CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

Open water on Chautauqua Lake is limited to areas off creek mouths. Cast stickbaits off creek mouths at night to target walleye. Look to the canals for possible influx of crappie, yellow perch and bluegill.

LAKE ERIE AND TRIBS

Steelhead action in the Lake Erie tributaries has been good when conditions permit, with last Sunday as the most productive day of the week. Rain brought all stream levels up again today. Without additional precipitation, the best bets for fishable flows today are on Silver Creek, Walnut Creek and the gorge section of Chautauqua Creek. The lower section of Chautauqua and Canadaway Creeks may be ready by Sunday. Spring run steelhead hit a variety of baits, including egg sacs, egg flies, trout beads, jigs with grubs or twister tails, minnows, worms, streamer patterns, and bugger patterns.

LAKE ONTARIO

AND TRIBS

Some bullheads were hitting in Wilson and Olcott, and Lake Ontario was hitting the magical 40-degree mark. Trolling the shoreline for brown trout and other fish is an option, as is casting the piers with spoons, spinners or stickbaits. The Wilson Conservation Club announced this week that they are cancelling their Bullhead Contest set for April 3-5 due to the coronavirus. Not because of the fishing, but because of the weigh-in and after-party. There have been good numbers of steelhead and brown trout in some of the main streams like at 18 Mile Creek and Burt Dam after last week’s rains. Best baits have been egg sacs, wax worms and beads tipped with waxies or run clean, according to Ken Jackson of Sanborn. Rain in the forecast will help the small- to-medium streams out for sure.

LOWER NIAGARA RIVER

Fishing in the lower Niagara River was on fire this week as double-digit catch days were the norm for boaters drifting a mix of minnows, egg sacs and Pautske fire dye minnows. Capt. Matt Yablonsky of Youngstown and Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston reported banner days on the water this week, nearly all steelhead. Three-way rigs bouncing the bottom was the way to go, especially up-river as far as Devil’s Hole. If the winds are switching to the southwest, throw on a MagLip or Kwikfish. Speaking of winds, there will be something severe blowing in that could mess things up again, including some heavy rains. Shoreline casters are picking up some fish, too. Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls hit some steelhead on spinners this week in the gorge. There was 4 to 5 feet of visibility being reported.

UPPER NIAGARA RIVER

Emerald shiners are schooling in many harbors and marinas around the upper Niagara River, attracting yellow perch. Catches of some good sized perch have been reported in Grand Island marinas. Emerald shiners area available for dipping at marina/harbor sites and work great for perch.