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Fishing Report

KINZUA DAM

Outflow from the Kinzua Dam is 2,500 cubic feet per second. It will be lowered further to 1,700 cubic feet per second Saturday and then up to 1,800 Sunday. Wading for trout fishing should be good the next few days. The Allegheny River is at a good float fishing level.

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

The walleye bite has been best along shorelines at night, with stickbaits working well in 5-15 feet of water. During the day, target walleye in deeper waters with vertical jigging programs. Yellow perch continue to bite well off Mayville, Dewittville and near the bridge. Bluegill and bullhead are readily available along the shoreline. Night fishing for walleye at Chautauqua Lake has been good. Cast Bay Rat, Rapala and Bomber stick baits over rock bars less than 10 feet deep. Fish deep during the day using Rapala Jigs, Cicadas, Swedish Pimples, nightcrawlers and medium-size minnows. Bass fishing has been very good on rocky points. Cast plastic worms for largemouth bass, or medium diving crankbaits and spinnerbaits for smallmouth bass. Perch fishing is hot both for yellow perch and white perch. Bluegill have been hitting wax worms and maggots. Crappie are spawning. Look for them at openings in shallow weeds.

LAKE ERIE AND TRIBS

Smallmouth bass fishing had been a little tougher with clear conditions on the small to medium sized tributaries. Recent cattered rainstorms possibly added some flow and color to the Chautauqua County streams. Buffalo area streams remain low and clear. Cattaraugus Creek came up to around 700 cfs overnight. It is still at a fishable level, but will likely be a little stained. Wooly buggers and minnow imitations are good smallmouth bass bets for fly anglers, and spinning anglers generally do well with stickbaits, minnows and jigs with grubs fished under a float. The lower section of Cattaraugus Creek is a top spot for channel catfish. Nightcrawlers, chicken livers, raw shrimp or cut bait fished on the bottom works well, especially at night.

The nearshore walleye night-bite is on, with anglers seeing good catches since last weekend. Trolling minnow-type stickbaits at around 2 mph over rocky areas in 6-15 feet of water is the typical program. Shorehaven Reef, Bournes Beach, Green Hills, Van Buren Bay, Evans Bar, off Hamburg and near the mouth of Smokes Creek are good spots to try. The yellow perch action has gone cold. If you can locate perch schools, a fluorocarbon rig with live emerald shiners works well. Open lake smallmouth bass fishing has been productive lately. Anglers have been catching large bass in 10-35 feet of water, with better numbers at the deeper end of that range. Good spots to try include Myers Reef, Seneca Shoal, Evans Bar and Van Buren Reef. Many smaller reefs, rock piles and humps will hold bass as well. Tube jigs, jigs with twister tails, deep diving stickbaits, live minnows and crayfish are good bass baits.

UPPER NIAGARA RIVER

Upper river waters have cleared and water temperatures are now over the 50 degree mark. Look for an improved bass and panfish bite along river shorelines. Harbor, bay and slack areas are also a good bet for a mix of bass, sunfish and perch. Bass fishing is by catch and release only, artificial lures only in the Niagara River north of the Peace Bridge, until regular season opens on third Saturday of June. Anglers are finding fishing action has been good for a mixed bag of fish the past week. Decent walleye have been caught along with bass and lake trout. Good numbers of lake trout are showing up as bass casters target catch and release smallmouth.

LOWER NIAGARA RIVER

Fishing is still good in Devil’s Hole where boaters were using minnows and egg sacs to take trout off three-way rigs. Steelhead, lake trout, silver bass and smallmouth bass are still all being caught from boat and shore. The New York Power Authority stated that the fishing platform was closed down again on Monday due to high water levels. It will remain closed until water levels recede. Before you head down fishing there, you might want to call 796-0135 Ext. 45 to see if it’s open. Yellow and silver jigs were working for Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls earlier in the week when he caught 30 silver bass, 6 smallmouth and a laker. No problems at the Lewiston launch ramp but Fort Niagara is having some issues with the high water. The south ramp is closed. As waters continue to rise, the north ramp could be closed soon, too.

LAKE ONTARIO AND TRIBS

Just a quick reminder on water levels: There is still a state of emergency along the Lake Ontario shoreline for high water levels. This isn’t really going to affect the fishing that much, but the Niagara County Sheriff is asking that boats creating a wake stay at least 500 feet from shore. This doesn’t include trolling. Caution is advised for floating debris when you are out in the lake moving around. The problem seems to be launching. The best spot to be right now is the Town of Newfane Marina in Olcott. Fort Niagara has an open launch but you need boots up to your knees or above. Golden Hill State Park launch is closed and Wilson-Tuscarora Park is day to day but you need hip books for sure.

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