Weekly Fishing Report

The 16th Annual Niagara County Bullhead Tournament is set to begin on Friday, April 10th, kicking off at 5 p.m. and running through to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 12. Kids 12 and under can register for free. Registration fee for everyone else is $10. The best two bullheads win cash prizes for the adults. Register at the Eastside Market in Olcott. The weigh-in station will be on Sunday only from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wilson Conservation Club located on Route 425 in Wilson. Some bullheads are being caught as anglers pre-fish for the friendly contest.

In the lower Niagara River, the best conditions have been above the power plants as heavy rains brought some muddy conditions into the upper river and the reservoir through the intakes, coming out heavily stained at the power plant. Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls has been out a few times in the gorge this week, including Monday, when he went three for five on steelhead using white jigs and his homemade No. 4 chartreuse/orange-mix spinners.

Ziehm noted that below the power plant, there was about 2 feet of visibility. Upriver, the visibility was closer to 5 feet. There could be some ice coming down through the system with the ice boom removal set to take place this week.

Alan Raymond with The Wicked Worm in Youngstown reports that there have been some fish caught off the NYPA fishing platform. To make sure the platform is open, call (716) 286-6662. It was closed on Tuesday due to the weather.

Brown trout are still being caught at Fort Niagara off the docks with copper Little Cleos as one good lure to toss. Boaters are using three-way rigs to get their baits to the bottom, pulling beads, minnows, egg sacs, and MagLips to take some trout.

Capt. Joe Oakes of Salmonboy Sportfishing reports stream runoff has sent a large amount of muddy water into the lake. Fishing continues to be good, though, if you can find the edge of the dirty water. The best depth was around 15 feet of water on either side of Wilson with stick baits. Catches have been mostly brown trout, with some lake trout, and few king/Coho salmon mixed in.

Bruce Kowalski of TAAR Outdoors reports good success in the lake pulling a mix of stick baits and spoons. Browns are cooperating closer to the shoreline and other species are coming from 30 to 50 feet of water.

If you are looking for easy access to some trout fishing for the kids, Hyde Park Lake in Niagara Falls and Oppenheim Park Pond in Wheatfield were both stocked this week (Tuesday). Hyde Park Lake received 1,800 yearling brown trout and 230 two-year-old browns. Oppenheim Park Pond received 210 yearling browns and 120 two-year-old browns.

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