CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

With hunting season in full swing, consistent reports are difficult, but fishing is still good. Walleye are available along weedlines, especially in the northern basin off Mayville and Long Point. Vertical jigging around the rims of deeper holes is another good bet for walleye. In Dewittville Bay, weedlines are also a spot to target late-season muskellunge by casting large stickbaits or musky spinners. Spotty reports of crappie are beginning to come in the same areas as they are found in the spring, like in canals, off canal mouths and around shallow structure. Small minnows or tube jigs work well for crappie.

LAKE ERIE AND TRIBS

Walleye anglers still are catching good numbers of walleye from Sturgeon Point to the Pennsylvania line, where depths of 65-85 feet of water continue to produce limit catches. Walleye are showing on the bottom and throughout much of the water column at times, but gear run 50-55 feet down has been automatic. Walleye are available closer to Buffalo, but anglers have had to work a bit harder for them. Worm harnesses, stickbaits and spoons are good walleye offerings.

Yellow perch fishing has been improving out of Cattaraugus Creek in 60-65 feet of water and Sturgeon Point in 60 feet of water. Anglers report small-to-moderate sized pods of perch that are moving around, and that the perch bite drops off when walleye are around.

LAKE ONTARIO

AND TRIBS

Salmon and trout continue to trickle into places like 18 Mile Creek. This last rain should help. Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors reports that some fresh salmon made the run to the dam in the last couple of days, but there were crowded conditions last weekend. Eggs or egg imitations are working best. Some salmon and trout have been caught off the piers in both Wilson and Olcott. Spoons, spinners and eggs are working best. Jim DeGirolamo of Derby headed out into the lake over the weekend in 320 feet of water and caught some nice silver salmon, but most of the reports have been spotty out there. Wind has been keeping people off the lake.

LOWER NIAGARA RIVER

The lower Niagara River, while a few salmon are being caught, most anglers are focusing on trout or bass in the lower Niagara River, according to Lisa Drabczyk at Creek Road Bait and Tackle. Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls was 4 for 7 on steelhead off the NYPA fishing platform in the gorge last weekend, casting spinners into the turbulent water. A few salmon were caught over the weekend. Meanwhile along Artpark, shoreline casters and drifters have been using eggs, beads, spoons and spinners to take a mix of steelhead and brown trout. In fact, some pretty big browns — caught and released for the most part. Mixed in with those fish are lake trout. Remember that lake trout season is closed in New York until the end of the year. Musky action is picking up in the upper river as water temperatures continue to drop. It should be in the upper 50s now. Members of the Niagara Musky Association are gearing up for the Tim Wittek Memorial Musky Tournament on Nov. 3.