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WILL ELLIOT FISHING LINE ~ Updated Weekly


     By WILL ELLIOTT ~  Buffalo News 

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Will Elliott received three awards during the joint NYSOWA/AGLOW conference
at Niagara Falls Sept. 17-20. The awards are:

• Ice Team Second place for ice-fishing column, Buffalo News, Jan. 28, 2007
• NYS Outdoor Writer Association Humor Category, second place for NY Outdoor News column on hating squirrels.
• Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers third-place award for Page Layout, Buffalo News, Oct. 29, 2006, on gun maintenance and tree care.

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CAPTAIN DOUG STEIN REMEMBERED 1947-2009

See state of our Lake Ontario fisheries in column below

July 28 2010
Lake Erie

Walleye schools have headed east a bit. Trollers out of Cattaraugus Creek have been hanging a left and setting up either side of 80 feet.

An odd school of Ohio fish shows off Point Abino on the Canadian side, but the Dunkirk to Barcelona harbor area produces the most consistent numbers and locations for feeding fish.

For more than a month, trollers have been working "the trench" between Van Buren Point and Brocton Shoals. Suspended bait schools have walleye holding close to shore in 60-foot waters that often warm to nearly 70 degrees -- not a comfort zone for walleye but abundant, easy food sources keep these fish moving.

Trollers see the same near-shore run, mainly west of Barcelona harbor. If the 60- to 80-foot shallows get crowded or the bite turns off, a healthy herd of mostly walleye continues grazing at 100-110 feet eastward directly off the harbor.

Winds and waves have taken their toll on open-water bass fishing this past week. Boaters can work the walls around Buffalo Harbor and head into the upper river.

When breezes subside, a good supply of crayfish, leeches, and bigger minnows can bring on the bass bite at the outer, drop-off edges around rocky shoals and those scattered humps that sometimes show on sonar somewhere next to nowhere.

A controlled drift with a front- or rear-mount electric trolling motor can often bring boaters over some nice structures that hold bass and the odd school of monster yellow perch.

Perch anglers have been scarce of late. Last good read was well off shore for bottom-hugging and suspended ringback schools at 75 feet or deeper. Before the last two gargantuan gusts, some boaters had found a few good perch packs just west of Evangola State Park.

Lake Ontario

Wicked winds coming from dastardly directions have moved water layers daily. The trout and salmon run is still fun fairly close to shore. However, cold-water layers more comfy for kings and things can change 30-plus degrees in shallow areas with a north or northeasterly gust.

Kings often move over depths of 100-150 feet and feed deep, somewhere around 90-120. Brown trout hit rigs set 40-60 feet.

Out deeper, boaters from Wilson, Olcott, and Oak Orchard get over 250-350 feet and work the top 70 feet for kings and an odd mix of steelies and coho.

"It all depends on where the cold water has moved (in the water column)," said Wes Walker at Slippery Sinker Bait & Tackle in Olcott Harbor.

Walker added that cut bait has started getting hits along with the usual spoons and flasher rigs. He noted that Bob Fishlock, aboard What's Next, traveled well west and hooked into a big king about two miles east of Fort Niagara.

Fishlock's salmon, weighing in at 31.02 pounds, won the Olcott Weekly Trout and Salmon Derby. This derby continues each week to September. For entry and rules details, call 778-0713.

Walker also gets good reports for shore-casting anglers at both Wilson and Olcott harbors. Both have seen a good presence of perch, some keeper-sized northern pike, and an occasional run of crappie just before dark.

Inland lakes

Chautauqua -- Panfish outshine bigger species for bite prospects. Eye strainers work along deeper sides of weed edges in the North Basin for a nice walleye or two. South Basin weed growth and increased water temperatures have made walleye hookups difficult.

The musky bite has been spotty also. Trollers run deeper rigs to get to the bigger teeth.

Perch occupy most panfish outings, with a fair number of bigger bluegills showing in both basins and a fair number of crappies holding along deep weed edges in the north basin.

Silver -- The bass and walleye bite has been off; panfish prospects are better than usual for warm, late July waters. Evenings have been most productive for both game and panfish. Boaters find perch and bluegill hitting in same areas.

Honeoye -- Best word has been 15-foot depths for a good mix of bluegill and bass.

