Published: October 10, 2008 12:08 am      

FISH FORECAST: Bass fishing is hot on Lake Erie

1. Lake Ontario and tributaries

Good numbers of salmon and trout are being reported by anglers at Eighteenmile Creek, especially below Burt Dam. A good mix of king salmon, steelhead and brown trout have made their way up through the creek system, fair game for anglers using skein, egg sacs and egg imitations. Fishing your offering under a float is one of the more popular approaches to use. In addition to the area below the dam, casters are still working the harbor and piers with spoons and spinners. Egg sacs will also catch fish. Trolling or casting with stickbaits is another option. If the winds cooperate, lake trolling is still a good way to catch salmon and trout. For staging fish, use J-plugs or spoons inside of 100 foot depths. If you want to head to deeper waters, the 250 to 350 foot, 0range is still prime for steelhead and a mix of immature salmon with spoons or fly-flasher combinations according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker. Over in Wilson, bass are still hitting in the creeks as reported by Terry Swann. Large numbers of gizzard shad are in the creeks, also bringing in pike and trout.

2. Lower Niagara River

Salmon fishing has picked back up again thanks to a little turbidity to the water and cooling temperatures. Water temperatures were around the 60-degree mark going into the weekend. Local guides were reporting three to six fish per day, with 10 to 12 hits the normal opportunity earlier in the week. But when the sun came out and there were some clear, blue skies, fishing became a bit tougher for salmon in Devil’s Hole. Oct. 17 is the annual Ron Meesig Memorial Derby in the lower river in memory of the lower river captain. Cost to enter is just $35 per boat with three top fish earning $250, $150 and $100 prizes. Only one winner per boat. Sign up early at A-1 or Niagara Outdoors. Connie Adams-Meesig will also be collecting entries the morning of at the Lewiston Launch Ramp by 6 a.m. Weigh in by 2 p.m. at the fish cleaning station in Lewiston. One of the best parts of the day is the food — good and plenty as Charlie says. It’s a good way to remember an old friend. At the same time, everyone will be raising a few dollars for the American Brain Tumor Association. Come on down and share some memories, laughs and a good time. Hot and cold on the bass and walleye. Fish are still available throughout the system, especially near the mouth and on the Bar.

3. Upper Niagara River

They’re getting some nice perch at the foot of Ontario Street and around the lighthouse area. Bass fishing is also available in the same areas, as well as other traditional spots such as around Navy Island, Staley’s Reef and off the power plant. Best baits have been crayfish and leeches according to Heidi at Big Catch. They’re still picking up a few walleye and no reports of trout in the river yet, but it should be soon if not already upon us.

4. Lake Erie and tributaries

Bass fishing was on fire last weekend as Jim Hanley of Angola took out Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark and his wife, Cathy. In one morning, they managed to reel in some 70 smallmouth bass, with five more than 5 pounds and at least 20 more than 4 pounds. The fall feeding frenzy is definitely on as they start to school up and move into shallower domains. They started out using crayfish, but when they ran out, the trio switched to golden shiners. Most of their fish came from 20 to 23 feet of water off Sturgeon Point and around Evans Bar. Some good bass fishing was also being reported around the breakwalls, at Myers, Seneca and Waverly. Walleye fishing is still an option, too, especially around the round house, the channel and Waverly. Perch are still hitting off Cattaraugus Creek and Sunset Bay in 60 to 70 feet of water. Steelhead should be all the way to the dam and should be fishable if we don’t get too much rain prior to the weekend.

5. Chautauqua Lake

Craig Robbins sends word that the trolling for muskie has been decent in the lower basin of the lake, from Lakewood Bar to the bridge in 12 to 15 feet of water. Power trolling bucktails from 2.4 to 3.8 miles per hour has been the ticket of late. Smallmouth bass are still hitting three inch tubes and grubs in the northwest corner of Warners Bar. Smoke and camo colors have worked best.

6. Finger Lakes-Inland Waters

Oneida Lake — Ted Dobs of Oneida Charters sends word that the walleye action is starting to pick up just before dark and after dark all around the lake. Casting the shoreline with stickbaits like Junior Thunderstiks and Rapalas. That fishing will get even better as we move further into the fall. One thing he likes to do is use a light to attract the baitfish, which in turn attract the walleye. Limit catches are the norm. Sounds like a road trip to me.

Bill Hilts Jr. is a past president of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association. Contact him at bhiltsjr69@cs.com.