April 2026 Reports
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.”
