Daily Report

On Saturday we had lake effect snow showers for most of the day along with very high winds. The temperature did actually reach into the 30's, but the high winds made it feel like teens. We only picked up a couple inches at the shop and the highest snow totals were on the Tug Hill. The dam release is 1600cfs and as of this morning Pineville gauge was around 1960cfs. The upper end of the river in Altmar will have the best water clarity and the least amount of runoff and is where the majority of bank anglers are going. The drift boats are taking advantage of the higher flows while covering lots of water.  With the higher flows the fish will be holding in the softer water along the edges and inside seams. For those anglers who are fly fishing, anglers have had success dead drifting with nymphs, using egg patterns under a strike indicator or swinging small streamers with sink tips. For those anglers who are float fishing or bottom bouncing, egg sacs or beads have produced the best results.

Suggested patterns:

Egg patterns: Glo-bugs, estaz eggs, sucker spawn, steelie omelet in size 6-10.

Streamers: Krystal buggers, egg sucking leeches, beadhead woolly buggers in size 6-10.

Nymphs: Prince nymphs, Copper John's, Hare's ear, Rubber legged stones, Wiggle stones, estaz stones, steelhead hammer, steak-n-eggs in size 8-10.