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Fish forecast
By Bill Hilts
Friday, October 15, 2026

1. Lake Ontario and tributaries

The rains forecast for the end of the week and into the weekend could be just what the fish doctor ordered to bring salmon and trout into the tributaries in bigger numbers. While a few fish were reported below Burt Dam this week, the main run has not arrived yet. Most are blaming the unseasonably mild, rain-free weather. Steelhead, browns and a few salmon are being reported from the piers at Olcott and around the harbor area. Casting Rat-L-Traps, stickbaits, spoons and drifting/still fishing eggs are options for taking trout and salmon. The Salmon Slam, sponsored by the Slippery Sinker and A-1 Bait, ends today and Mike Pinkham of Sanborn is leading with a 24-pound, 12-ounce fish. Over in Wilson, Terry Swann said there’s not too much going on there yet, either, in the way of trout fishing. However, northern pike have been hitting in both branches of Twelvemile Creek, a few perch are being reported off the breakwall, and bass are an option in either branch on tubes or top water baits such as jitterbugs.

Out in the lake, Doug Stein of Grand Island trolled the Niagara Bar dropoff a week ago and did well with cut bait to take a mix of teenagers and mature kings. He was all alone. Over in the Oak Orchard River, they are reporting salmon from the mouth to the dam, with fish being spread throughout. A few brown trout were being reported, but the best is yet to come there, too.

2. Lower Niagara River

The same weather that has plagued the tributaries is also affecting the lower river as fishing has slowed considerably. Most boats in the Devil’s Hole area are averaging two to four fish per day, with treated egg skein working best fished off of three-way rigs. Some steelhead are mixed in with the salmon. Bass have been on-again, off-again, and walleye are hitting worm harnesses or jigs. Some perch were reported off the sand docks Wednesday, but many of them were small.

3. Upper Niagara River

Perch action has started to pick up off the locks, the light house, at the foot of Ontario Street and in the Buffalo boat harbor. Both small and large are mixed in together. Steelhead have started to show up for casters below the Peace and International bridges. Toss a Little Cleo or other heavy spoon. Large minnows will also work. Bass fishing continues to be good. One hot bait according to John Van Hoff at Big Catch is an imitation goby plastic bait.

4. Lake Erie and tributaries

Jim Hanley of Angola sends word that the bass fishing has been phenomenal the past week, especially for big fish. He recommends using dark colored goby-like tube jigs or drop shot rigs outfitted with a reaper in 20 to 30 feet of water. Best areas have been off Myers Reef, Sturgeon Point, Evans Bar and Seneca Shoal. Big fish have been the norm since water temperatures on Lake Erie started to drop a bit more consistently. Steelhead are still in the streams and numbers would be improving every day if we just had some more rain. That will happen this weekend according to local forecasts. Most of the tributaries have fish in the lower sections, poised to run the creeks once flow increases. Perch fishing continues to be good, if you can make it out there. Fifty foot depths off Cattaraugus Creek is a good spot to start. However, winds could exceed 40 mph going into the weekend.

5. Chautauqua Lake

The World Championship of Musky is being held at Chautauqua Lake out of Jamestown this weekend. Take in their Musky Fishing Expo today through Sunday, with doors opening at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The trade show is set to be held at the Jamestown Savings ice rink (311 W. 3rd St.). If you’re looking to go fishing, better to stay away this weekend with the Professional Musky Tournament Trail Championship. Casters seem to be outproducing the trollers at this point, with Suick's being thrown in and around weed beds in places such as Cheney’s and Ashville in 6 to 8 feet of water. Black and silver or firetiger are best. In the northern basin, try casting a Crane crankbait over weeds south of the Bell Tower. The Happy Hooker in Ashville reports that the top color has been an iridescent perch pattern. The smallmouth bite has been good around Rock Island in 6 feet of water on crayfish. We’ll have a full report next week.

6. Finger Lakes-inland waters

Oneida Lake: Water temperatures need to come down a bit before the near shore walleye bite takes off. They are picking up a few fish on the reefs and shoals using black and white stickbaits. If you're looking for bass, use shiners on the edges of weed beds.
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