Springtime is Here

We are finally now easing into the weather that is "normal" for this time of year and the most wonderful things about springtime here in WNY is that there are so many opportunities for success on a fly rod.  For the tributaries you've got a mixed bag of brown trout, steelhead, suckers, and smallmouths while inland you've got the finicky wild trout starting to come out of their winter eating habits. 

Starting with the tributaries; the weather has been warming up from the past week of cold weather and things are shaping up nicely.  The water levels in the small area tribs are low and clear leaving whatever steelhead left exposed but also very spooky.  The larger tributaries have medium/lower and stained/Off-color flows giving great fishing for everything in the stream right now.  Suckers are very much still in the mix and can be a fun way to spend and afternoon.  The smallmouths are well set up in the lower reaches of the tribs and some are established upstream for the spawn. 

Productive flies recently have been fairly small stuff no bigger than a #8.  Stoneflies and earth toned woolly buggers have been productive for the remaining steelhead where egg patterns have been dynamic on the suckers.  The smallmouths are quite aggressive this time of year to protect their nests so many different patterns will be effective.  Streamers actively stripped as well as dead drifted are good ways to trigger their instincts.  Remember that all the bass are artificial lures only and catch and release only until the 3rd Saturday in June. 

As for the inland trout streams the afternoon hatches are producing March Browns, Hendricksons and midges are always around.  Nymphs are still your best bet with size 12 and 14 hare's ears and hendricksons nymphs in the same sizes.  Not a whole ton of bug activity yet but the warmer days will definitely bring on the hatches.

Remember this time of year the water flows can change on a dime so be sure to know what the weather has been too predict what streams will have what flows.  As always stream conditions are posted below.  Thanks for reading and tight lines!


Current Stream Information: 

Sandy Creek (Hamlin):  April 15th, 2016

Light to no fishing pressure.
Lower/Off-Color. (CFS unknown)

Oak Orchard (Albion):  April 15th, 2016

Light fishing pressure.
Med/Stained flows (CFS unknown)

18-Mile Creek (Burt):  April 15th, 2016

Light fishing pressure.
Low/Off-Color flows.
81 CFS