Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 07/20 – 07/26/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: This past week was a classic snapshot of what makes Lake Erie fishing so special. The walleyes were absolutely on fire, with several trips producing nonstop action and some of the best bites of the season. I fished with anglers from Missouri, West Virginia, Arizona, and Florida, along with local regulars. We battled some challenging weather, made the right calls to keep clients safe and comfortable, and switched gears when needed—putting plenty of smiles on faces while chasing walleyes and smallmouth bass. From kids’ trips and family traditions to surprise gifts and mid-summer “rod-benders,” it was another week filled with great people, great stories, and plenty of Lake Erie gold.

Days on the water: 5

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Erie

What we caught:  walleye, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum

Tactics:  trolling worm harnesses, casting finesse baits

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

07/20/2026 (morning) – In Town from MO  

Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Ron, Jim, and Curtis. Ron and Jim were in town from Missouri visiting Curtis and his wife (Jim’s daughter), and they wanted to stock up on some Lake Erie gold. I was happy to help make that happen.

Simply put, the water out of Cattaraugus Creek is absolutely loaded with walleyes right now. It was, without question, the best bite I’ve experienced all season. I started in over 80 feet of water, but honestly, I could have fished much shallower—I marked fish nearly the entire run offshore.

Within minutes of sending the first baits down, we were hooked up…and the action never let up. The bite was so ridiculous that we imposed our own slot limit (18-22″) just to stretch the morning out a little longer.

07/20/2026 (afternoon) – Boxing out with the Boys

Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Killian, Jackson, and Cole. Killian is an alumnus of the Summer Fishing Camp I used to host, and Jackson and Cole are his cousins. The boys wanted walleyes, and I was confident we could get them a limit and home in time for a fish fry dinner.

I returned to the same zone I fished that morning, and the chaos started almost immediately. Jackson and Cole landed their first walleyes within a few minutes and many more followed.

I’m a big fan of kids-only trips—they’re always a blast. For one, I know everyone on board genuinely wants to be there. They pay attention, follow directions, and fish hard, which makes for an efficient program and high catch rates. Just as importantly, I enjoy spending time with the next generation. Having a daughter, I don’t get much insight into what today’s young men are interested in, so I always appreciate the conversations. It keeps me connected to a world that’s a little different from the one I grew up in.

07/21/2026 – Weather Day

A small craft advisory and a ton or rain in the forecast kept me off the water.  I thought about going, but the clients I had on the docket were new to angling in general – I didn’t want that kind of adventure to be their first experience fishing with me.  That was the right call – it didn’t get huge out there, but 5’+ waves were common and the rain came down harder than it has all year.   

07/22/2026 – Weather Day

2-4’ waves were the norm for the day.  Fishing in that would’ve been OK – but I had a dad and his two young sons on the docket.  I’ve fished with kids in those conditions – and it can go both ways.  Some love it – others get seasick or go internal. My clients were able to reschedule we opted to take the safe route. 

07/23/2026 (morning) – Chalking Lake Erie

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Mike. Mike has worked in the defense industry for more than 40 years and has traveled to Western New York several times on business. He’s always wanted the opportunity to wet a line for Lake Erie smallmouth bass, and we finally made it happen.

I haven’t targeted bass since the spring. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of summer bass trips because they often turn into drum fests. Mike, however, just wanted to spend some time on the water. Since he wasn’t keeping fish, he didn’t mind catching drum—a bent rod is a bent rod. Plus, having caught black drum in the Gulf, he thought it would be interesting to see how their freshwater cousins compared.

As it turned out, the bass cooperated far better than expected. Mike landed more than a handful of quality smallmouths, mixed in with a few drum. It made for a fun session and a great day on the water.

07/23/2026 (afternoon) – Annual Outing with Larry and the Boys

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Larry, Ian, and Fin. I’ve been fishing with Larry and Ian for about six years now. Fin joined the crew a couple of years ago after Larry finally decided he was old enough to handle the program.

The guys live in Florida but spend a week or so in Western New York each summer visiting family. While they’re in town, we always make sure to get a trip on the calendar. Chasing smallmouth bass and freshwater drum has become an annual tradition, and we kept that tradition alive on this outing.

In previous years, Fin always seemed to find plenty of drum, but for whatever reason, the smallmouth bass never cooperated for him. This year was a different story. He put a hurting on the bass and left little doubt about who won the friendly competition.

07/24/2026 – Bro and Sis Sesh Round 2

Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Robin and Terry. This brother-and-sister team had so much fun on our trip earlier in the month that they booked another day before we got off the water. Fortunately, I had an opening.

Just like the first trip, the walleyes were waiting for us. Wanting to stretch the morning out a little longer, we intentionally fished with only two rods instead of the usual spread—and still absolutely pounded Lake Erie gold. It was one of the most ridiculous bites of the season.

07/25/2026 – Surprise!

Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Justin and Chandler. A couple of months earlier, Justin’s wife booked this trip as a surprise birthday gift. The plan was to tell him the night before—and to make it even better, his cousin Chandler drove up from West Virginia to spend the weekend with him and join the trip.

From the way Justin told it, the surprise couldn’t have gone any better. He called me the night before, completely caught off guard and genuinely excited for the chance to chase Lake Erie walleyes. I told him not to worry—catching walleyes wasn’t a possibility, it was a certainty. We backed that up the following day – fun trip!

