More wind in the forecast as Niagara River fishing continues to be hampered due to muddy conditions. How bad it will impact the weekend remains to be seen. Water levels in some of the smaller tributaries off Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are being affected by low conditions, too. The ice boom installation should start Dec. 10.
Lake Erie and tributaries
Erie tributaries are getting some runs of darker fish that have been hanging in the lake mouths according to Danny Colville with Colville Outfitters of Hamburg. There are some that would have entered the creeks in September, spawned during the warm fall and now they are on their way back to the Lake. The Buffalo-area tributaries have a few small runs coming through in catchable numbers according to Colville. If you time it correctly, western Erie creeks have decent numbers of fish as well. The fish size is up this year and, although numbers are lower, the quality is absolutely worth the time. Standard baits like marabou jigs, soft beads, hard beads, egg imitations, egg sacs and streamers are producing says Colville. The smaller creeks still need consistent blow outs. With colder temperatures, the water flows will remain a little bit longer, but the silt will fall quickly, making the creeks clear. Justin Stevens with Catt Creek Bait and Tackle reports that they have had very good reports from 18-mile Creek. Although it has been crowded in the mornings, lots of rainbow trout are being caught midday on peach egg sacs and beads. Cattaraugus Creek has been tough to fish lately. Fishermen are using egg sacs and night crawlers according to Stevens. Best reports are from Clear Creek to Gowanda. Ken Jackson of Sanborn sends word that several creeks are the lowest he has seen in years. Both jigs and egg sacs have been working for steelhead on both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario tributaries. Remember that the Dunkirk Fishing Platform on the west side of the harbor is closed for repairs but the City Pier remains open.
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