September 2026 Reports
After earlier heavy rains with high and stained trib flows, a nice stretch of rain and storm free weather has settled in. And the Labor Day weekend weather and fishing didn’t disappoint! Look for seasonal temps and mostly clear weather ahead for the week. Just a small blip for mid-week with the chance of some showers or passing thunderstorms. Winds are calm for now after just a bit of a NE blow for the begin part of the past weekend. Recs and the last of the season Charters are out there now targeting mostly staging Kings or offshore action for salmon and steelhead.
After a strong showing in the summer LOC Derby, the Orleans County waters didn’t give up any leaderboard Kings for the fall LOC Derby. But that good Oak steelhead bite continued with a good representation of big steelhead on the board including the top 16 lb fish. Capt. Jake H. of Lines Down Fishing piloted Jim H, Tom “Bones” H and Chett W who caught the prize winner. They were fishing in 100 fow east of the Oak when the fish hit a carbon 14 spoon 55 ft down on a rigger. The fish put on an amazing display of power coming 4 ft out of the water on the first jump just 30 ft behind the boat. The family and friend fishing team knew it was a good one then! Later the team decided to fish Vicki’s spot where they boated another big steelie that made big fish of the day. Multiple rods went off when they went through the waypoint and they knew Vicki was smiling down on them.
The good staging mature salmon bite has been mostly around the 90 fow +/- mark lately. As winds move the temp profile around the fish can slide in or out and some trollers are targeting the more consistent action farther offshore. Capt. Rob W. of Legacy Charters says “there was a very good stager King bite leading up to this weekend Oak Orchard Big Boys Tourney. Sixty – 100 fow held lots of Kings but also some cohos. Cut bait and flashers, flasher/flies and some spoons were taking fish. Just outside the stager bite the steelhead fishing has been incredible from 100 – 300 fow. Then on Sunday some cold water rolled in and the good stager bite got a little scattered.”
For the Oak Orchard Big Boys Tourney of Sat and Sun, Yankee Troller took top spot with 317.52 points, with Hideout 2nd at 303.88 and Legacy 3rd at 287.56. Stay tuned for the final leg of the KOTO results that was also held for the weekend.
Trib flows are all on the backside of the flooded flows of last week. Look for a few early running fish with rivermouth and pier head action for casters and small craft boaters coming on better and better as the nights cool and staging fish move closer.
Orleans County open Lake and Oak waters continue to produce outstanding trolling action. Good and strong catches continue to predominate. And lately steelhead are giving a real good account of themselves too. Many trollers looking to stay on what’s been that good off shore salmon bite are most recently hooking as many or more steelhead then salmon. Catch and release of both salmon and steelhead that look strong after coming in quick are being released more and more. That sounds like a win – win for the chance at future good action on trophy sized fish for conservation minded anglers.
The heart of the Fall LOC Derby has been underway and the home stretch is this week thru the upcoming weekend holiday. Maybe you can find your derby glory or at least have a little competitive fun with a good fish on the leaderboard. There’s only one way to win or make the cut – you gotta be in it to win it! Try not to be the guy who catches a derby contending fish without a ticket!
Looks like this week forecast is calling for more of the same this summer - rain and storms. Already for the begin part of the week there’s been an 1 inch plus of precip. There is the good chance for more storms and severe weather for the mid-week period. Watch that forecast and be aware wind and waves can be stronger in and around thunderstorms. Weekend weather will be dry with sun and clouds, temps between 74 to 79 degrees.
Robert D and son Jack were fishing aboard the Rigger Mortis boat targeting staging salmon in 100 – 150 fow just east of Point Breeze. “There are definitely stagers in that water, along with all year classes of Kings and steelhead. Our derby steelhead (6th place Fall LOC) hit on a 250’ wire dipsey with a dodger and A Tom Mik fly.” The Rigger Mortis boat and anglers are usually right in on any good action!
Four friends and anglers aboard the 18 ft Lund Freetyme have been fishing together for 18 years. They recently made the westward migration to the steadier action off of the Oak. Lake Ontario action can lure anglers from afar and this group hails from Florida, Tennessee and NY. “We fished out of Oak Orchard and have done well in 120 – 140 fow with rigs down 70 – 90 ft. Cut bait and blue or chartreuse spoons have been top producers.”
Capt. Gerry S. from Rod Bender Charters says, “all the mature fish are sitting between 120 – 160 fow. White and black meat rigs and black J – plugs and Moonshine hot lips spoons are working for us.”
In the tribs look for elevated flows all around. And potentially going higher with more precip. There are reports of some browns already all the way to the Waterport dam. And a few Kings crashing around frog water areas. Its good to see the Oak water temps haven’t proved lethal yet for any early migrating fish. Still, temps are warm and hopefully the fact that most staging fish seem to still be out around 100 fow will mean that more substantial runs will occur a little later this season on more consistent cool downs.
These high flows are somewhat a new phenomenon tho over recent years so trib anglers should stay ready for more action soon! A few pier casters are already hitting it.
Don’t forget to use your eyes along with your electronics to find any fishy water!
