Buffalo, NY/WNY Fishing

[ThinkRSX]

3 hours ago, Sean Barbour said:

I have two inflatables one is canoe shaped one is more kayak shaped. I used to have hard body canoes but sold them because I found hard bodied ones I sometimes didn't want to go through the trouble of putting on the car and strapping down. I do way better on the lower niagara than the upper.I only seem to get skunked between jan,- march but I think its mostly because i haven't taken the time to teach myself center pinning even  though I have the equipment. I did really well in the outer harbor last year from shore this year I did ok.

Well have to go pinning this fall. I love pinning the creeks.  I love the lower Niagara in the winter months but pinning there is a work. A 1:1 gear ratio when fishing a float in 20 mph current wears on the arms. Then you have to climb those god forsaken stairs which wears on your legs. By the time you get home all extremities are exhausted. 

I had better luck in the creeks with my pin. 18 mile and clear creek were the two that I frequented most often.

I just started pinning this year. A friend of mine turned me onto it and sent me to see Danny at Colville's.  That guy gives "world class service" a new meaning.  I guess I've grown spoiled from the way he treats his customers because I have a hard time even walking into Cabela's now.

How much more of a challenge is fishing from a yak? I've heard it changes the angles and not being on stable ground can turn some anglers off. 

[Sean Barbour]

just got back from fishing. I tried a new spot westwood park in lancaster. No boats allowed small pond. caught 5 dinks and a small crappie. Then I decided to try the pond of Dann road in amherst. When I finally found it I realized I used to fish there 20-25 years ago. Only ever caught small northern pike there and panfish. I have heard others swear there are bass there but hard to believe since I never even saw one. I didn't even stay and fish it. Its also mostly super shallow and weedy. weedy is fine but this is ridiculous.  I finished up at walton woods park in amherst. Started out messing with the ned rig I have bought all the components to try and figure something out for fishing cover but didn't really have the patience for it since it didn't really seem to work well in cover. Used 1/16 ounce screw in nail weight, manns TRD, and a small weedless wacky rig hook. hoping it would be weedless. It was weedless until I tried to move it lol? so after 5 minutes I gave up went to a t-rigged worm and grub. Got between 10-20 LMB but if the biggest was 2# I would be surprised kinda disappointing Really want hogs not #s. At least the day wasn't bad. Thinking about trying hyde park lake one of these days? saw people here say 3-4#ers? I went once last year caught one half#er and was surprised I got that by the looks of the place! who knows though right. Gotta go somewhere sunday?

As far as the lower niagara goes I absolutely love it fall through spring even when I get skunked I know of no where else you have the potential to hook fish over 15# from shore like you can there. Musky, browns, steelhead, lake trout, salmon, etc, Their are also some huge smallies and my personal best walley 14#.  As far as fishing from a kayak or inflattable canoe it takes a little getting used to. being that close to the water is the hardest thing to get used to totally different setting the hook and fighting fish. once you get used to it though its not to bad........

[Sean Barbour]

The first spot I fished in lancaster is on pavement rd. There are a bunch of quarries and lakes in housing developments over there. There are are two quarries on the left before you get to westwood park( on the right) kinda in a construction site and along the bike path. I almost fished them today. I know there are big bass and pike in there because I have fished them before. Just don't really know if they enforce no trespassing laws? I mean technically its posted and private. Few years ago I fished it and it looked like it was a park there were so many other people fishing there. I didn't see anyone else there today so I got scared and didn't try it. I used to fish the quarries over by billo road and there is a lake by the depew service station and there are some awesome lakes in wheatfield off of liberty rd. I have been ticketed at all of them. I try to avoid tickets for fishing.

[NT man]

Liberty Road in Wheatfield property is all posted 'no trespassing'.  I've been to Hyde Park twice, never caught a bass.  Need help there.  Any advice?  I've seen a lot of carp.  Would like to try hooking one on a fly rod

[ThinkRSX]

For Hyde Park, I know nothing about fly fishing but I had good luck with JustJiggers advice by throwing a T-rigged baby brushhog.  I had even better luck once I swapped to a C-rig, but I think that has more to do with the angler than the preference of the fish.

I was also catching a good amount on zoom lizards, zoom flukes, strike king perfect plastics finesse worms, and  5" Yamamoto seinko's.

The colors I had good results with were Watermelon red flake, watermelon magic, Green pumpkin black flake.

A word of advice, over the past week the vegitation has really taken off. Anything North of the bridge that crosses the lake is tough fishing off the bottom. T & C rigs get choked up with weeds on the weight. Drop shot seems to be the best chance, but I don't have the patience to fish a drop shot. If you stick to the southern end near the waterfall you shouldn't have those issue. That's where I've caught a majority of my LMB.

