Weekly Fishing Report
Each week, catch up on a full report on where to fish, popular baits and lures, weather conditions and upcoming fishing tournaments and derbies.
Niagara Falls USA Weekly Fishing Report for September 15, 2021
It’s salmon time in Niagara Falls USA both in Lake Ontario and the Niagara River. A few salmon have been caught off the NYPA platform but sometimes the power generator next to the platform is shut down, impacting success off the fishing area. Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls caught a couple kings just downstream of the powerplant this week. He was using extra weight as they were down deep on the bottom where it was colder, in the bubbly heavily oxygenated water. He was using his blue and chartreuse ¾-ounce No. 4 spinners with ¼-ounce split shots about 20 inches above the spinner. Visibility as of Sunday was 3 to 4 feet in most spots on the lower river. Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls was at it again, too, and he caught his first salmon of the year before he headed down to some slower waters and picked up some walleyes and bass. Bass fishing was tough this week, in part due to the winds. It could also be associated with the salmon migration up the river, too. In the upper Niagara River, Capt. Connor Cinelli of Grand Island reports that it has been good for bass. The crab bite is still good but it’s switching to a shiner bite now according to Cinelli. There are still a few walleyes around, too. Cinelli has been fishing above Strawberry Island and around the “round house” at the head of the river.
John Jarosz of Lakeview enjoyed a banner day with Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Wet Net Charters out of Wilson this week. They started in 100 feet of water east of Fort Niagara and found the water all riled up from recent winds. From the surface to 10 feet off the bottom was 70-plus degree water temperatures. The bottom 10 feet was 45 degrees and Yablonsky trolled A-Tom-Mik flies and spin doctors around large pods of bait surrounded by salmon. Working that edge, Jarosz and company managed to catch their 9 mature kings by 10:30 a.m. Capt. Nick Calandrelli of Lewiston reports he had some good action fishing with his dad, Capt. Ernie on the Niagara Bar drop off using green magnum spoons and flashers with cut bait fished on the bottom in 80-90 feet of water for a mixed bag of salmon and trout including some mature kings. They were using both downriggers and divers to take their fish. Salmon seem to be staging nicely. Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors in Olcott reports that action has been a bit slow inshore for boaters working the inside waters, but the fish are there. The offshore bite has been better for kings and steelhead with plugs, flies, spoons, and meat. Pier action at Olcott is on hold due to the construction, but they are ahead of schedule. A few kings have been reported at Burt Dam, but it is early. In the harbor it is pike and perch. Over in Wilson harbor it is pike and bass.
Remember that the Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey Awards Ceremony will take place at the NYPA Wildlife Festival at 3 p.m. on Sept. 25 at the Visitor’s Center grounds located at 5777 Lewiston Road, Lewiston. The Wildlife Festival is the county’s celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day, set for Sept. 25-26. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sign up for a fishing tournament or derby in Niagara Falls USA. See the full schedule of events here.