Rain, Rain, and Please More Rain

The rain has finally come!!  With the day of rain we got last Wednesday, today and the forecasted rain for the rest of this week, the run is FINALLY in full swing.  Good numbers of salmon are pushing their way through the Lake Ontario tributaries with the browns slowly trickling in as well.  Despite there being fair numbers of fish at this point, most of them are still on the kamikaze mission upstream and not stopping for anything.  This can make hooking one a trick.  Some of the keys are finding a fish that seems to be less in the mood to move.  These are the fish that will typically take a well presented fly.  Productive flies have been earth tone color streamers with hot spots (chartreuse and flame orange) and otter eggs.  The 8mm otter eggs have been producing both salmon and brown trout.  The salmon have liked the "ruby" color where the browns have not really had much of a preference.

The Lake Erie tributaries are coming along as well.  Steelhead are making their way into the streams as a snails pace however this rain will move things along.  Stay tuned for more updates to come on the Erie trib fishing!

Be sure to check out my YouTube page for fishing videos as well as fly tying tutorials!  If you are interested in booking a trip with me please send me an email (wnyflyguy@gmail.com) there are prime days still to come!  Thanks again for reading and tight lines!


Current Stream Information: 

18-Mile Creek (Burt):  October 22nd, 2019
Heavy fishing pressure

Rising Flows
18-Mile Creek (Burt) Data

18-Mile Creek (Hamburg):  October 22nd, 2019
Rising Flows

18-Mile Creek (Hamburg) Data

 

Cattaraugus Creek:   October 22nd, 2019

Stained Flows

Cattaraugus Creek Data

Oak Orchard Creek:   October 22nd, 2019

Heavy Fishing Pressure

Clear Flows

Oak Orchard Data

Oatka Creek:   October 22nd, 2019

Stained Flows

Oatka Data

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Early October Update

The run here in WNY is starting to get established.  The mostly dry/warmer weather has delayed this years run by a couple weeks it looks like.  The cooler weather and spotty rain has brought in some pods of fish here and there but no serious movements or concentrations yet.  The low light periods are when the fish seem to be doing the most movement, however this is the time of year where the salmon just don't seem to stop.  Streams with dams such as 18 Mile Creek and Oak Orchard have medium concentrations of fish at the dams with no real concentrations of fish in the more fly friendly areas.  Smaller streams are running clear and have salmon scattered all over the creek. 

The sluggish start to the run has kept the crowds down for now but the fishing has been spotty. 
Be sure to check out my YouTube page for fishing videos as well as fly tying tutorials!  If you are interested in booking a trip with me this fall please send me an email (wnyflyguy@gmail.com) as days are filling up!  Thanks again for reading and tight lines!


Current Stream Information: 

18-Mile Creek (Burt):  October 8th, 2019
Med fishing pressure

Low/Clear Flows
18-Mile Creek (Burt) Data

18-Mile Creek (Hamburg):  October 8th, 2019
Low/Clear Flows

18-Mile Creek (Hamburg) Data

Cattaraugus Creek:   October 8th, 2019

Clear Flows

Cattaraugus Creek Data

Oak Orchard Creek:   October 8th, 2019

Med Fishing Pressure

Clear Flows

Oak Orchard Data

Oatka Creek:   October 8th, 2019

Stained Flows

Oatka Data

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Resurrection

Wow.... it has been AWHILE since my last post.  For the readers that don't already know, my absence has been due to my attendance of graduate school in Michigan.  However the good news is that I will be returning to WNY at the end of September and have the rest of the year to guide and fish to my hearts content.  That being said my guide schedule is fairly open and I'm ready to get people on the great migratory fishing opportunity here in WNY. 

It is still early in the year for any serious numbers of fish to be accumulating in the tributaries.  However the larger tributaries have steady pushes of salmon.  The larger the tributary the more fish there will be right now.  Mostly the fish are concentrated in the lower "frog water" sections of the streams however some fish are already up in the upper reaches.  Oak Orchard and 18 Mile Creeks already have reports of salmon at the dams.  These are small pods of fish, but still fish.  The Lower Niagara River has seen some action with a few fish being taken as well.  The Salmon River has salmon moving up the DSR every day with the crowds starting to build as more and more salmon begin their journey.  As far as the Lake Erie tributaries, the Catt might have a few fish trickling in but the water is still into the 70's and there has not been much in the way of precipitation to bring up the flows and bring in the fish.

The best fishing has happened early in the morning until sunrise and late in the evening until just after sundown. Be aware that the seasonal tributary regulations (September 1st - March 31st) are in effect!!  Please see the following links regarding the special seasonal regulations regarding the tributaries.
Great Lakes and Tributary Regulations
Special Regulations for Great Lakes Tributaries

The forecast for the next week does not include the chance of any significant precipitation and has highs in the 70's-80's.  This is not exactly welcome news in terms of migrating fish, however this is par for the course for September.

Be sure to check out my YouTube page for fishing videos as well as fly tying tutorials!  This fall I am excited to be uploading more frequent content.  If you are interested in booking a trip with me this fall please send me an email (wnyflyguy@gmail.com) as days are filling up!  Enjoy some of the pictures fish I've brought to hand as well as some happy customers!  Thanks again for reading and tight lines!


Current Stream Information: 

18-Mile Creek (Burt):  September 16th, 2019
Light fishing pressure

Low/Clear Flows
94 CFS

18-Mile Creek (Hamburg):  September 16th, 2019
Low/Clear Flows

25.2 CFS

Cattaraugus Creek:   September 16th, 2019

Clear Flows

257 CFS

70.2 ⁰F

Oak Orchard Creek:   September 16th, 2019

Light Fishing Pressure

Clear Flows

229 CFS 

Oatka Creek:   September 16th, 2019

Stained Flows

71.8 CFS

NOTE:  Please fish inland trout during the cooler hours of the day to reduce the stress to the fish.  Trout are a cold water species and being caught in the heat can kill them.

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