I fished the two Lancaster ponds on pavement last weekend. Didn't have any issues, I've heard it's not as "enforced" as it used to be but i have no previous experience.  

[Sean Barbour]

11 hours ago, ThinkRSX said:

For Hyde Park, I know nothing about fly fishing but I had good luck with JustJiggers advice by throwing a T-rigged baby brushhog.  I had even better luck once I swapped to a C-rig, but I think that has more to do with the angler than the preference of the fish.

I was also catching a good amount on zoom lizards, zoom flukes, strike king perfect plastics finesse worms, and  5" Yamamoto seinko's.

The colors I had good results with were Watermelon red flake, watermelon magic, Green pumpkin black flake.

A word of advice, over the past week the vegitation has really taken off. Anything North of the bridge that crosses the lake is tough fishing off the bottom. T & C rigs get choked up with weeds on the weight. Drop shot seems to be the best chance, but I don't have the patience to fish a drop shot. If you stick to the southern end near the waterfall you shouldn't have those issue. That's where I've caught a majority of my LMB.

I fished the two Lancaster ponds on pavement last weekend. Didn't have any issues, I've heard it's not as "enforced" as it used to be but i have no previous experience.  

So you feel you pick up less vegetation on a drop shot? I thought a drop shot had the hook exposed? I mean I have fished a drop shot with a texposed hook but it seems like that dulls the action compared to just having the most of the bait hookless like on a on a traditional drop shot I see on youtube and fishing shows. Even then I find that the weight of the drop shot picks up vegetation so I barely use it. Do you know something about a drop shot I don't if so do tell!  As far as hyde park goes I fished it from the island down past the bridge about half way to waterfall (which I didn't know was there until you just said it and I looked). I fished a texas rig and a drop shot didn't notice much weeds in that section but it seemed pretty shallow and honestly devoid of life. This was last year though I guess I should try it again. I really want to try along the upper river north of the grand island bridge where "justjigger" has some photos on here of nice smallies. Not sure if its only an early summer spot or if it is fishable and will produce now? I also don't know how much current is there? I got used to fishing heavy current in the lower river but seem to flounder when it comes to soft plastics like a t-rig in heavy current. I have figured out how to fish spinners and spoons in heavy current and even two way rigs. Cast up stream reel in slack after it sinks and either let it drift with the current down streamand retrieve or reel in fast enough that it comes right at you from up current and your retrieve is over for the most part by the time it gets to you. I have trouble figuring out where to cast with soft plastics in current and how much weight to use? I had some luck in spring with a 3/8 texas rigged white 3 inch mister twister in the lower river. I would cast up stream and keep popping it up as it bounced across the bottom.It seemed to get jammed between rocks a lot and  It would only work for a couple days every spring and then I couldn't get bit any more doing the same thing. So there must be a better way to do it but I don't know what it is?

[anthonyfip]

Got a few of these guys near the windmills on Lake Erie... We were trolling for walleyes but changed gears when the smallies started hitting.

[Justjigger]

Haven't fished in over a week. Been to d**n hot and windy. Just bought a crossbow and have been messing around with that. Now I just want fall to get here so I can shoot bambi and do some salmon fishing.

[Hurricane]

On 7/15/2016 at 7:42 AM, ThinkRSX said:

For Hyde Park, I know nothing about fly fishing but I had good luck with JustJiggers advice by throwing a T-rigged baby brushhog.  I had even better luck once I swapped to a C-rig, but I think that has more to do with the angler than the preference of the fish.

I was also catching a good amount on zoom lizards, zoom flukes, strike king perfect plastics finesse worms, and  5" Yamamoto seinko's.

The colors I had good results with were Watermelon red flake, watermelon magic, Green pumpkin black flake.

A word of advice, over the past week the vegitation has really taken off. Anything North of the bridge that crosses the lake is tough fishing off the bottom. T & C rigs get choked up with weeds on the weight. Drop shot seems to be the best chance, but I don't have the patience to fish a drop shot. If you stick to the southern end near the waterfall you shouldn't have those issue. That's where I've caught a majority of my LMB.

I fished the two Lancaster ponds on pavement last weekend. Didn't have any issues, I've heard it's not as "enforced" as it used to be but i have no previous experience.  

I have to check those ponds in lancaster out..

[NT man]

Fish Hyde park this morning. hook 3 fish, 2 lg mouth 1I didn't see. Jump and spit the hook.     

