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Fishing Report

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

Chautauqua’s main ice sheet is from 8-12 inches thick. Shore ice is thinner in spots and there is some open water off stream inlets. Overall, the walleye bite seems to be fair, with some better days mixed in. Depths of 15-40 feet of water off Long Point, Prendergast, Bell Tower and Dewittville are good starting points for walleye. Jigging Rapalas and vertical jigging spoons tipped with a small minnow are good walleye offerings. Anglers have caught some good-sized bluegill in the deep weed beds off Mayville. Deeper weed beds off sheltered bays may also hold some sunfish. Yellow perch continue to be the lake’s top catch. Unfortunately very few are of keeper size.

LAKE ERIE AND TRIBS

With this past week’s rain and snowmelt, there is a widespread blowout in progress on the Lake Erie tributaries. Creek levels have peaked and are now dropping. Some of the smaller streams and upper sections of Chautauqua Creek may be fishable by week’s end. Streams should remain relatively ice free from here on out. Look for an influx of fresh steelhead as levels drop.

Ice anglers have been catching steelhead in Barcelona Harbor and out from the city pier at Dunkirk Harbor. The bite at Barcelona slows with higher angler traffic. There is around a foot of ice at the inner Buffalo Harbor. As usual, anglers are catching mostly smaller sunfish and yellow perch, with the occasional keeper. No sign of smelt as of yet.

LOWER NIAGARA RIVER

Pack and shore ice has melted quickly, opening up shore fishing opportunities along the upper and lower Niagara River. Lower river waters are in great shape and action has recently been good for boaters from Devils Hole down to the Niagara Bar. Steelhead are the top catch in the upper drifts on egg sacs, while lake trout are seemingly available from top to bottom. Walleye and the occasional brown trout round out the catches.

LAKE ONTARIO AND TRIBS

With Lake Erie some 90 percent ice covered, the Niagara River is becoming very clear, making things a bit more difficult to be consistent on the water. One tip is to downsize your presentation with slightly smaller baits like egg sacs or smaller MagLips in 2.5 or Kwikfish in K8.

Wobbling baits fished off three-way rigs were the most effective enticements due to a southwest wind that was blowing in some warmer temperatures. It was 50 degrees here earlier in the week, dropped into the 20s and 30s over the weekend and then is expected to shoot back up into the 50s early next week with some rain along the way. That rain, along with melting snow and run off, should add a little stain to the river water. Walleye can also be caught and the daily limit is only one until March 15 when the season closes. The warming weather should open up more water at places like 18 Mile Creek and Burt Dam, too. Jigs fished with a wax worm and under a float is one approach. Egg sacs and egg imitations are another. Water flow has been good, according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker in Olcott. Water clarity is also good right now. Both browns and steelhead are being reported. Over in Wilson Harbor, roughly 10 inches of ice was being reported. Pike, steelhead, perch and panfish are all being caught. Nearby Lake Erie walleye action has been good to very good on the hard stuff. Fish up to 15 pounds have been reported in the last week off Hamburg with 10 to 12 inches of ice as far as thickness. Top baits have been Jigging Raps and minnows.

SILVER LAKE

Silver Lake’s main ice sheet is around a foot thick. Anglers are still catching yellow perch over deep water areas of 30 feet plus, but perch have been quite finicky lately. Hole hopping and frequent jig/plastics changes helps increase the catch count. At the south end, the bluegill bite has been fair in the weeds. Tip-ups with shiners produce the occasional northern pike.

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