Orleans County

This week's fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, January 18, 2019. 

Today is still real nice by January standards - medium flows with visibility of about 2 feet or more in the Oak.  Not sure why or how the good flows are hanging in given the latest cold weather.  More then likely, they were lower mid-week and have rebounded some at the end of week.  My guess would be a retreat toward moderate flows through the weekend.  There is still no significant icing even on downstream frog water spots.

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This week’s fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, January 10, 2019.

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Flows in the Oak are still slightly high and a little stained thanks to previous warm temps and a little rain.  Worth repeating again that by January standards the flows are great and could draw in some fresh steelhead at anytime.  Visibility is about 1 – 2 ft.  Flows should hang in – give or take – in the short term at least through the weekend and going not much lower then medium.

Fishing pressure is real light and there are no serious icing conditions yet, even on the downstream froggy water.  The forecast through the weekend is seasonable and looking clear through the beginning part of next week.  The latest snow accumulation was a little bit of Lake Effect Snow of about 2 – 3 inches.

 

 

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Happy New Year from the Staff at Orleans County Tourism! 

This week's fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, January 2, 2019. 

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Thanks to rain a couple of nights ago, all the tributary flows have stained or dirty water color.  Flows really haven't bumped up all that much - if at all - in the Oak.  Flows in the Oak are about moderate to medium or what you might call "one click less than medium".  Water color is stained at approximately 1 ft plus of visibility and may get a little dirtier over today or tomorrow.  Flows in the other area smaller tributaries are about medium with dirty water color.  Flows should be maintained, give or take, with generally the moderate weather ahead. 

 

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This week's fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, December 24, 2018.

Hope you all are having a Merry Christmas! And, sorry for the delay in publishing our weekly fishing report during this busy time of year.

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Flows in the Oak are down some to about medium and water color did get a little dirtier even as flows have dropped. Visibility is probably a foot or just less then a foot and slowly back on the clear. The other smaller tributaries are also dropping back to medium-ish flows but unlike the typical lag in the Oak they are clearing quicker with about 1 foot plus of visibility.

 

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This week's STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, December 18, 2018.  

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Kind of a return to slightly colder temps for this mid week period but the forecast for the end of week is definitely warmer with a chance of precipitation Friday.  For now, flows in the Oak are low to moderate and mostly clear.  There are still occasional water level fluctuations thanks to hydro-power operations.  Unconfirmed, but the dropping flows and today's fluctuation to low flows could be the planned hydro work that was scuttled earlier this fall.  Look for the chance for low or lower or leakage flows in the turbine channel for a day or so.  Flows will still rebound through the overflow channel in the interim.  (Flows cannot be stopped as they will over-spill the overflow channel if the hydro plant is shutdown).

 

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This week's STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, December 12, 2018. 

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All the tributary flows continue on a slow drop and clear.  Flows in the Oak are about one notch less then medium or between moderate and medium and mostly clear.  Still pretty good flows by post Erie Canal feed and December standards.  Enough flows where fish can be in different spots, although the clearer water color will make hook ups a little tougher.  The other area smaller tributaries have moderate flows and mostly clear water color.  

 

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This week's STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, December 4, 2018. 

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Thanks to the past weekend rain all the tributary flows did come up and go off color.  True to this season's MO so far, flows stopped just short of blowing out or going completely unfishable.  Flows in the Oak are back to slightly high and slightly stained with about 2 ft of visibility.  Flows consist of a good head of turbine water.  There is still almost daily water level fluctuations thanks to hydro-power operations.  With leaf fall mostly complete those water level fluctuations should become less frequent.  The other area smaller tributaries probably crested through yesterday and with a good cold night last night, they should be on the retreat and clearing at something like medium flows and stained water color through this mid week period.

 

 

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This week’s STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, November 27, 2018.

