish probably more concentrated. To the west at Johnson Creek, flows are medium and mostly clear with reports of some brown trout hookups. To the east at Sandy Creek flows are reported to be medium or just a notch greater. Some days guys seem to do OK and other days are slower. Generally the most action has been to the east so that’s where most anglers have been heading. Otherwise fishing pressure elsewhere is real light. Opportunities right now may not be for multiple hookup days but the chances are there for a few hard worked at bites with light fishing pressure in real nice flows and not bad weather conditions.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Still lots of water in the Oak at slightly high and slightly stained with about 2 ft of visibility. Water color has that swamp headwater tannic stain to it. Expect daily water level fluctuations thanks to leaf fall/wind and hydro power operations. Another shot of precipitation from a couple of days ago – forecast ahead thru the mid week looks seasonable cool and mostly clear with a slight warm up toward the end of week.
Fishing pressure is light with a few cars seen at each parking spot on the Oak. This amount of fishing pressure in these high – ish flows will put next to no pressure on the fish. Kings have for the most part given up the ghost and now some carcasses are seen seeding the waterway. That’s more typical of what we would have normally seen a month ago. Now quietly too a few guys are reporting better action. Not a dozen hook ups for a morning effort, but at least a few that might include a couple steelhead or a couple browns. Patience and persistence on the Oak may finally be paying off. So it sounds a little like an improvement from a struggle for a hook up to getting a few.
Flows in the other area smaller waterways did bump up slightly from the most recent precipitation but seem to be sliding back to medium – ish for now. No significant icing on any waterway. Most fishing pressure has been to the east but even now that has started to ease up some. Second season trout action now with light fishing pressure and still reasonable weather with all kinds of water to fish seems like the name of the game right now!
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Looks like all the area trib flows are on the rise from recent showers and continued run off. There was a little bit of snow showers too that is melting off today. Still on the cool and breezy side today with another brief warm-up forecast over the next couple days.
For now trib water temps are on their greatest fall so far this fall season. Coupled with the rise in flows, hopefully, that will bring on some more brown trout migrations in the Oak. Flows in the Oak are high with about 2 ft of visibility. Look for flows to stay up in the near term falling back probably only to slightly high.
Fishing pressure is light with most guys reporting a few steelhead and/or browns. Expect water level fluctuations thanks to hydro power operations and what’s been a delayed leaf fall. When flows are reduced, guys are seeing a handful of browns and a few more steelhead nearer the dam. The other area smaller waterways have also bumped up in flows to medium-ish to the west and slightly high and stained to the east.
Sandy Creek has been the most consistent brown trout action so that’s where most of the fishing pressure has been. All that cooler water we have again in the Oak could surely be spreading out the fish and drifts are going to need to be down and slow for best hook up chances. Low water, aka an “average” fall, short leaders, BB shot is not likely to cut it right now for presentations, especially on the Oak. Check the drift, slow the swing and/or put a longer leader on with some more shot if you want to get in the zone.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Flows in the Oak are still slightly high and water color has improved with 2 ft of visibility. Expect water level fluctuations thanks to hydro power operations especially as leaf fall is likely to accelerate soon. Even without any significant new precipitation, look for flows in the Oak to stay up thanks to strong swamp headwater supplies. Darker and some old moldy salmon are still around. Most Kings will be spawning or on zombie patrol with the occasional fresher fish. No doubt a lot of King action came and went on the previous higher and off color flows.
Fishing pressure looks more like the end of November than the beginning of November for this mid week period so far. Suspect some pressure has shifted to other area smaller waterways. Good high water drifters are getting a few brown trout hook ups each outing by covering some water. Lots of water cover has probably spread out the fish. Flow conditions right now are more like nice steelhead water and higher then typical fall flows. Flogging one spot like at the Archers Club may not yield more then off and on action.
