A natural wonder, and the fishing's pretty good too

Pictured above, the Niagara River moves swiftly through the Niagara Gorge before empyting into Lake Ontario near the Niagara Escarpment.

Although only about 34 miles long, unlike most other rivers which begin as tiny streams, the mighty Niagara is created when a tremendous volume of water draining from the upper great lakes is squeezed into the narrow onehalf mile wide river bed and begins its rush toward the Falls and Lake Ontario.

The impassable river

Beginning at the eastern end of Lake Erie at Buffalo, New York the mighty Niagara River, although among the shortest, it is sometimes the wildest river in the world. The river connects two of the great lakes, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and is the border between the USA and Canada. Located just about midway down river is the spectacular 'Niagara Falls'. Every year millions of people travel from all over the world to view this magnificent wonder of nature.

Although only about 34 miles long, no man has ever traversed the entire length of this mighty river. Unlike most other rivers which begin as tiny streams, the mighty Niagara is created when a tremendous volume of water draining from the upper great lakes is squeezed into the narrow one-half mile wide river bed and begins its rush toward the falls and Lake Ontario. Millions of cubic feet of water per minute flow out of the eastern end of Lake Erie quickly picking up speed as it powerful current silently travels down river, away from the lake. Its course is soon split in two by Grand Island, an island larger then Manhattan Island.

The east river passes by the western terminus of the old Erie Canal, one of the grand works of early 19th century American engineering genius. (President Thomas Jefferson had said that it would not be possible to build a canal such as the proposed Erie Canal for another one hundred years. The Governor of New York, Dewitt Clinton went ahead and built the canal anyway. It was opened in 1825.)

When the east and west rivers again reunite they soon change into the upper rapids that terminate with a sudden plunge (approximately 165 feet) over the Niagara escarpment to form one of the largest most magnificent water falls on the planet. Just before the waters cascade over the precipice the river is again cut in two by Goat Island which leads to the creation of two separate uniquely distinct cataracts; the American Falls, located within the USA and the Horseshoe Falls that connects the USA to Canada. Both of these falls are beautiful in their own right.

Cut back by thousands of years of erosion, the falls is now several miles up stream from the rest of the Niagara escarpment, which originally caused its formation.. The Niagara escarpment was formed by tremendous glaciers in the distant geological past. In its short distance the river drops an astounding 326 feet most of which occurs around the falls area. Below the falls, deep in the gorge, that the river has cut out over thousands of years, its lower rapids and whirlpools are too wild to navigate.

White water rafters soon found this out when they tried to ride the mighty Niagara's swirling waters only to have a number of people succumb to its magnificent treachery. Many people have tried going over the falls in a barrel - some of the lucky ones have survived. A few years ago a reckless naive kayaker sailed over its brink into oblivion never to be seen again. Over the years the river has claimed many boaters and fisherman who have strayed into the upper river rapids only to be swept over the falls.

Many years ago a young boy fishing with his uncle was caught in these rapids. Both were swept over the falls. By some miracle the young boy was not claimed by the mighty Niagara and popped up next to the 'Maid of the Mist', an excursion boat that makes regular trips to the base of the falls. His uncle was never found. Along the lower gorge some of the luckless hikers who fall into this river are quickly swept away to their death. The river is like a black hole just waiting to swallow its next hapless victim. Hundreds of would be smugglers and illegal aliens, over the years, have drowned attempting to cross the river.

After going over the falls and through the tumultuous swirling rapids the mighty Niagara's waters turn into a powerful, tranquil current as it innocently heads for Lake Ontario

Nowadays, on the Canadian side, from the beginning of the mighty Niagara at Fort Erie, along its entire length, a beautiful long thin park allows spectators to view the river in all its magnificent splendor. Lined with trees and plenty of places to park and picnic along the peaceful parkway, it is probably one of the most scenic parks in North America. As a bonus at the end of the parkway, where the mighty Niagara peacefully enters Lake Ontario, is the town of Niagara-on-the- Lake. Consisting of quaint tree lined streets of beautiful old homes, and a busy shopping area filled with hundreds of colorful flower arrangements, small shops, restaurants and theatres, it was voted one of the most beautiful towns in North America.