[Sean Barbour]

1. On 7/15/2016 at 7:42 AM, ThinkRSX said:

   1.  

   l

 

Not sure what was up with the last post it wouldn't let me delete it and I didn't mean to do it. I fished the lower niagara today. There was a ton of floating grass. It was weird not sure why? or if its usual this time of year? I know its known for moss but there was that and what looked like tons of bunches of floating grass. I managed 2 small brown bass one on a tube and one on a spinner. Stopped along the upper river on my way home between grand island bridge and niagara falls. I saw the same bunches of what looked like floating grass everywhere? so I didn't bother. I have to figure out somewhere I can catch fish from shore or canoe by thursday. As that is my next day off. Anybody do well fishing today?

 

[clayton86]

I've been having a lot of luck a little east of buffalo tons of nice smallies and some nice large mouth. All fish are coming from johnsons creek in Lyndonville and the hulberton quarry's 

 

 

 

[Sean Barbour]

is hulberton quarry in hulberton? or is it in holley ny? I see what looks like quarries in both places? and on the web it seems that hulberton quarries is always mentioned with holley ny?

from lyndonville do you go toward the lake below the falls or above the the falls? I have only fished that weedy area right above falls and didn't really get anything.

 

[clayton86]

Lyndonville above the falls is pike and bass go threw the weeds and go into the channel up past the school flipping all the timber. Below the falls is smallie central go behind the fire hall and walk the trail to the north or kayak it but you will scratch what ever you float in. 

 

Hulberton quarries are on canal rd between fancher rd and hulberton. The one closest to fancher is private but the big one on the north side is where I usually go and them two big large mouth came from its also less then a quarter mile from my house. 

[Sean Barbour]

Thats awesome that its so close to your house! I will be coming from kenmore ny so were talking about an hour ride but I don't mind a ride for a hog. I have an inflatable canoe. Where would I park to launch for hulberton. I see the one your saying closest to fancher that is posted it but it looks like there are three others the big one, one smaller to the north, and another smaller one to the south across canal road? This may be my thurs. day off road trip. In case I get skunked you ever fish the canal by the quarry any luck? also when I was looking for the hulberton quarries I saw what looks like bass ponds around holley central school district? are those fishable?

 

[clayton86]

Don't know about by the school. If you come out Thursday shoot me a message I might be able to meet up with ya after work. Parking wise for the quarry I pull down the little dirt "ramp" on the left in the pic. I never fish the one on the south side of the road other then threw the ice. That's ones the big swimming spot always packed with underage drinkers jumping off the cliff. I stick to the big one on the north side and the spill way just north of that one 

 

[Sean Barbour]

Well I think that settles it I will be coming out your way thurs. It was down to New Albion lake in the south towns or drive east to hulberton. I think I am going to have to try hulberton. I am super curious about a spot you can catch fish on a what looks looks like GIANT ribbon tail texas rigged worm. I mean that ribbon tail worm in your pick looks like something for fishing the everglades in  florida. I seem to have to downsize everywhere around here end up fishing 5 or 6 inch shakey head worms mostly. or this little three inch grub that is actually my go to bait right now. I will let you know when I'm there I will probably get up early and try to be there early like 6 am. At the latest if I sleep in I will be there at 8ish. If I am catching I have been know to stay till dark if not not catching or catching dinks I am usaually a 5-6 hour fisherman.

[clayton86]

It's a 12" zoom mag ol worm t rigged with a 3/8oz tungsten bullet weight worked along the wall. 

[rizzo777]

Hey Clayton,  how's the shore fishing access at that quarry? 

[clayton86]

It's kinda limited but not bad I've never caught anything big from the banks even the sunfish are little by the banks 

[Sean Barbour]

1 hour ago, clayton86 said:

It's a 12" zoom mag ol worm t rigged with a 3/8oz tungsten bullet weight worked along the wall. 

why such a heavy weight? I would think a slower fall would be better more time for them to pick it up on the fall. Or were they grabbing it off the bottom? and did you have to shake it hop it etc?

[clayton86]

6 hours ago, Sean Barbour said:

why such a heavy weight? I would think a slower fall would be better more time for them to pick it up on the fall. Or were they grabbing it off the bottom? and did you have to shake it hop it etc?

Quarry is 100' deep in areas I wanted to get deep I haven't gotten to the bottom yet though. 

[Sean Barbour]

thats crazy! I don't think I have ever fished a place like that. So they would grab it on the fall obviously? suspended fish you think? or were you kinda crawling it down a slope. You think there are fish at the bottom? is that why you wanna get down there?

[clayton86]

I crawl it down a slope and I want to get threw weeds in spots. I don't think 3/8 is all that heavy I have 1oz tied on most the time. 

[River Dave]

I think the Elite series guys are on the River now. I saw 8 bass boats with two guys per boat but the guys in the back aren't fishing. They are all together by Strawberry Island. I wonder if that's them.