To the east flows are also somewhat higher then typical fall flows with slightly stained water color. Slower action there reported just lately after some good quality fish were hooked in the previous higher and dirtier water color. Those fish should be somewhere in the system and may be spread out now farther upstream. To the west, there’s not a lot of recent reports but flows should be more like moderate to medium and going toward clear. Weather is definitely agreeable right now and should last for another day or two. There’s a change afoot soon with the forecast ahead for the end of week and weekend going colder with a chance of mixed bag precipitation. Actually that forecast sounds more normal by November standards. No serious snow accumulations expected with highs in the 40’s°F.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Here we are into November with cooler temps and on the backside of higher flows. That sounds like a receipe for fresh fish migrations in all the waterways and the chance for brown trout and steelhead hook ups! The past days, since the weekend, rains and high water has been tough for most. After a cold night last night, look for a further drop in flows all around and clearing water color. Forecast is for continued seasonable weather thru the week with highs around 50°F and dropping back into the 30’s°F at night. No significant Lake Effect Snow expected here on the WNY Lake Ontario Plain. There’s a chance of an inch or two maybe south of the area off lake Erie.
Any emergency Canal drainage flows are now tempered and so that leaves tribs like the Oak and Sandy mostly to regular run of the river flows. Flows in the Oak are high and stained with about 1 foot of visibility. Without overflow levels now, some might be inclined to call it only slightly high. Either way, flows consist of a strong head of turbine water that could be close to full bore. Flows should stay up thanks to exceptional upstream supplies even as water color should continue to improve.
Plenty of salmon are spawning now in the higher flows and some of the post spawn zombies will be flushed out along with lots of other weeds and debris. (Some fresh salmon are still likely to be in the mix easily thru November). That should make for cleaner drifts, although with a late leaf fall, look for continued usually daily water level fluctuations thanks to hydro power operations.
Anglers started out with a tough bite yesterday but reported better later in the day. No doubt as flows drop and clear even a little guys should get onto more fish, especially brown trout. Other area smaller tribs east and west are coming back into slightly high and stained flows. Sandy Creek is probably remaining stubbornly stained from that Canal drainage but definitely dropping back some. Look for fish to be well spread upstream thru all the waterways with anglers wise to spread out too and try different spots to find fish.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
The last shot of rain was Sunday and there’s been some cooler weather for the beginning part of this week. Now for the mid week, it’s warmed up again! But no worries the nights are cooler now and we had our coolest night yet of the season last night – into the 40’s F. Chance of rain showers Thursday and again for the weekend.
All the trib flows are on the retreat from the last rain. Most noticeable drop will be the Oak since the Canal flows are also throttling back. Less noticeable will be in Sandy since Canal flows there are throttling up. Johnson Creek had a nice bump in flows and got stained and guys reported some salmon on the move there. Otherwise it’s a little tough to report on average fishing conditions. I’d say I’m hearing about 50/50 in good/tough fishing. Seems like the Kings just aren’t concentrated in any particular fast water spot in any trib and that’s the tougher reports I hear from guys. The better reports I hear are from guys that have some Kings migrate past them or hold and they get some drifts to them.
There’s been on and off good action like at the Archer’s Club and some Kings continue to drop back from the dam. And then there’s always that concentration of fish and people at the dam. We’ll probably continue to see a drawn out salmon “run.” There’s not a lot of fish spawning or even many zombies yet so that tells you things are progressing slowly. No doubt we’ll have concentrations of Kings into November.
We are hearing of a few more browns now in the Oak, especially thru yesterday. Slightly lower flows will likely reveal more browns then thought when the water was higher. Cooling weather and water will also help bring on better brown trout and steelhead action and the area is not likely to suffer thru any more real warm weather now that we are well into October. Hopefully… the fishing pressure overall is likewise spread out like the fish. A few guys report crowding, but as compared to say last year I’d have to say there are a few less guys out and about. A good WNW wind thru last night probably moved more fish near shore or into the tribs from Lake Ontario but don’t look for those fish to loiter in estuary or rivermouth spots at this point in the season.
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
“Another unseasonably warm day today with chance of showers tonight. Next better chance at real rain is this weekend. Temps are forecast to begin to cool down for the end of this week and thru the weekend. Nights are cooling down tho, even with the current warm day temps and that has at least made for good fishing action early and late. A few Kings now are in a spawning mode and likely with the next consistent cool down, there’ll be a whole lot more.
