April 2026 Reports
The spring time big Lake trolling action around the Orleans County Oak Orchard waters continues to be good. And those real nice near shore Kings are still being encountered too. Those are real fine battles on typical lighter rig brown trout setups. There’s not been any serious weather warmup yet, so those near shore waters are quite hospitable for salmonids. The near forecast ahead looks continued cool so expect the good action to hang in or get better with any near shore movements of bait that might be upcoming.
Capt Chris V. from U-Betcha Charters says, “was surprised the fishing was really good this past Sunday even after the NE blow on Saturday. We fished 10 – 15 fow and the brown trout bite was good and we also picked up 3 Kings. Mainly long lines with bombers were working. Then we moved out to 60 fow and got a few lakers with white/green dot spin doctors on wire divers near the bottom.”
Capt. Lou B. of Get the Net Charters out of Bald Eagle Marina had good weekend action too. “Fishing along the shoreline continues to be good. Lots of brown trout bites with a good number of Kings mixed in. We have been working mostly 10 – 20 fow water with fish holding in warmer water of 44 – 46 F. Look for that warmer water because 1 – 2 degrees can make a difference. Best lures have been Dreamweaver Warrior XLs. The smaller earlier season browns are now giving way to bigger, healthier fish.”
Steelhead pens were towed out to the rivermouth yesterday and nets were dropped. Salmon nets were dropped at the marina slips. Release seemed to go well and USDA hazing crew was on hand for good cormorant control. Many thanks to all the volunteers helping with the pen rearing projects and the hard work of NYSDEC and hatchery personnel to make it happen.
The past weekend rains didn’t change flows in the Oak much. Flows in the other area smaller tribs did come up some and get stained but for now are on the retreat. Flows in the Oak are about med or just a little more. Flows consist of a good head of turbine water with about 2 ft of visibility. Pretty nice flow conditions and the near term forecast looks continued cool. That should keep water temps from spiking and allow for the chance for any last lick steelhead chances. There is the chance for rains this mid week +/- 0.75 inch that could raise flows back up.
Bass action should be coming on and if good or higher flows prevail then look for fish to be spread out well upstream. The good brown trout casting action for land lubbers or small craft should likewise hang on as cool weather may hang in and keep nearshore Lake temps cool or when onshore bait movements happen.
April and near shore action in the Orleans County waters has been holding up real well with lots of action for civilian trollers and Charters alike! There’s been some blow off days here and there and boaters have to manage the dirty water or mudlines. But when there is reasonable conditions the shallow water browns and Kings have been cooperating. Moving out a little deeper to mid-depths trollers have found the lakers too.
Capt. Chas T. from Searcher Charters says “depends on the water color but browns and salmon have been in tight. The numbers of fish has been great in 10 – 15 fow. Renosky stickbaits have been especially good and DW super slim spoons have been working too. We’ve been finding our lake trout bites with fish in 45 – 75 fow.” Happy anglers and limits have been the norm.
Another civilian solo troller had good action in just an evening outing this past weekend. One good King was hooked in 40 fow about 20 ft down west of Point Breeze. There was some bait tight to bottom in 35 fow and what looked like bottom hugging lakers in 50 – 60 fow. Moving out deeper there was cold water. Back inside in less then 10 fow in the stain the brown trout were biting small spoons. The shallow water bites made it hard to run just a couple of rods!
We may actually be in somewhat of a drying out period after more rain through last week and weekend. Trib flows for now have crested and are back on the drop and clear. After a couple days and nights of cold temps the rest of this week looks seasonably warm with no major precip in the forecast. Next chance at rain is for the upcoming weekend.
Flows in the Oak are slightly high with diminished overflow water. Flows consist of a strong head of turbine flows with about 1 foot of visibility. Flows may continue to drop and clear slowly without any new significant precipitation. Fishing pressure is real light with only a handful of anglers out.
One angler yesterday had some swinging action in the softer water adjacent to a fast water riffle spot. Water temps are hanging in coolish for now in the high 50’s F so steelhead should still be in the waterway with some spawners and drop back fish. All those winter time fish that hung at the dam can be intercepted as they move back out right about now. There is still the chance for fresh fish, some browns or new bass. Keep the drift or swing up and lively and hopefully away from the suckers!
The other area smaller waterways have med flows and slightly stained water color with 1 – 2 ft of visibility. Look for a few dropback steelhead or some browns or bass. Water temps are likely higher then temps in the Oak.
After onshore windy days or with lite to med offshore winds the pierhead and lakeshore casting action has been good, like in the picture below. It seems like there is a good amount of browns out in the open Lake of all year classes – small fresh silver fish, med size post spawn drop back fish and a few legit 10 + pounders.