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Thanks to rain yesterday/last night AND a return to above freezing temps AND a little bit of snow melt AND no more thirsty vegetation AND groundwater now reasonably recharged after the droughty summer/early fall – all the tributary flows are on the rise and off color.  Flows in the Oak are slightly high consisting of turbine water with about 2 plus ft of visibility.  Water color may get dirtier over the next day or two, but should stay short of getting muddy.  Flows are pretty similar to the earlier fall flows we had during Erie Canal supplemental water feed.  The other area smaller tributaries have slightly high and dirty flows with one ft or less of visibility.  Any earlier icing conditions should be clear now with a forecast through at least this week and weekend showing no real good prospect of those icy conditions returning in the short term.

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This week’s STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, November 13, 2018.

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Some cool, fall weather is hanging in with slightly colder temps forecast through the mid week and a chance for snow or rain showers.  No significant lake effect snow is expected here on the immediate WNY big Lake O Plain. The greatest impact is forecast for mostly south of the area.  Flows in the Oak are still real good by typical fall standards – slightly high and slightly stained.  These higher than average fall flows are no doubt in large part responsible for drawing in the good mixed bag action that has been going on in the Oak.  Kings are fading some now with the occasional greener fish, but it's mostly older and zombie fish.  Browns are spread out and well upstream with what’s been plenty of quality fish hooked up.  Good to see plenty of those fish released.  It’s been mostly males but just lately some more females.  There should be plenty of good action ahead if there is reasonable flows and weather.

 

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This week's STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, November 6, 2018.   

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We had a bit more rain last night and this morning that should maintain flows.  Forecast is for any serious precipitation to have moved out of the area this morning and then followed by a wind advisory through tomorrow.  Next chance at precipitation and colder temps is this weekend.  Flows in the Oak are slightly high with slightly stained water color of about 2 ft of visibility.  Flows consist of turbine water and fluctuating overflow levels thanks to hydro-power operations.  During this leaf fall period and especially with wind and rain, look for at least daily water level fluctuations.
 

Some anglers remark that when flows temporarily go down, the numbers of fish revealed in the Oak is a little humbling!  There are a lot of browns and some steelhead and of course still Kings.  Plenty of greener Kings are still around, look for still some non-zombie Kings through November.  Smaller tributaries, especially, will have Kings later in the fall since that salmon run really didn't crank up for upstream gravel action until just last week.  Fishing pressure is definitely intense at times, seems less now through this mid week period.  Most all anglers report good action for mixed bag chances on browns and steelhead and Atlantics and Kings and cohos. 

 

 

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This week's STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, October 30, 2018. 

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Depending upon your perspective, the area escaped the most recent heavier precipitation.  Most of the past weekend's significant rain hit south of here and so the Oak flows should be maintained at what's been a real nice medium flow or barely greater and mostly clear.  The other area smaller tributaries with local, smaller watershed might have come up from real low to just low for now.  With greenery slowly capturing less water and the ground now a bit wetter, the next significant precipitation could show some runoff for higher flows in the smaller tributaries.  Showers are in the forecast Wednesday and there is the chance for a soaking rain Thursday & Friday.  Any rise in flows in the smaller tributaries will likely move a bunch of staged up salmon and trout upstream for good action.  Forecast temperatures thru this week look pretty agreeable with highs around 50 F.

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This week’s STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, October 23, 2018.

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By most all accounts, there is good action on the Oak.  Brown trout numbers are definitely picking up and fish reportedly are on the move.  Some steelhead have been reported every day too.  The end of this past weekend and beginning of this week have been good for hookups around the Archers Club and it sounds like plenty of fish are in the downstream frog water too.  Legit light line deep drifts have been the ticket there.  Salmon numbers are still strongest at or nearer the dam.  Kings in smaller numbers are still migrating from downstream and that will probably be the MO from here out with fish trickling in over a prolonged period.  There are not a lot of dying or zombie fish yet so that tells me there are still plenty on the “run” ahead.  Look for Kings well into November which really hasn’t been a new scenario these past few years.

 

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This week’s STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, October 16, 2018.

