Weekly Fishing Report

The Summer Lake Ontario Counties Salmon and Trout Derby is into its final weekend and the new Grand Prize leader is Del Casterline of Mountain Top, PA with a 27-pound king salmon he caught out east in Lake Ontario. Current leaders for other categories continue to be 13 pounds for steelhead reeled in by Jason Monkelbaan of Wheatfield; nearly 14 pounds for brown trout weighed in by Fred Angold of Rochester; and just over 23 pounds for lake trout, caught by Paul Evanek of Lansing. Check out the leaderboard at www.loc.org.

Capt. Joe Oakes of Salmon Boy Sportfishing reports that salmon and trout action continues to be good, with fish being caught from 100 feet of water out past 400 feet. Spoons, flasher-flies and meat are all taking fish 70 to 100 feet down. Bait seems to come and go. There is lots of bait first thing in the morning, then it just disappears. There are fish both east and west of his port of Wilson. Basically, find some open water, set-up and catch fish.

Karen Evarts at the Boat Doctors and Tackle Barn in Olcott reports good action from 90 feet to 300 feet of water, deep enough to get to where the water changes. Meat was the big bait item for kings this week. Browns are being caught in closer, steelhead out deep. It’s a busy tournament weekend with the LOTSA events starting Friday and the Sonny’s contest also starting on Friday. Stop in to register.

Capt. Joe Marra of Niagara Rainbow Charters reports decent action on walleyes in the river and on the Niagara Bar using worm harnesses. Use your trolling motor to give you enough speed to turn the blades on the harnesses. Bass fishing has been slower, but it should start to pick up soon in the lower river.

Capt. Connor Cinelli of Grand Island has been fishing both the upper and lower Niagara River. He has been catching lots of smallmouth bass mixed in with sheepshead around the roundhouse and emerald channel areas in the upper river. It’s been crayfish and Ned rigs for the best bite. The walleye fishing down below has been good, bottom bouncing harnesses on the Stella and the Bar. He has seen some decent smallmouth action drifting crabs along the cliffs just this week.

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