Spring time Oak Orchard stocking efforts continue with the most recent plants of 37,000 fingerling browns at Point Breeze, see the picture below. USDA cormorant hazing efforts (very important) take place at the same time as stocking to give the fingerlings a good head start at dispersal. Pen reared Kings and steelhead are doing well and are targeted for release next week after their hopeful imprinting on the Oak!
This weeks weather is trending warmer with the chance for off and on rain or storms. No significant precipitation yet, with storms having gone both north and south of the area so far. Breezy and windy conditions are forecast through the mid week and better chance at rain Wed or Thu. Longer range forecast is pointing toward a cool down for the end of the upcoming weekend.
Trolling action on the open Lake has been good off the Orleans County waters at Point Breeze. Guys are mostly into drop back browns that seem hungry and have been willing biters. Some on and off stronger winds coming along with passing storms has been the only limiting factor in getting out there. Over-all fishing pressure has been manageable with boats spread out west and east of port. County launch docks are in place at Point Breeze now and parking is available. The rest of the County facilities including restrooms will come on-line soon.
Capt. Jonathon Ross of Route 18 Tackle says “there’s been some Kings hooked up by the trollers working 8 – 25 fow for browns. They’re in pods east of port and going toward Rochester. Those fish are in the stained and warmer discharges of the tribs that have been running on the high side. The Kings will likely disperse but for now they are being taken on the usual spoons and stickbaits that trollers are working for the brown trout.”
No doubt trib water temps are moving into the 50’s + F. The Oak should weather this warm up ok with steelhead still being present, especially if temps cool down ahead. Inevitably though, we can expect steelhead and brown trout to be dropping back toward the Lake (marooned overflow fish may be stranded for now).
Flows in the Oak are slightly high and dropping slowly with 2 ft of stained water color. Flows are real nice for fish to hold most anyplace they want to be. As flows drop and clear the spawning gravel spots become less heavy and anglers can wade and position themselves better for best drifts or swings. Latest intel from the past weekend still had guys scoring steelhead hookups nearer the dam. And downstream dead drifters were into some semi fresh fish in the holes adjacent to gravel spots. A few anglers are making some drifts and swings to spawning fish.
The other area smaller waterways have mod – med flows and slightly stained water color that is warming up a little quicker then the Oak. Look for some lingering steelhead or browns and smallmouth action coming on.
Nearshore and pier head casters are finding receptive hungry post spawn brown trout as long as good looking water not blown up muddy from wind and waves is within casting range. Unfortunately spring time and the weather lately has been bringing on a fair amount of onshore winds!
There was more rain and storms through the past weekend for the Oak Orchard area. Flows in the Oak are high consisting of a strong head of turbine water and some overflow water. Water color is dirty with less than a foot of visibility. Wind and cold temps have also returned for this begin part of the week. By mid-week and forward the weather is looking seasonable warm again and just a chance for showers end of the week. Look for diminishing overflow water by mid and end of week with a continued strong head of turbine flows. Water color should continue to improve with visibility around 1 foot or better.
The other area smaller waterways have slightly high and stained flows with about one foot of visibility. Flows should continue to drop and clear this week especially after a cold night tonight.
Fishing pressure all around is real light. As water conditions improve on the Oak ahead there should still be steelhead hook-up chances. Water temp remains cool if not cold so there’s been no high temp spike to have chased fish back to the Lake. Fishing pressure is likely to remain light at the most. Anglers will be able to target spawning or drop back steelhead or those pooled up fish in the overflow pools.
In the other area smaller tribs there should be some dropback steelhead, dropback or fresh run browns and more smallmouth bass action coming on.
Oak Orchard sportfishing stakeholders received 150,000 King salmon and 15,000 steelhead for pen rearing from the NYSDEC on Monday, Apr 6. Fish delivery went well and all the pens are soaking at Ernsts Lake Breeze Marina. Steelhead were slashing at feeding time already this morning! The fish will be fed and cared for over the next few weeks for eventual release. These fish represent just some of the Orleans County salmonid stocking allotment.
On the open Lake waters the nearshore waters are harboring some hungry trout and salmon! Small boat trollers have been up against some of the same challenging weather and water conditions that trib guys have been battling. So the days on the water have been less then wanted or the days cut short from building winds. The near-term forecast ahead tho is looking better and more favorable for small boat trolling or casting action. A few bigger charter boats have been out like the Northeastern. Captain Adam says “the water has been muddy/stained off the rivers from heavy rains and constant N or W winds. Catches have included mainly browns, a few cohos or steelhead or lakers. Theres even been a few King bites already. The bites have been from 10 – 25 fow on the edges of the mud or in pockets of colored water. Stickbaits off the planer boards in fluorescent colors, Chinook divers back 8 – 15 ft on #3 setting or downriggers down 5 – 10 ft with spoon colors like can’t afford it, goose n tonic, rosemarys or UV diehard. Lakers are available too around 50 – 80 fow working the bottom or for suspended fish 5 – 15 ft off the bottom as well.”
