April 10 to April 17, 2026
Personal Floatation Device (PFD) Law
As a reminder, between November 1 and May 1, anyone underway in a boat (less than 21 feet) must wear a securely fastened PFD. This includes canoes, kayaks, rowboats and motorboats. Commercial vessels are exempt.
Lake Erie Tributaries
All Lake Erie tributary levels except for Cattaraugus Creek, have dropped back to moderate at report time. Anglers are still reporting fair numbers of steelhead hanging around, but numbers will dwindle as stream temperatures rise. Suckers have moved into the streams to spawn and smallmouth bass are just starting to show in some streams.
The international Joint Commission announced the removal of the Lake Erie – Niagara River ice boom to begin on April 6. Accessing Lake Erie from Buffalo Harbor is not possible until the remaining lake ice clears. Ice is not a hindrance to launching at sites to the west, but launch docks have not been installed at some sites. Sturgeon Point launch docks are in and the channel has been dredged. Sunset Bay State Marine Park announced rolling launch closures during dock work from April 13-24. Call the park at 716-218-7908 for details.
Buffalo River Fishing Access Site Temporary Closure
The Buffalo River’s DEC Harlem Road Fishing Access site located off Harlem Road in West Seneca closed to the public on June 9, 2025 for an access improvement project. Work is expected to extend into April 2026. View more information on the Harlem Road Access Site closure.
Niagara River
Boaters reported slower fishing in marginal conditions for much of the past week. The ice bridge below the falls has broken up and cleared. But with the ice boom removal underway, more floating ice will be moving though the system. Previously, boaters saw good brown trout action in the lower drifts and fair fishing for steelhead in the upper drifts. Water clarity is a bit better upriver of the power plant outflow, and shore anglers are catching primarily steelhead in the gorge and at the NYPA fishing platform. For updates call 716-286-6662. For fishing access maps and lower river fishing information, see Fishing the Lower Niagara River.
Lake Ontario, Tributaries, Harbors and Piers
When weather has permitted, Lake Ontario brown trout action has been very good from the Niagara River to east of Rochester. Target browns in 6-20 feet of water with stickbaits and spoons run 75-100 feet behind planer boards. Action is often better in cloudy (not muddy) water, along distinct mud lines and temperature breaks. Coho salmon and lake trout are other possible catches, out to 50 feet of water. Shore anglers can target brown trout by casting spoons and spinners at pier sites. Lots of woody debris including large trees had recently been flushed into the lake. Watch out for floating and partially submerged hazards.
Due to persistently high and turbid conditions on the medium to larger Lake Ontario tributaries, fishing has been very slow all week. When conditions improve, possible catches include steelhead, brown trout and white suckers. Bullhead are available in the Lake Ontario harbors and lower sections of the tributaries. Common bullhead baits include nightcrawlers, raw shrimp, chicken livers, dead minnows and prepared baits.
Chautauqua Lake
A mix of crappie, bluegill and yellow perch are available in the canals around the lake. Crappie fishing on the open lake is a bit slower, but fish are schooling around emerging weedbeds and structure in 8 feet of water or less. 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.
Attention anglers: The Bemus Point State Boat Launch and access site will remain closed through the winter for a reconstruction project. The site is projected to reopen in mid-May 2026. View the DEC Press Release for more information.
Inland Trout Streams
The traditional April 1 inland trout opener was mostly a bust due to high water levels throughout the region. Spring-fed and smaller streams are in good shape at report time, while larger streams/systems remain a bit high. Fishing subsurface flies, baits and lures near the bottom is a common tactic in early season. Look for overall trout fishing quality to pick up with warming stream temperatures. See Fishing for Stream Trout for how-to information and the Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide for a map showing fishing access and stream categories.
Spring Inland Trout Stocking
DEC Fish Hatchery staff are busy stocking area waterways with thousands of trout. View the Spring Trout Stocking List for County lists of stocked waters and the anticipated number, sizes, and species of trout to be stocked. Call the Randolph Hatchery stocking hotline at 716-358-2050 for stocking updates.
The following waters have been stocked by April 10. / *Italicized waters are to be stocked the week of April 17:
Allegany County: Little Genesee Creek (Bolivar), Root Creek (Bolivar), California Hollow Brook (Bolivar), Genesee River (Wellsville, Amity), Dodge Creek (Clarksville), Clarksville Town Pond (Clarksville), Dyke Creek (Andover, Wellsville), Cryder Creek (Independence), Canacadea Creek (Almond), Black Creek (West Almond), Canaseraga Creek (Burns), Allen Lake (Allen). / * Genesee River (third stocking).
Cattaraugus County: Elton Creek (Freedom), Red House Brook (Red House), Quaker Run (Cold Spring), Quaker Lake (Cold Spring), Science Lake (Red House), Ischua Creek (Franklinville), Franklinville Conservation Club Pond (Franklinville), Little Conewango Creek (Conewango), Paisley Park Pond (Randolph), County Ponds A&B (Randolph), Case Lake (Franklinville), Harwood Lake (Farmersville), Red House Lake (Red House), Birch Run Pond #1 (Allegany), Bone Run (South Valley). / *Lake Flavia (Dayton), New Albion Lake (New Albion).
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), Cattaraugus Creek (Sardinia), East Branch Cazenovia Creek (Aurora, Holland), Cayuga Creek (Lancaster), Main Park Pond (Clarence), Westwood Park Pond (Lancaster). / *Sprague Brook Park Ponds (Concord).
Niagara County: Hyde Park Lake (Niagara Falls), Oppenheim Park Pond (Wheatfield).
Wyoming County: Cattaraugus Creek (Java), Little Tonawanda Creek (Middlebury), Tonawanda Creek (Sheldon, Orangeville), East Koy Creek (Gainesville, Pike), Letchworth Park Pond (Genesee Falls). / *Cattaraugus Creek (third stocking).
Genesee County: Oatka Creek (Leroy), Dewitt Pond (Batavia).
Livingston County: Sugar Creek (Ossian).
Steuben County: Cohocton River (Cohocton, Avoca), Post Creek (Catlin), Canisteo River (Hornellsville), Bennett Creek (Greenwood), Canacadea Creek (Hornellsville), Meads Creek (Campbell). / *Cohocton River (third stocking).
The fishing hotline can also be heard at 716-855-3474. 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!