Hemlock -- Bass dominates this fingerling Finger Lake. Boaters work shoreline drop-offs for good numbers of largemouths.

Canandaigua -- Bass can be found, but most boaters steer in the direction of perch. Many go with minnows, but small crayfish and chunks of nightcrawlers can add bonus bites.

Seneca -- Bass make up the mainstay for shoreline fishing. Lake trout show on the sonar screen at 70-150 feet, but the bass bite along the 15- to 30-foot drop-offs has been steady with big minnows or small chubs.

 


Goodbye Bill
Lake Erie anglers and sportsmen and women in general lost a good friend Saturday morning with the passing of William E. Begier, owner of Bill's Hooks on Route 5 west of Dunkirk. Begier had been a regular contributor to this Fishing Line column for 24 years./ His diverse outdoors interests and understanding of area fishing and hunting impressed newcomers and veteran sportsmen alike. He willingly shared updates and insights with all who enjoyed the outdoors. He will be missed.

 

NOTE TO WALLEYE FANATICS: [From an earlier Elliott column] "Walleye jiggers work the deeper holes with Gotcha vertical jigging lures at depths of 30-40 feet. Both Hogan's Hut and Happy Hooker Bait & Tackle stock Gotchas right now."

Outdoors Niagara Note: "Gotchas" have been a popular lure for pier, shore & boat fishermen along the Atlantic coast for years and years!

This is a Gotcha Lure or "Got-Cha"

 

State Regulations /By Will Elliott

Outdoors: DEC all ears at bait transport hearing

NEWS OUTDOORS REPORTER


Shawn Keeler NYSDEC

Things swam smoothly as anglers and Department of Environmental Conservation officials took another dip into the bait regulations bucket Tuesday evening.

About 75 ardent anglers and area and state DEC officials gathered at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center in Tonawanda for the next round of public input the DEC is seeking ahead of any altering of regulations for transporting bait in New York State.

After a series of fish kills, the result of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) in 2005 and 2006 in New York State, DEC officials imposed a ban on any transportation of uncertified bait and other fish, in October 2007. This was done to prevent fish infections from being introduced into untainted waters.

Opposition to the transportation ban centers on this: An angler can't catch baitfish in one Lake Erie tributary and take it to another location on the lake even though this would not introduce an infection that is not already present in the lake.

Dr. Andrew Noyes, DEC fish pathologist from the Albany office, pointed out that VHS and seven other pathogens have been detected in fish species tested statewide during the past 10 years. After the initial discovery, the DEC acted promptly to control harmful pathogens.

"We tested 42 sites before the 2007 ban and another 59 sites after the 2007 transportation ban was imposed," Noyes told anglers at the Tuesday meeting. He added that 180 sites in all have been tested during the past three years with no signs of VHS, which typically strikes in the spring when water temperatures reach 40 to 50 degrees, or other pathogens.

"The spread of these viruses is the ultimate concern," said Shaun Keeler, the fish regulations coordinator at the Albany office. In his introductory remarks, before public comments were made, Keeler and other DEC officials clearly voiced an interest in making a change in current bait transportation bans.

Several speakers stressed the necessity of using baitfish taken only from the waters in which they were captured.

Patricia Riexinger, DEC director of the Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources, formerly from Western New York, said, "We will be responsive to the needs of anglers in this issue," as she welcomed guests and their input.

Keeler outlined four general options DEC personnel have been considering: Establishing an Erie and upper Niagara River corridor along Routes 90 and 290 on which bait can be transported; establishing additional transportation corridors; allowing bait to be used anywhere on the same body of water; and no overland ban whatsoever.

Again, whichever transportation means may be allowed, baitfish would be legally allowed only for use in the waters from which it had been taken.

About a dozen attendees made statements/comments and posed questions after the formal DEC presentation.

Dave "Woody" Woodworth, Southtowns Walleye Association president, began with an appeal to reduce regulation impositions that he believes reduce the enjoyment of the sport of fishing. "While we [SWA members] work hard to get out the proper information to our membership, we've seen an increased amount of stress put upon anglers with regulations that amount to government harassment."

Woodworth ended with an appeal to simplify the regulations.

Paul Stoos, Erie County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs baitfish transportation committee chairman, pointed to a corridor proposal made shortly after the 2007 ban had been imposed.

