Weekly Fishing Report

Prior to Monday’s wind, the water color on the Lower Niagara River was perfect and the fish responded accordingly with a good mix of species cooperating throughout the system. Minnows were the bait of choice in Devil’s Hole for steelhead, lake trout, and walleye while brown trout were enticed by the same presentation downriver and out on the Niagara Bar. Look for similar action in the same areas as soon as the river clears again.

Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls was out Monday, and he reports that water visibility went from 5 feet down to 2 feet in the gorge and it was still fading fast with all the southwest wind. Ziehm noted that what we really need is to have Lake Erie freeze over to help ease up on some of the dirty water. He has been catching plenty of steelheads in the last few days, using chartreuse jigs and chartreuse and pink mixed No. 4 spinners. It’s going to be a cold week ahead, so be sure to dress for it and take necessary safety precautions.

Alan Raymond at The Wicked Worm reports browns still biting at the Coast Guard, Fort Niagara, and near his shop in Youngstown. It has been mainly rainbows at Artpark with live shiners doing well. Bright white/chartreuse artificial lures are also catching fish.

Capt. Tyler Siegmann of CGF Guide Service reported that the water cleaned up nicely over the weekend and had a nice green tint to it. He picked up a few steelheads between Artpark, Stella and High Banks drifts and caught a few more browns out of the Bar, Johnson’s and Bomber’s drifts. Browns were taken on shiners; steelheads were taken on beads. Reports were that Devil’s Hole was on fire over the weekend.

Roy Letcher of Newfane reports Burt Dam fishing along 18 Mile Creek south of Olcott has been decent, with eggs and jigs being the best enticements for steelhead and brown trout. Ken Jackson of Sanborn stated that Burt still had a stain as of Saturday, but fishing has been slow. Jigs seem to be the ticket.

Less than a month to the Greater Niagara Fishing Expo, held February 13-16 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in downtown Niagara Falls, New York. The full lineup of seminar speakers should hit the website by January 24. Seats are still available for the Walleye School. The Salmon School is sold out. Visit www.niagarafishingexpo.com for more information.

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