Question about lower niagara

[dewey123]

I wasnt sure where to post this but I am planning on using a boat in the lower river maybe all year around...at least into the winter months. I am wondering about where to launch...do they still have the docks in at the lewiston launch or will i have to do something crazy to get in my boat. Also on the days it is cold and snowy below freezing...after pulling the boat out of the water do I have to do anything like pump antifreeze into the motor so it dont freeze and crack or just take it home and forget about it? Maybe a little overkill but do you guys put tire chains/cables on when launching and retreiving your boat so you dont get stuck on the ice in the boat launch??Any tips would be helpfull. For now i plan to fish below the power authority but i have fished down river for walleyes in the summer. Thanks

[muskybob]

Keep a bag of kitty litter in the back of the truck for those days you start spinnin on the ice.

[kliph]

Lewiston will have a sand/salt pile by the launch.

They also do a good job of keeping the launch

plowed in the winter.

Assuming you have an outboard, all I do in

the winter once I have the boat on the trailer

(and the motor tilted down)is crank it over for about 2 seconds.

That is enough to "squeegee" the water pump.

Be sure your lower unit doesn't leak.

[dewey123]

ok tanks for the info guys...are the docks in the water all year around in lewiston?

[Diversion]

Yes, there is always at least a part of the dock in at Lewiston. In the dead of winter when the ice is the worst, there is at least a section of dock about the size of a 19' boat that you can tie up to.

[dewey123]

Ok that's good news. Can you normally fish the lower river from a boat all winter? I always remember seeing boats all winter but my dad told me after december there is too much ice ine the water....but I don't remembernuch ice in the river in the winter. Thanks again for the input

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[Diversion]

Check this link, some good details for the lower niagara, at the very bottom is a picture of the extreme end of the ice. I've fished in this before, no big deal, just have to take your time plowing through it.

http://www.outdoorsniagara.com/niagarar ... elhead.htm

[kliph]

The worse time for ice in the lower river is when it is

very cold.

(except, of course when the ice bridge below

the falls brakes up or when the ice boom is taken out.

Both will happen in the spring)

Something like 15 deg and lower for 2- 3 days and the river

starts to "make" ice.

Add to that a west wind and it will push all

the ice to the American side of the river.

That's why it's always best to have a Canadian license.

In the winter the main target is steelhead but you can also get

brown trout and lakers and sometimes walleye.

Sometimes all the same day.

Of course, sometimes zip.

[Sharpie1]

Great fishing in Lewiston all year....I grew up there and love to fish the lower niagara river. However it is very dangerous!!! Be more than careful. And please note after November 1 all persons aboard the boat must have a wet/dry water survival suit on. It is a new law and a very, very good one. Fish quickfish on a three way rig, close to the banks, like 10 to 15 ft from shore, the current is very swift and swirling.

And lastly there is a method to the madness, the boats take turns drifting so pay close attention and jump in the pattern. Good Luck..

Sharpie

[jeb1340]

Sharpie, were did you hear about this new law. Last year a law was introduced that stated that you must were a PFD, didn't hear anything about a wet/dry/survival suit. Searched the state's website and this was all I could find:

§ 40. Equipment. Equipment required herein shall be carried on every

vessel except as otherwise provided, while underway, or at anchor with

any person aboard, while on the navigable waters of the state and any

tidewaters bordering on or lying within the boundaries of Nassau and

Suffolk counties. Should the federal government adopt vessel equipment

requirements different from those contained in this section, the

commissioner shall be authorized to adopt rules and regulations

superceding the vessel equipment requirements of this section to achieve

consistency with federal standards, and shall submit such proposed rules

and regulations to the secretary of state in accordance with the state

administrative procedure act within thirty days of the adoption of

federal equipment requirements or submit a statement as to why such

conforming changes are not being proposed.

1. Personal flotation devices.

(a) Every pleasure vessel and every rowboat, canoe and kayak shall

have at least one wearable personal flotation device for each person on

board, which shall be of a type approved by the United States coast

guard and shall be in good condition.

(b) Pleasure vessels sixteen feet and greater in length shall carry at

least one type IV throwable personal flotation device which shall be of

a type approved by the United States coast guard and shall be in good

condition.

© Every operator or person in charge or control of a pleasure

vessel, rowboat or canoe, as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this

subdivision, shall be responsible for compliance with the provisions of

this subdivision.

(d) No person shall operate a pleasure vessel of Class A, one, two or

three as classified and defined in subdivision one of section

forty-three of this article or a rowboat, canoe or kayak nor shall the

owner of such vessel while on board such vessel knowingly permit its

operation, unless each person on such vessel under the age of twelve is

wearing a securely fastened United States Coast Guard approved wearable

personal flotation device of an appropriate size when said vessel is

underway. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any person

on such vessel under the age of twelve who is within a fully enclosed

cabin.

(e) No owner or operator of a pleasure vessel less than twenty-one

feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks shall permit its operation,

between November first and May first, unless each person on board such

vessel is wearing a securely fastened United States Coast Guard approved

wearable personal flotation device of an appropriate size when such

vessel is underway.

[Chromeslayer]

Only a PFD is required... not the suit.... but the floater suits do meet the USCG requirements of a PFD

[dewey123]

I was talking to a guy that used a survival/floatation suit and said it kept him very warm in the winter and suggested that i get one. Do alot of people use these in the winter? and how much are they ?

[Chromeslayer]

Yes alot of people use them in the winter on the niagara. Price range varies on brands and models. 250 and up

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[kliph]

I have a Mustang flotation suit. It's a little bulky.

But it is warm.

I use it for ice fishing, also.

http://mustangsurvival.com/products/pro ... d=547&mc=6

[dewey123]

ok thats still reasonable cost, 250 is nothing if it saves your life hopefully it never gets wet. Im gonna check that link out and search around online.

[rebs]

Lewiston is the only place to launch when the shore ice starts to form. Fort Niagara is not maintained during the winter, you can launch there if the docks are not iced in.

Lewiston maintains their docks and even send a toen backhoe down to clear the ice out, they also keep a salt pile and a shovel at the dock.

as long as you have an outboard motor you are all set, when you pull out of the water just lower the motor all the way down and hit the key for a couple seconds to clear water from the pump.

as for clothes, I wear a Buoy o buoy survival suit I bought in Port Dalhousie from Peter's Tackle, at the time with the exchange rate I paid about 170.00 american. It keeps me warm all day long and is flotation as well. Under it all I need is a pair of fleece pants and a fleece sweat shirt.

what size boat do you plan on using on the lower river ?

if you need any more information shoot me an email or PM

[laketrout6]

Another option, especially for calmer bodies of water is the inflatable belt. Our gang all use them in the winter, here in the Finger Lakes, they're so small you don't know you're wearing them. Only cost around $60.

Friends in northermn Ontario love their Mustangs on our ice out spring walleye trips.