Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 04/21/2025 – 04/27/2025
Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: This week in the Buffalo Niagara Region was a rollercoaster of floods, big winds, some gorgeous days, and a little bit of fishing magic. We faced it all—muddy waters from a deluge, unpredictable forecasts, and waves that tested our resolve. But that’s what makes this game so incredible this time of year. From chasing clear water to hammer king salmon in a springtime frenzy, to pivoting to the Upper Niagara for bass and a friendly tournament win, we turned chaos into some unforgettable adventures this past week. Keep reading for more details.
Days on the water: 6
Who we fished with: friends/clients
Where we fished: Lake Ontario, Lower Niagara, Upper Niagara, Lake Erie
What we caught: lake trout, brown trout. king salmon, coho salmon, smallmouth bass, steelhead
Tactics: trolling spoons; 3-way rigs with minnows; casting swim baits, dropshots, and bucktails
Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations
04/21/2025 – The Flood
A forecast of heavy rain and strong east winds prompted me to reschedule my trip. Over two inches of rain fell from a relentless band of thunderstorms that came off of Lake Erie, flooding streets and cutting power to some homes. The river turned muddy in the deluge.
04/22/2025 – Lake Ontario Adventure
Fished Lake Ontario out of Lewiston, NY with Jason and Sam. We started in the river, but the flood from the day prior turned the water muddy – the bite was slow as a result. There was a kind of big west wind blowing, kicking up 2’ waves on Lake Ontario. I asked the guys if they had issues with sea sickness – both didn’t. So, we went on an adventure. I’m glad we did. The lake trout bite was consistent, and we boated our first king salmon of the year. 
04/23/2025 – Chaos on Lake O
Fished Lake Ontario out of Lewiston, NY with Ryan. We had an incredible few hours. I headed to a waypoint where fish stack up every year when the water hits the 40s. On the way out to the area, the Niagara’s muddy outflow had me worried. Thankfully, when we got close to that waypoint, the water went from brown to blue, and my sonar lit up.
We hammered king salmon at a classic springtime frenzy pace—multiple doubles and a few giants in the mix. Insane action! Then an east wind rolled in, pushing muddy water deep and killing the bite by late morning.
That was one of those situations where luck played a major factor in the outcome of the day. Sure, I know a few zones where fish will set up in the spring – all of us captains do. However, arriving at that particular zone, with nobody around, a ton of fish feeding, and have clear water for only a few hours – that’s luck. That’s what makes fishing seem magical sometimes. 
04/24/2025 – The Flood Catches Up
Fished Lake Ontario out of Lewiston, NY with Steve and Alex. Floodwaters from the 4/21 deluge hit the lake the previous afternoon, muddying the water and making it tough to find fishable clarity. After extensive searching, we settled on a spot that was marginally better than the rest. We picked up fish throughout the day, but the bite was inconsistent and spotty.
04/25/2025 – Lake O Beat Us…But we Recovered
Fished Lake Ontario out of Lewiston, NY with new clients Ben, Peter, and Jeff – in town from Ohio. Conditions didn’t quite unfold as forecasted – huge NE winds ended up pushing us off the lake after an hour or so. We caught one lake trout in that time. Not wanting to give up, we ran upriver and spent a little time there. Not much happened other than a steelhead.
So, I made a bold decision to make the move to the Upper Niagara for a little pre-spawn bass action – my first session of the year. It was excellent and made up for the “L” we took on Lake O. 
04/26/2025 – The Tourney
Fished a friends “tournament” with 3 boats on the Upper Niagara that included captains Mike Trifiletti and Peter Goretti. The guys that fished with me – Rick, John, and Dave – have been fishing with me for years. They came up with the idea of getting some of their poker buddies/friends/family together to have a little competition.
It was an incredible day and our boat won the tournament. I’ll let the pictures tell it. 
04/27/2025 – 2 Angles on Angling on the Water
I had clients on the books, but they wanted to fish for king salmon. There was a big NW in the forecast, too big to get out on Lake Ontario. So, we rescheduled.
I took advantage of my day off to do some recon work with Jordan on Lake Erie. Water clarity was poor everywhere – caused by the wind and rain the day prior. We poked around a few of my spring haunts and caught some fish through the mud. That tanker I’m holding was 6.75lbs – a pleasant surprise. 
Seasonal Assessment/General Observations
In last week’s report, I predicted I would land my first bass and king salmon of the season—and this week delivered. It was a full week where I covered a ton of water and got to experience spring chaos in all its glory. Hopefully, the daily play-by-play offers enough intel for you to get a sense of what’s going on around the Buffalo Niagara Region. In short, it’s just the beginning of what’s going to be an insane month. Everything is on fire right now – and it’s just getting started.
Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 04/28/2025 – 05/04/2025
Forecast Commentary
The forecast for this week looks solid, though it’s got some challenges. Water clarity will pose the biggest problem throughout the week, but if you know where to go, you’ll catch fish. As usual for spring, expect winds and temps to swing wildly. With the whole system—Erie, Niagara, and Ontario—fishing well, we’ve got options to make any day on the water worth it, barring extreme winds. This week’s no different, and I’m ready to make it count.
I’m happy to see some cold days in the forecast too. Yeah, I know, if you live around here you want warmth – I get it. However, the faster things warm up, the faster the frenzied bite will come to an end. I always hope for a gradual crescendo into summer – it keeps the pace steady, less frantic.
Most of the docket for this upcoming week is filled with folks I’ve been fishing with for years – some excellent anglers are in the mix too. If conditions unfold as forecasted, I’ll spend some of my time fishing everything from Erie to the Niagara to Ontario. I’m confident it’ll be another banner week.
Stay healthy my friends – mentally and physically,
Ryan