Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 07/20 – 07/26/2026
Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: This past week was a classic snapshot of what makes Lake Erie fishing so special. The walleyes were absolutely on fire, with several trips producing nonstop action and some of the best bites of the season. I fished with anglers from Missouri, West Virginia, Arizona, and Florida, along with local regulars. We battled some challenging weather, made the right calls to keep clients safe and comfortable, and switched gears when needed—putting plenty of smiles on faces while chasing walleyes and smallmouth bass. From kids’ trips and family traditions to surprise gifts and mid-summer “rod-benders,” it was another week filled with great people, great stories, and plenty of Lake Erie gold.
Days on the water: 5
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
07/20/2026 (morning) – In Town from MO
Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Ron, Jim, and Curtis. Ron and Jim were in town from Missouri visiting Curtis and his wife (Jim’s daughter), and they wanted to stock up on some Lake Erie gold. I was happy to help make that happen.
Simply put, the water out of Cattaraugus Creek is absolutely loaded with walleyes right now. It was, without question, the best bite I’ve experienced all season. I started in over 80 feet of water, but honestly, I could have fished much shallower—I marked fish nearly the entire run offshore.
Within minutes of sending the first baits down, we were hooked up…and the action never let up. The bite was so ridiculous that we imposed our own slot limit (18-22″) just to stretch the morning out a little longer.
07/20/2026 (afternoon) – Boxing out with the Boys
Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Killian, Jackson, and Cole. Killian is an alumnus of the Summer Fishing Camp I used to host, and Jackson and Cole are his cousins. The boys wanted walleyes, and I was confident we could get them a limit and home in time for a fish fry dinner.
I returned to the same zone I fished that morning, and the chaos started almost immediately. Jackson and Cole landed their first walleyes within a few minutes and many more followed.
I’m a big fan of kids-only trips—they’re always a blast. For one, I know everyone on board genuinely wants to be there. They pay attention, follow directions, and fish hard, which makes for an efficient program and high catch rates. Just as importantly, I enjoy spending time with the next generation. Having a daughter, I don’t get much insight into what today’s young men are interested in, so I always appreciate the conversations. It keeps me connected to a world that’s a little different from the one I grew up in.
07/21/2026 – Weather Day
A small craft advisory and a ton or rain in the forecast kept me off the water. I thought about going, but the clients I had on the docket were new to angling in general – I didn’t want that kind of adventure to be their first experience fishing with me. That was the right call – it didn’t get huge out there, but 5’+ waves were common and the rain came down harder than it has all year.
07/22/2026 – Weather Day
2-4’ waves were the norm for the day. Fishing in that would’ve been OK – but I had a dad and his two young sons on the docket. I’ve fished with kids in those conditions – and it can go both ways. Some love it – others get seasick or go internal. My clients were able to reschedule we opted to take the safe route.
07/23/2026 (morning) – Chalking Lake Erie
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Mike. Mike has worked in the defense industry for more than 40 years and has traveled to Western New York several times on business. He’s always wanted the opportunity to wet a line for Lake Erie smallmouth bass, and we finally made it happen.
I haven’t targeted bass since the spring. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of summer bass trips because they often turn into drum fests. Mike, however, just wanted to spend some time on the water. Since he wasn’t keeping fish, he didn’t mind catching drum—a bent rod is a bent rod. Plus, having caught black drum in the Gulf, he thought it would be interesting to see how their freshwater cousins compared.
As it turned out, the bass cooperated far better than expected. Mike landed more than a handful of quality smallmouths, mixed in with a few drum. It made for a fun session and a great day on the water.
07/23/2026 (afternoon) – Annual Outing with Larry and the Boys
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Larry, Ian, and Fin. I’ve been fishing with Larry and Ian for about six years now. Fin joined the crew a couple of years ago after Larry finally decided he was old enough to handle the program.
The guys live in Florida but spend a week or so in Western New York each summer visiting family. While they’re in town, we always make sure to get a trip on the calendar. Chasing smallmouth bass and freshwater drum has become an annual tradition, and we kept that tradition alive on this outing.
In previous years, Fin always seemed to find plenty of drum, but for whatever reason, the smallmouth bass never cooperated for him. This year was a different story. He put a hurting on the bass and left little doubt about who won the friendly competition.
07/24/2026 – Bro and Sis Sesh Round 2
Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Robin and Terry. This brother-and-sister team had so much fun on our trip earlier in the month that they booked another day before we got off the water. Fortunately, I had an opening.
Just like the first trip, the walleyes were waiting for us. Wanting to stretch the morning out a little longer, we intentionally fished with only two rods instead of the usual spread—and still absolutely pounded Lake Erie gold. It was one of the most ridiculous bites of the season.
07/25/2026 – Surprise!
Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Justin and Chandler. A couple of months earlier, Justin’s wife booked this trip as a surprise birthday gift. The plan was to tell him the night before—and to make it even better, his cousin Chandler drove up from West Virginia to spend the weekend with him and join the trip.
From the way Justin told it, the surprise couldn’t have gone any better. He called me the night before, completely caught off guard and genuinely excited for the chance to chase Lake Erie walleyes. I told him not to worry—catching walleyes wasn’t a possibility, it was a certainty. We backed that up the following day – fun trip!
07/26/2026 – Bassing with Chris and his Boys
Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Chris, Roman, and Tino. I’ve been fishing with Chris for nine years, usually with his buddies Jay and Nick. This time, he wanted to get both of his boys on the water for some summer bass fishing.
Lake Erie had a perfect summer chop—not too big, just enough movement to make drifting live bait ideal. The boys got into fish immediately, and the action stayed consistent throughout the day. Of course, a little competition developed. Chris took home the big fish honors, but he and Roman ended up tied for the most fish. Tino stayed in the hunt, but in his words, he “needed a 21-incher.” Unfortunately, that fish never showed up.
Any disappointment disappeared on the ride back in. Surfing the waves at the end of the day was the perfect way to finish an awesome father-and-sons session.
Seasonal Assessment/General Observations
I’m “well fished,” after this week – surprisingly tired despite having a couple days off. Life is good, folks. Walleyes are loaded up in deep water. Apparently, there’s a decent bass bite to be had if you’re looking to take a break from gold mining. Honestly, I was very surprised to get into that many smalljaws in the middle of the summer. All of them were in great shape too. It should be a banner fall for those beauties. Unless the Bassmaster tournament next month ends up being a massacre.
Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 07/27/2026 – 08/02/2026
It looks like another week of challenges is on the horizon. Heavy rain could impact Tuesday and Wednesday, and the wind may get interesting mid-week as well. Nothing the Warrior can’t handle, though. I’ve got some hardcore clients scheduled during that stretch—they claim they’re ready for whatever Lake Erie throws at them. We’re about to find out.
The back half of the week looks much more favorable, with calmer conditions and plenty of opportunities to get after it. I’m booked every day, so fingers all those trips happen. Stay tuned!
Stay healthy, my friends. Mentally and physically,
Ryan