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CHAUTAUQUA LAKE
The walleye bite on Chautauqua is still a good bite on weed edges out to 40 feet of water. Trolling and vertical jigging programs have both worked well. Fishing has been decent for suspended muskellunge over depths of 25-35 feet. Trolling with large, 51/2 to 8 inch minnow-type stickbaits is a good bet in perch and crappie colors. Weed edges are a perfect place to catch some fish for the dinner table. Small minnows, worms and small jigs tipped with a grub or worm work great for a mix of bluegill, yellow perch, white perch, white bass and the occasional crappie.
LAKE ERIE AND TRIBS
The recent summer-like temperatures has Lake Erie surface temps back up over 70 degrees. This has shut down the steelhead fishing in the nearshore areas off tributary mouths. Anglers continue to report excellent walleye catches from Dunkirk to the Pennsylvania border, where limits seem to be the norm. The walleye bite is best in 80 to 110 feet of water. Stickbaits and worm harnesses run just off the bottom work well at the shallow end of the depth range, while many walleye are suspended 70-80 feet down over the deeper end of the depth range. Walleye trollers are also catching the occasional steelhead west of Dunkirk. Anglers off Cattaraugus Creek report good walleye action in 74-85 feet of water, where most of the fish are tight to the bottom.
Yellow perch fishing slowed this past week. Between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point there is still the occasional limit catch by seasoned or perhaps lucky anglers, but most boats have had to work hard for between 30-50 perch. Live emerald shiners improve your catch odds, if you can find them. There has not been much smallmouth bass fishing intel available lately. However, some recent positive reports were at depths inside 35 feet of water. Target rocky reef structure with a drop-shot rig with live shiner, crayfish or tubes.
NIAGARA RIVER
The Upper Niagara River action has been good for bass and walleye the past week. Try around the head of Strawberry Island, at the head of the river and around the walls off Buffalo.
LAKE ONTARIO
The salmon run is happening in the Niagara River right now from both boat and shore. From boat, treated egg skein is the ticket. From shore, try tossing glow in the dark spoons or spinners under low conditions. The amazing weather we've been experiencing does have a down side. Water temperatures in the river have risen by 4 degrees already and it could impact the salmon run. If the kings and cohos make it up into the warm water, they probably won't last long. Or they could head over to the tailrace of the power plant and the fishing platform for anglers. Things have slowed down a little there. Some bass and walleye are still available in the river, too. One area is just north of the Lewiston Landing area, where they have also been taking some perch. Directly relating to the run of salmon in the river is the Niagara Bar fishing.