Local Sports

Fishing Report

LAKE ERIE AND TRIBS

Walleye anglers have seen a good walleye bite out of Barcelona since last weekend. Walleye have been running higher in the water column, which is common for this time of year out of Barcelona. Trolling in 55-70 feet of water with worm harnesses and stickbaits run around 30 feet down has worked well. Early this week, the walleye bite was hot, but then slowed down during the weekend as boats were returning to port with three walleye or less on average. Productive methods include trolling with worm harnesses and stickbaits just off the bottom, or slow trolling with electric motors 1 mph or less with a bottom bouncing rig and small worm harness.

There are still some channel catfish hanging around the lowest section of Cattaraugus Creek. Target catfish with nightcrawlers, raw shrimp, chicken livers, cut bait or dough balls fished on the bottom. Catches tend to be better at night.

NIAGARA RIVER

Shore fishing has been relatively slow from sites along the City of Buffalo and Tonawanda. Live minnows and salted shiners have produced a modest mix of small yellow perch, rock bass and smallmouth bass. The shore fishing has been better in the early morning and late afternoon. Smallmouth bass fishing in the upper river is a better bet by boat. Try around Strawberry Island and along the southwest side of Grand Island for smallmouth bass. Watch your drift if fishing along the southwest side of Grand Island, as the international border (Canada) runs pretty close in that area.

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

There has been good smallmouth and largemouth bass action inside 10 feet of water in both the north and south end of Chautauqua Lake. Spinnerbaits, shallow diving stickbaits, tube jigs and other plastics have worked well. Now that the regular bass season is open, anglers can use live baits such as minnows and crayfish as well. Anglers are picking up some walleye along weed lines (8-10 feet of water) in the north basin by trolling with stickbaits and worm harnesses near dawn and dusk. Now is a good time to take a young or new angler fishing at Chautauqua Lake. Bass, sunfish and perch are all readily available from docks and shore.

Local Sports

Fishing Report

LAKE ERIE AND TRIBUTARIES

Anglers are finding Lake Erie smallmouth bass in great numbers out of Dunkirk Harbor. Van Buren Bay and the “Dumping Ground” at the mouth of Dunkirk Harbor have been the hot areas.

Three-Inch grubs for artificial bait and minnows for live bait have been working best in 25-40 feet of water, with anglers keeping the offering bouncing on the bottom.

To troll for walleyes out of Dunkirk Harbor, head west in 55 to 85 feet of water and use stick baits for best results.

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

New York State BASS Federation anglers found the Chautauqua Lake largemouth bite hot and heavy during opening weekend. Largemouth are being caught on spinner baits in the narrows between the bridge and the Stow Ferry at the narrows of Chautauqua Lake.

Running white and yellow/black spinner baits over the top of the weeds seems to be drawing the most bites.

Walleye anglers are picking up keepers on Warner’s Bar by drifting a split-shot rig tipped off with a leach or night crawler.

CASSADAGA LAKE

Largemouth bass can be found in the center basin of Cassadaga Lake in and around the lily pads. Throwing plastic frogs and weightless plastic worms over the pads is working well from sun-up until early morning.

A few walleye are reported being caught off the weedline in front of the Lily Dale docks.

Trolling, worm harnesses for walleye in the evening has been the best bet.

Local Sports

Fishing Report

LAKE ERIE AND TRIBUTARIES

Lake Erie anglers are finding Jack perch in several locations on Lake Erie. Perch are hitting on shiners fished just off the bottom. Anglers may have to do a little searching, but there are good catches off Sturgeon Point in 50 to 60 feet of water. Out of Cattaraugus Creek, anglers are doing well in 50 to 65 feet of water.

At Dunkirk Harbor, good catches are being reported off the departure buoy in 40 to 50 feet of water.

Shore anglers are doing well for smallmouth in Dunkirk Harbor. Small jigs heads with white split twister tails are working well. Offshore anglers are catching bigger smallmouth on and around reef and shoal areas in 10 to 30 feet of water. The major structure areas at Seneca Shoal, Myers Reef and Van Buren Bay are good bets, but any smaller structure areas will hold bass as well. Tube jigs, jigs with twister tails and deep-diving stick baits are good baits. A drop-shot rig with tubes or plastics are the best bet for fishing deeper water.

On Lake Erie and its tributaries, anglers can keep one bass more than 20 inches per day and the use of live or natural baits is permitted. On all other waters of Western New York, bass fishing is by catch and release only and artificial lures only until June 15.

Yellow perch are biting in many locations with emerald shiners fished just off the bottom working best. Anglers may have to do a little searching, but there are good catches to be had off Sturgeon Point in 52 to 59 feet of water.

Out of Cattaraugus Creek and to the east toward Evangola State Park, anglers see decent catches in 50 to 65 feet of water.

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

Due to cooler water temperatures on Chautauqua Lake, crappie are still being caught. While it takes a little a bit of work to find the schools, northern basin bays such as Mayville and upper Dewittville seem to be anglers’ best bets. A slip bobber with 8-pound test line with a 1/32-once jig head topped off with 1-inch tube jig tipped off with a minnow is producing best on the outside of the weed edges.

With the regular season of bass season opening at midnight on Saturday, anglers will find largemouth bass holding on shallow structures such as boat docks, rocky shoals, lily pads and breakwalls. Spinner baits, topwater and plastic worms work best.

The opening of bass season in Chautauqua County also signals the start of the muskie season. Casters find the weedbeds off Mayville and Prendergast launches good for throwing larger Swicks and jerk baits. Muskie trollers will find the deep water channel off Chautauqua Institution in 30 to 55 feet of water. Trollers working deep-diving crank baits in perch and fire tiger color are a good starting point.

For area fishing and travel information, visit tourchautauqua.com/Fishing.aspx.

UPPER NIAGARA RIVER

Shore anglers at Broderick Park and along Squaw Island are catching a mix of yellow perch, white perch and white bass on emerald shiners and worms. Anglers fishing the stretch near the Ontario Street boat launch are getting a mix of yellow perch, white perch and rock bass.

Anglers are catching smallmouth bass from the head of the river to down past Strawberry Island.

Bass fishing in the upper river north of Peace Bridge is by catch and release only and artificial lures only until Saturday. The harbors, marinas and inlets are good spots to target panfish and largemouth bass.