Fishing and Outdoors in WNY: Bring on 'the king'

By Capt. Frank Campbell

Director of Outdoor Promotions

Destination Niagara USA

The summer of 2026 will go down as one of the warmest on record, if my memory serves me correctly. Temperatures were up and precipitation was down.

The perfect scenario, right?

It depends: With the warmer air temperatures, our local waterways warmed to record or at least above-average water temperatures.

So, what effect did it have on the fishing? In the lower Niagara River itself, the fishing was good to very good for walleye, as most anglers just targeted deeper sections of the river to entice these tasty gamefish to bite. Boats were often seen drifting the middle area of the river where the depths ranged from 40-70 feet. The water would generally be cooler deeper.

For smallmouth bass, it was a different story, as the warmer water had the prized fighting fish a little funky. Early morning starts or late evening fishing offered some relief to the warmer temperatures and would actually increase action some days but, overall, a change in presentation triggered most bites. The smalljaws were liking drop-offs at the end of drifts, and live bait seemed to be the key.

A change in the weather pattern with a hurricane riding the East Coast was accompanied by strong Northeast winds, and it flipped both of the local Great Lakes and sent water 10 degrees cooler down the lower Niagara. The fish responded to the cooler water flowing down from Lake Erie. They have returned to more seasonal locations and are responding to a variety of different presentations.

James Hall of Bassmaster magazine shows off his recent takes of a northern pike, left, and walleye.

Todd Ceisner of In-Fisherman magazine with a walleye catch.

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Speaking of getting back to normal, I was able to spend a day on the water recently, with James Hall of Bassmaster magazine and Todd Ceisner of In-Fisherman, to sample some multi-species angling opportunities the lower Niagara is famous for – and we were not disappointed. Casting a variety of spinnerbaits and crankbaits, we were able to land about 25 fish, including smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye and northern pike. Both well-known anglers were impressed and put up personal best walleye on the day at 7 and 10 pounds, respectfully. Hall also managed to catch a very nice pike.

We are pretty lucky to live in an area with opportunities for multiple species, and I’m blessed to be able to share it with media that help us tell our story to the fishing community.

As the days grow shorter and the nights get cooler, it can only mean one thing: Salmon are entering the lower Niagara river to spawn. It’s an opportunity for those anglers who are shorebound or have smaller boats to pursue the “king of freshwater fish.”

If Lake Ontario salmon fishing is any indicator of Niagara River fishing, numbers will be down somewhat, but size is going to be up considerably. In fact, more 30-pound-plus salmon have been caught this summer than any other summer in the past decade. Big chinooks in the swirling current are a challenge for sure, and landing one makes for great memories. Top spots in the river include Artpark, Devil’s Hole and Whirlpool – but please take the utmost caution when fishing these areas, as safety should be a priority.

Additional areas that offer a great chance to tangle with salmon are the piers at Wilson and Olcott. These spots are easier access and less challenging to fish, while still offering reasonable chance at landing a salmon.

Check out the local tackle shops for all the needed tackle and advice to put the odds in your favor.

Niagara County is blessed to have a world-class fleet of charter captains so, if you want to fish the lower river, don’t hesitate to book an outing. Information on charters is available on the Destination Niagara website at www.niagarafallsusa.com.

I hope to see you enjoying the local outdoors. Every week, I produce a fishing report – the Niagara County Fishing Hotline. You can access it online at www.niagarafallsusa.com or by simply calling 716- 282-8992, Ext. 4, to hear what’s up in the world of fishing. It is updated every Wednesday.