Daily Report

Saturday was another cold day with calm conditions and the temperature was in the teens during the day and single digits at night. The good news is that a warming trend is expected as we head into the upcoming week. We did pick up several more inches of lake effect snow over the last 24 hours. With the temperature dropping into the low teens slush ice has been a factor in the lower end of the river over the last couple of days. The upper end of the river between Altmar and Pineville is where the majority of anglers are going on a daily basis. Yesterday the few anglers we spoke with reported having some success in Altmar while getting into a mix of colored up fish and well as some fresh fish. With the current water level look for fish to be holding in and around the deeper holes and larger runs which are the normal winter holding areas. For those anglers who are fly fishing, dead drifting with nymphs, indicator fishing with egg patterns or swinging streamers with sink tips or sinking leaders have all produced results. For those anglers who are bottom bouncing or float fishing, egg sacs, beads, marabou jigs and pink worms have all been productive. 

Suggested patterns;

Egg patterns: Steelie omelette in size 10, Estaz eggs in chart, blue, purple, size 10. Glo-bugs in chart, pink, orange, size 10. Sucker spawn in chart, pink, blue, size 6.

Nymphs: Prince nymphs in size 10, Hare's ear in size 10, Pheasant tails in size 10, Flashback nymphs in size 10, Wiggle stones in size 10, Steelhead hammer in size 12, Beadhead stones in size 10. Rusher nymphs in size 10. 

Streamers: Black or purple egg sucking leeches in size 6. Woolly buggers in black, olive, brown, white, size 6. Fish skull zonkers in black, white, olive size 6.