07/26/2026 – Bassing with Chris and his Boys

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Chris, Roman, and Tino. I’ve been fishing with Chris for nine years, usually with his buddies Jay and Nick. This time, he wanted to get both of his boys on the water for some summer bass fishing.

Lake Erie had a perfect summer chop—not too big, just enough movement to make drifting live bait ideal. The boys got into fish immediately, and the action stayed consistent throughout the day. Of course, a little competition developed. Chris took home the big fish honors, but he and Roman ended up tied for the most fish. Tino stayed in the hunt, but in his words, he “needed a 21-incher.” Unfortunately, that fish never showed up.

Any disappointment disappeared on the ride back in. Surfing the waves at the end of the day was the perfect way to finish an awesome father-and-sons session.

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 07/27/2026 – 08/02/2026

It looks like another week of challenges is on the horizon. Heavy rain could impact Tuesday and Wednesday, and the wind may get interesting mid-week as well. Nothing the Warrior can’t handle, though. I’ve got some hardcore clients scheduled during that stretch—they claim they’re ready for whatever Lake Erie throws at them. We’re about to find out.

The back half of the week looks much more favorable, with calmer conditions and plenty of opportunities to get after it. I’m booked every day, so fingers all those trips happen. Stay tuned!

Stay healthy, my friends.  Mentally and physically,

Ryan

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 07/13 – 07/19/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report:  This past week had a little bit of everything Lake Erie could throw at us: flat-calm mornings, five-foot rollers, thick wildfire smoke, thunderstorms, a surprise maintenance day, and even a reminder that summer walleye fishing isn’t always easy. Through it all, we caught plenty of fish, shared some unforgettable adventures, and welcomed anglers ranging from seven-year-olds catching their first walleyes to longtime friends chasing another freezer full of gold. The week also reinforced a lesson I’ve learned over the years—it’s rarely the easy days that stick with you. It’s the challenging conditions, the emotional roller coaster of walleye fishing, and the people you experience it with that I’ll remember most.

Days on the water: 6

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Erie

What we caught:  walleye, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum

Tactics:  trolling worm harnesses, casting finesse baits

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

07/13/2026 – Whispering and Assassinating  

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with the Whisperer, the Silent Assassin, and my father. Captain America couldn’t complete Clan Jarosz this time around. His response to the invite was something along the lines of, “I’d love to, but some people actually have to go to work.” So, I called my father join us on the gold mining mission.

It was a picture-perfect summer morning with a light northeast breeze and plenty of sunshine. The walleyes cooperated from the start, and the action stayed steady all morning. We had our limit in just a couple of hours—getting the Whisperer home in plenty of time for his afternoon nap.

07/14/2026 – Getting Nautical

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Mark, Chris, and Darren. In the days leading up to the trip, Mark and I talked about the forecast, which called for southwest winds gusting into the 20s and the potential for some serious waves. He assured me nobody in the group gets seasick, so they were all in. Honestly, I was looking forward to some Warrior weather.

Thankfully, the guys were willing to start early while the lake was still manageable enough to make the run offshore without taking a serious beating. A quick aside: whenever I’m dealing with big southwest winds—or big waves in general—I always troll with the wind and waves. Boat control is much easier, the ride is smoother for clients, and the fishing is simply more efficient. The downside is that once you commit to a line, turning around and resetting is a major undertaking. You need to run far enough offshore to make one long pull—maybe two—and make them count.

We blasted through 1- to 3-footers for about a half hour before I turned the boat back toward the city. The Warrior handled the ride beautifully, and the guys were impressed with how smooth it was. The bite had a couple of lulls, but there were enough periods of chaos to keep us catching more than six fish an hour.

By late morning, we were fishing in consistent 5-foot waves—and still catching walleyes. I also found the upper limit of planer boards. They’re incredibly effective in rough water…right up until the waves consistently top 5 feet.

Days like these are memorable—but rarely because of the conversation. I absolutely love fishing in big water, but it demands my full attention, so I’m not nearly as chatty as I am on calmer days. If clients can handle the waves, they usually walk away feeling like they took on something wild and came out the other side. In the few minutes before we said our goodbyes, I realized we’d talked more at the dock than we had during the entire trip. What an adventure. Awesome day.

07/15/2026 – Surfing with the Boys

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Jason, Callan (age 7), and Weldon (age 10). With the forecast calling for big waves, Jason and I talked daily leading up to the trip to make sure everyone was comfortable with the conditions. At one point he joked that he was surprised nobody had ever called CPS over some of the waves he’d taken Callan out in. In short, these boys were ready for an adventure.

The lake was supposed to settle down overnight, but that didn’t happen. We ran offshore through consistent 2- to 4-footers, with plenty of 5-foot waves mixed in. After a little more than 30 minutes, we turned around and started trolling back toward the city.

The action was pretty slow for the first hour and a half. Then, in classic Lake Erie fashion, we crossed paths with a massive school of walleyes and chaos ensued. Baits barely had time to settle before they were getting crushed. What started as a stressful morning turned into one those boys won’t soon forget. And Jason was right—they loved every minute of it. They didn’t want to get off the water. Fun day.