The medium to slightly high flows in the Oak are proving to be a nice draw for Kings. That consistency the Oak is known for is showing thru once again. There’s been some water level fluctuations thanks to hydro power operations already and look for that to continue with almost daily fluctuations expected due to leaf fall or windy conditions. When flows are reduced temporarily, it reveals pretty good numbers of fish. A fair amount of weeds are being discharged, especially noticeable in downstream areas.
Look for the past holiday weekend fishing pressure to ease some likely thru this week. King numbers are slowly building in fast water areas on the Oak, besides what’s been good numbers at the dam and the downstream frog water areas. Even at this almost mid-Oct timeframe, there’s still good hookup chances from the nearshore Lake Ontario all the way to the dam, so the fishing opportunity definitely will spread out. If anglers can get their drift thru the Kings, there’s been some browns and steelhead hooked too. Those chances should only improve with cooler weather.
Other area smaller tribs like Johnson and Marsh have lower flows so look for scattered numbers of upstream fish. To the east, like at Sandy Creek, the higher Canal bolstered flows have made for better migration conditions with pods of salmon bolting from the estuary holding water and spreading upstream, along with a few browns mixed in.”
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
All the trib flows are up just a bit from the latest rain thru yesterday. Not a blow out but enough precipitation to bump everything up with a nice spate of water for some fresh fish migrations. Flows in the Oak are slightly high and slightly stained with a good head of water contained in the turbine channel. Still no real cool down afoot and the forecast ahead thru the weekend and maybe some of next week looks warm. Next chance at precipitation or showers is this weekend. Anglers on the Oak reported small pods of Kings on the move thru the fast water areas yesterday. Not surprising since it was a real gloomy overcast wet kind of day that you would expect good fish movement. Not a lot of fish reported holding, still on that early run kamikazee mission to the dam. Look for Kings steaming thru the downstream fast water to the dam, from the frog water areas thru the fast water, from the lower river to the frogwater, and from the near shore big Lake O waters to the rivermouth/lower river. Be there to intercept them! Certain days you’ll notice that salmon movement by seeing them crashing around, but as often as not that movement seems to go on quietly. Also a few more brown trout hook ups have been reported, but its plenty earlier for that with lots of good trout action ahead of us.
There’s some brisk NE lakeshore winds that will make for some rough seas and cool and probably dirty water color. That could push more fish into the river plume and into the channel. Before things got too blown up yesterday guys reported some AM pier action. The other area smaller tribs should be going from mod/med flows to slightly stained med/slightly high flows. Flows should be back on the retreat already today with some stain hanging on. Scattered fish movement reported, that hoped for cool down would likely encourage more smaller trib movement. Reports of good King and some trout action at Burt 18 Mile Creek.
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
Nice big fresh King drifting action on the backside of high flows from end of Sept rains. Courtesy Ron Bierstine
“Only a smattering of anglers spread out in the Oak and other area tribs finding good salmon action for fish spread from rivermouth areas all the way upstream to fast water spots. On the backside now of higher flows from about a week ago – something like med to slightly high flows in the Oak and med in the smaller area waterways. Look for slowly dropping flows all around back to the baseline Canal and normal run of the river contributions. A small crush of people at the Waterport dam, but even by those standards really not that crowded. Look for angling pressure to build likely toward this weekend. The action at the Oak rivermouth is something like a few fish each prime period like dawn or dusk. Small boat trollers and casters both in on the action with glow hardware and/or plugs. Proceeding upstream thru the Oak downstream frog water areas the reports are quieter but I suspect guys are into a decent skein bite. Same for estuary slow water areas on the smaller tribs where guys have had on and off action. Last night at dusk I had no problem finding some Kings crashing and boiling around at the Bridges area on the Oak and even a few at Point Breeze. Pier head foot soldiers may want to at least occasionally do an about face from lakeside casting at times to check the scene in the channel. Hearing of legit salmon bites and even a few browns too in fast water areas on the Oak. Then there’s the building King numbers at the dam, fish numbers probably outpacing the creeling pressure to this point. Most all fish in real nice shape, some legit fresh Kings after the last rain which isn’t always a sure thing in our area low gradient tribs. So far a nice start to the action, forecast looking mostly dry and seasonably cool right thru the upcoming weekend. Check out the nice King recent catch pic above.”
Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge reports:
“A little more rivermouth action now. There were a few Monday morning oh-dark thirty hook-ups at the Oak Orchard Rivermouth. Upstream action so far mainly for a few fish at the dam. On select evenings, I’ve seen a few fish crashing too like at the Bridges. Still hanging on to warm (hot) weather but there’s a change afoot in the forecast with chance of significant rain mid week and a cool down. That could be the ticket to get some salmon migrations cranking. The other area smaller tribs have had some on and off estuary action and likewise look for Kings firing upstream there too if flows go high. On the Oak its been exceptionally weedy and duckweedy but some of that material is moving out now. More will with higher water. Not a lot of fishing pressure just yet, few guys on the piers and at the dam.
Be aware the east side Oak Orchard River Point Breeze boat launch is closed for construction (new ramp) so just go the west side launch.”
The NYS Canal Corporation releases water from the Erie Canal into Lake Ontario Tributaries in Western New York for an extended period each fall to create a longer season and even better angling experience. Release began Sept. 16, 2021 for the Oak. View the calendar of releases at this link: CanalsNY Fall Fishing Program. Releases may change due to weather and other conditions.
This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine, Oak Orchard Tackle & Lodge:
No quick start to the salmon action yet. Lots of anglers anxious to get out there, and a few are, but the Kings are pretty much following a normal script as far as timing. Especially with the way the weather is proceeding. Its been pretty warm, and the near term forecast thru this week is continued warm with highs pushing the 80’s F. Yes the area has been getting some precipitation lately, but no single rain event (yet) has been enough to move fish upstream. Chance of rain again on Wednesday. There’s no obvious movement of fish around the Oak rivermouth either, although there has been a few Kings caught there by the casting foot soldiers. Most successful trollers are still a bit off shore at least in the 80+ FOW range or more for best action (pictured below).
At the Waterport Dam, its reported there are just a few fish and likely none holding in downstream fast water runs or holes. No obvious staged up concentration of staged up fish like at the Bridges. Stay tuned, potential for lots of good action ahead when we get some consistent cooler weather and good water flows. And Erie Canal “bolstered” flows (year 2) will be contributing to the fishy equation sooner then later in multiple tribs! Oak rivermouth dredging operations are likely days away from finishing. Hopefully they can move to and get in and out of the smaller area tribs that they are dredging next with minimal impact on salmon and trout migrations.
This picture was from Saturday morning about 1 mile east of the Oak.
This week’s report is from Lou Borrelli from Get the Net Fishing Charters:
“The last few weeks out of Bald Eagle Marina we have been fishing offshore as there has been some good steelhead action with a few teenage kings in the mix. Fishing out deep has been hit and miss and no real pattern of lures to speak of. Fish have been taking mostly spoons with a few meat and flasher/fly mixed in. Saturday was a brief morning trip. With the lake conditions ideal for offshore fishing, we headed out to the 27 line and trolled north. The bite was not hot and heavy but we picked at a few steelhead as we approached the 30 line. Riggers were parked at 75 & 85 ft with fixed cheaters 10 ft above. As we hit 515 FOW the 85 rigger fires with a Warrior Lures “Blue Jeans” (on the 10 ft cheater). The bend in the rod didn’t feel like an average steelhead and we were thinking a decent king salmon was on the line. After a few decent runs, the fish was starting to cooperate… That was until it got to the back of the boat. The monster steelhead was not coming in easy, and it took some “negotiating” to get it in the net. A beautiful 15 lb steelhead had hit the deck. It was the biggest steelhead that the man had caught and was excited to say the least. We ended the morning with all steelhead and a memory that will last forever.”
Courtesy of Lou Borrelli of Get the Net Fishing Charter, 9/4/21
Archer’s Club Update (9/4/21) for 2021 Fall Stream Fishing
The Fall LOC Derby is in its final stretch this week, ending Sept. 5th. The current leader is a 32 lb 4 oz salmon caught by Zane Smith of New Brighton, PA. He captured the lead today aboard the Stalker, weighing in at Olcott. See more info at www.loc.org/leaderboard-current.
According to Capt. Bob Songin’s “At the Oak” report this past week, the mature salmon are both off shore (31-33) and in-shore (80-150). The best spinner/fly set up is DW Gator Flasher Spindoctor with an A-TOM-IK BAM fly. Best spoon is a gold laser spook. Best meat rig is a 10″ white double crush glow green dot spindoctor, w/an irish thunder twinkie rig behind it.
