Daily Report

Wednesday was another cold and windy day, while we do have some snow on the ground, the heaviest of lake effect snow for the most part has stayed just north of us between Sandy Creek and Watertown. Over the last couple of days the release from the dam has been 750cfs and around 1040cfs at the Pineville gauge. With the temperature dropping into the teens at night slush ice has been a factor in the lower end of the river in the morning. The upper end of the river between Altmar and Pineville is where the majority of anglers are going on a daily basis. If your willing to walk the mid to lower section of river would be a good choice if your looking for some solitude. 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.