Niagara River New York Fly Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Brown Trout (Lake run)
Steelhead
Coho Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Size
Large
Location
Northern New York
Nearest Towns
Niagara Falls
Lewiston
Youngstown
Season
Year-round but species dependant
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of New York
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
Fly fishing the Niagara River is best from late Summer to early Spring.
Spring:
Steelhead and lake-run brown trout fishing continues into the month of May.
Summer:
There’s little opportunity for the fly angler during the summer months
Fall:
Autumn starts the steelhead, salmon and lake-run brown trout season
Winter:
Wintertime is the best time for steelhead fishing. January and February can have some days that the water gets too cold and the steelhead become tough to catch but most of the time, fishing is good.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Niagara River New York
The Niagara River is a 36 mile long river that connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms an international border between New York and Ontario Canada. This is a big river that transmits an average flow of 200,000 cubic feet of water per second.
The Niagara River consist of two different sections, the Upper and Lower Niagara. They are separated by Niagara Falls. This is about fly fishing the Lower Niagara River. It covers a 14 mile long section from the Falls to the mouth of the river at Lake Ontario.
The Lower Niagara River is open to fishing year-round with different species of fish available throughout the year. Fly fishing the Niagara River is popular for steelhead, salmon and lake-run brown trout.
One point we should mention is that as a general rule, the international border between Canada and the U. S. runs down the center of the lower river. Each section requires a fishing license if your fishing within their respective water. The regulations differ. New York regulations are not necessarily the same as the Province of Ontario. We will be focusing on the New York waters.
Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon enter the river to spawn from Lake Ontario in September. Salmon fishing continues through November. The steelhead follow, entering the river in November. Fishing for steelhead runs from November through the month of May. Lake- run brown trout fishing is best from September through May.
A word of caution for boaters: Water is released from very large hydropower facilities on both side of the river by two different authorities. These discharges drastically affects the flow of water. The section of the river above Lewiston is the most affected area.
Conditions can be very hazardous. You need both the right type of boat, equipment and experience on the river to safely navigate its waters.
There is plenty of bank access on the New York side of the river. Whirlpool Park at the City of Niagara Falls, offers the furthest upstream access to the river. Devel’s Hole State Park joins the lower part of Whirlpool Park and offers additional bank access. There’s a very steep decent required to get down to the river in both of these parks.
The New York Power Authority fishing platform is a very popular fishing access site. It is closed during the winter months. The Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park has over a mile of public access. This is a popular steelhead fishing destination during the Winter. Joseph Davis State Park located near Lewiston offers additional shoreline access. Lewiston Landing Waterfront Park in Lewiston and Water Street Village Park and Constitution Park in Youngstown offers additional shore access.