Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 03/17/2025 – 03/23/2025
Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: Spring has arrived! It was a quiet week, folks, but I still managed to hit the water a couple of times. Not much has changed since last week’s report—Lake Erie retains some ice cover, keeping the river water icy cold, while browns and walleyes (catch and release) remain the main catch. The weather? Typically ‘seasonal.’ We’ve enjoyed a few gloriously warm days that lured everyone out to soak up the sun, but those were just a fleeting tease. The best days of the season are yet to come. Keep reading for more details.
Days on the water: 2
Who we fished with: friends/clients
Where we fished: Lower Niagara
What we caught: brown trout, steelhead, walleye (cath and release), lake trout
Tactics: drifting bait; jigging bucktails, swimbaits, and blade baits
Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations
3/17/2025: Shari and Uncle Tony
Fished the Lower Niagara with Shari and Uncle Tony. It’s always a blast with these two—non-stop laughs from start to finish. The weather was brutal, though: highs barely hit 40°F, a stiff northwest wind whipped through, and occasional drizzle kept us consistently uncomfortable. None of that fazed their spirits. We caught fish, but it was a grind.
3/18/25: Medical Stuff
I spent the morning at doctor’s appointments—routine preventative maintenance, nothing to worry about. I take advantage of winter, when I’m off the water, to focus on my health since I’m booked solid every day through spring, summer, and fall.
3/19/25: More Medical Appointments
More doctor’s visits.
3/20/25: Day Off
I wasn’t booked and the weather was hostile so I stayed off the water. I spent the day at the gym and driving the system to keep tabs on ice flow.
3/21/25: Surgery
Like I said, I use the winter months to take care of medical stuff. I’ve had a nagging issue over the past couple of years—a sebaceous cyst that formed on my back. It was barely noticeable, but I was tired of my wife saying that I was growing a horn on my back so I had it removed. I guess these things can get infected if you let them continue to grow—so why risk leaving it?
3/22/25: Going for it
Fished the Lower Niagara with Dave and his nephew, Mark. Dave and I have been fishing together for eight years now—we’ve seen the highest highs and the lowest lows. He’s an incredible example of someone who’s turned his well-being around later in life, bucking the usual decline that comes with aging. His family life has improved, and so has his health—he’s dropped a ton of weight since we first started fishing together.
I’m highlighting this because Dave’s getting adventurous in his old age (he’s older than me, so I can call him that), and I think his improved health is what’s driving it. In the days leading up to the trip, we both kept an eye on the forecast, hoping for a break in the weather. It never came. Instead, we faced a stiff WNW wind all day, cold temperatures, and the threat of rain and snow. Dave’s been at this with me long enough to know how that plays out on the water—it’s not fun. I gave him an out, but he was determined to go for it, and I really appreciate that.
Mother Nature bore down on us most of the day with cold, wind, and occasional rain-snow mix. The action was spotty, but somehow we pulled off a Lower Niagara slam. Was it worth the pain and discomfort? The answer to that question is entirely personal.
3/23/25: Family Time
Wasn’t booked. Stayed off the water and hung out with the family. Days off will be fleeting starting next week. I’m happy to embrace some family time now when I have the chance.
Seasonal Assessment/General Observations
Super cold water and a ton of bait will keep things challenging in the days ahead. That said, flurries of action pop up daily if you’re willing to put in the effort. The timing of these feeding windows has been all over the place, so the key is to keep working the water until it happens.
Lately, I’ve stuck to live minnows as my only bait, and for good reason. First, many of the trout and walleyes I’ve landed have coughed up small smelt or emerald shiners—why not match the hatch as closely as possible? Second, even though steelhead are spawning now and will hit eggs (or egg imitations), a fish offers way more calories, especially if it’s an easy grab. Lastly, I’m all about simplicity and efficiency: one bait, one hook, one weight, all day long.
I’m not discouraged by how the season’s kicking off. Western New Yorkers are hypersensitive to weather swings—when it gets suddenly warm, everyone assumes that’s the new norm and expectations soar. But the reality is, as long as Lake Erie has ice, this pattern’s will continue. The good news? Ice coverage is shrinking fast, and there’s a solid chance the ice boom will come out in the first couple weeks of April. See here for more details (Ice Boom Information | International Joint Commission).
Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 03/24/2025 – 03/30/2025
Forecast Commentary
I’ve got Monday and Tuesday off this upcoming week, so I’ll use those days to unwind. The plan? More gym time and hanging out with family.
Come Wednesday, I’m booked solid every day through mid-June. As long as the ice boom’s still in place, I’ll be fishing the Lower Niagara and Lake Ontario daily. Lake trout and browns are no doubt stacked up on Lake O, and I’ll head out there as soon as the weather cooperates—probably midweek. It’ll feel great to get some deep-water reps in; it’s been nearly six months.
So yeah, folks, the spring calendar is locked in. If you’ve waited until the last minute to book a trip, don’t sweat it—just give me a call. I always get a few last-minute cancellations, so I can add you to the short list of backups. But if you’re holding out for warm weather to book, don’t wait—my summer schedule’s filling up fast.
Stay healthy my friends – mentally and physically,
Ryan