- Clear Water, Lots of Fish
- Brought to you by Destination Niagara USA
Gary Hall of Niagara Falls with a Niagara River steelhead caught while fishing with Capt. Frank Campbell.
With Lake Erie some 90 percent ice covered, the Niagara River is becoming very clear, making things a bit more difficult to be consistent on the water.
One tip is to downsize your presentation with slightly smaller baits like egg sacs or smaller MagLips in 2.5 or Kwikfish in K8.
A silver-green Kwikfish was the hot lure on Wednesday as Terry Belke from WGRZ did some filming for Channel 2 out of Buffalo, fishing with Capt. Frank Campbell of Niagara Region Charters. Wobbling baits fished off three-way rigs were the most effective enticements due to a southwest wind that was blowing in some warmer temperatures.
How about this Lake Erie walleye caught by Bob Rustowicz of Cheektowaga – 14.67 pounds!
It is supposed to be 50 degrees here today, drop into the 20s and 30s over the weekend, but shoot back up into the 50’s early next week – bring some rain along the way. That rain, along with melting snow and run off, should add a little stain to the river water.
Earlier in the week, Capt. Chris Cinelli and Capt. Ted Kessler, both of Grand Island, did very well using pink egg sacs to pull in some nice steelhead. Browns and lake trout are also available. Fish can be found from Devil’s Hole to the Niagara Bar.
Walleye can also be caught and the daily limit is only one until March 15 when the season closes.
The warming weather should open up more water at places like 18 Mile Creek and Burt Dam, too. Jigs fished with a wax worm and under a float is one approach. Egg sacs and egg imitations are another. Water flow has been good according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker in Olcott. Water clarity is also good right now. Both browns and steelhead are being reported.
Over in Wilson Harbor, roughly 10 inches of ice was being reported. Pike, steelhead, perch and panfish are all being caught.
Nearby Lake Erie walleye action has been good to very good on the hard stuff. Fish (walleye) up to 15 pounds have reported the last week off Hamburg with 10 to 12 inches of ice thickness. Top baits have been Jigging Raps and minnows.