Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 11/11/2024 – 11/17/2024
Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report:
I almost didn’t write a report this week, but the disciplined side of me decided to get it done. It was a tough week for me – lots of last-minute cancellations. On the days I did fish, we had some challenges. Oh well, strings of days like this happen sometimes…almost always in November for some reason. Let’s just say I’m looking forward to next week. Keep reading for more details.
Days on the water: 4
Who we fished with: friends/clients
Where we fished: Lake Erie, Lower Niagara, Lake Ontario
What we caught: smallmouth bass, lake trout, steelhead, brown trout
Tactics: drifting bait, jigging bucktails, swimbaits, and blade baits, casting crank baits, drifting beads.
Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations
11/11/2024 – Nasty winds out of the SW with a little bit of rain mixed in led me to reschedule the trip. I used the day off to hit the gym and plan for some of my 2025 fishing vacations. I’ve got some incredible looking adventures on the docket for ’25 – stay tuned.
11/12/2024 – Fished the Lower Niagara out of Lewiston with Lee. Lee got this trip as a gift certificate, and he’s fished with me many times before. So, he wanted to spend some of the day helping me check out new spots. We did just that for the front part of the day and found some bass in an area I haven’t tried fishing in the fall. For the back half of the day, we fished for trout. Unfortunately, we struggled. 
11/13/2024 – Was a perfect day. Unfortunately, my client cancelled at the last minute.
11/14/2024 – Was another perfect day. The same guys that booked me the day prior had this day booked too. So, I didn’t end up fishing.
11/15/2024 – Fished the Lower Niagara out of Lewiston, NY with Shawn, Phil, and Phil Jr. It was a zoo down there – MANY boats. Still, we caught fish. 
11/16/2024 – Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY for smallmouth bass with the Whisperer, the Silent Assassin, and Captain America. There was a big NW blowing to start off the day, so it was a mess just getting out there. I had a good screen in every location we fished, but the bite was brutally slow. We caught fish, but most were small. No pictures taken.
11/17/2024 – Had a last-minute cancellation so I took my brother and 2 of my nephews out for a few hours. We fished the Lower Niagara out of Lewiston, NY. This was the first time I was able to take my brother and these 2 nephews on the Lower Niagara this time of year. They did very well. 
Seasonal Assessment/General Observations
On the Conditions
As I mentioned in the introduction, it was a frustrating string of days for me this past week. I’m not dwelling on it or stressing about it. Unfortunately, it happens. People get sick, others forget to add it to their calendars (even though I email a booking/calendar notification and send texts as follow up), whatever. I shook these things off as they happened. All is good – it’s still looking like it’ll be a banner month for business.
Here’s what I noticed when I was on the water.
- The smallmouth bass continue to school up. I found them in big groups on rock piles AND I found a bunch on sand (where many spend their winter). I’m optimistic more and more will show up on the sand flats – the known rock piles continue to get pummeled by Canadian anglers. Maybe now we can spread out a bit and I can avoid the crowd.
- The brown trout and lake trout are in full spawn mode right now, so the bottom of the Lower is loaded with eggs…tumbling downstream. Both beads and bags have been working well.
- I haven’t seen many steelhead around. I’ve boated a couple but that’s about it. They’re mixed in with the other trout so if you want steel, keep covering ground. Eventually, you’ll get one. It might be a little too early for them yet. In another week, there should be many around.
- As of this writing, the water temperature is 53 degrees coming out of Lake Erie. That’s warm for this time of year, but not wildly so. It was 52 degrees on this day last year, 2022, and 2021. We need another cold snap to get things to drop further.
Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 11/18/2024 – 11/24/2024
Forecast Commentary
I think it’s helpful to provide a forecast for the upcoming week – if for no other reason than to manage client expectations for what’s to come. However, sometimes I don’t know why I bother. In the fall, the forecast shifts wildly from the predictions.
As of yesterday, I thought we’d be in trouble come Thursday. As of today, the wild weather seems to have shifted toward the weekend. Bottom line, there will be a few last-minute calls. Well, unless I have a handful of clients that are down to fish through some rough conditions.
As per usual, wind will be a problem, but not until the weekend (if the forecast holds). It also looks like rain, in significant amounts, will show up on Friday and continue through Saturday. Those wind + rain sessions WON’T be comfortable, but if the guys booked on those days want to go for it, we’ll catch fish.
I’m booked daily and will likely spend all those days on the Lower Niagara. So, fingers crossed, trout slams will be a daily occurrence. Stay tuned!
Stay healthy my friends – mentally and physically,
Ryan