Stoos stressed the ban is not working. "About 75 percent of anglers fish illegally and we don't have the enforcement presence to successfully conduct a ban."

Dave Barus, ECFSC fish committee chairman, pointed out that Erie County sportsmen and women lead the state in purchasing sporting licenses. "At one time this county sold 104,000 licenses; now we still lead the state but are down to about 74,000 licenses."

Barus suggested that part of the sales reduction — along with fee increases — can be the result of bait bans and vastly increased costs of purchasing certified baitfish.

Rich Davenport, ECFSC recording secretary, pointed out the effect on bait dealers on inland waters was much lower than the economic and recreational losses suffered by those along the Great Lakes corridor.

Sue Guenther, SWA vice president, read relevant excerpts from a letter sent to Art Newell in the DEC Bureau of Fisheries. Guenther's letter stressed hardships imposed on anglers, especially the lack of emerald shiners, an essential baitfish when perch fishing on Lake Erie, as the season progresses each year.

Helen Domske, with New York Sea Grant, has coordinated many public-input gatherings on the baitfish and other fisheries issues. Domske noted the importance of Dr. Paul Bowser's studies at Cornell University's college of aquatic studies. She reasserted the willingness of NYSG staffers to assist in this baitfish issue.

Bill Nowak, representing State Senator Antoine Thompson, listened to all commentary with concern. Thompson currently chairs the Senate Conservation Committee.

During a question and answer session, additional commentary was offered. Bob Hollingsworth, well known tournament angler and devoted recreational fishermen, cited the necessity of using emerald shiners when perch fishing in Lake Erie.

"They may or may not work on other waters, but no other bait will work on perch as well as emeralds," he asserted.

Noyes explained that salted minnows have to be certified because some pathogens thrive in a frozen state if the tissue isn't fully dried when salted and then frozen.

At the end of questioning, angler Kevin Tone respectfully acknowledged the need for a ban with earlier die-offs but ended with the comment, "The time for this ban has passed."

Riexinger suggested that anyone who wants to be updated on this and other DEC issues should subscribe to the free, weekly "Field Notes" available at dec.ny.gov/about/63801.html.

Additional public input meetings will be held Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., across the state. In Western New York, the meeting will be at Region 8 Headquarters in Avon, call (585) 226-5324, and at the Bath Sub-Office, call (585) 226-5324.

For those not able to attend, public comments can be forwarded until Sept. 10 to: Shaun Keeler, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233 or e-mailed to: fishregs@gw.dec.state.ny.us .

 

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Niagara Falls writer Ognibene retires

After more than 50 years as outdoors writer for the Niagara Gazette, Joe Ognibene, 83, penned his last “Outdoor Scene” column Sunday, Sept. 28.

Begun in 1957, Ognibene’s reports came directly from the many sites Western New York offers for outdoor storytelling. An inveterate outdoors-man, his beat continually has been the woods, fields and waters where hunters, anglers, trappers, shooters and all outdoors enthusiasts participated.

“It’s a good thing there are guys like Bill,” he often said of Bill Hilts Sr., life-long fellow outdoor writer from Niagara County. “He [Hilts] would attend the [club and governmental] meetings and I could get out fishing or hunting,” he would often boast.

Ognibene kept in touch with writers across New York State, but his membership in the New York State Outdoor Writers Association (NYSOWA) was only a brief tenure. His circle of friends and contacts spanned the Long Island, Catskills, Adirondacks, Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions. His reports on issues and field doings kept readers informed and very often sparked interests in taking up activities and in checking out destinations so well chronicled in his columns.

But he took particular pride in his Niagara River Anglers Association (NRAA) membership. He wrote in his final column: “I am quite proud of plunking down $5 to become the first charter member of NRAA when Mark and Joan Daul told me about it. This is the organization that did what many said could not be done, restocking the Niagara River with walleye that many are catching today. Thanks to the late John Long, who donated the rearing ponds. [NRAA’s efforts] became the model for other clubs throughout the state.”

Great Lakes water quality, legalization of the crossbow in New York State, legislative alerts on outdoors-related issues such as rifle-hunting areas, mandatory hunter orange and other concerns often entered his discussions on where the fish are biting, what gear to get and use, how, where and when to hunt and so many other aspects of the outdoor scene.

