Lodging
dates are available for summer 2009, call soon
to reserve. Lots
of good fishing for steelhead, salmon and brown trout ahead. Reservations now
accepted for Fall 2009.
FISHING STIMULUS SALE extended through summer! Fly
rod/reel combos receive free flyline and can take an additional 5% OFF the below
discounts! For
example Ed from PA just purchased a great GLoomis fly rod and reel outfit and
he is excited about using it this upcoming trib season. Here's how much he saved
by getting 30% off the rod, 25% off the reel, a fly line for free and not having
to pay sales tax... reg price $590.65 - Ed paid $348.70 - he saved $241.95! Click
on the red BIG TACKLE SALES button above or on the home page. This is truly a
unique opportunity to purchase fly rods/reels or float & spin rods/reels at
unbelievable savings. We are overstocked with 50+ rods and reels and want to sell
these quality items to you. Nineteen (19) items sold already, don't miss this
chance for some great gear!
Here's how it works... Buy a rod OR
reel get 20% OFF the reg price. Buy a rod AND reel get 25% OFF
the second item reg price. (you can take 25% OFF the more expensive rod or
reel.) Buy a rod AND reel AND line get 30% OFF the line reg price.
Careful
and custom set-up for you. Please call soon to order your new rods and reels while
they are available. Our goal is to empty the rack for the summer off season.
Thanks to all who helped for the Oak Orchard River spring clean-up on Sat, Apr
18. Volunteers included John, Cheyrl and Josh from Lake Alice Cottages, D. Agness,
Professor John and the Licorice Man who picked up trash along the stream from
the Waterport dam to the Archer's Club and the Town of Carlton parking area.
We
are now on summer operating hours. The shop is open Thur, Fri, Sat and Sun. Lodging
is still available everyday and all calls and messages will be returned daily. Our
last end of April Oak Orchard and trib report... Oak Orchard turbine flows
are so far hanging in at slightly better fishable levels compared to other smaller
waterways. Water color has been mostly clear with 3+ feet of visibility, but now
turning back a little more stained. The rain and cool temps earlier this week
perked flows up only slightly. Now seasonal Erie Canal water feed will be commencing
with the Canal being filled for the summer season, so flows may increase slightly
and go a little off color. There has been an unseasonable warm-up thru weekend.
A slight blip back to cooler temps today and the area received some thunderstorms
last night. Some smallmouth bass have begun their spawning migration. Anglers
can target these fiesty fighters now before the season opener on a catch and release
basis. Anglers
can still get in on some late season action with a few steelhead hookups too.
Anglers might intercept some drop back fish or be lucky enough to come across
a few fresh steelhead. Rivermouth and shoreline casting action is underway with
spoon casters taking advantage of slowly warming in-shore waters. The action is
mostly for hungry brown trout with a few cohos or steelhead in the mix. Persistent
east or north winds can make for slower action. The
last of the steelhead action in the Oak Orchard should continue on any mod - med
or greater flows coupled with cool weather thru April. This weekend's hot weather
may just about cap off the last decent steelhead action in the Oak Orchard and
smaller tribs. Any remaining fish seem to be in the middle reaches of the river
near fast water gravel areas or dropping back into temporary holding lies in the
downstream, slower, slack water. Look for mod turbine flows thru the weekend.
Any more precip could bring flows higher and dirtier. Water temps have been around
the low 50's F and will begin to climb with warmer weather. Earlier higher water
temps put plenty of fish on gravel with spawning already complete for most fish.
Suckers are fairly numerous and smaller, fresh jack steelhead are also being caught.
Each
of the high water events since Jan encouraged some fresh steelhead migrations
and redistributed a few browns and darker steelhead thru all the tribs. The last
high flows about two weeks ago perked the action back up in the smaller waterways
for what now looks like the last bit of spring time action. Anglers
can also look toward the larger tribs like the Cattaraugus, Niagara or Genesee
Rivers hanging on to some late season opportunities. Check
out the pics below of some steelhead action from earlier late winter high and
off color flows.
Thru
the past week anglers making the typical dead drifts were into some hook-ups on
a few fresh and dropback fish mixed in on the Oak Orchard. Warming water temps
also offer the chance at shallower swung fly presentations.
Trib temps
will warm-up on lowering flows, longer days and any sunny warm weather. There
are rising and off color flows in the overflow channel of the Oak Orchard whenever
turbine flows cannot keep up with the water flow thru the Waterport reservior.
Anglers might consider re-releasing any fish caught there back into the turbine
channel to prevent fish from getting stranded and dying later this spring/summer.
Overall
the fishing pressure has been light. Weekends and milder temps are bringing only
a few more anglers out and about. Some anglers are now pursuing 8 - 10 inch trout
in their home waters instead of getting out for the last of the trib season 8
- 10 pounders! Mod
- med or greater and cool flows in the tribs will prolong and spread out the fishing
action. Low and clear and warming flows will stall migrations and bring the dropbacks
thru seeking cooler Lake waters.
Flows
in the Oak Orchard are mod with slightly stained visibility of about 2 - 3 feet.
Flows consist of turbine water. Any more precip could raise flows back up. The
downstream, slower slack water is open and Lake Ontario levels are rebounding
quickly leading to deeper, ponded water in the downstream reaches. The other area
smaller tribs have mod flows and just slightly stained water color. Thunderstorms
thru last night will cause a small increase in water flows with some color to
the water. Sportman's
Archers Club of St. Mary's Catch and Release Fly Fishing Contest on Oct 21, 22
and 23, 2009. Youth division added for 2008. Come experience the fun and hospitality
of the Archers Club and join them for the three day contest including breakfast
and lunch with lots of prizes and parking. Sign up early and park and fish all
week. What
does the Oak Orchard River, Lake Ontario and WNY offer? The chance to fish from
your own two feet for trout and salmon you measure in pounds, not inches, for
7 - 9 months depending upon weather and water conditions. Sure these recent economic
times may make it more difficult to make a fishing trip to WNY. We would point
out though, that a day or few day trip here to the Oak Orchard River and WNY
to fish for World Class trout and salmon is still easily the best bargain in trophy
fishing. The working man's big trout and salmon trip is still here, and it's
not even a contest compared to the other exotic, far off angling destinations.
The 2008/2009 trib season prospects look good too so come out and experience some
big fish action.
We believe our web reports are the straightest poop by far about Oak Orchard and
most WNY conditions. We are living and experiencing all the fishing action directly
or thru trusted reports of other die hard anglers as it happens, so consider a
fishing trip here to the Oak Orchard or any of the other WNY tribs this 2008/2009
trib season. Orleans Outdoor and the angling opportunities here are still easily
the best value in trout and salmon sportfishing.
So how do you know if trophy trout and salmon will be catchable upon your travels
to the Oak Orchard and WNY area? All the best web info, bulletin boards, angler
skill and top notch equipment cannot replace getting out there and actually fishing!
The nuances of fish migrations is an inexact science and we cannot predict the
future. Fish as soon as reasonable conditions allow instead of waiting for supposed
better conditions that may or may not materialize. Be one of the lucky few that
experiences good fishing as it takes place instead of hearing that famous quote,
"you should have been here yesterday!" Tight lines and
smooth drags! Licorice Man |