Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 04/13 – 04/19/2026
Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: This week was all about volatility — weather, water, and action — and the only constant was adapting on the fly. Every day swung between calm and chaos: lightning shows on the horizon, winds that couldn’t make up their mind, clarity shifting overnight, and bites that went from dead‑quiet to full‑tilt mayhem. But that instability also marked the real start of king season. The first few trickled in, then the floodgates opened, and by the weekend the lake felt alive again. Spring is still sorting itself out, but the fish are on the feed, and the window is widening fast. Insanity is starting, folks – and it’s only going to get crazier.
Days on the water: 5
Who we fished with: friends/clients
Where we fished: Lake Ontario
What we caught: lake trout, brown trout, king salmon, atlantic salmon, steelhead
Tactics: trolling stick baits and spoons
Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations
04/13/2026 – Weather Day
Huge SW wind and steady rain all morning forced me to reschedule.
4/14/2026 – Riverborn Fishing Company Assist
Fished Lake Ontario out of Olcott, NY with Jim and Nick, up from Pittsburg, PA. My buddy, Mike Trifiletti of Riverborn Fishing Company, brought me in on this one. We started at 6:30 AM to calm winds and a wild light show of lightening/thunderstorms on the other side of Lake Ontario. It was an edgy experience – wondering if we were going to get hit with the chaos but being captivated by the scene. Thankfully, the insanity just missed us.
The action was surprisingly lackluster – picky all morning. However, we managed a few really nice ones and a handful of shorties. By 11:00AM, the wind kicked up and got progressively wild. Boat control started to get problematic such that when we wrapped up the day we were in 2-4’ waves. 
4/15/2026 – Roller Coaster – Weather and Action
Fished Lake Ontario out of Wilson, NY with Steve and Alex. When I talked to Steve the night before, I remembered it’d been a few years since he landed my first king of the season — and said it could happen again. Turns out that was foreshadowing.
The weather was strange from the start. Big east rollers when we arrived, then the wind swung west within an hour and made it messy. Not long after, it shifted northwest. Boat control was an issue at times, but we made it work.
The brown trout bite was spotty early — only a few in the first hour — so we went deep looking for lakers and possibly a king. We got into a couple lakers quickly, then went a long time without a bite. Getting frustrated, I pulled all the lines and made a long run west. Shortly after dropping one of my riggers, it got bit — KING. Not a giant, but the first one of the year and a good sign of what’s ahead.
After that, we hit another long lull. On a hunch, I moved back in shallow for browns, and thankfully that bite was on fire. At one point all six lines either had a fish on or got bit. Total chaos. An awesome way to close out the day.
04/16/2026 – I Had to Call it
I had a mother and two 13-year-old boys on the docket. The forecast looked dicey with big winds coming out of the SSW. The boys really wanted to get into big trout and salmon, but mom would not be a fan of fishing though big waves. Decided to reschedule the trip.
04/17/2026 – And so it Begins
Fished Lake Ontario out of Lewiston, NY with Owen and Jim. Finally, my first day of insane king salmon action of the season. We got bit before I had all my rods in the water and rarely ended up running more than 2 rods. We had some lulls, but overall, it was a wild session. 
4/18/2026 – An Awesome Reunion
Fished Lake Ontario out of Lewiston, NY with Taylor, Paige, and Bill. I hadn’t fished with this father/daughters trio since 2019, so it was great to see them again. The lake changed overnight with the onset of some SW winds. The warmer, stained water where those kings love to hang moved from where it was the day prior, so it took us a little bit to get into a consistent bite.
Although it was a little grindy compared to the day before, everyone caught a few (and fought a few more), and the adrenaline stayed high most of the morning. Toward the end of the day, that SW wind really started to rip, kicking up some big waves — right around when we were planning to call it anyway.
Despite the occasional lull, it was an awesome experience watching these folks do battle with some giants. It was also a blast catching up after not seeing them for seven years or so.
4/19/2026 – Insanity
Fished Lake Ontario out of Lewiston, NY with Jeff, Patrick, and Dylan. When I got off the water the day prior and called Jeff, the temperature gauge in my truck read 82 degrees. It wasn’t that hot out, but I was sweating my ass off. I explained to him that although it’ll be half that (the high ended up being 42), if they were willing to endure some discomfort, it’d be worth their while. Jeff said he was all about it. LET’S GO! They made the right choice. Insane session.
After 3 hours of consistent salmon action, their arms were worn out and they wanted to try something different. So, we made the move into the river. Unfortunately, that was a dud. It didn’t matter though – that morning full of chaos was tough to beat. 
Seasonal Assessment/General Observations
On Tuesday, when I was in the parking lot at Olcott, NY, I pulled up the Lake Erie ice boom webcam and saw that the boom was still there… but there was no ice left. Two days of highs in the 70s and some south winds melted it all. From that point forward, warm surface water from Lake Erie made its way downstream into Lake Ontario, creating a wonderful warm‑water plume on the bar. That brought in the bait, and the kings and lakers followed.
Regarding my favorite fish — the smallmouth bass — I did a little recon on Thursday with my buddy Joe Srouji of Anglers Edge, and we got into them. However, they weren’t lit up. The river was muddy, and a huge west wind made it difficult to get dialed. Although it was a slightly discouraging session, with water temperatures in the mid-40s — and the fact that we got into them despite VERY MARGINAL conditions — I’m confident it’s about to get very good.
It’s the beginning of spring insanity, folks — many options are available regardless of the weather. That’s what I love about this time of year. Every day offers a new set of problems to solve, and it’s very likely that every outing will produce something awesome.
Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 04/20/2026 – 04/26/2026
This week looks like a slight reversion to winter. Honestly, I’m happy about that. There were a couple of days this past week where surface temperatures were in the upper 40s — it’s way too early for that. Cooler temperatures will slow down the heating trend and keep the fish in active feeding mode — in shallow water too. I want pre‑spawn smallmouth and shallow‑water king action to last deep into May. This upcoming week will help a lot.
Other than Monday, when near‑freezing temps and a stiff NW wind might make things problematic, the rest of the week looks very stable. I’m booked daily. Stand by for more pics of kings and the first of many rounds of pre‑spawn smallies.
Stay healthy, my friends. Mentally and physically,
Ryan
P.S. If you live around here, you likely put on shorts or a short‑sleeve shirt this past week. Trees are budding, more migratory birds are showing up, a couple of lawns got mowed — spring is in full swing. Actually, we’re mid‑season as of this writing. I bring all this up because until now, it felt weird to encourage folks to think about the summer when it’s been freezing.
Summer walleye fishing is only a couple months away, and my schedule is starting to fill up. I have zero doubts that the walleye action this year will be as good as last year. They might not flood the Buffalo part of the basin again, but they’ll be loaded by the Catt and Barcelona regardless.
Call soon to reserve your spot — I have a couple openings in late June, more than a handful in July, and plenty of opportunities in August.