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The nice cool weather continues after some strong winds yesterday and forecast again later today. I don’t doubt these westerly strong winds are pushing salmon and browns from the Lake and into the Oak. There was a little bit of rain yesterday and there are more showers in the forecast tomorrow. Any chance at snow should be southwest or southeast of the area.

Fishing pressure has been pretty spotty on the Oak with the most consistent water flow at medium or just greater and clear. For this mid-week period, so far, it may ease up some. Probably still more guys are targeting salmon, although more trout anglers are in the mix now too. There’s likely to be plenty of Kings around for a while yet. Guys are reporting good numbers of fish massed in the last of the slow water areas and there are likely salmon still passing through the lower river. Don’t look for many fish to linger downstream and it looks like most of the angling pressure there is easing up.

 

 

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This week's STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, October 9, 2018. 

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We got more rain through the end of the past weekend and the beginning part of this week.  Forecast is for unseasonably warm temperatures today and Wednesday with the next chance of scattered precipitation and colder temperatures Thursday.  These two days of warm temps may stall things a little, but for the most part "runs" are underway (salmon and steelhead especially) so the fair to good action should continue.

 

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This week's STREAM fishing report is from Ron Bierstine from Oak Orchard Tackle and Lodge, October 2, 2018. 

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At this time, Brookfield Power has let us know that the planned repairs at the Waterport Hydro for this week have been cancelled. Normal run of the river flows should prevail at something like medium to medium+ thanks to precipitation this morning. Still cool temps today with a slight warm-up forecast for the rest of the week and chance for more showers. Heaviest recent precipitation has been south of the area so no blow out events are expected here although the other smaller area tributaries should see a small rise in flows. Excellent conditions for salmon and trout migrations.

 

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This week’s LAKE fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tight Lines Charters, September 25, 2018:

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Get Ready! The coming weeks are an exciting time for big fish, kings and browns and now available to the small boat angler fishing in close out to 20 ft. of water, as well as the shoreline/pier and creek boat anglers. I finished my tremendous 1000+ fish season with a brace of 22 pound kings for a local couple who recently walked on Troutman 2 for a late day troll. Be sure to come rigged with j plugs jointed rapalas and assorted diving rattle crank baits in bright glo and florescent colors. Make sure hooks are in top condition, extra sharp too as river run salmonids grow teeth and their jaws get leather tough! There has been a lot of rough stormy weather limiting boats so the catch report right now is light. But this same weather sets up favorable conditions for anglers who frequently fish the estuary piers and rivermouth flats with stained river outflow plumes that hold river bound monsters!

 

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This week's LAKE fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters, September 18, 2018. 

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Well, the weather for many of the fishing action has been wonderful this week! The in-shore ledge and shallow flats action has typically slowed for the big fatties under clear water calm conditions. There are a few matures in the mud-line area in the estuary and up the Oak Orchard River to the Waterport Dam. Most of the hookups at the river mouth are low light morning flurries by trollers using bright J-plugins silver bullet and various glow patterns. Don't forget the venerable J -13 rapala, Rattle Trap and Crocodile spoons for flatlining. Please remember the big majors run extra long when hooked in the shallows so be careful leaving the channel. Also, when trolling the flats, move away when someone hooks up and keep your planer board close to the boat. They will still give you an edge.

 

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This week's LAKE fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters, September 11, 2018. 

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This week we were blessed with two fisheries, both in shore with red hot action! Fishery #1: lots of anglers found a cooperative mixed bag of "feeder" kings, steelhead, Choo and rogue brown trout in the 90 to 130 ft. of water band (FOW). Many reported consistent spoon bite 50 to 70 ft down, 350 coppers and flasher "meat" rigs on 210 divers.

Fishery #2: Several charters (specifically Free Spirit, Rally Killer, Troutman 2, Pisces) moved east and up the ledge to 65 FOW and discovered dense mature kings. I have to say this inner ledge action rivaled the dodger crush of the 1980's!!!