The Oak Orchard Harbor is in the process of being dredged which started last week (8/25) and is expected to finished mid September. The state is funding the effort as part of the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative. The last time it was dredged was in 2014. Read more on the Hub.
Also to note is the Ridge Road/Route 104 bridge over the Oak Orchard Creek in the town of Ridgeway is now open to travelers. It has been closed to traffic for construction since late April.
Starting Tuesday, September 7th, the Orleans County Boat Launch on Ontario Street (east side of the Oak Orchard River) will be closed for reconstruction until the Spring of 2022. Boaters are asked to use the Oak Orchard State Marine Park on the WEST side of the River on Archbald Rd. The state access fees will be WAIVED during this period.
The picture of the week is from Catch’n Hell Charters with a happy group of anglers from NJ on their annual trip to the Oak.
This week’s Picture of the Week features Ted, Gene, Jill and Beth from Ohio. They fished “way off shore” on the Pirate Queen with Captain Tom Wolfe. Their “Catch of Kings” ranged from 16 to 22 lbs.
As of 8/23/21, the current leader of the Fall LOC Derby is Theresa Hoodley from Pottstown, PA with a 32 lb 2 oz Salmon, weighed in at Wilson. The derby runs until Sept 6 and the awards ceremony held at Captain Jacks in Sodus Point (arrive by 3 PM).
Check out current standings at https://loc.org/leaderboard-current
This week’s Pic of the Week is by Capt. Tom Murray from Catch’n Hell Charters, 8/14/21:
Bro-Weekend was a success for the Meyer family from Eastern PA and NJ (pictured below)! The morning started out great but Lady O offered up some serious chop by noon. They scored 4 king salmon (17-20 lbs) and a trophy sized steelhead weighing in at 16 lbs. They fished a little west of port between the 27-29 lines of latitude. The fish were biting on a deep rigger set at 120, flasher/meat rig and wire dipsey, 280-300 out, gold 42 second paddle with mirage fly, NBK paddle mirage fly, 600 hundred copper with a Jill bill meat rig. A great time was had by all and they’re looking forward to returning next year! 
Capt. Mike Lavender from Intimidator Sportfishing reported that the ups & downs continue on Lady O and this past Saturday was an “UP” judging from young Jeremiah’s smile! These 23 & 25 lb Salmon were caught in 450 to 500 fow….40 to 120 down, using Dipseys 180 to 220 just slightly west of the Oak. Captain Mike’s recommendation is using mainly a flasher fly bite… yellow flashers, blue green flies.
Welcome August! This week’s Picture of the Week comes from Mike Grager’s crew from Get Hooked Sportfishing. They caught this 29# salmon earlier this week, their biggest catch of the year! They also landed 4 mature Kings, 3 steelhead, a brown, and a lake trout! Fished pretty much 100- 250 feet of water.
There’s a lot more lake fishing for the next 2 months so contact a charter and schedule a trip of your lifetime! See our list of charters and guides HERE.
“At the Oak” Billboard on the NYS Thruway
Orleans County Tourism secured this 60′ x 16′ billboard for a 2 year agreement with Outfront Media on the NYS Thruway, just east of the Batavia exit (#48), northside. It’s situated parallel to the Thruway so it’s visible from both directions. The imagery will change every 6 months to promote the upcoming fishing season. The project is funded through the American Rescue Plans Act which designated a portion of federal dollars to be used to promote tourism. Thank you, Lindsay Agness for providing us with her image and Mike Waterhouse for his drone picture of the Oak.
We will be searching for a high quality (resolution) photograph in a few months to promote lake fishing in Orleans County. Please consider submitting one of your images to be featured on the Winter 2022 billboard. We are looking for a photo that was taken in Orleans County waters featuring an “impressive” catch, smiling faces, blue skies and with an icon such as the Oak Orchard Lighthouse in the background. If your image isn’t chosen for the billboard, we will consider using it in the 2022 OC Fishing Guide.
