Upper Niagara Help!

[Burger 0]

Hey everyone -

 

Buffalo native who just moved back here after 8 years elsewhere. I am really trying to dive into the fishing we have here. I have a small 14’ whaler at rich marine and have caught a few smallies and perch in september but nothing since then. i’ve done well with king salmon down in the lower...but the upper seems to be kicking my arse as of late.

 

if anyone could please answer these questions I would be eternally grateful:

 

1.) Can you catch steelhead, lake trout, and brown trout in the upper Niagara in as good of numbers as you can in lower? (if not, why?)

 

2.) Is there ANY salmon in the upper?

 

3.) when, where, and how is the best way to catch a walleye in the upper river? i have literally never caught one!!!! i’ve used worm harnesses with night crawlers, 3 way swivels with crabs and minnows, soft plastics, and even spoons and spinners off bottom (keeping boat near basic structure - rocks, weeds, breaks) and no luck!!

 

Appreciate the help

 

 

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[H20chrome 10]

Steelhead, lakers, browns are a possibility in the upper but nobody targets them that i know. NYS quit stocking browns and the "new" (been declining for years) steelhead stocking program has numbers way down. No salmon in Lake erie besides natural reproduction which is rare but does exist. Ive never really fished the upper but i think spring is a good time for walleye there. Thundermist fishing on youtube has a few videos on walleye fishing the upper

[Norm Moser 14]

No lakers, if your lucky you might and I say might catch a brown more so in the spring and late fall, you can catch steelhead in some places in the spring and fall but not a lot, walleye fishing can be good and the bass fishing is outstanding along with some good musky fishing and pike fishing. REMEMBER most of the west river is  Canadian water. 

[Burger 0]

Steelhead, lakers, browns are a possibility in the upper but nobody targets them that i know. NYS quit stocking browns and the "new" (been declining for years) steelhead stocking program has numbers way down. No salmon in Lake erie besides natural reproduction which is rare but does exist. Ive never really fished the upper but i think spring is a good time for walleye there. Thundermist fishing on youtube has a few videos on walleye fishing the upper

thanks. I’m a huge fan of Thundermist and Ivo - had the pleasure of meeting him. Thundermist is also what kind of confuses me though! I’ve seen videos of Ivo catching lakers and steelhead right in the upper river! There’s a few videos of him in winter right in front of fort erie launch (between “the bridges”) catching steelhead on roe bags. I then ask people about this and they seem confused


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[Burger 0]

No lakers, if your lucky you might and I say might catch a brown more so in the spring and late fall, you can catch steelhead in some places in the spring and fall but not a lot, walleye fishing can be good and the bass fishing is outstanding along with some good musky fishing and pike fishing. REMEMBER most of the west river is  Canadian water. 

thanks. I guess what’s confusing my is, why is the steelhead fishing in Lake Erie & Upper River spotty, but the Erie Tribs full of them?


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[Norm Moser 14]

I fish the river all my life spent my summer as a kid on the upper river in fact my grandfather and father where fishing guides on the river. I have never seen or heard of any one catching a laker in the upper river BUT anything can happen. we would catch steel head in the spring and fall off the walls and at the head of the river but not like you would in lake Ontario. If you can get your hands on a book called Sander Fishing guide 2 it has a world of info on fishing this area of N.Y. state. it has maps and fish found in an area and spots to try for most fish. good luck hope this helps

[Burger 0]

I fish the river all my life spent my summer as a kid on the upper river in fact my grandfather and father where fishing guides on the river. I have never seen or heard of any one catching a laker in the upper river BUT anything can happen. we would catch steel head in the spring and fall off the walls and at the head of the river but not like you would in lake Ontario. If you can get your hands on a book called Sander Fishing guide 2 it has a world of info on fishing this area of N.Y. state. it has maps and fish found in an area and spots to try for most fish. good luck hope this helps

much appreciated, Norm!


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[jimski2 180]

We caught buckets of rainbow trout back drifting flat fish on the Canadian shoreline from the Peace Bridge to Thompson’s Hole. The Canadian record walleye of 22 pounds was caught from shore in Thompson’s Hole. Entering Canadian water is a hassle now.