Observations from the Water – 03/27/2022
März 27, 2022
Buffalo
5 Fotos
+2
Beschreibung des Ausflugs
Beschreibung des Ausflugs
Days on the Water: 3
Who we fished with: friends/clients
Where we fished: Lower Niagara, Lake Ontario
What we caught: steelhead, lake trout
Tactics: 3-way rigs with beads, jigs, or live bait; trolling spoons
Commentary for the Week of 03/20/2022 – 03/27/2022
My predictions for the week were…off to say the least. Lots of wind, flowing ice, cold, and some rain – my plan to fish every day got squashed. Scroll down for the daily report.
For the audio version of this report and much more, tap the link or image below:
**hidden content**
**hidden content** iOS - Observations from the Water - 03/27/2022
Daily Conditions Analysis
Weather Breakdown
- Monday – gorgeous day. Mild temperatures in the upper 40s, little to no wind, excellent water clarity. Did some more recon on Lake Ontario – fished for lakers out deep and trolled shallow for browns (there was a good mud line set up).
- Tuesday – another perfect day. We fished Lake Ontario and boated some lake trout trolling spoons out in the deep stuff – chartreuse and gold flutter spoons worked best. Mild NE winds cleared up the shoreline negating the possibility of browns.
- Wednesday – Temperatures dropped a little. Wind was raging out of the east and we received over a half inch of rain. Opted to reschedule the trip. Lots of ice got pushed over the Lake Erie ice boom due to the wind. East winds trapped much of it in the upper Niagara against the shore.
- Thursday – fished the Lower Niagara and a little bit of Lake Ontario. Some of the ice that got pushed from Lake Erie the day prior made it’s way downstream. It wasn’t a huge problem but there were lots of large ‘bergs we needed to dodge throughout the day. It fished well for the first couple hours – most of the fish ate live minnows but we caught one on an orange bead. Made a transition to Lake Ontario – wind kicked up BIG so we came back in. Water picked up significant stain as the day went on – a result of the rain we received the day prior. Back half of the day was a grind.
- Friday – Had a last minute cancellation. Conditions were somewhat painful – wind and cold. Didn’t fish.
- Saturday – more wind, colder temperatures, snow and rain throughout the day. Had regular clients that were going to drive in from Maryland. Opted to reschedule vs. fishing in harsh conditions.
- Sunday – winter cold – temps in the 20s. BIG NW winds and snow early in the day – opted to reschedule.
Seasonal Assessment/General Observations
Although my day-by-day predictions for this past week were off, the larger observation of a reversion back to winter weather came to pass. Although it’s officially spring, Mother Nature ain’t ready to let us stay in tank tops, shorts, and flops – comfortably that is. Remember this blog The Annual Pattern of Life in the Buffalo Niagara Region **hidden content** – I discussed in detail how the dates we assign to seasons are reference points at best.
Although I’m not stoked about the fact that I lost trips this past week, I’m not upset about things staying cold for a little while longer. I’ve mentioned this before but it’s worth repeating – if it’s safe, I’m always ready and willing to fish. However, when it’s freezing, the wind is howling, and stuff is falling out of the sky, I’m brutally transparent with my clients about what they can expect on the water and always give them the option to reschedule vs enduring what will likely be a painful session. Most reschedule – but a hardcore few opt to make a day out of it. I’m happy with either course of action as long as my clients are.
The prolonged colder period isn’t a bad thing in my opinion. Sure, it sucks still having to wear the heavy bibs and gloves, but a gradual warming would be optimal. There’s still some ice left on Lake Erie – something like 0.5%. In other words, it’s almost gone but what remains is stuck behind the ice boom in front of Buffalo, NY. That ice is helping to keep the water temperatures cold – just like an ice cube in a cup of water. Warmer temperatures will slowly melt that ice and then warm the water.
A slow warming period often leads to a prolonged crescendo of action in the heart of spring. Bass stay active/spawn later. Salmon stay shallower and easier to find for longer. Steelhead remain in the river longer. Stated simply – the slower the water warms = the more consistent action will be across a longer period. The last time that happened was 2019 – it was an awesome spring. We’re more on a 2020 pace right now – that was an awesome spring too (despite the pandemic) but the peak came and went quickly. I’m hoping for a something in between. Bottom line – water temperature matters A LOT. Check out these links if you want to monitor this too:
Lake Temperatures **hidden content**
Ice Cover: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory – Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Niagara Iceboom Camera Screens **hidden content**
Looking Forward to the Week of