CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

It’s no secret that as soon as summer hits and lake temperatures begin to raise into the mid-60s the bass hot spots on the lake are docks. Anglers in the northern basin are still catching “eyes” along weedlines in around 15 feet of water, both night and day. Trolling (1.2-1.5 mph) with worm harnesses and stickbaits, drifting and jigging or casting crankbaits have all been productive. In the south basin, trolling around the deeper, middle section is a good bet. Largemouth bass are biting well around weed beds and docks

LAKE ERIE AND TRIBS

Smallmouth bass bite on Erie has been relatively slow, but there have been some better reports in 25-35 feet of water. The key is to find rocky bottom structures such as reefs, rock piles and drop-offs.

With reports of larger school beginning to move in from the west, locals are indicating that this past week walleyes have moved a bit deeper and are a bit more scattered within the water column. Off the Buffalo windmills, trollers are catching walleye at depths over 40 feet on lures run around mid-water column. From Myers Reef to east of Cattaraugus Creek, depths of 45-55 feet have been best for modest walleye catches. Again, on gear run at mid-column. Barcelona anglers have seen a decent-to-good walleye bite in the last couple days in around 60 feet of water. Walleye are scattered between mid-column and the bottom. Some Barcelona trollers have also reported surprise catfish catches. Trolling with leadcore and divers paired with stickbaits, worm harnesses and spoons is a top tactic for suspended walleyNed rigs, jigs with swimbaits, tube jigs, live minnows and crayfish are good bass baits.

LAKE ONTARIO AND TRIBS

The weather is hot and it looks like so is the fishing for the holiday weekend. Action in Lake Ontario is starting to set up nicely, from the Niagara Bar to 30-Mile Point east of Olcott. Finding baitfish is one of the keys to finding predator fish so keep an eye on your electronics. Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors in Olcott reports that fishing is starting to pick up in the lake. Just check out the Summer LOC Derby leaderboard to see what’s happening. The biggest fish overall is a 26-pound, 14-ounce king salmon caught by Ken Frearson of Hamlin while fishing out of Bald Eagle Marina with a Moonshine spoon. Second place overall and first in the salmon division is a 25-pound, 4-ounce king salmon reeled in by John Drotter of Burt, using a “salmon candy” spoon in Olcott. In the Brown Trout Division, Robert Weicher of Williamsville leads the charge with a 14-pound fish he caught off Olcott. Lake trout leader is Kimberly Younes of North Creek with a 17-pound, 11-ounce fish caught off Oswego County using a Gambler rig. There are currently no walleyes entered in the division yet. Evarts says that the browns are starting to hit in closer to shore, with blacks and chartreuse colors working best. Salmon action seemed to be better out deep with a mix of spoons, spinnies and flies, as well as meat rigs all producing fish. It will get better as the summer goes on now.

NIAGARA RIVER

There is still some of the pesky moss floating around the Niagara River, both above and below the falls, but it should not stop you from fishing. Lisa Drabczyk of Creek Road Bait and Tackle sends word that the lower river action off the NYPA fishing platform is producing some fish, but make sure it is open before you head down by calling 286-6662. It was closed on Tuesday morning due to high water. Bass were hitting off the platform, as well as downriver off Youngstown and on the Niagara bar. Crayfish and shiners, ned rigs and tubes were all working. Capt. Ryan Shea of Tonawanda did well on big smallmouth in the upper river this week, using Ned rigs to take fish up to 5-1/2 pounds. At the head of the river, smallmouth bass were available, but there seemed to be more sheepshead around than anything. Walleye action there was slow, but in Lake Erie it looks like some of the bigger schools are finally starting to migrate down from the Western Basin.