When Should I Fish the Niagara River?
The Niagara River offers diverse opportunities for multispecies fishing adventures year-round. Here are the best times to go fishing for your bucket-list fish.
The Niagara River
The Niagara river has become a well-recognized hotspot for fishing in addition to its acclaim as a tourism destination around the world.
While most people come to see the falls, more and more anglers are visiting each year to experience the fishing that happens above and below this iconic feature, on the Upper and Lower Niagara River.
Generally, the fishing trends that happen each season with regards to specific species can be enjoyed above and below the falls, with specific areas being the most productive.
For me and my clients, the Niagara River is the primary destination at different times of the year, but we also fish Lake Ontario and Lake Erie when conditions are right and the bite there is hot!
Spring
March to May (Trout, Bass, and more…)
Each year, the length and character of the spring fishing season on the Niagara River can be determined by the winter which preceded it.
Fed by Lake Erie water, the Upper and Lower Niagara River are subject to runoff, ice chunks and water conditions as a result of what happens over the winter on Lake Erie.
On years where there is widespread ice coverage, clear water dominates through the spring, and temperatures tend to climb slowly, allowing patterns to set up for long stretches, for all species using the river.
When the previous winter has been mild, things tend to move quickly in terms of fish migration and activity, which can be attributed to a more rapid increase in water temperature, vegetation growth, and fish metabolism.
Trout make up the majority of early to mid-spring catches on the Niagara River, with peak months being March and April before the water gets too warm and trout move upriver to spawn, or into the lake.
All three trout species can be caught during this spring frenzy, making a Trout Grand Slam possible.
As temperatures near the 40’s, which typically happens in the early part of April, smallmouth bass really start to become active on the Upper and Lower Niagara River.
This is prime time to chase a personal best and a 30 fish day. These bass can be caught on a variety of techniques in anywhere from 4 to 40 feet of water.
As water temperatures rise, a variety of fish come alive in the river too, with silver bass, freshwater drum, carp, and walleye making appearances.
Summer
June to October (Bass, walleye, and more…)
Summer is a fantastic time to fish on the Niagara River.
Smallmouth Bass are the main target through the summer months but walleye round out the action nicely.
In June, the majority of smallmouth will be in their spawning cycle which presents interesting angling opportunities for those who can grab a New York State non-resident fishing license to take advantage of their catch and release season.
Bed fishing is possible some days, but I generally like to use this time to fish for post spawn fish that are leaving spawning areas or have already moved into adjacent water. Let’s keep the fishery strong!
As the summer heats up, smallmouth move deeper and give families a great chance to enjoy a fish-filled day on the Niagara. I always recommend to groups looking to get their kids into the sport to book in July and August.
Walleye fishing gets better as the floating weed dies off in late-June, and usually peaks around mid-August. If you’d like a chance at a huge walleye, let’s talk!
September and October are great months for smallmouth bass on the Upper and Lower river depending on the weather. For experienced anglers, the opportunity to catch huge fish on multiple moving-bait and finesse techniques is there.
The late-summer and early fall timeframe on the Niagara River makes it a fisherman’s playground for bass.
Fall
November to December (Trout, Bass, Walleye)
Fall is one of the most popular times to go fishing on the Niagara River because of the sheer number of fish entering the river, and feeding up before winter.
Supported by the stocking efforts of New York State and Ontario, thousands of Brown, Rainbow, and Lake Trout enter the Lower Niagara River every year.
Depending on wind and water conditions, November and December can offer the best trout fishing you can experience all year.
Fishing with egg imitations like beads, yarn and roe while bottom-bouncing is popular, and so is ripping hair jigs and metal spoons as temps drop and fish switch their diet to minnows.
A bonus this time of year is the excellent walleye fishing. I am able to put my clients on some great quality and numbers of walleye in the fall because they are hiding in a lot of the areas where trout are.
If you like to fish for smallmouth bass, the late-fall window can be some of the best fishing for big fish that we see all year. Similar to walleye, smallmouth are feeding heavy at this time and will readily eat minnow imitations from swimbaits, to spoons to kwikfish.
Winter
January to February
Winter on the Niagara can be as productive as the weather allows for trout. These are the only fish still active when the temperatures drop into the low 30’s.
I generally don’t guide during this time and take the opportunity to get ready for a fantastic, and busy spring season.
If you’d like the ultimate Niagara fishing experience, don’t hesitate to get in touch, let’s go fishing!
Lyle Gayder, Hooked on Niagara Fishing Guide Service
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