Weekly Fishing Report

Bass fishing on the lower Niagara River has been a rollercoaster ride, with fishing exceptional one day and tough the next under similar conditions. The downriver areas have been producing some nice catches, both in terms of quality and quantity. Drifting crayfish and minnows off three-way rigs has been productive targeting drop-offs. Artificial baits have also been taking fish by targeting suspended bass with minnow baits on light jig heads. Those same minnow baits have worked off dropshot set-ups as well.

Walleye fishing has also been hit or miss with patterns and areas changing daily. Salmon have started to show in better numbers, as evidenced by numerous kings splashing around the surface throughout the river. The best option to target kings is three-way rigs outfitted with MagLip plugs while drifting from a boat, just fast enough to give the lure action. Shoreline casters will have their best opportunities throwing hardware like spinners and spoons. There have been some fish taken off the NYPA platform. The best action right now is during low-light conditions.

Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls reports he made it into the gorge over the weekend, and he caught his second king of the season on a No. 4 chartreuse spinner. He also caught five walleyes. The big push of salmon hasn’t happened yet. Ziehm feels that by the end of the week, a good push of salmon will arrive. There are plenty of brown trout around, and a few steelhead have also shown up. We need rain to drop the water temperature and add a little stain to the water to really trigger fishing.

Capt. Dave Scipione of Scipione’s Fishing Charters hit the lower river with Sammy Musolino from Sammy's Pizzeria in Niagara Falls and his coworker, Dan Neri. They did well on walleyes on the Stella Niagara drift, catching a limit within an hour. The most productive harness was No. 5 gold Colorado blades with orange beads. On Monday, the target was smallmouth bass. Starting at the Coast Guard drift, he was greeted with several bass ranging up to 5 pounds. Crayfish were the ticket, with some fish biting on golden shiners. When action slowed, they ran to Devil's Hole, where he managed several nice walleyes and a few smallmouth bass on smaller No. 3 gold blade harnesses fished on 3-way rigs.

Out in the lake, Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Wet Net Sportfishing tried his luck on the Niagara Bar for big salmon. They caught a few kings and lake trout before heading offshore, where the bite was better. Target the preferred temperature of 49-to 55-degree water. He found that 60 to 65 feet down with standard-sized spoons.

Capt. Mike Johannes with On the Rocks Charters found the lake had flipped again on his last time out. He also ran offshore and found fish between the 24 and 26 lines. It was mostly steelhead and some 2-year-old kings. He was catching salmon on my 93 and 103-foot riggers. They were eating Moonshine, Half-burnt bread and Carbon 14. Most of the steelhead came on a 58 rigger with Moonshine bad toad pattern. His 150 high diver was working as well. With the lake temperatures coming back to normal, it should be worth trying inside or on the bar for stage kings again.

Capt. Dave Scipione of Lewiston also hit the lake and found fish in 350 feet of water, 45 to 60 feet down for steelhead and immature kings. Hot spoons were DW green glow frog, Northeast Troller's Confused Carlson and Warrior's green glow alewife.

Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn in Olcott reports that pier fishing has been slow to get started with the lack of precipitation. A few perch and pike in Olcott, while Wilson has been doing better with perch. Pier head trolling for salmon and brown trout has also been slower with the limited rain. It’s been mostly a spoon bite, but a few kings have been taken on meat and flasher/fly.

The New York Power Authority’s 40th Annual Wildlife Festival is slated for Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the family festivities is free. It will be held at the Power Vista located at 5777 Lewiston Road, Lewiston. Many of the same exhibitors and presenters are back, including the Niagara River Anglers Association’s fishing pond. The event is co-sponsored by the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs. The Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey Awards ceremony will be there at 4 p.m.

Sign up for a fishing tournament or derby in Niagara Falls USA. See the full schedule of events here.