July 2026 Reports
Most trollers report scattered action out there on the Orleans County Lake Ontario waters. The weather and winds are changeable and so that can lead to different water conditions almost daily. Some trollers are working inshore waters and some others are moving farther offshore looking for more stable conditions. Neither choice is bad, because good hook-ups can be found in or out. Some good browns are coming nearer shore at mid depths and on different days there’s good salmon action there too. Then off-shore even out to the 34 line or 500 – 600+ fow anglers are roaming about and can find salmon action. Remember it becomes a bigger Lake especially moving offshore to deeper depths so your spread has to cover all that water for any strikes!
The forecast is for hot and humid conditions for this mid-week period. Then just seasonably warm for end of the week but chance for more northeast winds. Many boats lately are starting out in the 50+ fow range for those browns or salmon and then heading north as the sun get higher and hotter. Not a bad strategy unless the winds get gusty from the west or southwest like today, Tue.
Capt. Dave S. from Tracker Charters has been searching for that scattered action and has found some real nice browns and some salmon. He says “real good browns are coming from 60 fow and we’ve found some fish suspended out at the 25 – 26 lines too. There can be a lot of skippers, so try to avoid those spots were they are heaviest if possible. What works one day to the next changes, one day its flies and then the next day its spoons.”
Another rec angler who regularly makes the trek from the southern tier NY just missed the summer LOC leaderboard from his past beginning of the weekend day out. The Getting Wet boat set up in 250 fow and started their troll on a NW pattern. They hit their first salmon in 300 fow and went all the way to 500 fow. Heading back in on a SW troll they hit another big King in 250 fow. The salmon came on a flasher fly on a chinook diver out 145’. For the days action they went 7 for 9 so all in all it was a decent day.
After a stretch of some exceptional hot and humid weather things have turned back seasonably warm with some passing storms. Heavier rains south of the area missed the Oak Orchard area for the begin part of this week. There have been medium east winds the past few days which are forecasted to last about thru the mid week. Warmer temps and building humidity with the chance of passing storms are expected through the end of the week.
As a whole the big lake open water action for the Orleans County waters is somewhat mixed. During the hotter weather recs and charters were scattered at the mid depths or offshore out front or east and west of Point Breeze. There’s the good likelihood colder water will be moving near shore or on shore with continuing east winds. So if it doesn’t go icy it could move some brown trout or salmon action in. Check out the latest Oak Orchard weather buoy info for the temp profile.
Capt. Chris V. from U-Betcha Charters fished browns this past weekend. “On Sunday we had a steady bite in the morning in 50 – 70 fow. Black and gold and black and glow Stingray spoons were best. We had riggers and divers 5 – 10 ft off the bottom. This east wind may bring in some cold water and move those browns in.”
Capt Jerry S. from Rod Benders Charters targeted salmon farther out. “We fished 150 – 250 fow east of the harbor. It was a good spoon bite with black and white best and we got some on meat too.”
Rec anglers Teresa and Mark L. had steady action on their weekend troll for nice browns and salmon. Their action was in 100 – 135 fow right out front with browns coming on divers and green/black combo spoons. They took some salmon on meat rigs down 55 – 75 ft.
Capt. Lou B. of Get the Net Fishing Charters fishing out of Bald Eagle Marina has been into pretty consistent action the past week. “We have mostly been working between 90 – 125 fow with some good fish caught as far out as 300 fow. It has been mostly a spoon bite with Moonshine seasick wobbler taking our fair share of fish. Lead cores with 6 – 8 colors out and 300 ft coppers have been very productive too. Most of our fish have come between Bald Eagle and the glass house.”
