Walleye Fishing Clubs - New York Walleye and Southtowns Walleye Associations
See how walleye fans keep these organizations afloat
Great story & brief history of these two clubs HERE
By Will Elliott

A Fish Odyssey 2008 Information HERE September 20 to 28

On this page  is the complete, uncut, unabridged, unedited version of the weekend fishing forecast

Wilson NY Spring Steelhead Stocking  PHOTOS  / To see the picture of the week Look Here                      

Go to the Official DEC Press release regarding the VHS Disease in fish   

Niagara River Cabela's Masters Walleye Tournament story in photos HERE 

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For LOC photos & stories from the Niagara River/Lake Ontario/Youngstown area go to: 
LOC Derby on Outdoors Niagara  Stories & Photos exclusively on Outdoors Niagara!

See Hilts Algonquin Adventure Here ~ Story, Pictures, Video & Song

 Note: Hilts SUNDAY Outdoor Column appears on this website HERE  

WALLEYE CLASSIC Contest  Information is all right HERE!

CAPTAIN DOUG STEIN REMEMBERED 1947-2009

ATTENTION WINTER STEELHEADER'S! ~ INFORMATION HERE

►UP TO DATE PICTURES AND INFORMATION ON THE LEWISTON
 LAUNCH RAMP REPLACEMENT AND FISH GRINDER OVERHAUL

Go here for Lewiston Louie's picture and story
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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 2010
Weekly Weekend Fishing Report and Weather Forecast
By Bill Hilts Jr.  

1. Lake Ontario and Tributaries ~   The best tributary action continues to be at Burt Dam on 18 Mile Creek. Open water was being reported from the dam to the trestle. Water was still off color at mid-week with a couple of feet of visibility. Steelhead is the primary target, with jigs tipped with wax worms or egg sacks the best baits to use. Over in Wilson, 8 to 10 inches of ice was being reported in the Back Bay according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker in Olcott. Best baits through the ice have been minnows and jigs. Northern pike and brown trout are hitting the most, with the pike hitting large minnows; browns hitting the jigs. Steelhead were hitting marabou jigs. Water was still a bit stained through the ice, but when it clears there should be a few more panfish to be had. He also said to stay off of Olcott Harbor as unsafe ice was being reported there from water level fluctuations.

2. Lower Niagara River ~ The Niagara River is back snapping again to consistent action, just in time for the Niagara River Anglers Association’s Roger Tobey Memorial Steelhead Contest set for next Saturday, February 13th. Fishing has been tough in the river the past month and the timing appears to be good for this year’s fishing event on the lower river and in area tributaries. Some ice cover has started to form on Lake Erie and the water conditions are slowly improving. Capt. Ernie Calandrelli of Lewiston fished Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning with clients and they boated eight steelhead each day. Pink egg sacks caught the most fish, followed by minnows and Kwikfish. Artpark was the best drift, but it can’t take too much boat pressure. While the water was green, it was still off color enough to force the group to fish closer to shore in search of slightly clearer waters. Pay attention to detail. For info on the steelhead contest, visit www.niagarariveranglers.co. or head down to the Lewiston launch ramp at sunrise next Saturday. The weigh in closes at 2 p.m.

Big Bass Classic Contest Lower Niagara/Lake Ontario coming August 9  ~ Go Here for last years winners and PICTURES!

Drop Shotting the Niagara River and Lakes! HERE Out Doors Niagara Exclusive!

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3. Upper Niagara River - Looking for a new boat? The Western New York Boat Show will be held at a new venue this year – the Buffalo Bills Field House in Orchard Park. Dates are set for Feb. 18th to the 21st so mark your calendars. Not too much going on with upper river action. The only thing we’ve heard about comes from Big Catch where they were reporting consistent action through the ice at Buffalo Boat Harbor for a mix of smelt, panfish and the occasional northern pike.

4. Lake Erie and tributaries ~ After the serge of water coming through the tributaries a week ago, all came down nicely with the arrival of the cold weather. Best trib action was being reported from the medium-sized streams like Buffalo, Canadaway, Chautauqua and Eighteen Mile creeks. Cattaraugus could be good this weekend. Small jigs tipped with wax worms, egg sacks and egg imitation flies will all catch fish. Present your offerings in the slower, deep holes. Dunkirk harbor was reporting steelhead and brown trout off the city piers. Little Cleo spoons work best. The warm water discharge is a hot spot, especially if you have a small boat.

5. Chautauqua Lake ~  Craig Robbins of Jamestown reports that walleye action has been good off Long Point in 18 to 32 feet of water on jigging spoons or Gotcha style lures. Perch or chartreuse colorations have been working the best. Perch fishing continues to be good between the bridge and the ferry, as well as off the Mayville launch area. Off the Bemus Point area, use minnows in 10 to 18 feet of water in the narrows, favoring the ferry side and under the cable. Off Mayville, fish the flats in 8 to 14 feet of water with minnows.

6. Finger Lakes/Inland Waters ~ 

Honeoye Lake – Dan Sharp at Honeoye Bait and Tackle sends word that action has been good through the ice all around the lake. In the southwest corner of the lake, bluegills and crappies have been hitting fathead minnows and spikes in 18 to 22 feet of water. Half-way up the west side, tip-ups are producing bass and walleye in 18 to 20 feet of water with bass and pike shiners. The Trident marina area is safe again and they are catching some crappie. Perch have been hitting on the east side of the lake, three bays up. Look for 16 to 18 feet of water with fatheads, spikes or mousies. In the north end, bass and the occasional walleye are being pulled from 12 feet of water on tip-ups.

Canadice Lake – The entire lake is supporting three to four inches of ice minimum over the deeper waters; five inches or more in the south end where crappies and panfish are hitting fatheads and Niagara minnows. Some of the hard water anglers are starting to venture over deeper waters to target bass and trout with tip-ups and finding a little success. Smelt fishermen are doing well at night with lanterns near their holes to attract them.

Conesus Lake – Good action at the north end of the lake for panfish and the occasional northern pike or tiger musky. Tip-ups are the way to go for the toothy critters; jigging for the panfish.

Canandaigua Lake – The north end of the lake has three to four inches of ice but not much activity. Look for good numbers of anglers to take advantage this weekend.

ODN REPORT:
7. Canada -  Lake Simcoe – For timely updates visit our Outdoors Forum Here  12 inches of ice reported at Pfferlaw on Lake Simcoe and fish are reported to be hitting great! January 29 2010

Drop Shotting the Niagara River and Lakes! HERE ODN Exclusive!  
A perch killer at Seneca Lake tipped with live minnows!- Feel everything -Almost weedless!

Finger Lakes Hotspot Fishing Website!  Go Here

Go to Bill Hilts Outdoors Sunday Column HERE

NEW! Finger Lakes Fishing Website! Check it out here! Finger Lakes Fishing  
Fishing reports & weather at the Fingers

Go To Straight Talk "Straight From The Field" 
Learn from experts Bill Joseph ~ Nature's Way Taxidermy

Go to Sportsmen Protecting Our Future [SPOF] web page and read the letter 
that was sent to the NY DEC regarding deer management change proposed regulations [SPOF]

Go Here for fast real time weekend weather forecast  [At The Top of this Page]

CHARTER A BOAT!
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Western New York, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the Niagara River GO HERE 
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The above column is as it appears here is seen in the Niagara Gazette weekly.
The Niagara Gazette is the area's leading outdoors sports information newspaper

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