April 12 to April 26, 2024
Lake Erie, Harbors and Tributaries
The Lake Erie yellow perch bite is still going strong between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point. Depths of 55-65 feet of water is a good starting point, with emerald shiners fished at the bottom. Try to locate roving perch schools tight to the bottom before deploying lines. At mouth of Cattaraugus Creek, the Town of Hanover launch is open with launch docks in, while Sunset Bay Marine Park launch is open without launch docks. Sturgeon Point launch is closed until dredging of mouth occurs. Smallmouth bass fishing is picking up on Lake Erie inside 25 feet of water. There has also been an influx of bass into the greater Buffalo Harbor.
Rainstorms have all of the Lake Erie tributaries running high and turbid. With more rain in the forecast, sustained higher flows are likely for the weekend. Previously, anglers were reporting lighter numbers of steelhead scattered in the streams. Look for smallmouth bass to be dominant catch going forward. For bass, wooly buggers and minnow imitations are good fly offerings, while spinning anglers do well with stickbaits, and with minnows or jigs fished under a float.
Important Notice: Due to site and trail improvement projects, the Valentine Flats parking lot and access trail at the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area are closed until further notice. The nearby access point at Forty Road on S. Branch Cattaraugus Creek remains open. See Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area for details.
Niagara River
April through late-May is prime time fishing for smallmouth bass around the upper Niagara River, as bass feeding activity ramps up in preparation for the spawn. Boaters are catching good numbers by drifting with drop-shot rigs and plastics, and by casting bucktail jigs and jigs with swimbaits.
Lower river steelhead fishing in the upper drifts and gorge has improved a little, but still need to work for them. Smallmouth bass action has been solid in the mid to lower drifts.
Anglers continue to see quality brown trout catches on the Niagara Bar, with some lake trout and the occasional king salmon mixed in. Smelt are showing up in caught trout, a sign that smelt may be available along shore soon. All New York Power Authority fishing facilities are now open for the season. For fishing access maps and lower river fishing information, see Fishing the Lower Niagara River.
Attention anglers: The Artpark State Park Fourth Street entrance and Parking Lot D (lower lot) are closed until mid-May 2024 for a site improvement project. The lower park and shoreline are still accessible to pedestrians who park in the upper lots and walk down.
Lake Ontario, Tributaries, Harbors and Piers
West-end Lake Ontario trollers continue to report excellent nearshore action. Brown trout remain the dominant catch inside 20 feet of water, on medium-sized spoons and stickbaits. Anglers working depths of 20-100 feet of water are catching a mix of brown trout and lake trout, with the occasional king salmon.
Olcott and Wilson Harbors are good spots to target yellow perch and bullhead. Anglers are also catching brown trout at pier sites by casting spoons and spinners.
The western Lake Ontario tributaries are again high and muddy at report time. Previously there was decent fishing for steelhead and suckers on Eighteenmile and Oak Orchard Creeks.
Chautauqua Lake
Target congregating crappie in the canals and in the open lake at depths of 8 feet or less. In the lake, concentrate efforts in sheltered bays with weeds or around shallow structure. Small jigs tipped with a small minnow, one-inch tube or other small plastics are good crappie offerings. Look for bullhead along lake shorelines during low light periods. Visit the Chautauqua Lake page for more information.
Inland Trout Streams
Inland trout streams are running high and stained at report time. Trout fishing has generally been slow with the colder water conditions. Fishing subsurface flies, baits and lures near the bottom is a common tactic in cold waters. Look for overall trout fishing quality to pick up with warming stream temperatures.
Check out Fishing Tips for Stream Trout for introductory information on trout baits, lures, equipment and techniques. To find information on fishing access sites, stocked stream sections, regulations, and more, check out the interactive DECinfo Locator Map. Be sure to select the “trout streams” and “trout stream fishing access” layers. If needed, refer to the Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide for how-to information on using this mapping tool.
Spring Trout Stocking
DEC Fish Hatchery staff are busy stocking area waterways with thousands of trout. For County lists of stocked waters and the anticipated number of trout to be stocked, see the Spring Trout Stocking page. Call the Randolph Hatchery Stocking Hotline at 716-358-2050 for stocking updates.
The following waters have been stocked by April 12. *Italicized waters are to be stocked the week of April 15.
Allegany County: Allen Lake (Allen), Little Genesee Creek (Bolivar), California Hollow Brook (Bolivar), Root Creek (Bolivar), Genesee River (Wellsville, Amity), Dodge Creek (Clarksville), Clarksville Town Pond (Clarksville), Dyke Creek (Andover), Cryder Creek (Independence), Canacadea Creek (Almond), Black Creek (West Almond), Canaseraga Creek (Burns). / *Genessee River third stocking.
Cattaraugus County: Quaker Lake (Cold Spring), Science Lake (Red House), Case Lake (Franklinville), Harwood Lake (Farmersville), New Albion Lake (New Albion), Elton Creek (Freedom), Little Conewango Creek (Conewango), Quaker Run (Cold Spring), Red House Brook (Red House), Ischua Creek (Franklinville), Franklinville Conservation Club Pond (Franklinville), Paisley Park Pond (Randolph), Bone Run (South Valley), Lake Flavia (Dayton), Birch Run Pond #1 (Allegany), Crandall Pond (Ashford). / *Wrights Creek (Humphrey), Forks Creek (Great Valley), Great Valley Creek (Great Valley, Ellicottville), Mansfield Creek (Mansfield), S. Branch Cattaraugus Creek (East Otto), Five Mile Creek (Allegany), County Ponds A&B (Randolph).
Chautauqua County: Goose Creek (N. Harmony, Harmony), Cassadaga Creek (Stockton), Canadaway Creek (Arkwright), Mill Creek (Gerry), Clay Pond (Poland).
Erie County: Little Buffalo Creek (Lancaster, Marilla), Ellicott Creek (Amherst), Eighteenmile Creek (Boston), E. Branch Cazenovia Creek (Aurora, Holland), Cayuga Creek (Lancaster), Main Park Pond (Clarence), Westwood Park Pond (Lancaster), Cattaraugus Creek (Sardinia). / *Sprague Brook County Park Ponds (Concord).
Niagara County: Hyde Park Lake (Niagara Falls), Oppenheim Park Pond (Wheatfield). Note: Oppenheim Park is closed due to a major construction project. The park will re-open for fishing on Memorial Day.
Wyoming County: Cattaraugus Creek (Arcade). Little Tonawanda Creek (Middlebury), Tonawanda Creek (Orangeville), Buffalo Creek (Sheldon, Java). East Koy Creek (Gainesville, Pike), Letchworth Park Pond (Genesee Falls). / *Cattaraugus Creek third stocking
Genesee County: Oatka Creek (Leroy), Dewitt Pond (Batavia).
Monroe County: *Oatka Creek (Wheatland). / *Irondequoit Creek (Pittsford, Penfield).
Steuben County: Cohocton River (Avoca). Post Creek (Catlin), Canisteo River (Hornellsville), Bennett Creek (Greenwood), Canacadea Creek (Hornellsville), Meads Creek (Campbell). / *Cohocton River third stocking.
Livingston County: Sugar Creek (Ossian).
If you need more fishing information or would like to contribute to the fishing report, please call or e-mail Mike Todd (716-851-7010; [email protected]). Good Luck Fishing!