buffalo NY area ponds?

[fayegarnett]

Hi guys, i just moved to Buffalo NY from the midwest and we are blessed with an exceptionally warm year. I can't believe there is so much open water now in buffalo. I was wondering if there is any good productive local ponds to fish? I've tried Lake LaSalle in UB cuz i am a student there. and I tried ellicott creek park and tonawanda creek. so far no bites.....any pond and bait recommendations?

[Paul Roberts]

Try the NE forum. Or NY Bass site.

[no39]

@fayegarnett There's actually quite a bit in the region.  There's a book that may be of use to you.  It's the sanders fishing guide for wny.  I think there's a few places locally that carry it.  It describes most of the bodies of water in the region.  Personally the biggest bass I ever caught came from a small local pond.  There's a pond in Concorde that was really nice and was also stocked with trout.  I think it was called Sprague Brooke pond, or that was the name of the park.  There's also another small pond in Clarence that held a lot of bass.  The typical offerings will usually yield fish.  I would suggest a wacky rigged senko.

This is the book I was describing.

[BuffaloBass716]

Go back to Ellicott Creek and Tonawanda Creek in May.  I've caught some 3-4lbs out of those creeks, and some parts fill up with lillypads in the summer which makes it an excellent Largemouth habitat. Also, on Grand Island, there is Beaver Island state park where there is a small place where people kayak, with lay downs and pads in the summer. The fish in my profile pic was taken there.  Don't forget about the Niagara River itself... Huge smallmouth can be caught from the shore when the water starts to warm up all the way till November.

If you'd want to meet up this season once it begins to warm up, I can show you some productive spots.

[fayegarnett]

On 2/25/2016 at 10:27 AM, BuffaloBass716 said:

Go back to Ellicott Creek and Tonawanda Creek in May.  I've caught some 3-4lbs out of those creeks, and some parts fill up with lillypads in the summer which makes it an excellent Largemouth habitat. Also, on Grand Island, there is Beaver Island state park where there is a small place where people kayak, with lay downs and pads in the summer. The fish in my profile pic was taken there.  Don't forget about the Niagara River itself... Huge smallmouth can be caught from the shore when the water starts to warm up all the way till November.

If you'd want to meet up this season once it begins to warm up, I can show you some productive spots.

i'd love to meet up! i went out today to the creeks cuz i live by the creeks. nothing, so frustrating. i miss catching fish this time of the year in the midwest.

[BuffaloBass716]

Ill keep you posted on when I start going regularly.  It'll be about 2 months until the water is warm enough to start catching some active fish. In the mean time, get your gear ready and study up on new techniques for this season.

[River Dave]

Hey welcome to Buffalo! I think all of the still water will still be frozen so you'll have to stick to creeks for now. Bass are tough this time of year but, if you're desperate, you could probably pull some bullheads out the canal or Ellicott Creek. My "go to" spot just after ice out is just up from Ellicott Creek Park where Robinson Road crosses Niagara Falls Boulevard. There's a little park right across from Deerwood golf course that has a small boat launch and a wall you can fish off. I've caught bass and pike there but never this early. Best early bass spot is the overflow pond in Ellicott Creek Park (where the pipes go under the road forming a pond). Shallow water with a dark bottom so it warms up fast and draws in all kinds of fish in April and May. Gets weed choked late in the season but it's great early.

 I don't know about bass but I've always been told there's great Pike fishing in early spring at the Ship N Shore resuraunt (it's on Google maps). It's out near Ellicott Creek Park where a few creeks come together. I've never had much luck but the locals swear by it. 

Another one out near UB you can try is a place called Dann Lake. I haven't been there yet but I've heard it's pretty good there for bass and Pike. It's out at the end of the 990 almost where Millersport hits Transit Road. Do a Google search and you'll find it. I haven't tried it yet but it's on the list for this Spring. Good luck!

[BuffaloBass716]

36 minutes ago, River Dave said:

 Best early bass spot is the overflow pond in Ellicott Creek Park (where the pipes go under the road forming a pond). Shallow water with a dark bottom so it warms up fast and draws in all kinds of fish in April and May. Gets weed choked late in the season but it's great early.

That's the exact spot that I go to the most haha.  I've had some giants come out of there in May as you suggested.  But, I like when it gets filled with weeds in the summer, it keeps people away that don't know how to fish it, and you can catch them on frogs late in the day. Before the weeds are there, I've counted over ten people fishing there at once.

 

[River Dave]

Oh man I've seen like fifty people back there before, that place gets real crowded on nice days when the fish are in there. My buddy caught a real nice one in there last year but it was all little stuff for me. I've never tried it late in the year when it gets all weedy because I always figured the water was too warm. I'll have to try some froggin' back there some day. I actually had my boat in that place one time. My first boat was a little 16' tri-hull with a bow mount Minn Kota and was small enough to go anywhere if you lifted up the big motor. I was fishing the canal on the other side of the road and me and my buddy came up with the great idea to lift the big motor and go through those pipes with the electric. We made it through (was weird though) but the pond was too weedy to fish. Only time I've ever seen a boat in there though that's for sure.

 

 

[no39]

@River Dave I've actually managed to get my boat in there,too.  It was a busy day and I lost count of the death stares I was getting from the people on shore.  Good times.

