Fishing with Capt. Dave Scipione of Lewiston, Kevin Kantar and his family enjoyed good action on Niagara Bar, finding king salmon like this one in 65 to 250 feet of water.
Submitted photo
The maple tree leaves started changing color this week. That first glimpse of fall begins. Thoughts of steelhead runs in our Lake Erie tributary creeks follow, and so does fishing just north a bit in Lake Ontario for king salmon. I talked with an old friend, Charter Captain Frank Campbell in Niagara County last week as he is now the director of outdoor promotions there. We shared conversations about how busy we are in both Niagara and Chautauqua counties this year. Fishing is great. Campbell shared just exactly how valuable fishing is to the Niagara County economy — just as it is to Chautauqua County, from a recent Niagara County study. According to the study, the world of fishing in Niagara County is valued at $58.8 million per year in visitor spending. There are multiple fishing derbies there, which is a significant factor. The study was based on a survey of 1,165 qualified respondents, 57% of whom indicated that fishing was their primary reason for visiting Niagara County. Fishing is more than fun. It keeps people employed in both counties.
At this time of year, as we approach the trophy king salmon season in Lake Ontario, many of the Lake Erie walleye charter guides will move to the shores of Lake Ontario to help handle the influx of anglers looking to catch a trophy salmon there. That happens closer to the middle of September. The message of hot fishing action there starts with the 49th annual Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey Derby that ended last Sunday. For that derby, some impressive fish were measured through the Fishing Chaos APP.
For adult anglers, the first-place catches were a 40-inch salmon by Doug Updyke; a 28-inch brown trout by Matt Vogt; a 31 3/4-inch rainbow by Roy Leising; a 21 1/2-inch smallmouth bass by Gabby Geiger; a 37-inch carp by Dan Kelsey; a 31-inch walleye by Mike Pinkham; and a 39-inch lake trout by Mike Freeman. For the kids, the winning Odyssey youth catches were Emma Flaherty with a 35 1/2-inch lake trout; Logan Wilson with a 20-inch bass; Marshall Beck with a 35 1/2-inch carp; Aiden Wilson with a 9 1/4-inch rock bass; Trevor Wilson with a 27-inch sheepshead; Connor Flaherty with a 28-inch walleye; and Josh Wittkop with a 38 1/4-inch salmon.
According to Campbell, who reports weekly on Niagara County fishing hotspots, “Capt. Paul Schirmer of Cambria reported good action on the Niagara Bar drop-off. One highlight was 15-year-old James D. Weed of Shelton, Connecticut, with a personal-best brown trout that weighed 12.4 pounds. It is currently in fifth place in the LOC Derby. He ran the rigger all by himself and caught the big brown on the ledge in 85 feet of water. It ate a flasher-fly combo. He was fishing with his father, James. Schirmer says cold water moved in and scattered most of those browns now, but there is still plenty to be had. Kings have been trickling in tight, but not in huge numbers yet. We need a good wind to set things up. Flies caught most of their fish.
Capt. Dave Scipione of Lewiston also had good action on the bar with the Kantar brothers — two from Yonkers and one from Buffalo. Fish were spread out from 65 to 250 feet of water. They caught brown trout, king and coho salmon, lake trout, and a beautiful steelhead. They took all their fish on Warrior Rodfather and Dreamweaver green glow frog spoons.”
Young James D. Weed, 15, of Shelton, Conn., with a personal-best brown trout that weighed 12.4 pounds to hold fifth place in the LOC Derby.
Submitted photo
Campbell adds, “Karen Evarts at the Tackle Barn and Boat Doctors in Olcott reports that the best action has been offshore in 500 to 600 feet of water, targeting fish 120 to 160 feet down. The best bait for mature kings has been flasher-fly and meat rigs. For brown trout, focus in the evening in 80 to 200 feet of water with green or caramel spoons. Nothing to speak of off the piers yet.”
One Lake Ontario friend who passed away recently was Charter Captain Bob Cinelli. If you are a salmon fisherman, The Tackle Barn is conducting a blowout sale this weekend in memory of Cinelli. All his leftover fishing tackle will be sold off there. Check it out.
In Lake Erie, the hot summer walleye fishing has our three access harbors from Chautauqua County as busy as ever: Barcelona Harbor, Dunkirk Harbor and Sunset Bay at Cattaraugus Creek. Daily walleye limit catches are common for boaters trolling stickbaits and spinner/worm combos in 60-to-100-foot depths, 50 feet down.
This week, our Chautauqua County outdoor media visitors are Ken Perrotte from Virginia and John Hageman from Ohio. They are fishing with Captain Jim Steel (Dream Catcher Sportfishing, 716-983-7867) and Captain Jim Plinzke (Fish Hunter Sportfishing, 716-861-8817) from Dunkirk Harbor. The daily walleye limit on Lake Erie is six fish per angler. The autumn hot yellow perch fishing is just a few weeks away. Get ready. Stay tuned.
Gotta love the New York outdoors.
CALENDAR
Aug. 29: NYS Hunter Safety Course, Ripley Rod & Gun, 6-9:30 p.m., plus one additional half-day, 9820 Rod and Gun Club Road, Ripley. Register online: https://register-ed.com. Must attend both days.
Aug. 31: Labor Day Sporting Clay Shoot, NSCA registered event by choice, Hanover Fish & Game, 780 Overhiser Road, Forestville. Registration starts at 8 a.m., shooting begins at 9 a.m. Info: https://hanovercalys.com.
Sept. 1: Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club family picnic, members only. 1 N. Mullet St., Dunkirk.
Sept. 1: NYS Squirrel season opens in WNY (gray, black, fox).
Sept. 2: Hawkeye Bowmen 3D Archery Shoot, three courses, $12 entry, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Open to public; 13300 Clinton St., Alden, NY.
Sept. 6-7: WNY Walleye Association Lake Erie Walleye Tournament, Contact Ron Kucinski: 716-545-5925, or email: kucinski1293@gmail.com.
Sept. 7-8: NYS Hunter-Safety course for bowhunting (Sept. 7) and firearms (Sept. 8), West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls; Register online: https://register-ed.com. Must register separately for Bowhunter and/or Hunter Education (firearms).
Sept. 14-22: NYS Early Antlerless 2024 Deer Season (firearms allowed), check specific Wildlife Management Units (WMUs).
Sept. 14: Fourth annual Chautauqua Lake Falleye Classic, Prendergast Point Boat Launch, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to all. Register on site.
Sept. 15: Deadline for waterfowl hunting applications to Oak Orchard/Tonawanda WMAs. Visit NYSDEC online.