07/16/2026 – Fishing Through the Smoke

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Lisa, Scott, Henry (age 12), and Diesel (age 12). Thick smoke from the northern wildfires hung over the lake, giving the morning an almost eerie feel. There were plenty of boats out, but visibility was limited to about a half mile, so I decided to make a long run offshore, get away from the crowds, and troll our way back toward the city.

The action started immediately, but so did the heartbreak. We dropped a pile of fish early on. A quick aside: every now and then, there are days when walleyes just don’t seem to stay buttoned. I still haven’t figured out why. Sometimes it’s only an issue at the beginning of the trip before everything settles down. Other times, it happens all day.  When “Ls” become prominent, I start using very small pieces of worm – only the dark portion – and that seems to resolve it…maybe.  Anyway, this was one of those mornings where we lost far more fish than usual before things finally turned around.

One of the things I’ve come to appreciate about walleye fishing is the range of emotions it brings out. Excitement, boredom, frustration, confidence, doubt, and pure elation can all show up in the span of a few hours. It’s a roller coaster, and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding.

This crew experienced just about every one of those emotions—both individually and as a team. Our final fish came in a flurry of chaos – followed by cheers all around.  Another awesome day on Lake Erie.

07/17/2026 – Maintenance Day

The client I had scheduled for this day cancelled a week out, so I decided to block the date and take a much-needed day off. This has officially become the “year of the trailer” for me. Part of it failed back in May, and more recently the calipers and rotors gave up—the unfortunate result of years of winter trailering through ice and salt.

I was able to drop the trailer off at Dr. Trailer on Monday while keeping the boat in the water at Collins Marine for the week. The trailer was repaired by Wednesday afternoon, and I picked it up Thursday.

A huge thank you goes out to both Dr. Trailer and Collins Marine for helping keep me in the fight.

I used the day off to clean the boat, knock out some errands, and get a workout in. Not every day off is a bad thing.

07/19/2026 – Awesome…Until it Wasn’t

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Brian and his son Eli. The forecast deteriorated quickly in the hours leading up to the trip. The night before, NOAA issued a Small Craft Advisory beginning in the morning, and thunderstorms were expected to roll through around daybreak. We agreed to meet at 6:00 a.m. and make the call at the ramp.

One thunderstorm cell slid just past us shortly after we met, and the radar looked clear for the rest of the morning. It was breezy, but nothing we couldn’t handle, so we decided to give it a shot.

It took a little while to find the walleyes, but once we did, the action became steady. Seven-year-old Eli landed a beautiful fish, posed for a few photos, then walked up to the bow next to his dad, leaned over the side…and got his first real taste of Lake Erie seasickness. We decided that was a good time to call it a day.

So, the young man checked off two milestones in one trip: his first Lake Erie walleye and his first bout of seasickness. Fortunately, once we got back to the dock, he bounced right back as if nothing had happened. He even jumped in to help during the fish-cleaning process. I’d say he’ll remember this trip for a long time.

07/19/2026 – Then they Disappeared

Fished out of Buffalo, NY with Steve and Broadie. It was a short session since Steve had to get to work. They wanted to target walleyes, but they were flexible if things didn’t pan out—spending a few hours on the water together was the real priority.

I started the morning searching the areas that had been producing lately, but the walleyes simply weren’t there. We covered a lot of water, picked up one walleye, and caught plenty of freshwater drum along the way. With time working against us, we decided not to make the long run offshore and instead converted to smallmouth bass. We found a few of those…and, of course, plenty more drum.

I’ll admit, I was a little apprehensive about fishing out of Buffalo. After the big west winds earlier in the week, I suspected the walleyes may have slid farther offshore. Normally I would have made the run to check, but with the Sunset Shootout taking place, Buffalo was the right call for this trip. Getting humbled is never fun—I’m still stewing over it as I write this—but we still bent plenty of rods, had a good time, and every fish Broadie caught was the biggest of his life. That’s a win in my book.

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 07/20/2026 – 07/26/2026

It looks like it’ll be another week with sporadic challenges.  Rain might make an appearance a couple of times.  Big wind only looks like it’ll be slightly problematic on Tuesday.  The rest of the week looks wonderful.  Walleyes will continue to be the primary target – with one, maybe two rod benders in the mix. I’m booked daily – stay tuned! 

Stay healthy, my friends.  Mentally and physically,

Ryan

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 07/06 – 07/12/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: This past week was one of those reminders that guiding is about far more than catching fish. I spent time with travelers from Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, South Carolina, and beyond, along with returning clients and local regulars. Some wanted a freezer full of walleyes, others simply wanted to experience Lake Erie, and several checked “first walleye” and “first smallmouth” off their bucket lists. The fishing remained outstanding, with limits coming quickly on most trips before we shifted gears to bass and freshwater drum or simply enjoyed the conversations and scenery. Aside from one maintenance day that kept me off the water, it was another memorable week filled with great people, plenty of laughs – the kind of fishing that makes a Lake Erie summer so special.

Days on the water: 6

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Erie

What we caught:  walleye, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum

Tactics:  trolling worm harnesses, casting finesse baits

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

07/06/2026 – Fun with Falls Enthusiasts

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Joe and Evie, who were visiting the Buffalo Niagara Region from Virginia. They were an absolute blast to fish with—and even better to spend the day with. They travel the country in search of waterfalls big and small and enjoy wetting a line wherever they go, so we had plenty of stories (and travel tips) to exchange.

