Niagara Falls USA Fishing Forecast for June 23, 2021 from Destination Niagara USA
Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27, is a Free Fishing Weekend in New York State, the second of six Free Fishing Days recognized across the state each year. Take advantage of some of the outstanding fishing resources right here in Niagara Falls USA.
In Olcott Harbor, kids are getting ready for a youth derby for kids ages 4 to 15 on Saturday. The measuring station will be at the Town of Newfane Marina. According to Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors in Olcott, anglers have been catching a few walleyes off the piers there. In the harbor and up toward Burt Dam, there have been a mix of pike, catfish, crappies, carp, perch, and largemouth/smallmouth bass.
Capt. Mike Johannes of Wilson reports fishing is good off Wilson and Olcott right now for a mixed bag of steelhead, Coho salmon and King salmon in 60 to 200 feet of water. The best lures have been spoons in dark colors; orange and gold colors have also been working. Put your lures 40 to 80 feet below the surface with downriggers and divers. Chris and Nick Dougherty of Lockport took their dad Tom from Niagara Falls out on Father’s Day and caught Cohos, Kings and steelhead between Olcott and Wilson. Best action was between 100 and 160 feet of water. Early in the morning, meat rigs have been taking kings. Later switch to spoons or flasher-fly programs. Lots of orange, purple, pink, and blue colors according to Evarts. If you are into salmon and trout fishing, the Summer Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Trout and Salmon Derby starts on Saturday, June 26 and runs through July 25. For more info check out www.loc.org. Finally, Capt. Frank Campbell of Lewiston decided to take Michael Xu of New Jersey on the Niagara Bar at the drop off over the weekend and they enjoyed a banner day on Coho salmon averaging 7-9 pounds by using 8-inch spin doctors and green-glo flies that hit the 50–60-foot zone over 100 to 150 feet of water at the drop off. Those are some impressive Cohos!
In the Niagara River, the moss is the boss right now. The NYPA Fishing Platform is still producing smallmouth bass, but it has been getting more difficult each day with the moss, according to Lisa Drabczyk with Creek Road Bait and Tackle in Lewiston. One of the areas that is better for moss-free fishing has been the gorge up in the whirlpool area for smallmouth bass. Bass have also been cooperating in the Devil’s Hole area from a boat according to Capt. Joe Marra of Lewiston. He reported a dozen fish one day over the weekend, but moss was a nuisance. You can also try off Fort Niagara. In the upper river above Niagara Falls, Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls managed to catch some largemouth bass on jigs. He also caught some pike. Family Fish Days are set for Saturday and Sunday at Broderick Park during the Free Fishing Weekend from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Finally, there is another kids’ derby set for August 14 hosted by the Niagara River Anglers that will be held at their Nature Preserve in Porter from 9 a.m. to noon. However, space is limited, and you must be pre-registered by calling Paul Jackson at 998-8910. Do not wait!
