Stranded vessels will be able to leave canal

ALBANY -- Pleasure boaters and owners of commercial craft that have been trapped on the Erie Canal since Tropical Storm Irene's flooding created havoc have some good news.

The canal will open for a brief period starting on Thanksgiving Day so the vessels can get home.

The Cuomo administration announced the projected reopening of the waterway from Nov. 24 to Dec. 8.

Two large tour boats are among the many vessels that have been stranded on the Great Lakes since Irene and then Tropical Storm Lee devastated parts of the state. Those boats and others will now be able to complete their journeys.

"This is welcome news to boaters and commercial vessels with no other reasonable alternative to returning to their home ports," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said upon making the announcement Monday.

Catastrophic flooding had overwhelmed locks on the Erie Canal between Fort Plain and Schenectady, causing widespread damage.

The steel components that hold dam gates in place were twisted and displaced, and power houses were swept away in the flooding. Machinery used to operate the locks and dams were inundated; in three locations, flooding actually carved new channels for the Mohawk River around the lock and dam structures.

Over the next two months, crews are scheduled to carry out extensive repair efforts. In addition to fixing the lock structures, the canal will also be dredged in spots where material carried by the flood has blocked the river.

"The 2011 season is the 187th year of continuous inland navigation in New York, and we are pleased to be able to give our customers the ability to complete their planned itineraries," said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Stranded-vessels-will-be-able-to-leave-canal-2189541.php#ixzz1ZFd9Pel6

Erie Canal/Mohawk River Flood Damage Update & Resources

Flood Damage Update & Resources

Tropical Storm Irene left much destruction in its wake. Communities and historic sites along the eastern Erie Canal/Mohawk River were most affected and damage is still being assessed. Find information and links here. (last updated 9/9/11 at 2:15 pm)

What's Open, What's Closed >

Canal System Status >

Erie Canalway Trail >

Flood Damage and Disaster Relief Information >

New York State Emergency Management >

Fishing Report for August 3rd, 2011

Lake Ontario:

The salmon bite reportedly has been a bit slower the last couple of days. There are reports of some activity in deeper water, 300-600 feet. Green continues to be the color getting the most attention. The brown trout bite, however, has been very hot. Look in 80-100 feet of water with green spoons and naturals being good choices of bait.

Oswego River:

According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:

The water flow was up to 5,000cfs in the last day or so but has settled back to 2,560cfs. This increased flow will likely move the fish around some. Expect to find sheephead, smallmouth bass and carp taking crayfish, minnows, worms, and leeches. Any sturgeon caught in the river must be released immediately. Possession of this species is illegal. Anglers are finding rockbass, bluegills, perch and crappies at Wright’s Landing near the blue crane and Flatrock in front of Fort Ontario is producing bass and panfish.

Click Here for current Oswego River water flow

Fishing Report for the week of June 16

Lake Ontario:

After a bit of rough water early in the week, conditions have settled down with light winds expected for the weekend. The brown trout bite continues. Trolling spoons off the downriggers in 30-60 feet of water is working well. Bass anglers are anxiously awaiting the opening of the season on Saturday. A few salmon have been found in the deeper water, 120-160 feet, and the walleye bite remains good.

Oswego River:

According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:

With bass season opening on Saturday, anglers should find some action with nightcrawlers, bucktail jigs, leeches and stickbaits. Walleye continue to be active both day and night throughout the river. Sheephead are responding to nightcrawlers and carp are taking nightcrawlers and corn. Look for panfish and perch between Lock 8 and Lock 7 using worms and spikes. Look for rockbass, bluegills, perch and crappies near the floating dock by the blue crane at Wright’s Landing and in front of Breitbeck Park near a blue crane.

Oswego Marina Continues Repairs

Oswego Marina continues repairs to update and improve service for boaters.

May 25th Fishing Reports

Lake Ontario:

According to Capt. Andy Bliss of Chasin Tail Adventures:

The fishing on Lake Ontario remains Fantastic! Browns are being taken from the shoreline out to 30 feet. Hot baits are stickbaits in natural patterns by Thunderstick, Rapala, and Smithwick. Stinger spoons have also been very productive in a variety of colors, Rosemary’s baby, green dolphin, black widow, and green glo alewife. The waters around the mouth of the Oswego River are heating up quickly spreading the fish out a bit. Just cover water to find active schools. Catches have been good from the river all the way to 9 Mile Point.

