Lake Erie yellow perch kicking into high gear
Captain Tom Miranda scored on 12-15 inch yellow perch while fishing with friends near Sunset Bay on Lake Erie. Photo courtesy of Pole Dancer Sportfishing
Adam McInerney did find a beautiful lone steelhead in the low tributary stream flows we have right now throughout Western New York. Photo by Forrest Fisher
Captain Tom Miranda scored on 12-15 inch yellow perch while fishing with friends near Sunset Bay on Lake Erie. Photo courtesy of Pole Dancer Sportfishing
Adam McInerney did find a beautiful lone steelhead in the low tributary stream flows we have right now throughout Western New York. Photo by Forrest Fisher
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On Lake Erie, the yellow perch fishing activity is kicking into high gear starting at 50-55 feet of water between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point. Live emerald shiners fished near bottom is the top tactic if emeralds are available, but golden shiners or salted shiners are also effective. Anglers have also found the walleye stacked 20 feet thick in schools fishing at depths of 80-110 feet just west from Dunkirk to Barcelona. Paul Soper Jr. from the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club recently shared that he limited out in 100 feet of water off Dunkirk with a three-man limit in two hours using stickbaits. Many of the fish were spitting up emerald shiners.
Did you put your boat away to head for the deer woods? Captain Daryl Glasner (716-462-8632) and Captain Tom Miranda (716-531-6683) are both still running perch and walleye trips from Sunset Bay at the Hanover Launch. Glasner is running musky trips to Chautauqua Lake, as well. So is Captain Mike Sperry (716-763-2947) at Chautauqua Reel Outdoors from Ashville Bay Marina. Sperry has been hooking up with Chautauqua Lake musky on a regular basis lately. All are very affordable.
With little rain recently, the steelhead are almost nill in the lower section of Cattaraugus Creek, which is running low and clear on most days. All the other tribs are at a trickle, too, and are practically void of fish. Shore anglers can be effective right now. Target steelhead from the Cattaraugus Creek breakwall or by wading off the tributary creek mouths and casting spoons and spinners. The mouth of Chautauqua Creek can be so good for low water casting periods like this. Boaters can score by trolling these creekmouth areas.
At the Lake Ontario piers at Wilson Harbor and Olcott Harbor, and in the Lower Niagara River, the salmon fishing is about ready to end. It's that time of year. Anglers are catching smallmouth bass, lake trout and steelhead in the lower river, both from the Devils Hole and Lewiston Landing areas from shore, and from the drift boaters.
For inland shore anglers, the DEC Randolph Fish Hatchery started its autumn stocking of broodstock trout three weeks ago. These trout are all over 2 years old and up to 30 inches long. The following waters have been stocked: Red House Lake with 130 rainbow trout and 200 brown trout; New Albion Lake with 50 brook trout, 50 rainbow trout and 150 brown trout; Case Lake with 25 brown trout, 100 rainbow trout and 400 brook trout; Genesee River with 200 brown trout and 250 rainbow trout; Quaker Lake with 200 brown trout and 300 rainbow trout; Lake Flavia with 100 brook trout, 250 brown trout and 50 rainbow trout; Allen Lake with 225 brook trout, 50 brown trout and 50 rainbow trout; Harwood Lake with 300 brook trout, 50 brown trout and 50 rainbow trout; Case Lake with 400 brook trout, 50 brown trout and 50 rainbow trout; Genesee River with 400 brown trout and 245 rainbow trout; and Cattaraugus Creek with 600 brown trout.
For more info, call the Randolph Hatchery Stocking Hotline at 716-358-2050.
Last, on hunting, the Southern Zone fall turkey season runs through this Friday. Note that one bird of either sex is allowed and hunting is legal from sunrise to sunset. Bow, crossbow, shotgun is allowed. Not allowed: Rifle, handgun firing a bullet, dogs in Northern Zone with crossbow, or bait.
Gotta love the outdoors.
CALENDAR:
Oct. 27: Children in the Stream Youth Fly Fishing /4H Program, Fly tying/fly fishing classes, 7-8:30 p.m., free, Costello Room, Rockefeller Art Center at SUNY Fredonia, For info: email Alberto@albertorey.com.
Oct. 30: Last Day of Southern Zone fall turkey hunting season, one bird either sex allowed, sunrise to sunset. See dec.ny.gov for zones.
Nov. 1: Fall Shoot, open to public, 11 a.m. start, raffle prizes, fun competitions, Westfield Fish and Game, 8150 Ogden Road, Westfield.
Nov. 3: Children in the Stream Youth Fly Fishing /4H Program, Fly tying/fly fishing classes, 7-8:30 p.m., free, Costello Room, Rockefeller Art Center at SUNY Fredonia, For info: email Alberto@albertorey.com.
Nov. 4: Fly Tying Class, 6-8 p.m., free, Falconer Rod & Gun Club, 329 Falconer St., Jamestown; info: 716-467-0782.
Nov. 7-8: NYS Handgun Class, Westfield Fish and Game, 8150 Ogden Road, Westfield; 20 student max, $225 fee, register at RASGROUPTRAINING.COM or call 716-499-6959.