Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 07/06 – 07/12/2026
Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: This past week was one of those reminders that guiding is about far more than catching fish. I spent time with travelers from Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, South Carolina, and beyond, along with returning clients and local regulars. Some wanted a freezer full of walleyes, others simply wanted to experience Lake Erie, and several checked “first walleye” and “first smallmouth” off their bucket lists. The fishing remained outstanding, with limits coming quickly on most trips before we shifted gears to bass and freshwater drum or simply enjoyed the conversations and scenery. Aside from one maintenance day that kept me off the water, it was another memorable week filled with great people, plenty of laughs – the kind of fishing that makes a Lake Erie summer so special.
Days on the water: 6
Who we fished with: friends/clients
Where we fished: Lake Erie
What we caught: walleye, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum
Tactics: trolling worm harnesses, casting finesse baits
Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations
07/06/2026 – Fun with Falls Enthusiasts
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Joe and Evie, who were visiting the Buffalo Niagara Region from Virginia. They were an absolute blast to fish with—and even better to spend the day with. They travel the country in search of waterfalls big and small and enjoy wetting a line wherever they go, so we had plenty of stories (and travel tips) to exchange.
Since they weren’t interested in keeping fish, I put them on what I call the Lake Erie Summer Trifecta: a pile of walleyes, followed by smallmouth bass and freshwater drum. It made for a fun day and a great way to experience everything Lake Erie has to offer this time of year.
07/07/2026 (morning) – Out with the Indiana Boys
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Nick, Chris, and Corey. The guys were in town from Indiana for a Williams Syndrome convention—Chris and Corey’s sister was born with the condition—and wanted to spend a day exploring the lake.
Since they were traveling and bouncing between hotels, they weren’t interested in keeping fish. That made it the perfect opportunity to put them on the Lake Erie Summer Trifecta: walleyes, smallmouth bass, and freshwater drum. None of them had ever caught a walleye or a smallmouth bass before. We fixed that.
07/07/2026 (afternoon) – In Need of Fish for a Fry…and then Some
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Jim, Dave, and Larry. The guys needed some walleyes for a fish fry, and I was happy to help make that happen. They put together a quick limit – it was chaotic and blood lust kicked in so I didn’t take many photos.
We followed that up with a drop-shot session for smallmouth bass and freshwater drum. The bass didn’t cooperate, but the drum certainly did.
07/08/2026 (morning) – “Want a Water?” “No, a Shotgun”
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Ed, Don, and Greg (Don’s son). I’ve been fishing with Ed for a few years now, usually with his kids, Kristina and Matt. Every summer, though, he likes to stock the freezer with walleyes, so he rounds up a few friends and makes it happen.
This crew was hilarious—as is usually the case when Ed’s on the boat. Don, a retired teacher in his 80s, had stories for days and an outstanding sense of humor. One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that when I’m fishing with folks over 55 or 60, the conversation almost always turns to health and getting older. Don’s the kind of guy who’s aging gracefully, and it shows. We hammered walleyes, shared plenty of laughs, and had a great morning on the water.
Unfortunately, I spent so much time laughing and netting fish, I failed to take many photos. Here’s a couple though. 
07/08/2026 (afternoon) – In Town from MD
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Joe, Kelly, and Joey. Kelly grew up in Lackawanna so they were in town visiting family. Joey is an avid angler back home in MD so mom and dad wanted to get him on the water while in town.
Keeping fish wasn’t on the agenda. So, it was another excellent opportunity for a Lake Erie Summer Trifecta. Good times – especially when Kelly yelled, “oh shit,” every time a drum started ripping drag. 
07/09/2026 – Riverborn Fishing Co Assist
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Shawn, Ethan, and Jenny. Mike Trifiletti of Riverborn Fishing Company brought me in for this trip. The crew was in town for a funeral after losing an uncle. They’re a large, close-knit family, and more than 50 relatives made the trip.
Shawn had fished Lake Erie before and knew what the fishery had to offer, so the plan was simple: catch enough walleyes to feed the family. We did exactly that.
It was one of those sessions where the conversation flowed, the fish started cooperating almost immediately, and the hours disappeared. They headed home with plenty of walleyes for a big family fish fry. Awesome morning!