Since they weren’t interested in keeping fish, I put them on what I call the Lake Erie Summer Trifecta: a pile of walleyes, followed by smallmouth bass and freshwater drum. It made for a fun day and a great way to experience everything Lake Erie has to offer this time of year.

07/07/2026 (morning) – Out with the Indiana Boys

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Nick, Chris, and Corey. The guys were in town from Indiana for a Williams Syndrome convention—Chris and Corey’s sister was born with the condition—and wanted to spend a day exploring the lake.

Since they were traveling and bouncing between hotels, they weren’t interested in keeping fish. That made it the perfect opportunity to put them on the Lake Erie Summer Trifecta: walleyes, smallmouth bass, and freshwater drum. None of them had ever caught a walleye or a smallmouth bass before. We fixed that.

07/07/2026 (afternoon) – In Need of Fish for a Fry…and then Some

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Jim, Dave, and Larry. The guys needed some walleyes for a fish fry, and I was happy to help make that happen. They put together a quick limit – it was chaotic and blood lust kicked in so I didn’t take many photos. 

We followed that up with a drop-shot session for smallmouth bass and freshwater drum. The bass didn’t cooperate, but the drum certainly did.

07/08/2026 (morning) – “Want a Water?”   “No, a Shotgun”

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Ed, Don, and Greg (Don’s son). I’ve been fishing with Ed for a few years now, usually with his kids, Kristina and Matt. Every summer, though, he likes to stock the freezer with walleyes, so he rounds up a few friends and makes it happen.

This crew was hilarious—as is usually the case when Ed’s on the boat. Don, a retired teacher in his 80s, had stories for days and an outstanding sense of humor. One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that when I’m fishing with folks over 55 or 60, the conversation almost always turns to health and getting older. Don’s the kind of guy who’s aging gracefully, and it shows. We hammered walleyes, shared plenty of laughs, and had a great morning on the water.

Unfortunately, I spent so much time laughing and netting fish, I failed to take many photos.  Here’s a couple though. 

07/08/2026 (afternoon) – In Town from MD

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Joe, Kelly, and Joey.  Kelly grew up in Lackawanna so they were in town visiting family.  Joey is an avid angler back home in MD so mom and dad wanted to get him on the water while in town. 

Keeping fish wasn’t on the agenda.  So, it was another excellent opportunity for a Lake Erie Summer Trifecta.  Good times – especially when Kelly yelled, “oh shit,” every time a drum started ripping drag.   

07/09/2026 – Riverborn Fishing Co Assist

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Shawn, Ethan, and Jenny. Mike Trifiletti of Riverborn Fishing Company brought me in for this trip. The crew was in town for a funeral after losing an uncle. They’re a large, close-knit family, and more than 50 relatives made the trip.

Shawn had fished Lake Erie before and knew what the fishery had to offer, so the plan was simple: catch enough walleyes to feed the family. We did exactly that.

It was one of those sessions where the conversation flowed, the fish started cooperating almost immediately, and the hours disappeared. They headed home with plenty of walleyes for a big family fish fry.  Awesome morning!

07/10/2026 – Maintenance Day

I had a trip scheduled, but the forecast in the days leading up to it called for heavy rain. Since my client was local, I asked him to pick a backup date just in case.

As it turned out, the weather didn’t end up being a problem.  However, a couple of urgent maintenance items popped up on the boat and truck that needed immediate attention. Thankfully, the crew was flexible and willing to reschedule, giving me the time I needed to get everything repaired before heading back on the water.

07/11/2026 – No “Gamble” – Action Very Likely

Fished Lake Erie out of Hanover, NY with Kevin, Stephanie, Max, and Cole. I fished with Stephanie and her boys last summer, and they had such a good time they wanted to come back for another walleye trip.

Originally, it was just supposed to be Kevin and the boys. When I talked to Stephanie a couple of days beforehand, though, she admitted she was disappointed she couldn’t go because I only take three anglers. I decided it wouldn’t be the same without her, so I made one of my rare exceptions and took four, knowing this was the kind of crew that would handle the extra chaos just fine.

A quick aside: I only take three anglers for a reason. My boat is just shy of 22 feet, and while there are enough seats for five people, there’s simply not enough room for five people to fish comfortably. Three anglers is the sweet spot. Everyone has space to work, nobody’s tripping over each other, and the boat fishes efficiently. I’ve taken plenty of foursomes over the years, and more often than not, they’re not nearly as enjoyable. Every once in a while, though, I’ll make an exception. This was one of those times.

We launched into bigger waves than expected thanks to a stiff northeast wind and absolutely hammered walleyes. There were a couple of slow stretches, but they were always followed by doubles—and even a triple. It was a classic summer walleye session: moments of calm, bursts of chaos, and a cooler full of fish to carry them well into the winter. Awesome day.

07/12/2026 – Oh, How I Miss that Southern Accent

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Young and Cindy, who were in town from South Carolina. A quick aside—I spent most of my adult life in the South before moving back to New York to start my charter business.  Most Yankees would have a hard time understanding folks from the deep south.  Personally, I love the way they speak – passionate, deliberate, always with a story attached.  I can listen to that accent for hours and be captivated.  Young and Cindy were no exception – they were an absolute pleasure to spend the day with.

