The Fishing Beat: Several seasons set to open next week (2024)

Weather is still a nuisance, but fishing is decent despite the cold, wind and rain. Hopefully, things will turn for the better soon. Walleye, northern pike, pickerel and inland tiger musky seasons open Wednesday.

Lake Erie and tributaries

Perch action can be good if you can get out there and find active fish. The Southtowns Walleye perch contest was canceled Saturday when a small craft advisory went into effect the morning of the tournament.

Dave Muir of North Tonawanda managed to get on the lake Monday, and he went to the waters off Sturgeon Point. He found active feeding fish in 51 to 53 feet of water. Emerald shiners were the ticket. He caught a limit of males, spawned out females and egg-carrying females.

Just to see how he would have fared in the Southtowns competition, Muir weighed his five best perch. The weight of those fish was 9 pounds, 2 ounces.

Speaking of Sturgeon Point, Mark Dzimian of Lake View sends word that the Town of Evans is still on track to open the Sturgeon Point Marina and launch ramp May 15 after dredging the opening to the lake to allow for safe boat passage. The bid has been awarded and work should start on Wednesday.

Walleye season also opens Wednesday. According to Capt. Hans Mann of Buffalo Harbor Outfitters, the night bite will be good. During the day, if you have stained water, you can cast the shallows with crankbaits or light jigs. He will often catch a bunch of walleye casting paddletails for bass in 25 to 30 feet of water in May.

A new walleye group has formed to help promote walleye fishing in Western New York. Western New York Walleye will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Knights of Columbus in Hamburg. For information, call Dave Rajski at 716-289-3109. According to group president Ron Kucinski, the primary objective of is to build camaraderie and friendship within the club with members who are passionate about walleye fishing and wish to pass the tradition on to future generations.

Niagara River

Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston coordinated a media event recently for members of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers. The group did well on salmon, trout and bass, despite less-than-ideal conditions. The Niagara Bar is giving up a few king salmon and a better number of brown trout. On most days, you can add some lake trout and an odd Coho salmon. The best presentation has been drifting or pulling Mag Lips or minnows. The best is still yet to come with the rising water temperatures. Campbell also reported that lake trout and steelhead are available in the Devil’s Hole area on minnows, Mag Lips and egg sacs.

The middle section of the river has been a grind due to the presence of smelt. Some diehards are still dipping a few of the tasty baitfish. As waters began to clear, the bite improved drastically, according to Capt. Joe Srouji of Angler Edge Outdoors. However, recent winds made it difficult to get out in the lake on the Niagara Bar some days. When Srouji could get out there and found somewhat cleaner water, the fish did not disappoint. Both trout and salmon were taking Mag Lips and stickbaits by trolling, and they also took fish on emerald and golden shiners. There are fish everywhere at the bar. Concentrating efforts in cleaner water close to mudlines is a good bet for trout and salmon. Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls did hit some steelhead his last trip into the gorge, using No. 4 blue and chartreuse spinners and quarter-ounce white jigs.

Lake Ontario and tributaries

Even though the conditions haven’t been the best for salmon and trout fishermen, the fish have been surprisingly cooperative. Take the case in point for John Jarosz of Lake View and his sons Dave and Matt from Elma. They were scheduled to fish Lake Erie for perch recently out of Cattaraugus Creek, but small craft advisories were in the forecast. Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Wet Net Charters suggested they switch gears and fish near the shore off Wilson in Lake Ontario for salmon, which were more favorable for the southwest winds they would encounter. Targeting 65 feet of water, just outside the mudline, they managed to catch a limit of Chinook and Coho salmon within three hours. It was primarily a spoon program that produced the salmon, but they did catch a fair number of lake trout in the process that were all released. They did not target brown trout, but reports say they are still available at the mudlines all along the south shore of the lake, with the occasional salmon mixed in.

Capt. Mike Johannes of On the Rocks Charters fished Sunday out of Wilson for about five hours. He started in six to 10 feet of water with planer boards, riggers and divers. His crew quickly picked up a few quality 6-to-8-pound browns on stick baits and spoons, using mostly green and chartreuse colors. After that, they slid out to greener water in the 25-foot to 35-foot depth range and started picking up kings on 28 size spoons, mostly greens and blacks. They picked up two beautiful Atlantic Salmon that weighed near the 10-pound mark. There were plentiful lake trout near the bottom in that depth, as well. They were eating pretty much anything that moved slowly in front of them. They also picked up a few smaller Cohos on one and two colors of lead core line and orange or pink colored spoons. Similar results on a mix of salmon and trout were being reported out of the Oak and off Rochester.

Chautauqua Lake

The crappie bite has slowed some in the canals, according to Capt. Mike Sperry with Chautauqua Reel Outdoors. Anglers are still getting fish, but not as intensely as they did a couple of weeks ago. The lake temperature is around 50, so they are getting closer to spawning time. Sperry said the lake bite should really kick in soon with a couple warm days to get things rolling. Tubes, Mini Mites, Bobby Garland’s and other Shad style soft plastics will work, along with minnows. The walleye opener is set for Wednesday, and Sperry anticipates the best bite to be in late evening and through the night. The night bite is usually good the first few weeks of the season.

Finger Lakes

Cayuga Lake: Lake trout jigging continues to be good to excellent out of Long Point/Dean’s Cove, reports Capt. John Gaulke with Finger Lakes Angling Zone. The best action for him was in 120 to 150 feet of water, with most colors working fine.

Congratulations to Capt. Wally Blake of the Town of Niagara after he won a perch contest on the lake over the weekend with 12.06 pounds for his best 15 perch for the day.

Seneca Lake: Lake trout fishing was good over the past week around Geneva, according to Gaulke. Target fish in 50 feet to 150 feet of water. Yellow perch action was good in some areas. Very few schools appear to be around, and the few that are around are being fished hard.

Canandaigua Lake: Gaulke did a trip last week. Lake trout were both shallow and deep – from 50 feet out to 160 feet of water. The bite was spotty, but somewhat positive.

Keuka Lake: This lake should also be fishing well from 50 feet to 150 feet of water for lake trout.