 

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This week's fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters, September 4, 2018. 

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From a tired Captain, the day after Labor Day...

Fish on and Happy Labor Day from everyone at Orleans County Tourism, the Fishing Fleet and the supporting area merchants that make coming to the "Oak" the top Great Lakes Fishing Package again this year!

Whether you are a local fisher-person going out for a couple of hours of great fishing with our famous sunsets or one of the out-of-state rigs I see every day slipping out the harbor at sunrise - go get 'em!  Weather systems typical for Labor Day week have repositioned the thermocline from 25 to 40 down early in the week to 70 feet down over the weekend.

More boats had good luck in the mid water, i.e. 150 to 250 feet of water (FOW)....another hot spot developed in 50 to 70 FOW west from Johnson's to Chrome Dome. (Remember, mature river-bound kings, browns and coho sniff out duckweed lines and Johnson Creek can be a strong drawing force.)  JUST A NOTE ABOUT THE  CURRENT NOW: THE RIP IS PUSHING FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST SO WATCH YOUR GROUND SPEED ON ANY KIND OF WEST TROLL. IF FISH AREN'T LOOKING AT AND HITTING YOUR SPREAD, THROW OUT THE BAG!  THEN, WHEN ON THE EAST TROLL, THROTTLE UP WATCH YOUR GPS SPEED AND MAKE THE RODS POP! THIS CAPT HASN'T CHANGED LURE COLORS IN A MONTH (300 fish later). I focus on speed, vary lead lengths, use flouro-carbon line and stealth spreads. It matters!

 

 

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This week's fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters, August 28, 2018. 

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Alert! The big sows are in!!! After a long day on Monday 8/27/18,  guiding 2 separate veteran groups to a bunch of mature kings 80 down and over 120 on cutbait, I switched programs. Troll moved to rough structure in 60' of water and got more 15 to 22 pound Kings! The Oak Orchard River is running from heavy rains and the sharks are whiffing river scent already! There is no need to fly around 5 to 10 miles out. You may be leaving big fish action!

 

On that subject, everyone in the Orleans County area mourns the loss of Mr. Carl Hazel from Barre Center, NY. Carl and a fishing partner were trolling a 20 ft rig and went down in extremely choppy water many miles out. We all appreciate the big efforts by the Orleans County Sheriff, USCG, Canadian Coast Guard, civilian anglers and a skilled Canadian Freighter Pilot in the recovery efforts in tough conditions. Please use every possible source of weather and lake condition information. Be prepared with USCG survival gear, anchor, rope, signaling kit, cell phone and distress flag. Make part of your strategy on big water to leave a float plan. Stay with the pack, watch the weather and keep your speed reasonable.

 

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This week's fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters, August 21, 2018. 

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Long days + heavy catches + loads of high quality silver fish = the "High Season" for anglers that are visiting and fishing the Trout and Salmon Grounds of Orleans County! Longtime known as "Home of the King", the ongoing migration offers all year classes of Chinook plus a "mambo" brown trout ledge fishery.

Right now, mature Kings 15 to 22 pound average (yes, the Sharks!) are staging along 20 miles off Orleans County's coast. Search the 45 to 100 foot drop offs.  Take advantage of boat launch access at Bald Eagle, Golden Hill and of course the "Oak", public as well as the Ernst Lake Breeze ramp.

Tactically, try mixing a flasher, fly rig or flasher - cut bait set up on wire Dipsies, keeping spoons on the riggers for big Browns. Try bright glow, chartreuse, frog patterns that local merchants like Narby's carry along with the fresh herring, aka "meat".

 

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This week's fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters, August 14, 2018. 

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It is the "high season" off the Oak for Lake Ontario salmonid sportfishing and the fleet is crushing quality silver fish in many areas! Fishermen, Fisherwomen and especially Fisherkids are seeing ACTION from 200-550 ft of water, running spoon programs 45 to 75 ft. down.

