LEWISTON, N.Y. — Pound-for-pound, the smallmouth bass is preferred by many anglers across the Northeast as their freshwater species of choice.
What many anglers often overlook, however, when pursuing smallmouth is that New York’s Niagara River offers some of the best bass fishing to be found. Other freshwater game species are also in abundance in the river.
Fishing out of Lewiston, New York, provides many options for both the angler and non-angler as the town and the river draw fishing enthusiasts from near and far. The vibrant village is also home to some outstanding restaurants and historical sites. Lewiston was known as the last stop to freedom on the Underground Railroad network of secret routes and safe houses once used by 19th-century slaves to escape to free northern states and Canada.
One of the top fishing guides in the area is Capt. Matt Yablonsky, owner of Wet Net Charters, whose 21-foot Lund, Baron Deep-V fishing boat is outfitted with all the modern equipment needed for a successful fishing experience. His charters depart from the public boat launch at Fort Niagara State Park next to the village of Youngstown, New York, and the public launch at Lewiston to drift the river for smallmouth bass.
Fishing from such a spacious boat allows for plenty of room for anglers to fight fish when there are multiple hookups. Its wide beam also makes it ideal for family outings.
Located a few miles downstream from the Lewiston ramp, the park is the site of historic Fort Niagara situated at the mouth of the river. When departing from the Lewiston ramp, conveniently located approximately 300 yards from the Barton Hill Hotel and Spa, anglers are fishing within minutes of launching.
Yablonsky focuses his bass charters on the lower eight miles of the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The area that is considered one of the best fisheries in the world and its location makes it a popular destination for anglers. Located between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, the Lower Niagara River serves as a conduit connecting the two Great Lakes, which are 45 miles apart.
Depending on conditions and angler preference, Yablonsky varies his presentations from live minnows to crankbaits, but drifting minnows with the current is one surefire method for landing a boat full of bronzebacks 1-6 pounds. Jigs with brown and black skirts and tails resembling a crayfish prove deadly during the summer and upcoming fall seasons.
Yablonsky operates charter trips year-round on the Niagara. In the fall, he may be fishing for smallmouth one day and king salmon the next, and, for anglers not releasing fish, he will clean their catch for the trip home. Yablonsky targets steelhead and lake trout during the winter months, and in the spring the target species are steelhead and then brown trout, which can be caught as late as the early days of bass season in June.
In addition to the world-class fishing to be had on the Niagara River, the area can be structured as a true family vacation. Non-fishing visitors and anglers alike will enjoy the great variety of tours available.
Of all the attractions and multitude of touring opportunities associated with the Lower Niagara River and the Niagara Falls, perhaps the best known is the Maid of the Mist boat tours to the falls. On this exciting adventure boats travel within yards of the falls with the wind sending the spray across the boat causing guests that did not don the provided rain ponchos wishing they had heeded the venue’s advice.
For information on fishing trips with Wet Net Charters access the website www.getthenetwet.com or call Capt. Matt Yablonsky at (716) 550-0413; for information about lodging at Barton Hill Hotel and Spa access the website at www.bartonhillhotel.com; for information about fishing, lodging and other attractions in the Niagara Region access the website at www.niagara-usa.com.