The mighty Niagara not only provides spectacular viewing, it is also a source of pollution free energy. Engineers have long recognized the tremendous power locked up in its rushing currents and have harnessed some of its energy, creating vast amounts of pollution free electrical power. They can virtually turn off the falls by diverting the river's powerful current into the canals and reservoirs that feed huge electric dynamos. They do this late at night so as not to spoil the spectacular beauty of this wonder of nature for the daytime viewers. The only other force that can slow the mighty Niagara's currents are extremely cold winters that can transform its tremendously powerful dynamic flow into a magnificent, crystal white, frozen sculpture of nature.

Fishing in the Lower

Niagara River and

Western Lake Ontario

DEC Region 9 contains the Niagara River and the western-most portion of Lake Ontario in New York. The general consensus is that trout and salmon fishing in the Niagara County portion of western Lake Ontario is among the very best New York has to offer. Lake Ontario and the Lower Niagara feature opportunities for catching steelhead (rainbow trout), chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout and lake trout. Lake Ontario's chinooks are, by far, the largest found anywhere in the Great Lakes.

Western Lake Ontario offers spectacular near-shore chinook fishing starting in late April and lasting through May. The Niagara Bar, the ouflow area at the mouth of the river, is one of the top areas on the Great Lakes for spring fishing opportunities. Spring action continues east to 30-Mile Point at Golden Hill State Park and all points in between. Offshore fishing for chinooks ramps up in July and runs through September. Popular ports for offshore fishing are Wilson, Olcott and Youngstown (near Fort. Niagara). A good concentration of spawning-bound chinooks occurs each year at the Niagara Bar, offshore of the mouth of the Niagara River, during late August and early September. These chinooks enter the Lower Niagara River and are caught by boat and shore-based anglers later in September and October.

Eighteenmile Creek, which enters Lake Ontario at Olcott Harbor, also gets a strong run of chinooks, starting in mid- October. Many thousands of anglers use the Fisherman's Park facility at Burt Dam, Town of Newfane, for gaining stream-fishing access to Eighteenmile Creek chinooks.

Later in October and November, brown trout begin to enter Eighteenmile Creek on spawning runs providing Lake Ontario's best streamside brown trout fishing. Brown trout are available all winter long, in addition to steelhead. Burt Dam and its relatively constant reservoir discharge, provide ice-free fishing conditions, essentially all winter long. Other small tributaries of note that attract good runs of fish include Four Mile Creek, both branches of 12 Mile Creek and Keg Creek. All are dependent on good water flow for fish runs.

Lower Niagara River The Lower Niagara River contributes more water to Lake Ontario than any other source, and is a powerful attraction to trout, salmon and other highly-sought sportfish. The Lower Niagara can be fished literally 12 months of the year, however swift currents in some areas can be dangerous without proper experience and knowledge of the river. It is advisable to use the services of a knowledgeable charter fishing guide before fishing in sections of the river upstream of Lewiston.

In addition to chinook salmon runs which peak in early October, the Lower Niagara is famous for its steelhead (rainbow trout) fishing which begins in earnest in November, and lasts all winter long into late spring. Most steelhead fishing is done from boats, drifting baits ranging from spawn to body baits to fly-like offerings. Shoreline fishing is available at several locations including Artpark and associated fishing trails, as well as the New York Power Authority fishing platform and shorelines along Devil's Hole State Park and Whirlpool State Park.

In addition to steelhead, the winter menu also includes great opportunities for catching large brown and lake trout. Browns are available during November and December, with fish up to 30 pounds caught recently. Lake trout are also available to drifters during winter and spring, with fish over 20 pounds available in one of the largest known concentrations of overwintering lakers in the Lake Ontario system.

The Lower Niagara also provides excellent opportunities for catching large (10 plus pound) walleye. Several of the guides, and other local experts, specialize in catching large walleyes which reside in the river during the winter. There is also a mid-summer bite of large walleyes that materializes most years. Again, special expertise may be required to target walleye, which are numerous, but difficult to catch, in the bait-laden waters of the Lower Niagara.

For those interested in dipping for smelt, the Lower Niagara provides one of the few locations along New York's Great Lakes shoreline where smelt are still abundant enough to support a sportfishery. Smelt run the river after ice out, which usually occurs in April. Popular smelt dipping areas are at Artpark and the Village of Lewiston Marina.