 

The big northeast winds early Thursday rolled cold water onto the ledges raising the thermocline to 30 ft inside of the 100 ft hump. Capt Mike Grager and son Jason made a great read hitting a 14# + football brown which is leading the Albion Rotary Derby in the Brown Trout division!  

 

 

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This week’s fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tight Lines Charters, August 7, 2018:

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There is a lot of great fishing going on this week off the “Oak” in Orleans County.  One group of fishermen, charter and “Rec” boats are coming back to port happy by trolling 55 to 135 ft of water, mainly east of the harbor from the west end of the flats to the “Devil’s Nose”.  Actually, I think that if anglers launched at Bald Eagle, they will find a pile of big fish right out front and save a lot of fuel in the process. FYI, if you have a hankering for pudgy brown trout try smaller stingers, slims and the like. Downrigged and slow trolled weaving from 50 to 60. If a hot morning bite is your cup of tea, set up at daybreak then set up at 120 ft overall, get your speed right and watch the rods fly! One special tip: these king salmon are on the feed, low light activity is crazy. Try not to waste this prime time running gobs of lines early.  Put down 2 or three riggers, vary your leader, drop back lengths, mark fish, vary your speed and direction and get in on the action!

 

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This week's fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters, July 30, 2018. 

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As Sonny and Cher once sang: "And the Beat Goes On!" There is a steady traffic of fishing boats. I counted over 50 on the weekend rigged for Salmon action and getting it! Boats from Vermont, Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana, Connecticut, Maine and Pennsylvania.

The stable wind pattern has created a broad pattern of fishing depths which will let you catch fish anywhere from 160  to 350 ft of water - AKA the mid "28 line". The salmon and now bonus steelhead are lying down 60 to 80 feet down. Remember that due to trolling in deep water currents, wily trollers, add extra cable footage to consistently reach feeding fish. Please remember to release the steelhead and smaller salmon! Those immature fish are the future seasons' fish population! 

Watch the changing weather systems mid week and bring rain gear. Also, be ready, pull your lines and boogie to home port at any sign of thunderstorm activity.

 

 

 

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This week's fishing report is from Capt. John Oravec of Tightlines Charters, July 24, 2018. 

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The Lake Ontario waters off Point Breeze - simply put - are teeming with big king salmon after a big nor'easter storm caused the inside water to roll over.  A classic upwelling, the salmon are feeding closer to the shoreline and near the surface! 

 

I heard from a duo hailing from New Jersey and West Virginia that they had super action in close, plus one of the biggest salmon yet for 2018 - a 40" 27 plus pounder!

 

Another group of trollers plowed thru fog only to find lots of schoolie kings and scrappy steelhead 30 to 40 feet down over 400 feet depths. Hot lure wise the consensus is spoons!

Spoons! Spoons! Try to simplify a lure spread with a couple downriggers and a trailing 10 color leadcore or 250 ft. copper flatline/the water is very clear less can catch more. 

 

Your local tackle shops have the prime baits and accessories to repair all the breakage during salmon wars like this! Be careful when running offshore. Have plenty of fuel, safety gear and stay in sight of the boat fleet.

 

Go get 'em!
Capt John Oravec
captjohnoravec.com  
Tight Lines Charters 
1857 Countyline Rd * Lyndonville, NY 14098 
boat/mobile 585-590-2045 

 

 

Capt. Johnny Oravec is a 43 year veteran Orleans County charter captain of the 33 foot Trojan the "Troutman 2." Capt. Johnny has been helping Great Lakes anglers learn and develop fishing techniques by writing for the In Fisherman Magazine TV and Radio.

Visit our Fishing Report on OrleansCountyTourism.com, including weather forecasts and our "At the Oak, Orleans County" Facebook feed.

From Point Breeze on Lake Ontario, the World Fishing Network's Ultimate Fishing Town USA and the rest of Orleans County, let's make every day a great fishing day right here in Orleans County!

Sincerely,
The Team at Orleans County Tourism