Buffalo, NY/WNY Fishing

[River Dave]

I work about a mile from the launch so when I was working 3-11 I used to fish there almost every day for a while before work. Lotta' fish to be caught if you know the right spots. I always see people fishing from the wall but I always did much better way off on the sides away from that wall. The weeds right by the docks always look good but you'd be really in the way of boaters.

[John Gustas]

On 4/26/2016 at 8:00 PM, River Dave said:

Hey that's my old spot! I used to fish there all the time. I would go off on the right side of the launch heading towards the Huntley plant and catch all kinds of smallies (even caught a muskie there once). Used to do real good sometimes right at those discharge pipes when the water was flowing. I haven't fished there in years but I launch the boat there all the time. 

This sounds great! 

What kind of lures do you usually use?? 

[Justjigger]

15 minutes ago, John Gustas said:

This sounds great! 

What kind of lures do you usually use?? 

Tube jigs, tube jigs and more tube jigs

[River Dave]

I never use tube jigs (well, almost never). I generally fished faster with spinnerbaits, grubs, and occasionally inline spinners. Those were definitely my go to baits when I used to fish that spot anyway. I will say people kill 'em on tube jigs in the river though. Not really my thing but very productive at times. I just don't have the patience for it I guess. 

[John Gustas]

9 hours ago, River Dave said:

I never use tube jigs (well, almost never). I generally fished faster with spinnerbaits, grubs, and occasionally inline spinners. Those were definitely my go to baits when I used to fish that spot anyway. I will say people kill 'em on tube jigs in the river though. Not really my thing but very productive at times. I just don't have the patience for it I guess. 

Agreed! 

I've always been more of a crankbait/swimbait/spinnerbait kind of guy.  Maybe I'll bring some grubs with one of those underspin jigheads. 

 

Has anyone had luck elsewhere so far this spring? 

[BuffaloBassMaster]

7 hours ago, John Gustas said:

Agreed! 

I've always been more of a crankbait/swimbait/spinnerbait kind of guy.  Maybe I'll bring some grubs with one of those underspin jigheads. 

 

Has anyone had luck elsewhere so far this spring? 

Just private and public ponds really.. I'm hoping to go to either Beaver Island this weekend and or Walton Woods ponds. My one friend fishes there and says he does well

[Hurricane]

34 minutes ago, BuffaloBassMaster said:

Just private and public ponds really.. I'm hoping to go to either Beaver Island this weekend and or Walton Woods ponds. My one friend fishes there and says he does well

Wheres Walton Woods ponds?

[BuffaloBass716]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBassMaster said:

Just private and public ponds really.. I'm hoping to go to either Beaver Island this weekend and or Walton Woods ponds. My one friend fishes there and says he does well

At Beaver Island, do you fish the river or that small shallow area that people kayak around? Also, can you fish both ponds at Walton Woods park? I've fished the smaller one before... caught a few dinks

[Justjigger]

23 hours ago, River Dave said:

I never use tube jigs (well, almost never). I generally fished faster with spinnerbaits, grubs, and occasionally inline spinners. Those were definitely my go to baits when I used to fish that spot anyway. I will say people kill 'em on tube jigs in the river though. Not really my thing but very productive at times. I just don't have the patience for it I guess. 

Mepps comet mino works wonders. I fish the lake more than anything and tube jigs work the best for lures 

[BuffaloBassMaster]

19 hours ago, LastCastChris said:

Wheres Walton Woods ponds?

Walton Woods ponds are in Walton Woods Park right behind the Amherst Police station, if you put on google maps on satellite "Walton Woods Park" you will see it

18 hours ago, BuffaloBass716 said:

At Beaver Island, do you fish the river or that small shallow area that people kayak around? Also, can you fish both ponds at Walton Woods park? I've fished the smaller one before... caught a few dinks

I fish both the river part, the boat dock area (before the boats are in there) and the small pond thing with the bridges that people kayak around. I haven't been to either yet this year nor I have never been to Walton Woods but my friend likes it there. But I am almost 100% positive you can fish both the bigger and smaller one

[ThinkRSX]

Hey guys.  New to the forums, but was pleased to see such an active Buffalo/WNY thread.

I was down at the Erie Canal overflow pond in Ellicott Creek Park on Tuesday.  Spent about two hours there and walked away empty handed.  I was throwing tube jigs, finesse jigs, spinnerbaits, cranks, and when things got real desperate I threw on some nightcrawlers but still couldn't get a bite.

However, yesterday I went out for steelhead with my friend on the Catt and we couldn't keep the Bass off of our line.  We actually had to head to a feeder creek off of the Catt just to have a chance at catch steelies.

Hopefully the weather warms up soon and we can start the flip flop fishing.

[Hurricane]

Welcome! Nice fish rsx..

[River Dave]

Wow sweet! Welcome to the forums, lotta' local guys on here now. 

[BuffaloBassMaster]

Checked out the Walton Woods pond behind the Amherst police station and managed to catch 1 small bass off of a spinner bait. Seems pretty promising 

15 hours ago, ThinkRSX said:

Hey guys.  New to the forums, but was pleased to see such an active Buffalo/WNY thread.

