What makes the Buffalo-Niagara region unique for fishing?

The Buffalo-Niagara region is unique because Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and Lake Ontario are all within a handful of miles. Close to 20% of the world's fresh water circulates through this area. These are distinct fisheries with different target species, all accessible within 30 minutes of each other.

How far in advance should I book a fishing charter in Buffalo NY?

Spring and fall book up about 3 months in advance. Summer trips are often available with shorter notice since days are long and multiple trips per day are common. Last-minute cancellations do happen, so it's worth calling even if booking inside the typical window.

What's the best time of year to fish in Buffalo-Niagara?

Fishing is available from mid-March through the end of December. Every season offers different species and techniques. Spring and fall are most popular due to the variety of fishing options and ability to find protected waters. Summer offers excellent all-day fishing with warm water temperatures.

What species can I catch in Buffalo-Niagara waters?

You can catch smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, steelhead, brown trout, king salmon, and lake trout. All of these can be caught throughout the year, but each species thrives at different times.

How long are charter fishing trips?

Full day trips are about 7 hours long. Half day trips are about 4 hours long. Trips can be tailored to fit your specific needs.

Do I need to bring my own fishing gear?

No. Brookdog Fishing Company provides top-of-the-line equipment that is perfectly suited for the techniques being used. All rods, reels, and bait are included and are dialed in specifically for Buffalo-Niagara fishing conditions.

What should I bring on a fishing charter in Buffalo NY?

Dress in layers for the weather conditions. Bring extra clothing in a backpack or duffel. A fishing license is required for anyone 16 or older. The captain provides breakfast sandwiches and bottled water. You can bring additional food and drinks in soft-sided bags (no hard coolers or glass bottles).

How much does a fishing charter cost in Buffalo NY?

Half day trips cost $450 and full day trips cost $600. This includes all equipment, bait, and instruction. Half day trips are typically only offered from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but exceptions can be made.

Do you offer fishing trips for beginners and families with children?

Yes! Beginner and family trips are among the most rewarding. The captain specializes in teaching fishing techniques and helping first-timers feel comfortable on the water. No prior fishing experience is necessary.

What happens if the weather is bad on my charter day?

The captain makes the call on weather cancellations based on safety and fishing conditions. Unsafe conditions include temperatures below mid-20s, winds over 40mph, waves bigger than 5 feet, persistent lightning, or heavy lake effect snow. If weather looks problematic, there will be a transparent conversation about options to reschedule or proceed.

What is the difference between fishing Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and Lake Ontario?

Lake Erie offers world-class walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in relatively shallow, warm waters. The Upper Niagara River between Lake Erie and Niagara Falls features excellent spring and fall smallmouth bass, walleye, and musky fishing. The Lower Niagara River between Niagara Falls and Lake Ontario provides year-round fishing for king salmon, steelhead, brown trout, and lake trout. Lake Ontario is a deep, cold-water fishery known for trophy salmon and trout.

What fishing techniques will we use on the charter?

Techniques vary based on season and target species, and include finesse fishing (jigging, casting swimbaits, dropshotting), power fishing (casting crankbaits, jerkbaits, blades/spoons), trolling (with inline weights, divers, and downriggers), and bottom bouncing.

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – 06/07/2026

by brookdog | Jun 7, 2026

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 06/01 – 06/07/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: Well, my streak came to an end, folks. It was bittersweet, but both Mother Nature and some maintenance issues conspired to force me to rest…for a day. Despite a little friction — and some awesome support from the folks at Collins Marine — I still managed to spend time on Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Upper Niagara. As promised, I spent most of my time chasing Lake Erie gold. It felt good to get some reps in and fill the box with a few beauties. Things are changing fast out there, and I’m happy to meet the new challenges head‑on. Summer is close — it’s going to be a good one.

Days on the water: 6

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Ontario, Upper Niagara, Lake Erie

What we caught: smallmouth bass, king salmon, walleye

Tactics: trolling spoons, casting finesse baits, drifting live bait, trolling worm harnesses

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

06/01/2026 – Fishing with David – Day 1

Fished the Upper Niagara with David. Dave’s been fishing with me for a few years now. He’s lived a long and very interesting life. A retired firefighter, he’s managed to stay in shape and continue to travel the continent hunting big game and fishing wherever he can. He’s covered a lot of ground – but keeps coming back to the Buffalo Niagara Region for its diversity. On day 1 of this trip, we pursued smallmouth bass…and caught MANY.

06/02/2026 – Fishing with David – Day 2

Fished Lake Ontario out of Wilson, NY with David via Matt Yablonski (Wet Net Charters). I guess this was the day my streak ended. I fished – but didn’t guide – so one streak ended but my time on the water streak stayed intact.

On Sunday (05/31/2026), my trailer broke. After putting my boat in the water that afternoon, I heard something dragging as I drove to a parking spot. Upon inspection, I saw the leaf springs on my starboard side had snapped and my brake lines were severed. Everything connected to my axles was badly rusted and close to failing — it was only a matter of time. All the road salt from trailering winter and spring, plus the ridiculous number of potholes around here, were the likely culprits.

