Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 10/21/2024 – 10/27/2024
Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: It was a chaotic week once again. Big winds blew from just about every direction. It was hot, then it was cold. Action was excellent on some days and a grind on others. All in all – after you see the photos, you’ll likely think we’re spoiled when I tell you it was just an OK week in the Buffalo Niagara Region. It’s early though – the best is yet to come. Keep reading for more details.
Days on the water: 5
Who we fished with: friends/clients
Where we fished: Lake Erie, Upper Niagara, Lower Niagara, Lake Ontario
What we caught: smallmouth bass, lake trout, steelhead
Tactics: drifting bait, jigging bucktails, swimbaits, and blade baits, casting crank baits, pulling plugs, drifting beads
Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations
10/21/2024 – Fished the Lower Niagara with Mike and Sean. It was a gorgeous day with a gusty SW wind blowing. The lake trout were cooperative as were some giant smallmouth bass. The numbers weren’t extraordinary, but we stayed entertained all day long. 
10/22/2024 – Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Mike and Sean. The day started off with a nice SE wind that had us drifting at the perfect speed. Action was excellent for the first couple of hours…then the wind died, and it became a grind. When the wind died off, we were able to connect on drop shots but action was spotty. 
10/23/2024 – Fished Oak Orchard Creek and 18-mile creek with Steve and Alex. Facing ridiculously big SW winds and small craft advisories throughout the region, there was only one option if we wanted to fish – go somewhere the wind couldn’t affect us.
Steve and Alex are always down for an adventure – especially when it comes to the pursuit of big fish. So, when I offered the opportunity to do something different, I wasn’t surprised when they emphatically said “YES.”
We got on the water at pre-dawn and locked down a deep hole and began going to work. Free floating weeds and a steady flow of leaves on the water caused by the huge wind were an obstacle – but we dealt with it. The fish were there, and it didn’t take long for Steve to connect – with one of the biggest kings I’ve boated. It wasn’t long before he connected with another. After that, the action died so we moved to 18-mile.
There were fish around on 18 but it was crowded and very low, weedy, and full of leaves. We put in work at every piece of calm water we could, but didn’t connect. 
10/24/2024 – Day off. Went to the gym, worked on the boat, did some gear inventory, rested.
10/25/2024 – Day 1 of the John trip. Fished the Lower Niagara and the Lake Ontario bar. The bite on the bar for bass was consistent, but with mostly small fish. We managed one over 5lbs. The river bite was super slow. We managed a couple here and there, but nothing consistent or photo worthy. The trout bite was non-existent. I’m not too discouraged about that though, it’s still early for consistent trout action down there. 
10/26/2024 – Day 2 of the John trip. Facing huge NW winds with small craft advisories on all the water in the region, we decided to cancel and rest of for the following day.
10/27/2024 – Last day of the John trip. We fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY for smallmouth bass. Action was a bit spotty to start off the day. After looking around for a bit, we found a huge group of fish and put in work. Action was excellent – with a few biggies in the mix too. 
Seasonal Assessment/General Observations
On the Conditions
Here are some of my observations from the water this past week:
- The smallmouth bass bite has been awesome when there’s wind. It’s been a grind otherwise. There are a ton of fish around. Unfortunately, they are concentrated in a limited number of places. Minnows continue to be the best producer.
- Lake trout continue to make their way into the river. They are by no means thick yet, and the water is still warm. However, if you put in work in the right places, you’ll catch a few.
- Brown trout are also starting to load up in the Lower Niagara. You’ll see them break the surface or jump out of the water if you’re in the right area. Unfortunately, they aren’t on the feed – breeding is what’s on their mind. However, if you fish where they are, you’ve got a good chance at a few hook ups. Like the lakers, it’s still a little early for them to be in full feed mode.
- Water temperateures only dropped a degree this past week. All those days in the 70s didn’t help much. That big NW wind and the huge drop in temperatures we had yesterday are responsible for bringing it down a notch.
Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 10/28/2024 – 11/03/2024
Forecast Commentary
Chaotic weather will continue this upcoming week. Tomorrow looks excellent – clear, crisp, and light winds. Tuesday through Thursday will keep anglers confined to the lower Niagara due to huge south winds. If the long-term forecast holds, the weekend looks good – back to crisp temperatures and manageable winds.
I’ll likely put in 5 days on the water this upcoming week. Most of my time will be spent on the Lower Niagara, but Lake Erie will see me at least a couple of days. Looking forward to it!
Stay healthy my friends – mentally and physically,
Ryan