Through a program started by their church, they’ve been making trips north to help repair churches in need. Whenever they travel, they make a point of fitting in a little fishing on the front or back end of the trip. A few years ago, they fished Lake Erie out of Ohio, fell in love with walleye fishing, and have wanted to come back ever since. So when Young called and asked if I could help fill his freezer, I was happy to oblige.

They did their part. In fact, they caught their limit so quickly that we had plenty of time left in the day. Instead of heading straight back, I gave them a little tour of the Buffalo waterfront and surrounding area while we swapped stories about our travels. It was a great way to wrap up an excellent day.

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 07/13/2026 – 07/19/2026

It looks like another outstanding week for walleye fishing. The wind may be a factor a day or two, but nothing that should keep us off the water. There’s also a chance of a passing shower here and there, but nothing that looks particularly concerning.

The gold mining will continue all week, and I’ve got a full docket with a great mix of new clients and long-standing regulars. I’m looking forward to another week of good fishing, good conversation, and plenty of walleyes. Stay tuned.

Stay healthy, my friends.  Mentally and physically,

Ryan

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 06/29 – 07/05/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report: The first week of July brought plenty of variety—and plenty of heat.  Between family trips with my nephews, birthday fishing, two days of fly-fishing sessions, and a reunion with a pair of salmon anglers learning to embrace the slower pace of walleye fishing, there was never a dull moment. The fish cooperated, limits were the norm, and one memorable photo opportunity even turned into a quadruple. If there was one consistent theme this week, it was simple: start early, beat the heat, and let the walleyes do the rest.

Days on the water: 6

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Erie, Upper Niagara, Lower Niagara

What we caught:  walleye, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum

Tactics:  trolling worm harnesses, casting finesse baits, casting flies

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

06/29/2026 – Out with the Nephews

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with my nephews Mason and Gabriel and their friend Reese.  I like to get the boys out a couple times a year and this was our first outing.  They brought Reese along who had never caught a walleye before.

It was a grindy bite – super calm, HOT, and very buggy.  The further offshore we went, the better the bite got.  I ended up further offshore than I’ve ever gone out of Buffalo, NY.  I might as well have launched from Sturgeon Point or the Catt. 

We eventually caught our limit and went drumming.  Then I went home and scraped all the dead gnats from my seats and hull. 

06/30/2026 – Birthday Session with Clan Jarosz

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Hanover, NY with the Whisperer, the Silent Assassin, and Captain America.  I always fish on my birthday (big 48 this year) – and it’s always good.  This one was no different.  We solved the world’s problems and caught walleyes along the way. I had the Whisperer home in time for his afternoon nap. The one picture I took came out blurry.  I thought I got all the blood off of the lense – I guess not.   

07/01/2026 – Fly Fishing (and ROASTING) with Chris – Day 1

Fished the Upper Niagara with Chris.  You might remember him from a report back in March.  He’s a fly or die kind of angler and an excellent caster.  Being new to the area and about to pick up a boat, he wanted to dabble with some drum and post spawn smallies on the fly. 

The bass bite was non-existent.  The drum cooperated though. 

Oh yeah, it was windy and ridiculously HOT.  We were baking out there by late morning.  Thankfully we started early and ended early.  Still, when I got to my truck at the end of our session, the temperature reading was over 90 degrees. 

07/02/2026 – Fly Fishing (and ROASTING) with Chris – Day 2

Fished the Lower Niagara with Chris.  It was another fly fishing session.  This time, we focused on smallies.  He made more than a handful of connections throughout the day.  Nearly all were visual takes.  It was cool watching those fish emerge from the weeds and T-bone flies.  

07/03/2026 – Bro and Sis Sesh in Pursuit of Gold

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Hanover, NY with Robin and Terry. I had fished with Robin a couple of times a few years ago, and she impressed me with her angling skills. We finally got back on the water together—this time with her brother.

Neither of them had fished for walleyes in decades, as both are avid salmon anglers living near Lake Ontario. They brought the same intensity to walleye fishing that they use for salmon. More than a handful of times, I had to remind them, “Relax! This isn’t salmon fishing.”

Eventually, they settled into the “walleye vibe” and put together their limit in short order. It was an excellent session with steady action from start to finish. At one point, I was getting ready to take a photo of a double – that turned into a quad.  Summer walleye chaos at its best. 

Thankfully, they’re both early risers, so we hit the water at 6:00 a.m. and were off the lake before the wind and heat really kicked in.

07/04/2026 – 4^th of July

I had a client on the docket, but we opted to reschedule.  It worked out well – I ended up attending my 30-year high school reunion the night prior.

I needed the day off anyway.  I think all the heat throughout the week fried my brain a little bit. 

07/05/2026 – Another Gold Mining Sesh with New Clients

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Hanover, NY with Maddie (daughter), Dan (son in law), and Darrin (dad). 

It was another classic Catt session.  I went out to 70’ – deployed baits – and caught the hell out of walleyes for a few hours.  The team – a doctor, an engineer, and a lawyer – caught on quickly and did very well. 

Weirdly, it was one of those days where it wasn’t chaotic – just a steady bite all morning.  Although I generally prefer chaos, it was nice chatting and netting fish at a consistent pace for once.  