[ww2farmer]

11 hours ago, no39 said:

@River Dave I've actually managed to get my boat in there,too.  It was a busy day and I lost count of the death stares I was getting from the people on shore.  Good times.

sounds like my kind of place. I fish a a similar area around here. It is not easy to get to by boat, so most boats stay out, since mine is paid for and I have people that weld aluminum, I ram in it in there. 90% of the bank fisherman in there are friendly, and don't mind, and I go out of my way to not disturb them, the other 10%................well lets just say, altercations have happened.

[River Dave]

55 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

sounds like my kind of place. I fish a a similar area around here. It is not easy to get to by boat, so most boats stay out, since mine is paid for and I have people that weld aluminum, I ram in it in there. 90% of the bank fisherman in there are friendly, and don't mind, and I go out of my way to not disturb them, the other 10%................well lets just say, altercations have happened.

Lol! I thought I was going to get LYNCHED the day I had my boat in that pond! I think the only thing that saved me was nobody could get out to me. All the death stares I was getting made me so uncomfortable I only stayed a few minutes and left. 

[fayegarnett]

no one ever tried the lakes in UB north campus? I ran into a guy earlier last month when i was fishing there. he said lake lasalle was very productive. he said he sometimes caught more than 10 in a day. but that day i did not catch anything. it's very interesting lake. half of it is super clear light blue water, the other half is stained.

[no39]

9 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

sounds like my kind of place. I fish a a similar area around here. It is not easy to get to by boat, so most boats stay out, since mine is paid for and I have people that weld aluminum, I ram in it in there. 90% of the bank fisherman in there are friendly, and don't mind, and I go out of my way to not disturb them, the other 10%................well lets just say, altercations have happened.

It's funny how it's always like that.  There's a couple guys that are just like "Way to go, man! I've never seen a boat in here."  For everyone else, I put on my marine grade roller blades and give them one of these:

 

 

 

[Hurricane]

16 hours ago, fayegarnett said:

no one ever tried the lakes in UB north campus? I ran into a guy earlier last month when i was fishing there. he said lake lasalle was very productive. he said he sometimes caught more than 10 in a day. but that day i did not catch anything. it's very interesting lake. half of it is super clear light blue water, the other half is stained.

I fished the one behind the dorms right next to Millersport. . Caught some nice bass there. I live in  Orchard Park and have a handful of places I go that produce big bass..

[River Dave]

Hey Lastcast I'm right out your way in West Seneca. Any good local shore spots you can share? I usually fish from a boat but when I'm short on time I'll run out by you and cast a few at Birdsong but I never catch anything decent. A whole lot of little guys but nothing over 12". I was eying up the pond at Westwood Park in Lancaster for this year but haven't been there yet. All the places I used to know in the 80's are all posted now so I dont have anywhere to go around here. Year before last I found a pond on McKinley near Southwestern but that seemed to be all small fish too. I've looked at that lake right on 277 at the park there but I think that's for O.P. residents only so I never fished it.

[Hurricane]

That lake on 277 is green lake.. place sucks lol.. Birdsong is ok, but yeah I have some spots I could tell you about...The McKinley one use to be good years ago but it is overfished and I saw a couple people taking fish from there in buckets years ago..

[Hurricane]

Looking forward to hitting the ponds up... Hopefully this week the ice goes away. .

Let's keep this thread going and on the first page...

[River Dave]

No bassin' just yet but I'm hoping to drown some worms in the canal this week. Hopefully there's some bullhead or suckers in there now just so I can catch something. Supposed to be a nice week.

[BuffaloBassMaster]

@RiverDave Hoyt Lake at Delaware Park has some nice carp as well as bullheads. I've seen and caught plenty of quality carp in there as well as hooked up with some bullhead if you're looking for a new place

[River Dave]

Carp are always fun to catch and I am no snob when it comes to catching any fish that big. I used to live on Caz Creek in South Buffalo and caught tons of carp out of there. I've been to Hoyt Lake before but never fished it. May have to give it a shot someday. 

[John Gustas]

Hey guys! 

I'm moving to Orchard Park in just a couple weeks and just picked up a fishing Kayak. Any recommendations for me..?  I used to fish 18 mile creek, but that place has become hit or miss and I'm looking for somewhere I will catch a limit. I'm willing to drive a bit, but shore fishing after work could also be a great escape! 

Let me know, and let's keep this thread BUSY! 

[River Dave]

Hey welcome aboard John! I see a lot of kayaks on the Niagara River so that might be a start for you. I would think the current would be a killer but I've talked to people who've done it and they say it's not too bad at all. I know a couple of shore spots out by Orchard Park but they're all terrible. There's another guy from O.P. on this forum who shore fishes alot so maybe he'll be able to help you a bit. 

[Hurricane]

2 hours ago, John Gustas said:

Hey guys! 

I'm moving to Orchard Park in just a couple weeks and just picked up a fishing Kayak. Any recommendations for me..?  I used to fish 18 mile creek, but that place has become hit or miss and I'm looking for somewhere I will catch a limit. I'm willing to drive a bit, but shore fishing after work could also be a great escape! 

Let me know, and let's keep this thread BUSY! 

Where in Orchard Park? I live off Old Transit..

[John Gustas]

Hey Chris! I'll be on Armor Duells, right near the country club. Green Lake will practically be in my back yard. (even though it's Brown Lake right now..)