Oswego River:

According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:

Conditions on the river are slowly improving as the water level has dropped to 16,800cfs as of this morning. This is still high for fishing many areas of the river but it is showing some improvement. Behind the hotels is producing browns, steelhead and a few walleye. The Kiddie Pool is active with browns, steelhead, walleye, smallmouth bass and panfish. The canal between Lock 8 and Lock 7 is producing steelhead, browns, panfish and perch. Bucktail jigs tipped with a worm, leeches, spinnerspoons, stickbaits are working for browns and steelhead; smallmouth bass are taking twister tails and stickbaits; worms, spikes and hair jigs are working for perch and panfish. Rockbass are taking hair jigs, tube jigs and minnows near the floating dock by a blue crane at Wright’s Landing and in front of Breitbeck Park near a blue crane. Also look for blue gills, perch and crappies in these areas taking minnows.

Click Here for current Oswego River water flow

Lake Ontario/Oswego River Report - May 19

Lake Ontario:

According to Capt. Troy Creasy of High Adventure Sportfishing Charters:

Lake Ontario fishing in the eastern basin is excellent right now with limit plus catches every time out! Along with some hefty browns, there are plenty of lake trout, Atlantics and a few Chinooks mixed in. The best baits are black silver orange belly smithwicks, fished on the surface about 150 feet behind the boat and dream weaver spoons in black and silver, glow green, and orange, fished 4 to 10 feet down off of the downriggers. Look for colored water and warmer temperatures and the fish will be there.

Oswego River:

According to Larry Muroski of Larry’s Oswego Salmon Shop:

The water level has dropped to just over 20,000cfs as of this morning. This is still very high and makes most of the river unfishable with the exception of some activity behind the hotels. Stickbaits, nightcrawlers and leeches are suggested bait to try. Boat anglers working the waters of the harbor area are finding stickbaits working well. Anglers are also finding some walleye in these areas.

State Requests "No-Discharge" Designation from EPA

ALBANY, NY (05/24/2011)(readMedia)-- Seeking to safeguard water quality and improve recreational opportunities, state officials announced today that they are calling for New York's portion of Lake Ontario to be designated as a "Vessel Waste No-Discharge Zone" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A No-Discharge Zone designation means that boaters are banned from discharging their on-board sewage into the water. Boaters must instead dispose of their sewage at specially designated pump-out stations, which can be found at many marinas (see attached list).

Treated and untreated wastes can deliver pathogens and toxins to local waters and contribute to harmful nutrient loadings. Waste treated by on-board septic systems often contains chemical additives such as formaldehyde, phenyls and chlorine. These pollutants can harm water quality, pose a risk to people's health, and impair marine life and habitats.

Link to Press Release

Oswego Marina Offers Pump Out Service

The Port of Oswego last year installed a new pump out system at the Oswego Marina to better serve the boating public in the Oswego Harbor.

The sewage vacuum pump out system, manufactured by WMW systems, is one of the worlds' best type systems on the market and is capable of being used by two boats at the same time.

The pump out system is available during normal business hours at the Oswego Marina.

Hat Trick Charters...catch today at Oswego Marina

Hat Trick Charters is located in Oswego, NY

Future of Lake Ontario Fishing

Each year the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) stocks fingerlings in specialized cages at the Port of Oswego's East Marina. These fish are stocked for two main purposes -- to restore native species to waters they formerly occupied and to enhance recreational fishing.




Volunteers raise the fish at the Marina and they will be released into the lake to support the multi-million dollar Lake Ontario salmonid fishery.

Ontario Lake Charter Fishing Boats returning to Oswego Marina

Oswego Marina Official Opening April 15th

The Oswego Marina Official Opening is on April 15th. Marina workers are working to get the marina ready for the April 15th date.

Oswego Marina has several yachts at dock this week

Mini-Tall Ship in Oswego Harbor

New Pumpout Installed at Oswego Marina

Port of Oswego, Oswego Marina, is installing the Oswego Harbors newest boat pumpout system. The funds were recived throught the CVAP program.

New York State's CVAP was established to protect and improve water quality in New York's navigable waterways. The CVAP is a federally funded program that provides grants to marinas for the installation, renovation and replacement of pumpout stations for the removal and disposal of recreational boater septic waste.