Spring Time on the Niagara Barby Capt. John "Troutman" Oravec            

                   When discussion turns to hot fishing Lake Ontario's Niagara Bar often tops the list. Located off the mouth on the Niagara River near Youngstown this fishing area draws tons of spring salmonids within reach of anyone with a trailerable boat and a dream! It's no mistake that quality fish show up like clockwork each May and here is three factors that explain why. Big-time Structure:           

               By viewing a chart of the bottom structure that is the "Bar" one see's the extent and detail of this giant alluvial dumping grounds. Thousands of years of Niagara River erosion creates a bar extending several miles out from the river's mouth. The deep channel here boils over a shallow ridge at the green buoy within sight of Fort Niagara, scouring out what I call the inside hole.                                                           From this hole northward expansive rolling bottom and flats are covered by 25 to 59 ft waters. Offshore to the northeast lies the ledge, which is marked by a red buoy. This drop off runs for miles southeast towards the port of Wilson.                                                             When you're talking about this spot you are dealing with many square miles of prime structure, OK! Active Temperature:                                                 Early water warm-up by virtue of the Niagara River inflow is on the massive scale. The source is the much shallower eastern Lake Erie plus tributaries of both the lake and the upper Niagara. The net difference in temp between the lower Niagara water flowing into and over the bar structure, sets up a monster fish attracting pocket, holding the warmest water in the entire western basin.                                           It is this nutrient rich, emerald green water that pulls in baitfish and salmonid predators. Out farther in the open part of the lake prevailing winds take over the current, spreading comfortable conditions and food offshore and eastward.                                         It is thought that the late April smelt run begins the inshore movement of king salmon toward the river mouth area and later all over the bar/river plume complex.                          As spring rolls on alewife stack here and emerald shiners, spottails ,and gizzard shad are also available for predators 24/7. It is no wonder that rods are going from the Fort to Four mile, and green buoy to red when the bar is hot! Don't Forget Current:                                            The power and breadth of the Niagara flow influences drift fishing at the mouth, no doubt. The "inside hole" is a way station for schools of bottom feeding lakers, browns, and rogue kings taking advantage of bait swarms commonly found in tight.                                                  Farther out, well beyond the buoys more gentle flow often sets eddies, slicks, and surface edges. Here, some basic shallow trolling tactics often provide steady action. I like to also consider the effect of lake winds driving surface water against subtle edges creating breaks that will hold high riding metalheads and cohos. Remember to consult the coastwatch.msu.edu site for daily changes in this area's surface temperature makeup.            Water shifts with the winds so launching strategy, whether from Lewiston, Youngstown, Wilson, or Olcott changes day to day. Study up and remember it is these elements, constantly at work, that form the largest spring feeding grounds on the lake.Now here are some fishing locations by species plus bonus guidelines from the "Book of O." King Salmon:            Chinooks normally arrive by late April following incoming smelt and alewives. Single scouts turn into schools as water continues to warm. Stable weather will expand the salmon zone for miles eastward to the Wilson and Olcott vicinity by mid May.                                                        When you locate salmon in this kind of warm stacked water attack with downriggers, sliders, and divers covering the picture. It is not uncommon to hit fish from 20 to 100 feet down in the same area. Make sure that spoon programs are speed matched and flasher rigs are working properly in the current. Attention newcomers! If you see boats hooking up copy the speed/troll angle this is critical here, watch out! Lake Trout:                                                              Lakers spend a lot of time bottom feeding inside the lower river within a mile of the Fort. Productive bottom drifting with shiners and Kwikfish, Stingfish, and Flatfish type plugs can produce some good fun anytime so be equipped for drift action even when you plan to troll.                            

                 By the time the LOC Derby rolls around, suspending lakers can be trolled up just about anywhere green lake water is found. Try downriggers up high with light spoons or boarded stickbaits for a flurry of fat LT's. Learn to take what the bar offers day to day and remember in this water leaves behemoth lakers capable of taking it all! Mixed Silvers:            Versatility is a key trait of consistent bar trollers, so don't get in a rut when the salmon disappear.                                                     Browns lock into the shallow rim structures just outside the big rivers mouth as well as typical shoreline runs east to the Four mile creek mouth and beyond.Live bait drifted or jigging spoons will take Fort Niagara browns. Deploy standard board tactics to get em on the beach. This river plume/ bar complex is notorious for surface breaks that can hold high suspending emerald shiners which often get crunched by steelhead and coho.                            Be ready to switch programs to smaller spoons, riggers, sliders and cores jacked up to 30 ft when you come across a color or temperature change, and anytime a high picture is marked.

            I hope that I provided a starting point for you to get in on the terrific action and challenges of this unique piece of water. Additional trip planning information can be found on the Niagara County fishing and tourism websites as well as the infamous Bill Hilts Fish Finder reports. Bottom line is the fish are there for anglers of all skill levels. It's time to get rigged, grab the kids and enjoy the awesome Niagara Bar fishery. I'll see you there! Troutman... Out!

  

                 Capt. John Oravec celebrates his 30th year as a guide, writer, and fishing educator. “Guiding is my passion,” working the lower Niagara River from Dec. 15th-April 15th, Lake Ontario May - Sept., then shifting to the St. Lawerence River in the fall. John, a.k.a. the “Troutman”, has written for In-Fisherman since 1980 and recently contributed to an ESPY award winning Great Lakes Fishing video with IF. John is available at 1(800) 443-2510 or captjohnoravec.com for guided trips and seminar speaking, as well as any questions pertaining to this article.