Unfortunately, the rumors are true. I’m officially old. When my four-year-old grandson is better on my smartphone than I am, its official. I hate to admit it, but there are younger faces on folding money. And like most geezers, I have several friends who have moved to Florida. Most of the winter I have to hear how great the weather is there. This I can’t argue, but from what I see of Florida, it looks like one long overcrowded mall with a beach attached that extends the entire length of both coasts. For some reason, I think of disco music when I’m down there. It just seems fake. But I’m sure it’s my jealousy clouding my perspective. This envy flies out the recently opened window when we get one of those spectacular spring days that we can get in March or, more likely, April.
When those days occur, anglers young and old migrate to water as if under a spell. Once on or near the water, we would be neglecting our responsibilities as anglers if we didn’t wet a line.
The toughest choice is where to wet said line. We that fish here in Western New York are spoiled with so many choices.
If you are a stream angler, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation stocks around 2.3 million catchable-size brook, brown, and rainbow trout in almost 300 lakes, ponds, and roughly 3,100 miles of streams across the state. Many of these streams support wild populations of trout as well.
There is good fishing in the stocked streams like Naples Creek, Catherine Creek, and Powder Mills Park. The DEC stocks around 151,000 brook trout, 1.8 million brown trout, 89,000 of which are two-year-old fish that average 13 inches, and around 392,000 rainbow trout are stocked each spring into streams and lakes. Just remember, trout season opens on April 1.
This April 1st trout opener is not the big deal that it once was here in Western New York because the trout season on the tributaries off Lake Ontario is open year-round.
As far as tributaries of Lake Ontario, Irondequoit Creek and the Genesee River are well known hot spots, but there are some small creeks, like Sandy Creek in Hamlin, Mink Creek in Williamson, and Four Mile Creek in Webster. Remember many of these streams run through private property, so you need to get permission to fish there.
If you have a boat, Lake Ontario brown trout fishing in April is some of the best in the country and these browns are in close to shore and hungry. Slow trolling Rapala type stick baits in shallow water in front of any of the tributaries is the ticket. When fishing Lake Ontario, you must always beware of the wind forecast. There is a free App called “Windfinder” that gives hour-by-hour wind forecasts. Stay off the lake if strong north or northwest winds are forecasted.
The Genesee River has a great public launch down in Charlotte at the north end of Lake Avenue. If you drop in there, you will be right in the middle of the brown trout action. Troll near the mouth of the Genesee or go east about a mile and you will be at mouth of Irondequoit Bay. Go west a few miles and be at the mouth of Sandy Creek. Look for changes in the water clarity along the shoreline in 10 to 15 feet of water and start there. Remember to troll slowly. The colder the water temperature, the less aggressive most freshwater fish are.
The perch bite is also happening in early April. The ponds in Greece are a hotspot to fish from shore. Small minnows or spikes are your best bet this time of year. Your rig should have light line with a small #6 hook tied on the bottom and a weighted bobber about four feet up from the hook. You can tell if the bite is on just by driving down Edgemere Drive; the anglers will be shoulder to shoulder. If fishing there, don’t leave any trash on shore. It’s outrageous to see the junk left on the shoreline there.
For trout anglers, practice CPR – Catch, Photograph, Release. If you’re catching perch, do just the opposite. These fish are made for the skillet and will give any fresh fish on the market a run for its money.
If you are interested in trying some trout stream fishing for the first time, the DEC has information and tips where and how to stream fish in New York State on their website.
Spring is here, now get out there and wet a line of any kind because its time… and the fishing is fine.