I was down at the Erie Canal overflow pond in Ellicott Creek Park on Tuesday.  Spent about two hours there and walked away empty handed.  I was throwing tube jigs, finesse jigs, spinnerbaits, cranks, and when things got real desperate I threw on some nightcrawlers but still couldn't get a bite.

However, yesterday I went out for steelhead with my friend on the Catt and we couldn't keep the Bass off of our line.  We actually had to head to a feeder creek off of the Catt just to have a chance at catch steelies.

Hopefully the weather warms up soon and we can start the flip flop fishing.

What part of Catt creek?

[ChrisO91]

New guy here from the Lockport NY area. Longtime lurker of this forum, finally decided to join. It's nice to see a thread dedicated to the Buffalo NY area.

[River Dave]

Hey Chris welcome aboard! I don't know about Lockport specifically but I know there are other guys on here from out your way. This site just seems to get better every time a new guy joins the conversation. 

[Justjigger]

Gonna try the empty marina on river road tomorrow I hear it's good for pike and bass

[ThinkRSX]

6 hours ago, BuffaloBassMaster said:

Checked out the Walton Woods pond behind the Amherst police station and managed to catch 1 small bass off of a spinner bait. Seems pretty promising 

What part of Catt creek?

On the reservation.  For anyone planing to fish the reservation this year, make sure you don't have ANY lead on your line (splitshot, jig heads, sinkers, etc.).  I've heard from a few people that the Senecas have been out with new lead testing kits and are strictly enforcing compliance. 

Does anyone fish the Upper Niagara? I spent last summer walking Bird Island Pier. I had some success with crankbaits on the canal aside but the my Biggest largemouth was only 3 lbs and smallmouth 4 lbs.  I keep going for the exercise and the sunrise/sunsets. (2.5 mile walk one way)

I was wondering if anyone had any advice for fishing there.  

There's a pretty nice spot on the Lower Niagara by the Power Authority. That's one of my "go to" spots for smallies.  

 

[River Dave]

I fish the upper Niagara all the time but usually from a boat. A friend of mine has been catching some smallmouth on the river side of the breakwall across from LaSalle Park lately. I used to catch a ton of largemouth (and an occasional pike) on the canal side of the wall right where it makes the sharp bend by the sailboat club marina. It gets real shallow and weedy in that inside corner of the bend, used to kill 'em flipping jigs and T rigs into the holes in the weeds. I think you could probably fish both of these spots from the breakwall.

The boat launch at the foot of Sheridan Drive is one of my only shore spots on the river. Walk over on the rights side towards the big power plant. Fishing is good all along there for smallmouth. Good luck.

[Justjigger]

4 minutes ago, River Dave said:

I fish the upper Niagara all the time but usually from a boat. A friend of mine has been catching some smallmouth on the river side of the breakwall across from LaSalle Park lately. I used to catch a ton of largemouth (and an occasional pike) on the canal side of the wall right where it makes the sharp bend by the sailboat club marina. It gets real shallow and weedy in that inside corner of the bend, used to kill 'em flipping jigs and T rigs into the holes in the weeds. I thinknyou could probably fish both of tbese spots from tbe breakwall.The boat launch at the foot of Sheridan Drive is one of my only shore spots on the river. Walk over on the rights side towards the big power plant. Fishing is good all along there for smallmouth. Good luck.

Your boat ready for the water yet? 2 more weeks and I'll put mine in

[River Dave]

Yea I got the boat and my gear all ready this past week. I wanted to go out for a little while yesterday but the weather was crappy so I stayed home and got some more chores checked off the " to do" list. I'd rather do that when it's cold and get it done so I can fish more later. If we get some nice days I'll try and get out for a little bit this coming week. Not expecting to catch much yet but I'd like to at least try out my new depth finder. I think pike opens Sunday so maybe I'll head to Silver Lake and chase them around for a while. I always see boats along the Thruway fishing just down from the Ontario St boat launch in the River every Spring. I'm told they're after perch and, if there's perch there's Pike, so maybe I'll try that too. Never had the boat early enough to fish those spots before. 

[Justjigger]

That little inlet down past rich marine is a great place for pike. I crush them with silver and blue count down minnows

[River Dave]

Oh man I forgot all about that spot! I used to go back there all the time fishing those old boathouses/docks but bought a different boat and went without a trolling motor for a few years so couldn't really fish it right anymore. I guess once I got a trolling motor again that place had slipped my mind. Man probably been 10-11 years since I fished that spot. Used to be a good place for small bass and pike and a great place to take the kids for bobber fishing for sunnies. I'll have to check that out again this year. Great tip Jigger!

[Hurricane]

We are growing!! Welcome all the new posters!

[BuffaloBass716]

16 hours ago, Justjigger said:

Gonna try the empty marina on river road tomorrow I hear it's good for pike and bass

I've heard good things about that place. Never tried it but I've seen a ton of people fishing there in the spring last year. Let us know how you do there.