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 07/06/2026 – 07/12/2026

If the forecast holds for this upcoming week, we’ll get a small reprieve from the heat.  Rain will make an occasional appearance, but not enough to be a deterrent. Wind might pose a small issue here and there, but only if you go out in the afternoon – even then it looks manageable

I’ll be out daily.  Walleyes will be the primary target but I’ll check in on the bass and drum too.  Stay tuned!     

Stay healthy, my friends.  Mentally and physically,

Ryan

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 06/22 – 06/28/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report:  Another busy week on Lake Erie with a mix of returning clients, new faces, and one young angler who reminded us all that every fish is a “GIANT!” Walleye fishing was outstanding, with all outings getting quick limits followed by a little dumming just to wear the arms out a bit…with a side of bass of course.  Between screaming drags, steady action, and enough laughs to leave us in tears more than once, this was one of those weeks that reminded me fishing isn’t always about chasing trophies—sometimes it’s just about having an absolute blast on the water.  Summer’s just getting started and it’s already wild. 

Days on the water: 6

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Erie, Upper Niagara

What we caught:  walleye, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum

Tactics:  trolling worm harnesses, casting finesse baits

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

06/22/2026 – “This Thing’s a Giant!”

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Jake and Jimmy (age 6).  This duo was in town from Minnesota and wanted to spend some time on the water while the rest of the family attended a girls hockey tournament. 

They didn’t want to keep fish since they were travelling.  So, I decided to put them on walleyes for an hour or so then convert to dragging crabs around for bass and drum.  Despite his age, Jimmy stayed motivated and very engaged throughout the wind and rain.  Of course, he preferred the non-stop drum bite over the ‘eyes.  “It’s another GIANT!,” he’d say every 5 minutes or so.  Fun session!       

06/23/2026 – Day 1 with Chris and John

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Buffalo, NY with Chris and John, who made the trip up from Pittsburgh, PA. I’ve been fishing with Chris for years, but a couple of health scares kept him from coming up here the last few. Thankfully, all is well now, and he’s as hilarious as ever.

We boxed our limit of Lake Erie gold with ease — a steady bite, well away from the crowds near the city. After that, we switched gears and drowned crawfish for bass and drum for a bit. That was a riot.

06/24/2026 – Day 2 with Chris and John

Fished Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara with Chris and John. The river bite for bass was lackluster — we picked off a few in a few zones, but others were crowded with boats. One useful observation, though: algae was minimal and the caddis hatch is over.

Knowing we could rack up plenty of drum with a side of bass back in the lake, we made the move. As usual, the action was ridiculous. I haven’t laughed that hard while fishing in a long time — tears, folks… actual tears.

“Give me a D… give me an R… give me a U… give me an M — what’s that spell?”  We sang that Christmas carol, “The Little Drummer Boy,” but replaced the lyrics with one-another’s names.  We also decided that they were talking amongst themselves, communicating that a big blue thing on the surface was just dropping crawfish over the side.  “All we have to do is follow that thing around and we’ll get fed.”  “Come to the light,” was another phrase we’d shout during the fights.  Non-stop laughs.    

Say what you want about the freshwater drum, the sheepshead, the gaspergou — they’re always on the feed around here this time of year, and they pull hard. They might not be the handsomest fish in the system, but if you want to fill a couple hours with consistent action, they’re a riot, especially in waves.

P.S.  I’ll take pictures of fish all day long for clients.  However, I only post drum over 10 lbs.  Chris landed an 11.  He also believes he landed over 100 lbs of drum in about an hour.  I don’t doubt his calculous.

06/25/2026 – Weather Day

I saw consistent rain in the forecast and had Friday open.  Thankfully, Alex, who was scheduled for this day, was flexible enough to move.  So, I took the day off and relaxed.

06/26/2026 – Fly Fishing Session

Fished Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara with Alex.  Alex has been fishing with me for a couple years now – but’s it’s always been with conventional tackle.  He also spends a lot of time on his own fly fishing.  So, he asked me if I could give him a shot to catch some smallies and drum on the fly.  That we did.

06/27/2026 – Lake Erie Gold with New Clients

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Hanover, NY with Nick, Karma, and Tyler.  Nick works for Buffalo Niagara Waterkeepers.  He and I (plus Rob and sometimes others) have gone on many water sampling missions throughout the region.  Finally, he was able to carve out some time to do some fishing.    

The bite started off slowish – but then got wild.  We ended up getting our limit fast.  So, we went drumming.  They landed some drag screamers – laughs all around.  Awesome session.   

06/28/2026 – Another Gold Mining Sesh with New Clients

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Hanover, NY with Jim, Dave, and Anthony, who were in town from PA. On our way out, the guys asked me how long I thought it would take to get our limit.

My response was, “How long do you want it to take?”

They didn’t quite get what I meant…at first.

I had Jim send his first line down. Before we even got all the line out on the second rod, the first one got bit. Shortly after, the second one went off. And so went the day. Chaos.

Admittedly, a little blood lust kicked in, and I didn’t snap many photos. Lots of doubles and a triple. Insane action. The guys got a pretty good introduction to Lake Erie walleye fishing.

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 06/29/2026 – 07/05/2026

Other than a few days of what looks like “bigish” wind, this forecast for this upcoming week looks great.  Most of those days will be spent targeting walleyes.  However, there will be a day or two in the mix going after smallies and drum. 

