CHAUTAUQUA LAKE

Crappie have been showing in shallow areas around structure and green weeds. Any places where crappie typically school up in spring are also worth a shot in fall. Small minnows or tube jigs work well for crappie. No new intel has been available for walleye or muskellunge. In fall, walleye can typically be found around weedbeds and also in the deeper holes of the north basin. Vertical jigging works well in the deep holes. Anglers only have a few days left to target muskellunge before the season closes after Nov. 30. Trolling or casting large stickbaits and musky spinners along weed edges is a good bet.

LAKE ERIE

AND TRIBUTARIES

Cattaraugus Creek has been at a ideal fishing level for more days than usual this fall and steelhead fishing has been quite good. The Catt is currently running a bit high at about 690 cubic feet per second (cfs). The ideal flow range on the Catt is between 250-500 cfs. Other popular Erie tributaries have fished well when flows are up, but fish have had severe lockjaw during frequent low and clear periods. Eighteenmile Creek and the Chautauqua County streams are currently in prime shape with moderate flows. Remaining snowmelt in the hills should help to sustain flows into the weekend. Without additional rain, expect levels to drop back to low over next few days. Lake Erie steelhead commonly hit natural baits like egg sacs or worms, trout beads, flies including egg imitations, black stone flies, nymphs, streamer and bugger patters, and lures such as minnow-type stickbaits, in-line spinners and small spoons.

LAKE ONTARIO

AND TRIBUTARIES

The Boat Doctors in Olcott reports that fishing has been good at Burt Dam and Eighteenmile Creek with limited fishing pressure. Brown trout, Coho salmon and steelhead were all being caught this past week, along with the occasional king salmon. Remember that only one brown trout and one steelhead each may be taken per day. Minimum length on a steelhead is now 25 inches in length. Minimum size on a brown trout is 15 inches. Wax worms, egg sacs, beads and flies are all being used to catch fish on a consistent basis. Scott Feltrinelli with Ontario Fly Outfitters was using brown Woolie Buggers fished in clear water conditions over the weekend on tributaries in this western basin of the lake to take some big brown trout and steelhead. Canal water releases will ramp up again within a couple days and then another release will start around Dec. 4 for the final push from the Erie Canal.

BONUS BROODSTOCK FALL TROUT STOCKING

DEC Randolph Fish Hatchery completed its annual fall stocking of broodstock trout in select Allegany County and Cattaraugus County waters. All stocked brown, rainbow and brook trout broodstock are over 2 years old and are stocked in waters where trout fishing is permitted all year. During late October, Quaker Lake, Red House Lake, Case Lake, Harwood Lake, New Albion Lake and Allen Lake were stocked. During the week of Oct. 21, Case Lake, Quaker Lake received a second stocking and the Genesee River was stocked between Wellsville and the Pennsylvania line.

NIAGARA RIVER

Niagara River water conditions have slowly started to improve this week and a few trout were being caught, but you had to work for them. Steelhead and brown trout were both caught, along with some lake trout in the lower river. The open season for lake trout is set for Dec. 1 for the lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario. Lake trout is open year-round in the upper Niagara River and Lake Erie. Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston tested the waters of the lower river on Monday and his customers were rewarded by going 8-for-14 on a mix of steelhead and lake trout, but they were cold. Best lure was a MagLip plug in silver with a chartreuse lip, fished off a three-way rig bouncing bottom. Trout action should improve as the waters clear, and it looks like we are going to have more mild conditions heading into the weekend. Shore fishermen along Artpark and up into the gorge should see decent action by using spinners (No. 4), spoons, beads, jigs, or egg sacs. The NYPA fishing facilities are still closed. Musky action in the upper river hit a brick wall with the muddy water, but with clearing conditions the musky action should continue until the season closes on Nov. 30 for the upper river and Lake Erie. Musky season will continue to be open in the lower river and Lake Ontario until Dec. 15.