Rough conditions have kept most anglers off Lake Erie since Sunday. However, walleye anglers were enjoying great walleye action before the windy weather moved in. West has been best for some time now., However, recent reports indicate there are still decent-to-good numbers of walleye between Sturgeon Point and Buffalo in 55-63 feet of water. Walleye fishing has been exceptional from Cattaraugus Creek to the Pennsylvania line. Out of the Catt, depths of 65-80 feet have been very productive. Anglers out of Dunkirk and Barcelona see best action in 70-90 feet of water. The majority of walleye are suspended between 45-55 feet down, however anglers are also picking up eyes by bottom bouncing with worm harnesses. Stickbaits, worm harnesses and spoons work well for suspended walleye.

Yellow perch fishing has improved off Cattaraugus Creek in around 70 feet of water lately with perch anglers reporting modest catches of 12-35 fish. Walleye trollers are also catching incidental perch when trolling near that depth. Dunkirk anglers were recently catching some perch in around 47 feet of water. Depths of 95 feet-plus have been productive for lake trout out of Dunkirk and Barcelona, with some lakers pushing 20 pounds. The best bite has typically been on spoons and flasher-fly combos run between 80 feet down and the bottom. However, with some recent upwelling/inversion events, suspended lake trout have also shown up mixed with walleye in 70-90 feet of water.

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

The north basin is a good bet for walleye. Anglers are catching decent-to-good numbers of walleye by trolling worm harnesses and stickbaits along weedlines or 20 feet down over 30-40 feet of water, and by jigging within the weeds. There are no strong weedlines in the south basin, so anglers have done best by trolling around the deeper section of the basin. There has been a lull in musky action lately, with modest numbers showing along weedlines. That should turn around as water temperatures continue to drop. Largemouth bass are still readily available in shallow, weedy areas. Try surface lures, live shiners and spinnerbaits.

LAKE ONTARIO AND TRIBS

Big O anglers are finding fish 70-110 feet of water on mostly meat rigs. Also, fish were being found on the eastern edge of the Niagara Bar on Labor Day. Anglers also found an active school of fish in 80-120 feet of water and spoons were the lure of choice. Working 300-foot copper has produced kings, with riggers at 50 and 60 feet doing most of the damage. High divers 140 feet back on a three setting hooked a couple screamers. As salmon move in closer to the creek mouths for staging, don’t rule out deep-water action off Wilson and Olcott. Steelhead and salmon are both available and action can be great if you find the fish. Some consistent reports have come in from 500 to 550 feet of water. Fish the marks on your electronics.

There has been no word of trout and salmon showing off pier heads yet, but early September is typically when the first catches occur. Watch for wind-driven upwellings that push cold water inside, and with it salmon within casting distance of piers

NIAGARA RIVER

In the Niagara River, bass and walleye are going into a little autumn funk with the early migration of a few salmon moving into the lower Niagara River. When that happens, the other species of fish have a tendency to be hot and cold depending on the day. Capt. Ernie Calandrelli of Lewiston reports decent bass action on the Niagara Bar and along the Coast Guard station, with crayfish a top bait to use fished off three-way rigs. Walleye are also in the same general area, available all the way up to Artpark and Queenston on a spinner and worm rig. Remember that the limit on walleye in the lower river and Lake Ontario is different than the state regulation. Fish must be at least 18 inches long and the daily limit is three per person. Some walleyes are being caught along the shoreline in the Artpark area on jigs, according to Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls. He picked up three on one outing over the weekend. A few more salmon were reported in the river and a few have been seen jumping in the Devil’s Hole area. Some were caught by walleye fishermen drifting worm harnesses in the lower drift.