Enjoy the 4^th of July folks!  Stay tuned for next week’s report.   

Stay healthy, my friends.  Mentally and physically,

Ryan

The Beasts of Hells Canyon

Introduction        

I’m still processing this trip and struggling to describe what happened. Everything about it was impressive. If you’ve been reading my travel blogs for a while, hopefully that means something coming from someone who’s covered a lot of water.

The scenery. The fishing tactics. The guides. The accommodations. And, of course, the fish.

Where do I even begin?

I suppose the best place to start is at the beginning.

A Quick Refresher: 50 Before 50

It’s been a long time since I’ve published a travel blog, and I have some new readers, so it’s worth offering a quick refresher on my “50 Before 50” mission.

For about twenty years, I’ve had a goal of fishing in every state before turning 50. I turn 48 in a couple of days, and I’ve now fished in every state except Delaware and Hawaii. Confident that I’ll check both of those boxes in time, I’ve spent the last couple of years focusing on bucket-list destinations and pursuing species that have always interested me.

That journey is what ultimately led me to Hells Canyon.

Discovering Hells Canyon

Until recently, I didn’t even know Hells Canyon existed.

I stumbled across it while searching for places to catch white sturgeon. Here in the Buffalo-Niagara region, we have Great Lakes sturgeon. They’re protected, meaning we can’t target them and must release them immediately if caught. Over the years, though, I’ve accidentally hooked a few while fishing for trout and bass.

Every time I see one, I wonder the same thing: What’s it like to land a true giant?

So I started researching places where I could catch them. I’d known for years that white sturgeon are the largest freshwater fish in North America. My thinking was simple: if I’m going to catch and hold a sturgeon, it might as well be the biggest of its kind.  

Chasing Something Different

Pursuing “big fish” has never really been a priority for me.

I’ve been fishing for a long time and in a lot of places. I’ve caught trophies of a lot is species by sheer volume of experiences.  Barring some sort of catastrophe, that’ll keep happening. Given enough years on the water, I’m confident that encounters with truly giant fish just happen naturally.

This trip felt different.

For once, I wanted to make it a priority to chase something so large that there really isn’t anything to compare it to.

As I dug deeper, one place kept coming up: Hells Canyon.

The Snake River through Hells Canyon is home to a world-class population of white sturgeon. These fish grow to sizes that are difficult to comprehend until you’re holding one. It’s one of the few places in North America where you have a legitimate shot at catching a fish that’s older than you are, weighs several hundred pounds, and stretches longer than most people are tall.

The more I read, the more I had to make this trip happen.

I wasn’t just going to another destination. I was going to one of the wildest places in the country to pursue one of the oldest and largest freshwater fish in North America.

That sounded like an adventure worth having – and sharing with some bros.

A Place Worth Describing

Before getting into the fishing, this place deserves a description of its own.

I’d never heard of Hells Canyon until I started researching this trip, but it’s hard to overstate just how impressive this region is. Carved by the Snake River along the Idaho-Oregon border, Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America. At nearly 8,000 feet from rim to river, it’s actually much deeper than the Grand Canyon.

And this place is old. Really old.

The canyon floor was formed by volcanic islands that collided with the continent roughly 200 million years ago. The upper rims are capped by lava flows that are “only” about 15 million years old. Then, around 15,000 years ago, the catastrophic Bonneville Flood ripped through here and helped sculpt the canyon into what it is today.

I’m not a geologist, and honestly, you don’t need to understand plate tectonics or ancient floods to appreciate it. All you need to know is that you’re floating down a river between enormous rock walls in one of the wildest and most rugged places I’ve ever seen in North America.

I’ve said this in a few recent travel blogs, and apparently I need to keep saying it: every time I think I’ve seen the wildest corners of this country, I discover another one.

I’ve fished the Colorado in the Grand Canyon. I’ve paddled the Rio Grande through Big Bend.

This place was every bit as mind-blowing as either of them.

Maybe even more so.  

A Fish Worth Describing

Before this trip, I knew sturgeon were ancient fish. I just didn’t appreciate how ancient.

Sturgeon have been around for more than 300 million years. To put that into perspective, their ancestors were already swimming around long before dinosaurs ever appeared. And unlike most species, they’ve changed remarkably little over all that time.

They don’t even look like typical fish. Their skeletons are made mostly of cartilage rather than bone. They have shark-like tails, whisker-like barbels that help them find food, tiny eyes, and rows of hard, armor-like plates called scutes running down their bodies.

Everything about them feels prehistoric.

The fish we caught were almost certainly older than any of us.  Maybe the same age as our parents. When you hold one, it doesn’t feel like you’re holding a fish. It feels like you’re holding a living relic from another time.     

Execution

Now you know about the area, how I ended up there, and why.

Let’s talk about the crew and the logistics.

The Crew

The crew will be familiar to those who’ve been reading my travel blogs for a while.

My brother Brian was there, of course. So was Lee—you might remember him from North Dakota and Mississippi. That’s already a solid team, but I wanted to round this one out with a fourth.

Thankfully, my buddy Mike Trifiletti of Riverborn Fishing Company was able to make it work.

