Lake Erie

The nighttime walleye bite in the nearshore zone has tapered off, as anglers now look for walleye during the daytime over deeper water. Good action has been reported west of Barcelona Harbor in 55-65 feet of water. Trollers are catching walleye just off the bottom on worm harnesses and stickbaits, including some limits. Buffalo anglers are also starting to pick up walleye off the windmills in 25-40 feet of water.

During the last couple days, yellow perch fishing has been excellent west of Sturgeon Point (off Angola) in 56-59 feet of water, with anglers reporting thick schools of perch. Meanwhile the bite directly off the harbor has fizzled out. Anglers are also picking up decent perch catches east of Cattaraugus Creek in 52-65 feet of water, between Seneca Shoal and the international line, and off the Dunkirk departure buoy in 50-55 feet of water. Live emerald shiners fished just off the bottom work best.

There are still plenty of smallmouth bass in and around the harbors at Buffalo, Dunkirk and Barcelona. Anglers also see good bass action along rocky nearshore areas in 5-25 feet of water. Anglers are catching many bass in the 3 to 4 pound range, with the occasional 5 to 6 pound lunker. Seneca Shoal, Myers Reef, Evans Bar and Van Buren Bay/Reef are good bets. However, many smaller reefs, rock piles and humps along the Erie shoreline also hold good numbers of bass. Tube jigs, jigs with twister tails, deep diving stickbaits, live minnows and crayfish are good smallmouth bass baits.

Lake Erie Tributaries
Smallmouth bass are still available in the lower sections of the Lake Erie tributaries. Anglers can target smallmouth bass on Cattaraugus Creek from mid-Seneca Reservation down to the mouth (need fishing license issued by Seneca Nation to fish on Seneca lands); on Chautauqua, Canadaway and Eighteemile Creeks from the thruway down to the mouths; and below the confluence of Buffalo and Cayuga Creeks (Harlem Road access). Channel catfish have moved into the lower sections of the tributaries, settling into deeper holes. Fishing at night with nightcrawlers, raw shrimp, chicken livers or cut bait on the bottom could have you hooked into a huge catfish. The lower section of Cattaraugus Creek and near the mouth of Eighteenmile Creek are top locations. Shore anglers can also target catfish along the Lake Erie shoreline on calm nights, especially near stream inlets.

Upper Niagara River
Previously, yellow perch were hitting well in the section below the Ontario Street boat launch. Boat and shore anglers were picking through many small perch for a decent creel of keeper perch. Boat and shore anglers also see decent perch action just below the Black Rock Canal lock (northern tip of Squaw Island). Emerald shiners are the top bait for perch. Anglers are catching some walleye at Broderick Park and along the wall running north. Minnows fished near the bottom have worked well. Anglers are catching smallmouth bass from the head of the river to down past Strawberry Island. Bass fishing in the upper river (north of Peace Bridge) is by catch and release only, artificial lures only until June 15th. The harbors, marinas and inlets are good spots to target panfish and largemouth bass.

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