07/10/2026 – Maintenance Day
I had a trip scheduled, but the forecast in the days leading up to it called for heavy rain. Since my client was local, I asked him to pick a backup date just in case.
As it turned out, the weather didn’t end up being a problem. However, a couple of urgent maintenance items popped up on the boat and truck that needed immediate attention. Thankfully, the crew was flexible and willing to reschedule, giving me the time I needed to get everything repaired before heading back on the water.
07/11/2026 – No “Gamble” – Action Very Likely
Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Kevin, Stephanie, Max, and Cole. I fished with Stephanie and her boys last summer, and they had such a good time they wanted to come back for another walleye trip.
Originally, it was just supposed to be Kevin and the boys. When I talked to Stephanie a couple of days beforehand, though, she admitted she was disappointed she couldn’t go because I only take three anglers. I decided it wouldn’t be the same without her, so I made one of my rare exceptions and took four, knowing this was the kind of crew that would handle the extra chaos just fine.
A quick aside: I only take three anglers for a reason. My boat is just shy of 22 feet, and while there are enough seats for five people, there’s simply not enough room for five people to fish comfortably. Three anglers is the sweet spot. Everyone has space to work, nobody’s tripping over each other, and the boat fishes efficiently. I’ve taken plenty of foursomes over the years, and more often than not, they’re not nearly as enjoyable. Every once in a while, though, I’ll make an exception. This was one of those times.
We launched into bigger waves than expected thanks to a stiff northeast wind and absolutely hammered walleyes. There were a couple of slow stretches, but they were always followed by doubles—and even a triple. It was a classic summer walleye session: moments of calm, bursts of chaos, and a cooler full of fish to carry them well into the winter. Awesome day.
07/12/2026 – Oh, How I Miss that Southern Accent
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Young and Cindy, who were in town from South Carolina. A quick aside—I spent most of my adult life in the South before moving back to New York to start my charter business. Most Yankees would have a hard time understanding folks from the deep south. Personally, I love the way they speak – passionate, deliberate, always with a story attached. I can listen to that accent for hours and be captivated. Young and Cindy were no exception – they were an absolute pleasure to spend the day with.
Through a program started by their church, they’ve been making trips north to help repair churches in need. Whenever they travel, they make a point of fitting in a little fishing on the front or back end of the trip. A few years ago, they fished Lake Erie out of Ohio, fell in love with walleye fishing, and have wanted to come back ever since. So when Young called and asked if I could help fill his freezer, I was happy to oblige.
They did their part. In fact, they caught their limit so quickly that we had plenty of time left in the day. Instead of heading straight back, I gave them a little tour of the Buffalo waterfront and surrounding area while we swapped stories about our travels. It was a great way to wrap up an excellent day.
Seasonal Assessment/General Observations
There was a thermocline flip early in the week. That may have pushed A TON of fish in front of Buffalo, NY. There are walleyes everywhere as far as the eye can I see if you launch from there. I say, “may have,” because as of this writing, there’s still a lot of cold water around out west, yet the bite out there is crazy too. All I know is there are walleyes everywhere in NY.
It’s that time of year when you can pick a random spot on the map, go to it, put your lines in, and catch fish. Trust me, I’ve been doing that all week and it’s been productive. For example, I was out in 90’+ of water on Saturday – just because. It was loaded – and I marked fish the entire ride out there.
For the life of me, I don’t understand why crowds form. You’re not sheep, folks! Trust me – get away from the crowds, stay deeper than 40’, put your lines in, and roll with the waves or work your way back to where you launched – you’ll catch fish.
Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 07/13/2026 – 07/19/2026
It looks like another outstanding week for walleye fishing. The wind may be a factor a day or two, but nothing that should keep us off the water. There’s also a chance of a passing shower here and there, but nothing that looks particularly concerning.
The gold mining will continue all week, and I’ve got a full docket with a great mix of new clients and long-standing regulars. I’m looking forward to another week of good fishing, good conversation, and plenty of walleyes. Stay tuned.
Stay healthy, my friends. Mentally and physically,
Ryan