CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

North basin walleye are available all day along weed edges in 14-20 feet of water, though the midday bite is markedly slower. Slow trolling with bottom-bouncers and worm harnesses, or running crankbaits such as Flicker Shads right near the bottom are good bets. Anglers can target muskellunge along and over weedlines by trolling or casting large stickbaits and bucktail spinners, or target suspended musky 10-15 feet down over 20-30 feet of water. Fishing along weed edges and in pockets with live minnows and worms is a good bet for a mix of yellow perch, white perch, white bass and bluegill. It all makes for great fun for the young angler also.

LAKE ERIE AND TRIBUTARIES

Target smallmouth bass at depths of 25-45 feet of water around reefs/shoals, rock piles and drop-offs. Bass are also available in the gaps and deep outside edges of Buffalo Harbor breakwalls. Ned rigs, jigs with swimbaits, tube jigs, live minnows and crayfish are good bass offerings.

Slower walleye fishing than the previous two seasons has been a surprise to many. Buffalo-area anglers continue to struggle, with recent productive boats landing just a couple of walleye per outing. Deeper water near the international line is the best bet to find them. Off Sturgeon Point in 50-70 feet of water, anglers are marking lots of fish, but it has been tough to find consistent biters. The best walleye fishing has been west of Cattaraugus Creek. Dunkirk trollers are catching decent numbers of fish in 70-90 feet of water. Fishing quality continues to build off Barcelona and to the northeast. Boats are averaging about 5-7 walleye, with the occasional boat hitting the double-digit mark. Some of the better catches this week have come from depths of 55-65 feet for suspended fish, 40-45 feet down. Barcelona anglers also report the occasional surprise steelhead catch.

LAKE ONTARIO AND TRIBUTARIES

Karen Evarts at the Boat Doctor in Olcott reports that the lake saw a little bit of a flip the last day or two, but some salmon were being reported in as close as 90 feet of water in front of Olcott. Cut-bait rigs and flasher-fly combos have been working on the kings. Roy Letcher of Newfane reported that he found a pocket of big kings just east of the Somerset power plant recently. They went 15 for 17 in three hours of fishing with 10 kings being over 20 pounds. Their 24-pound, 15-ounce king took third on Friday in the Big Fish contest for the Big Boys tourney. The overall winner was the Dublin Up team led, by Capt. Carl Martin of Pendleton. He runs his operation out of Wilson. Martin and company fished 12 miles west of the Oak away from the pack in a small pocket of 100 to 135 feet of water that was holding some mature kings. Their program was mostly A-Tom-Mik meat rigs with Familiar Bite herring, or Dreamweaver Spin Doctors with A-Tom-Mik flies. Their fish came from 55 to 90 feet down.

LOWER NIAGARA RIVER

Fishing has been difficult the past week or two in the Niagara River, both above and below Niagara Falls. In the upper river, Capt. Ryan Shea of Tonawanda reports that there has been a lot of loose weeds floating around from boat wakes and natural shedding, as well as weeds on the bottom (not moss). Smallmouth bass and sheepshead are both available on Ned rigs and soft-shelled crabs, but you do have to work for them. There are a few walleyes in the river, too. Remember to stay out of Canadian waters. It goes both ways, too. Some Canadians were caught fishing in U.S. waters and forced back. While Canadian authorities have been issuing warnings, they are about to take the next step and issue fines and/or confiscate boats, so know where you are in the river at all times. Lower river action has also been slower than normal, although you can go out and have a good day here and there. It has been inconsistent at best. Bass and walleye are both available, but do not be surprised if you catch a sheepshead or two. Crayfish and shiners for bass; worm harnesses for walleyes, all fished off three-way rigs. Bass will also take Ned rigs, drop shot offerings and the occasional tube. Careful where you are on the Niagara Bar as far as boundary line, too. Canadian authorities are policing the line.