The Tourism Dept has also been busy redesigning an Orleans County Fishing Map Pad (11×17) that will be distributed throughout the county. It includes a county map with the designated public fishing access points and boat ramps, tackle & bait shops, marinas and popular fish species of Orleans County. To obtain a map pad or copy of a map, contact us.
Congratulations to the winner of the 2021 Summer LOC Derby’s grand prize of $10,000, Michael Paddock from Albion who held the lead since July 13th with his 31 lb 7 oz salmon he caught aboard Aquarius. The Line/Lure used was Copper line, Pro Troll and Meat. The winner of the Salmon Division was just 1 oz less and caught by Aiden Stafford of Rochester on U Betcha. Aiden also won the Youth Division with that salmon. To view the final results, visit the LOC Derby website.
Capt. Bob Songin’s Video Report, 7/26/21
Capt. Bob Songin of Reel Excitement Charters reports that fishing is still tough and sporadic. Best spoon on the riggers: DW Gold Laser Spoon. Divers: Seneca Special with the Atomic big fin glow behind it (a standard he runs this time of year). Spin Doctor, Chrome, Crush UV, 2 face with an Atomic purple mirage behind it. 400 Coppers, Divers out 220-240, Riggers down 80-90-100. Fished the 26-27 line, a little west but not far. Inside water has been sporadic. At 100′, temps were 50° (fairly warm to start) and 42° at the end of the day. But the fish like stability and not surprises. The recent changing winds, lightning and storms are not good for fishing but things did become more stable.
This week’s fishing report is from Capt. Bob Songin’s video from Reel Excitement Charters, July 20, 2021.
A couple Lake Ontario newbies became addicted this past weekend. Traxstech Corporation • Warrior Lures Sport Fishing Products
This week’s fishing report is from Rick Hajecki and Crazy Yankee Sportfishing, July 11, 2021.
The current leader (7/13/21) in the Summer LOC Derby is Mike Paddock from Albion with a Salmon weighing in at 31.07 lb. See the current standings at https://loc.org/leaderboard-current.
Follow the LOC Derby on Facebook.
This week’s fishing report was provided by Capt. Bob Songin of Reel Excitement Charters.
“This weekend, we had some pretty good fishing despite getting beat up by the rough seas. Sunday, we caught a decent variety: a couple of big salmon, 2 year olds, matures, a steelhead and couple of cohoes. Monday was much better with a slight breeze on the lake. Started in fairly shallow 80-120FOW and got some nice kings first thing in the morning but things slowed. So, we moved out to 250-300 FOW and things got better. We went past 300′ but found the 250-300 was better. Rigger: 65-95 down. Divers: 220-240, 400 coppers. We found meat was the best bait. Our best set up was a 10″ white double crush glow Spindoctor with A-TOM-MIK glow warship twinkie head. (Highly recommended!) Spoons used were Gold 42 during overcast and Silver 42 when the sun was out.” Visit Capt Songin’s Facebook page for more videos he posts throughout the week.
This week’s fishing report was provided by Capt. Lou Borrelli of Get the Net Charters from this past Father’s Day weekend:
Fathers Day Outing Courtesy of Get the Net Charter
This was a “Fathers Day” fishing weekend out of Bald Eagle Marina. On Saturday we had a father and his 2 sons (pictured right) ready for some bonding and good fishing. The expectations were high as the last trip out we had a good number of silver fish. Kings and cohos have been hanging around in 110-160 FOW between the farm and the glass house. We left the dock at 6:00 and struggled to get our first bites. Trolling in a west direction was tough as the current was making it difficult. Working 100-200 fow, It took us a while to get bit, but our first fish was a 17 lb king. Then from there it was a slow but steady pick. After a few hours the bite slowed so we decided to go to “Laker land”. As we started getting into 90-100 we noticed a ton of bait and big fish on the bottom. We dropped our port rigger down and within 5 minutes we hooked up on a 18 lb king. We ended the day with a few silver fish and a bunch of lake trout. It was all spoon and meat bite Saturday. We did not take one fish on flasher/fly.
