April 17 to April 24, 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
Lake Erie is now ice free; however, most of the Erie-Niagara ice boom remains in place. Yellow perch action really took off last weekend, with anglers reporting some fast limits. The perch bite has been excellent between Cattaraugus Creek and Sturgeon Point in 45-55 feet of water. Live emerald shiners fished at the bottom is the typical approach, though any small to medium-sized minnow are working now. The Sturgeon Point launch and Town of Hanover launch at Cattaraugus Creek are both open. The accessible launch dock will be installed at Hanover the week of 4/20. 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.
There are still some sparce steelhead hanging around the Lake Erie tributaries, but warming temperatures will soon push them back to the lake. Look for smallmouth bass to soon be the dominant catch.
Buffalo River Fishing Access Site
The renovation project at DEC Harlem Road Fishing Access site on Buffalo River in West Seneca has been completed, and the site is open to the public. Enhancements include an accessible fishing platform and a stepped concrete car top boat launch that can accommodate launching at all navigable water levels.
Niagara River
The last of the Lake Erie ice has cleared out of the Niagara River system and river water temperature had jumped to 41 degrees by report time. Lower Niagara River boaters have recently reported a good brown trout bite in the lower drifts, while the upper drifts have produced fair numbers of steelhead with a few lake trout or brown trout mixed in. Controlled drifting with a three-way rig and live shiners has been productive. Smallmouth bass should be showing soon and numbers will continue to build over the next month. No word on a smelt run yet, but lower river water temperature is now in prime range for smelt to show along the shoreline, so might be worth a look. Artpark State Park and Lewiston Landing are the typical smelt dipping spots. For fishing access maps and lower river fishing information, see Fishing the Lower Niagara River.
Lake Ontario, Tributaries, Harbors and Piers
West-end Lake Ontario trollers continue to report excellent nearshore action. Brown trout remain the dominant catch inside 15 feet of water, on medium-sized spoons and stickbaits. If water is clear, bump out a little deeper. Anglers working depths of 20-60 feet of water are catching a mix of brown trout, coho salmon and lake trout, along with the first few king salmon catches of the season reported over the past week.
The Lake Ontario Counties received an inch of rain and the tributaries were running high and stained starting Thursday. Previously, Eighteenmile Creek anglers reported catching a fair mix of steelhead, brown trout and suckers in marginal conditions. Sandy Creek was producing a few brown trout and smallmouth bass. 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.
Access Site Closures:
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.
The Prendergast Point Boat Launch will be closed on Tuesday, April 21 until 3 PM for dredging.
Inland Trout Streams
The larger inland trout streams are running high at report time. Smaller streams are a better bet at the start of the weekend. The inland streams have generally been fishing well and action has primarily been on subsurface baits, lures and flies. Waters are warming and fly hatches should be starting up, with blue-winged olives, hendricksons and stoneflies possible early hatches. 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 have completed the majority of western New York’s inland trout stockings. The remaining waters to be stocked, and those receiving additional stocking increments are listed below. 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.
Allegany County: Week of 4/27: Allen Lake (Allen).
Cattaraugus County: Week of 4/20: Harwood Lake (Farmersville).
Chautauqua County: Week of 4/20: Goose Creek (N. Harmony, Harmony).
Wyoming County: Week of 4/20: Perry Park Pond (Perry), East Koy Creek (Gainesville, Pike).
Genesee County: Week of 5/8: Oatka Creek (Leroy).
Yates County: Week of 4/20: Keuka Lake Outlet (Milo, Terry).
Steuben County: Week of 4/30: Cohocton River (Cohocton, Avoca).
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!