Bottom line: my trailer needed repairs. Collins Marine took care of me and let me dock there until the trailer was fixed. That meant I was confined to the Upper Niagara and Lake Erie. I wanted Dave to get out on Lake Ontario as planned, and luckily Matt had the day open and was able to take us out.

We got our limit with ease. It was nice just being an observer for the day. I used to first mate for Matt back in 2017 and 2018 when I wasn’t booked. I learned a lot from him then, and learned even more from this outing.

Although my streak ended, I was happy Dave got the chance to battle some kings and leave with plenty of meat. I was also grateful for the learning opportunity.

06/03/2026 – Fishing with David – Day 3

Fished Lake Erie near Buffalo, NY with David. In the spirit of catching multiple species on his trip, we decided to target bass and Lake Erie gold. The bass bite was kind of a grind – a little bit of action – the lack of wind made it tough. So, we converted to walleyes. That went well.

06/04/2026 – Anglers Edge Assist – Day 1

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Jeff and Vestal. My buddy, Joe Srouji (Anglers Edge Outdoors) brought me in on this trip. The target was walleyes. We got our limit with relative ease. It wasn’t insane like mid-summer last year, but after covering a little ground and finding a good group of fish, the action was consistent. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures – blood lust kicked in. That was a problem last year and it’ll likely be a problem again this year. I’ll try my best to temper it.

06/05/2026 – Anglers Edge Assist – Day 2

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Jeff, Vestal, and Clint. I forgot to mention this in the last entry, but these guys are all former military. It was an absolute blast fishing with them – non-stop ball busting and telling stories. These guys live all around the country – Arizona, Maryland, and Texas. It was good to see a few older vets still making it a priority to get together every year and do something fun. I aspire to do the same.

The bite was a grind at first – until the wind kicked up. Once the walleye chop started rolling, action got crazy. Once again, blood lust kicked in and I didn’t take any photos. Well, at the end of the day, I reminded myself to take at least one.

06/06/2026 – First Day off the Water in 52 Days

I had a trip booked – one of my regulars who fishes with me a couple times per year. He lives near Corning, NY and planned on coming in with his buddies the night prior and staying in a hotel.

The forecast called for rain and HUGE wind. I gave him an out and understandably, he took it. We could’ve fished, but it would’ve been nautical and they didn’t want to risk making that drive and spending money on a hotel to potentially have a day cut short due to huge waves.

I was a little disappointed for my on-the-water streak to come to an end. However, it felt good to stay up late and watch a little bit of TV the night prior (the first time in nearly two months) and sleep in the following day. I took advantage of the time off the water to hit the gym, catch up on accounting, and get a haircut.

06/07/2026 – 3 Generation Session

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Howard, Dan, and Jake – 3 generations of anglers. This was their first time fishing with me and we had a blast. We started off with smallmouth bass and got into a few quickly – then the wind died. So, we converted to walleyes. That bite was excellent. Nothing insane – the kind of bite I like – some wild points, some long droughts, and a strong finish. The guys left happy with their limit of walleyes. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Things are changing fast – the warming trend continues and the fish are moving around. Here’s a few observations:

The River

Algae is increasingly becoming a factor as is weed growth. The caddis hatch is also in full swing – it’s snowing bugs out there daily from noon into the evening. Bass are on beds and walleyes are post-spawn. Fish can be caught – but there are obstacles. My take – fish the lakes folks. Or, get out super early and cover a ton of water to avoid beating up on bedders.

Lake Erie

All this hot weather has the lake heating up fast. It came up 4 degrees this past week and is starting to get into that happy zone for walleyes. There’s a ton of bait around and the walleyes are taking advantage – recovering from all the calories burnt during the spawn. I’ve only fished out of Buffalo, NY so far – and it’s been good. Not awesome – just good – and crowded.

The bass out there are still on beds. You can catch many – so long as there’s a breeze and you cover a lot of water.

Lake Ontario

Lake O is changing fast. Very warm water from the river is stacking up on top of the cold stuff and swirling around a lot out there. When we were out there with Matt, we caught all our fish in the top 40’ of the water column – just under the layer of warm water. There are still a lot of fish around between Wilson and Olcott. Covering a lot of water – from shallow to deep and back was the ticket when we were out there.

I don’t know how long this insanity will last but my guess is that we’ve got a few more weeks of good times ahead. They’ll likely move deeper in the column – but won’t bail from our part of the lake.

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 06/08/2026 – 06/14/2026

The forecast for this upcoming week looks like summer – hot days with minimal wind and sporadic precipitation. I’m booked daily and expect to fish all of them. I’ll check in on the Upper once. Lake O might get some attention too. However, the bulk of my days will be spent on Lake Erie in pursuit of gold.

There won’t be a fishing report this week – I depart for Idaho this weekend. Stand by for the trip report!

Stay healthy, my friends. Mentally and physically,

Ryan

P.S. I only have one day open this month. July is filling up but uncomfortably lean considering it’s less than month away. I’m not too worried (yet), it’s finally warm/hot and people are starting to think about summer – I received a little uptic in calls this past week. Still, I have plenty of openings for summer walleye trips. Call soon and pick your date before there aren’t many left.

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