Upstate and Western New York Fishing Report – April 8 , 2021
Frank Campbell
Fishing action is taking off throughout Niagara County and Western New York and novice and veteran anglers should take advantage of the long list of opportunities that are available. The Niagara County Bullhead Tournament is starting on Friday, April 9 at 5 p.m. This is a shore fishing only event, with anglers vying for the best 2 bullheads total weight to win the prizes. Weigh in will take place on Sunday, April 11 at the Wilson Conservation Club from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more info call Eric at 628-6078. The tournament ends at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Fish will continue to be stocked in the state’s inland waters and we are still awaiting notification for some of the urban areas like Hyde Park Lake and Gill Creek in Niagara Falls, and Oppenheim Park Pond in Wheatfield. The fish stocking phone number for the Randolph Hatchery is 358-2050 if you want to see what has been stocked so far. New fishing regulations are now in place and the new regulations guide should be available at license-issuing agents this coming week. You can check those new regulations out at www.dec.ny.gov. The New York Power Authority fishing platform in the lower Niagara River is now open. Lower river trout action has improved considerably the past week according to Mike Ziehm of Niagara Falls fishing the gorge from shore. He caught 9 steelhead his last outing using No. 5 chartreuse with orange dots or chartreuse and gold spinners. He found his fish out a bit deeper. In the NYPA Reservoir, diverted water from the Niagara River, Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls says that he likes accessing off the NYPA Upper Mountain Road access behind the fire company. Action should be improving any day and his favorite baits include ¼ ounce white jigs or No. 3 spinners for a mixed bag of fish.