Fathers Day Outing with Get the Net Charters
Sunday was a special day. We had the pleasure of taking out an 81 year old father with his daughter (pictured left). She bought him the trip to repay him for taking her fishing when she was young. Neither of them had ever been on Lake Ontario. The lake conditions could not have been better, we just needed to get them on some fish. We started the morning in the same water we had been fishing. Within a few minutes, an 8 lb steelhead hit and Bill was on his first Lake Ontario fish. Then the hit and misses kept on coming. We had our bites but we could not get them to stick. It was getting a bit frustrating so since it was a short trip we worked our way back to the nose and started fishing for lake trout. Knowing there were kings laying on the bottom, we left our divers out with meat. Within moments, our first lake trout was on and while Wendy was fighting her fish, our 300 diver gets smashed and Bill was fighting his first ever salmon. Both father and daughter were smiling away as they were side by side working the fish to the boat. We finished the day with a few more fish and a memory to last forever. Like Saturday, our bites were on spoons and meat. Warrior Spoons “Little Blue Pill” and “Double Trouble” were our MVP’s while GRC Trolling Flies “Bull Bells” did most of the damage on the Lake Trout. These unique “bells” seem to really trigger the Lakers. 
This week’s Lake fishing report is from Capt. Jeremy Sage from JD’s Custom Charters, June 14th:
“Left the dock yesterday with Deon and his friends (pictured) for a half day trip. After the NE Winds we had, I wasn’t sure what to expect out of the fishing. There weren’t many reports to go off of either but scoped out the inside waters first and everything looked good except the weeds and cottonwood in there clogging up the lines. After an hour or so in there I pointed it north to cover some water. I believe our first bite came out in 260 FOW and had a good bite on cohos and steelhead- losing a few and netting a few. Highlight was a big king that ripped the center 35 ft rigger with a steelhead that hit a free slider at the same time. After 15 minutes the fight changed dramatically and we landed just the steelhead. Cleaned up the coho and steelhead around noon – just about to pull the last few rods and the center rigger at 30 ft takes off! Bonus fish! After a nice fight we netted a feisty mid teens king. Beautiful end to the day. Warrior lures have been studs lately will post up some mvps this weekend. High fast spoon game with free sliders for the win as of late.”
The Pic of the Week was taken just this morning, June 8, 2021 from Mike Grager, Get Hooked Sportfishing. “First timers from Texas, Shawn and Heather had a good morning on Lake Ontario today!” The steelhead and coho salmon were both caught on spoons straight out from the Oak Orchard River. The temps are returning to seasonably after a few days of a heatwave along with high winds.
Capt. Rick Hajecki from Crazy Yankee Sportfishing reminds boaters to “Not be a fool in the fog” and use your radar as they almost had an incident last week while fishing. And, a big shout-out and congratulations to Crazy Yankee for winning this past weekend’s 2021 Niagara Pro Am!
This weekend is the Orleans County Open Tournament (June 12-13) with the King of the Oak (KOTO) on Friday (6/11). Registration is only open for KOTO at Ernst’s Lake Breeze Marina. (Deadline for the Open was Monday, 6/7). All weigh-ins will be at the Black North Inn by 3 PM. See more info on their Facebook page. Good luck, guys!
This week, I’m featuring Capt. Bob Songin from Reel Excitement Charters. Capt. Bob features a weekly (and sometimes more frequent) video on his Facebook page to share his fishing report. In his latest report, he shared a recap of “At the Bar” in Niagara County and the challenges he experienced this year. He cites that the Salmon showed up earlier in the season due to a number of factors, including a warmer winter, less ice on Lake Erie and an earlier Spring. Then, with 10 days of flat water, along with the number of tournaments & derbies held and the pressure of a lot of fishing boats within a 10 mile x 1 mile stretch, the fish “diminished their desire to bite”. More importantly he shares his expertise on what lures have been successful for him and his crew.This week’s fishing report is from Capt. Jeremy Sage from JDs Custom Charters
We set down in 80-90 and put her on a NW to go cover some water- we had our first action around 180 and ended up fishing 210-180 most the day. A 3 mile troll in and out of that zone- landing 11 for 15 with a couple double headers! Kings, Coho and Steelies up to 8-9 lbs. No major screamers today but good action on short cores 3-4-5s and riggers 40 and up with free sliders.- Traxstech Corporation
- McCoy Fishing Line
- Warrior Lures Sport Fishing Products
- Torpedo Divers
- A-Tom-Mik Mfg.
