Winter, 1997-98
Volume 3, No. 1
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reports that it is planning on stocking 3.5 million coho salmon and trout in New York's Lake Ontario in 1998. In addition to this, the DEC plans on stocking 1.6 million chinook salmon. Brown trout and lake trout will be stocked at the same levels used in 1997.
The harvest rate of fish per fishing trip in 1997 was higher than the 1991-96 average for coho and chinook salmon and brown trout. The harvest rate for rainbows remained stable. With the harvest rate high and angler effort lower than average, now is the time to fish Lake Ontario!
Source: NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.
If you're wondering what the future holds for chinook (or king) salmon in Lake Ontario, the word from the DEC is that the early returning jack salmon (one-year-old salmon) was the largest on record last fall at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery in Altmar, NY. The number of returning jacks is one indicator that the DEC uses to determine year class strength. This is the second year in a row that returning numbers were extremely high. With the 1995 and 1996 year classes for king salmon being very strong, this translates into some great fishing on the lake in the way of two- and three-year-old fish. The two-year-old fish should be in the 7 to 10 pound range, with the three year olds at 15 to 20+ pounds in 1998. Things are looking good!
Article by Bill Hilts, Jr., Niagara County Tourism.
A new partnership between the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Orleans County Oak Orchard Business Association is paving the way for an even better sportfishery in the Oak Orchard Creek and all of Lake Ontario. Basically the project entails raising chinook salmon and steelhead in "pens" that are placed in the Oak Orchard Creek. Raising the fish in the Oak Orchard's water allows the fish to imprint on the water, ensuring a high return rate of mature salmon and trout to the creek during spawning season. It will also increase the survival rate of the fish.
The DEC has agreed to provide 50,000 chinook and 10,000 steelhead to the project, along with fish food and technical support. Local businesses, charter associations, and Trout Unlimited groups are donating the finances needed to build the pens.
Source: Jerry Senecal, "Self help in Orleans County," Salmon River Success.
Coastwatch, a web site developed by the New York and Michigan Sea Grant Programs, is the place to go for up-to-date surface water temperature maps of the Great Lakes. Because many Lake Ontario fish are temperature sensitive, this can help you track down those trophy salmon and trout. Data from high resolution satellites are used to generate these maps. The maps are updated as often as every six hours, depending on the amount of cloud cover. Anglers can access the web site at www.coastwatch.msu.edu. If you have any questions about Coastwatch, contact David MacNeill, NY Sea Grant, at 716-395-2638.
Cayuga County Tourism
131 Genesee St.
Auburn, NY 13021
315-255-1658
Fishing hotline: 315-947-6348
Greater Rochester Visitors Assoc.
126 Andrews St.
Rochester, NY 14604
1-800-677-7282
Fishing hotline: 716-987-8800
Niagara County Sportfishing
139 Niagara St.
Lockport, NY 14094
1-800-338-7890
Fishing hotline: 716-433-5606
Web site: http://www.niagara-usa.com
Orleans County Tourism
14016 Rte. 31W
Albion, NY 14411
1-800-724-0314
Web site: www.orleansny.com/tourism
Fishing hotline: 716-589-3220
Oswego Co. Promotion & Tourism
46 E. Bridge St.
Oswego, NY 13126
315-349-8322
Web site: www.co.oswego.ny.us
Fishing hotline: 1-800-248-4386
Seaway Trail, Inc.
109 Barracks Dr.
Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
1-800-732-9298
1000 Islands International Tourism Council
(Jefferson County)
PO Box 400
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
1-800-847-5263
Wayne Co. Office of Tourism
PO Box 131
Lyons, NY 14489
1-800-527-6510
Fishing hotline: 315-946-5466
Web site: http://www.tourism.co.wayne.ny.us
LOC Derby Office
88 Stark St.
Waterloo, NY 13165
1-888-REEL2IN
Web site: http://www.loc.org
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