Forecast: gradual clearing, high 65 F, calm wind becoming north 5-10 mph in the afternoon, a damn near perfect day for fishing the lower Niagara. My dad and I hopped in the car, picked up my cousin, and headed to Devil’s Hole.
When we arrived, we discovered the access stairs were closed for construction. Undeterred, we made our way down into the gorge. The teal water of the river pulsed and swirled, its color near perfect for fishing.
We walked the shoreline looking for fishable water. Unfortunately, many of the areas that have good water are difficult to access. We fished a few spots without luck before finally finding fish.
We stopped at a spot that looked good, a back eddy that met a current seam at the boundary of the faster water. A few casts later and bam! A laker took my jig. Unfortunately, he ended up shaking the hook.
All three of us worked the hole thoroughly. The first fish landed was a steelhead I hooked near the current seam. It was my first ever May steelhead, damn did he fight hard. For the sake of the fish’s wellbeing, I forwent getting a good picture and instead opted to just turn him loose. Handling fish is very difficult on the large, slippery rocks that line the shore.
My cousin hooked up next. He fought and successfully landed his first laker ever.
After my cousin, my dad hooked up, landing his first ever laker as well.
My dad and I both ended up hooking an additional laker before the day was out. We finished with 5 fish total for around 4 hours of fishing, a great day in my book.
