- Sabres Hockey Coach Catching 14-Pound Steelhead!
- Report for Feb. 24, 2017
Balmy Weather in Niagara County, New York
February in Western NY is not supposed to be balmy weather. That’s exactly what we saw this week, with Friday being forecast with a record temperature of 68 degrees. On Saturday, temperatures will plummet some 30 degrees in the afternoon, but it will probably be still above average and that trend should continue into March. It’s hard to believe spring is almost here!
In the Niagara River below Niagara Falls, the water conditions were near perfect since Tuesday. Mixed reports on people catching fish from boats. Some of the guys have been doing pretty good picking away at them, using whatever baits the fish want or what the conditions allow for. For example, a strong SW wind was blowing boats down the river so switching your minnows or egg sacs over to Kwikfish or MagLip lures seemed like the logical solution. While some fish were caught that way, it was still slower than what most anglers would have liked. Boat control is critical. It wasn’t until afternoon that the steelhead turned on and it was egg sacs that worked for Capt. Frank Campbell.
He had a couple veteran anglers on board – Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma and Jim Hanley. Using egg sacs that had been treated with Pautzke Fire Dye, six nice steelhead were boated between noon and 2 p.m., several over 12 pounds by Bylsma. See the full story next week in the Buffalo News on the Thursday Outdoors Page or online at BuffaloNews.com.
Shore fishermen were struggling a bit for some reason and it was probably because of the weather. Casting spoons, spinners, egg sacs or egg imitations should produce some trout from Artpark to the Whirlpool. Take advantage of the nice weather!
Lake Ontario and tributaries
With the mild weather, boats were trolling the shoreline and picking up a few browns on stickbaits in the 6 to 20 foot depth range.
Stained water was coming out of 18 Mile Creek at Olcott and trollers were sticking around close to the mouth on either side, using in-line planers to get their baits away from the boat. In addition to the browns, quite a few northern pike are also showing up for a fight.
On the piers in Wilson and Olcott, casters are tossing spoons and spinners or drifting eggs under a float.
Burt Dam has been producing some steelhead and browns, along with the occasional salmon. Perch have been everywhere, actually a nuisance for the trout guys.
Keg Creek is wide open and clear. Bob Rustowicz of Cheektowaga reported banner days the last three days in various tributaries he worked egg sacs and jig in. The Niagara Bar has been a little show this week, but it was good last weekend. It might be because there is a ton of bait around.
Remember that the State of Lake Ontario seminar will be held in Lockport on March 7th at the 4-H Building of Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport starting at 6:30 p.m.
All in the Same Boat Tackle in Newfane is running a catch and release steelhead contest that starts today and runs through March 25. Stop down to the shop to register and pick up a copy of the rules.
Bill Hilts, Jr., Director, Outdoor Promotions
Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation, 10 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY USA 14303
p: 716.282.8992 x.303| 1.877 FALLS US, f:716.285.0809
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