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 – 09/06/2026

by brookdog | Sep 6, 2026

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 08/31 – 09/06/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: This week was another chaotic one—some excellent fishing, some ugly weather, a lot of bouncing around, and a little wrench-turning in between. The walleyes continue to cooperate, including a first-ever walleye for a couple young anglers, while the smallmouth action is picking up. A couple of weather-related disruptions forced some improvisation, but there were plenty of good days on the water, including a pair of productive Buffalo trips over Labor Day weekend. Summer is coming to a close – I’m ready for the change.

Days on the water: 5

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Erie,Lower Niagara

What we caught: walleye, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum

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

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

08/31/2026 – Back to the Catt

Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover with Ryan, Ayden, and Hayden. I’ve been fishing with Ryan and Ayden for a couple of years, but this was Hayden’s first trip with me. He’d never caught a walleye and had been looking forward to changing that.

As has become the norm lately, the forecast was questionable. The wind and waves weren’t terrible, but the lake was rolling, and intermittent rain occasionally turned into downpours. It didn’t matter much—the guys were hearty and stayed engaged through the worst of it, landing fish throughout.

The bite was consistent all morning. Ayden landed the biggest fish, while Hayden caught the most—including his first-ever walleye. I was stoked for him to check that species off his list…and then some.

It also felt good to be back at the Catt. Not much has changed since my last trip out of here a week ago. The fish have moved a little deeper, but otherwise, it’s was business as usual.

09/01/2026 – Maintenance Day

I had this day blocked for engine and gear oil changes for my main engine and kicker. Fall insanity is right around the corner so I wanted them to be fresh for all the action

09/02/2026 – Dodging Chaos

Fished the Lower Niagara with new clients Dale, Adam, and Bucky. Dale called me the night before and explained that they were supposed to fish out of Dunkirk the following day, but their captain had cancelled because the forecast called for torrential rain, thunderstorms, and big wind. He was hoping I might be available and wondered if I could get them out on the river. Thankfully, I wasn’t booked.

I told him we’d have to keep an eye on the forecast, but we could tentatively meet in Lewiston around 8:00 AM and see what happened. As I drove over the escarpment, the sky was nearly black. Large thunderheads blanketed the horizon. Chaos was imminent.

I met Dale in the parking lot while I was prepping the boat. We chatted for a minute before I felt the first couple drops of rain. We agreed it was probably smart to wait a bit and see what happened. Moments later, the sky opened up and chaos ensued.

Rain came down in sheets and the wind howled. I sat in Dale’s truck with him just to get acquainted, but we could barely hear each other over the noise of the wind and pelting rain.

Then, as quickly as it arrived, it was over. We saw a window and took advantage of it.

The bite, unfortunately, was lackluster. We caught a lot of small bass—a younger year class than I’ve ever seen down there. While I was happy to see so many young fish around (it’s a good sign of successful spawns), catching small bass isn’t exactly the experience I want my clients to have.

Still, we made lemonade and at least got on the water rather than sitting around inside all day. I’m sure I’ll see these guys again.

09/03/2026 – Fun Family Outing

Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Lauren, Jason, and Joe. Lauren booked the trip for Joe, a young and enthusiastic angler who also happens to love eating fish. On the way out to the lake, I told him he was in for a real treat—he was going to catch a LOT of walleyes and leave with enough fish to keep him supplied through the winter. He already had a few recipes picked out and was looking forward to putting them to use.

As promised, the family hammered fish all morning. Joe caught the bulk of them, but Lauren wasn’t far behind. Everyone had a blast, and so did I.

It’s always great seeing a family genuinely enjoying their time together on the water. This was one of those trips that was just fun from start to finish. I’m sure I’ll see them again.

09/04/2026 – Last Minute Cancellation

Had a trip on the docket but received a text early morning the day prior that one of the crew was running a high fever so they needed to cancel.

09/05/2026 – Back to Bassing

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo with new clients Josh, Doug, and Mark. The goal was to put the guys on some biggie smalls, so that’s exactly what we set out to do.

It was a gorgeous day—no wind, mild temperatures, and scattered clouds. Perfect conditions for fishing, but unfortunately it was also Labor Day weekend, which meant everyone with a boat was out there enjoying their final summer weekend on the water. In other words, it was a zoo.

I did my best to avoid the crowds, but there was only so much dodging I could do. We had fun nonetheless. The crew was competitive, everyone managed to put a few tankers in the boat, and we even had a couple of personal bests mixed in.

Not a bad way to spend the last big weekend of summer.

09/06/2026 – Where’s Waldo

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Chris, Roman, and Tino. Chris and the boys had a hankering for some Lake Erie gold.

Currently, launching from Hanover, NY is the best play for a short run to the fish if you live around Buffalo, NY. However, with it being Labor Day weekend and the weather looking perfect, I had visions of long lines, crowded ramps, and an even longer wait at the cleaning station. So, I decided to launch from Buffalo and make the long run offshore instead.

It was a beautiful morning and the lake was flat. We were in the zone in about 30 minutes and started looking for Waldo. The bite was a little slow at first, but it steadily improved as the morning went on. We had our limit in the boat after a few hours and headed back in.

The best part? There was nobody around us all morning—and when we got back, the cleaning station was a ghost town.

Sometimes the long run is worth it.

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

The weather is becoming more of a factor as the days get shorter and fall draws closer. Dodging thunderstorms, keeping an eye on potential flooding, and considering wave height have all become part of the daily equation. Despite the chaos, the fishing remains excellent for walleyes and is getting better and better for smallmouth bass. I don’t see that trend changing any time soon.

From what I hear, a few salmon have been caught in the Lower Niagara. I saw a few breach on the bar and in Devil’s Hole when I fished there this week, but didn’t manage to catch any. The weeds in the river are dying off, which means nearly every cast in “the Hole” comes back with a little extra salad. It’ll be a few more weeks before that starts to wane.

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 09/07/2026 – 09/13/2026

The forecast for this week is calling for more chaos, albeit with a little respite from what we’ve been seeing lately. Other than Wednesday and Thursday, which look pretty dicey with big wind and rain, the rest of the week looks pretty good.

The docket is a little light this week. Thankfully, the only two days I don’t have booked are Wednesday and Thursday, which I probably would’ve had to reschedule anyway.

Walleyes and bass will continue to be the targets, but I’m planning on doing a fair amount of bouncing around. If all goes well, I’ll fish out of Barcelona, the Catt, Buffalo, and Lewiston this week. It’s that time of year when I start getting the itch to shake things up and see how the fall is developing around the region. Stay tuned!

Stay healthy, my friends. Mentally and physically,

Ryan

Book a Fishing Trip Today