The recent passing of his wife, Mary, on Jan. 12 this year has left him with what he called “My too-big-of-a house with a lot of memories on west Grand Island.” After knee surgery at Kenmore Mercy Hospital on Monday, he said, “I’m looking forward to heading south and staying with my daughter in Florida.”

His recuperation should take about a month and he plans to go south with hopes of “sending back a few reports on Western New York snowbirders.”

After an appeal to remain alert and to stay active about the “many problems in our outdoor world,” he ended his column: “That’s what I think I’ll miss most, no longer rocking the boat. To all my readers, thank you, it was one helluva ride.”

 

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Fishing: Anglers confront emergency bait rules
By Will Elliott

Update on VHS 

Baiting up for that big bass or a nice bucket of yellow perch will take a bit more of a bite when buying minnows — and an understanding of what and how to do your bait gathering and keeping.

Emergency regulations designed to stop the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) has put a strain on how anglers can collect bait minnows for personal use when fishing.

Currently, rules have been set up to block VHS, and the stipulations are substantial. These rules remain in place until June 7, with a public input period extending until April 22.

For now, here’s the deal: Anglers cannot transport bait (live or salted) from one site to another. Persons dipping bait must use that bait at the location where minnows or chubs were captured.

The bait can be transported aboard a boat on the waterway from which the bait was taken, but minnows cannot be transported by any form of motor vehicle on land.

Bait dealers can only sell certified live minnows or minnows that have been salted by Department of Environmental Conservation approved procedures.

Dealers have to issue a receipt indicating the date and amount of bait sold to a purchaser, and that bait can only be used for a period of one week after the date of sale.

Many fishermen rely on minnows as a bait option, but perch anglers, especially in Western New York, consider minnows a must for catching these tasty food fish.

While bait prices have yet to double — as was the rumor over the winter — the new regulations are keeping area bait dealers busy trying to comply with the rules and finding sources of bait supplies.

“My bait prices went up 50-75 cents per dip and quantity went down,” said Jerry Olejniczak of Penrod’s Bait & Tackle in South Buffalo. On average, his bucket of bait price went from $5 to $6 since the new rules took effect.

“I’m sure it’s discouraged some people because they have to keep a dated receipt for only a week’s use, along with the price increase,” Olejniczak said. “This is not helping.”

Bill Van Camp, at Big Catch Bait & Tackle in the Riverside area now sets his price at $6 per dip. Van Camp pegs the end of certified Wisconsin emerald shiners at no later than sometime in May, about the start of the Lake Erie perch run.

Once certified emeralds will no longer be available, small golden shiners or fatheads will be the mainstay for perch pursuers — at even higher costs. He pointed out that bait dealers can sell salted minnows kept in a labeled bag as proof of purchase.

He predicts, “You’ll see a dramatic drop in the perch creel survey on Erie this year.”

Rick Miller, at Miller’s Bait & Tackle in Irving, dips about 60 minnows at $6 for his customers.

“We’re relying on Wisconsin bait, but it takes so long to be certified before they can be purchased from wholesalers that we might not have emeralds when the good perch fishing starts,” Miller said.

“Keep this up and there won’t be anyone doing anything [fishing],” he added.

Dave Watts at Dave’s Bait & Tackle in Derby simply said, “Boy, it’s hurting us here.” His sales have dropped and he wonders about the forthcoming perch season.

Lee Weber has already seen the enforcement side of these regulations. Weber was cited for selling $1 worth of bait to an angler without issuing him a receipt. He will appear in Evans court on Monday evening to argue this case.

Weber’s prices have gone up about a buck, in line with other dealers.

Lisa and Brian Green at Happy Hooker Bait in Ashville on Chautauqua Lake have not seen a drastic change in bait sales but, Lisa said, “They’re buying by the dozen rather than a dip of bait now.”

DEC officials plan to post signs indicating details of these new regulations at access sites, but, to date, all bait-dipping related notices have been posted by private individuals.

Tradition has it that Lake Erie perch only bite on emerald shiners. Oneida Lake perch like leeches, eyeballs, and nightcrawlers; Seneca Lake perch devour oak leaf bugs, many a nearby lake in Canada produce perch with just a can of blood worms.

Erie anglers will have to adjust, test the waters and find alternate ways to round up ringbacks. These VHS rules could be around for a while.

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