Mike couldn’t resist the opportunity to hold one of these fish. He previously helped state biologists tag Great Lakes sturgeon around Western New York, so he already had an appreciation for these prehistoric creatures. Plus, he’d been with me to Guyana a couple of times and caught arapaima, so the chance to pursue something even bigger was impossible to pass up.

I’m glad we rolled four deep.

It was the perfect number—almost like a fire team. The personalities meshed well, there was always somebody to laugh with, and everyone could appreciate the significance of where we were and what we were chasing.

That mattered because sturgeon fishing isn’t all action.

That’s not a complaint by any means. In fact, I think the anticipation is part of what makes it fun. But there are long stretches between bites. According to our captain, Jason Schultz, fishing was slow while we were there, and we averaged about four fish per day.

When you’re spending hours waiting for the next rod to load up, having a good crew dynamic becomes part of the experience.

Getting There

Travel was easy.

We all flew into Spokane, Washington (GEG). Mike and I came in from Buffalo, New York. Brian flew in from Richmond, Virginia, and Lee came from Jackson, Mississippi. We all landed within a couple of hours of one another.

From there, we grabbed a rental car and drove a little less than three hours south to the lodge.

The drive was smooth and, in hindsight, a nice way to ease into the trip. The terrain gradually became wilder and more rugged, building anticipation for what was ahead.

Accommodations

The lodge was perfect.

It was only a short walk from the dock, the views from the porch were fantastic, and the beds were comfortable. There was even a massage chair—which all of us used. Admittedly, I found the experience more unsettling than relaxing, but apparently I’m in the minority on that one.

Luz was our chef, and she did an incredible job. Breakfast and dinner were prepared for us each day, every meal was different, and every meal was excellent.

Guides

Our guides were Jason Schultz, owner of Hells Canyon Sport Fishing, and his son, Braden.

I can’t say enough good things about their operation.

The boat was impressive—I honestly can’t imagine a better craft for this fishery. The tackle was all top of the line, and everything was organized and dialed in.

These guys were pros.

Jason has been guiding on this river for more than thirty years, and his knowledge of the fishery was obvious. We all walked away having learned something. He’s also exceptionally well-traveled, which kept the conversations interesting throughout the trip.

Most importantly, both Jason and Braden had great senses of humor. That’s an underrated quality in a guide, especially in a fishery where there can be long stretches between bites.

They left an impression on all of us.

Timing

If you’ve been keeping up with my fishing reports, you’ll remember that I managed to fish 52 straight days leading up to this trip. That’s a personal record, but spring is always a hectic time of year for me, and long stretches without a day off are pretty normal. In other words, come June, I’m ready for a little vacation.

June in the Buffalo-Niagara region is also a bit of a transition month. The spring fisheries are winding down, and before I start going hard on walleyes nearly every day all summer, I like to sneak away for an adventure.

I’ve been looking for a reliable destination for this time of year, and I think I may have finally found it.

There are a few reasons.

First, not many people are willing to travel across the country to fish for sturgeon. Their loss, my gain. June is actually considered the slow season out there, with things really ramping up from September through January during the salmon and steelhead run.

Second, the weather is excellent. It’s hot and dry, maybe a little windy here and there, but overall very stable. You’re going to fish every day. Mother Nature usually doesn’t get in the way.

Finally, it’s a great time to target sturgeon. Water temperatures are on the rise—we arrived just as they were approaching 70 degrees. At those temperatures, these fish are full of energy.

And when one finally decides to eat, you get the very best version of a white sturgeon can do.

Final Thoughts

As I sit here writing this, I’m still processing the trip.

A few months ago, I didn’t know Hells Canyon existed. Now it’s one of the most impressive places I’ve ever fished.

I spent several days floating through the deepest river gorge in North America with good friends, guided by outstanding people, pursuing fish that have been swimming this planet’s waters for more than 300 million years. The scenery was spectacular. The fishing was unique. And holding one of these ancient giants was every bit as surreal as I’d imagined.

At this point in my life, genuinely new experiences are becoming harder to find. I’ve covered a lot of water and have been fortunate enough to fish in some incredible places.

Then a trip like this comes along and reminds me that there are still wild corners of America I know nothing about and fish that can still leave me standing there, shaking my head.

I’ll be back…

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 06/08 – 06/14/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report:  Although I’m away on vacation as most of you are reading this, it was a full week, so I wanted to leave everyone with a little something.  It was one of those weeks on Lake Erie where every trip had a story. A last‑minute cancellation turned into an unexpected session with a country music artist who said yes to a fan’s fishing invite. A three‑generation crew reminded me why family time on the water matters. A group of teenage boys hammered fish between storm cells and conspiracy debates. Long‑time clients battled picky bites and super‑clear water. New clients proved that old friendships and annual traditions still matter. And I wrapped it all up with a half‑day grind before heading out on vacation.

Days on the water: 5

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Erie, Upper Niagara

What we caught:  walleye, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum

Tactics:  trolling worm harnesses, casting finesse baits

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

06/08/2026 – Last Minute Providence

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Buffalo, NY with Kristen, Creed, and Roxy. I had a cancellation for this day a couple days prior, so I was planning on my usual day‑off routine of running errands and going to the gym. Then my buddy Joe Srouji of Anglers Edge Outdoors called the night before to see if I was available for a trip. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to get in some more reps. He put me in touch with Kristen.

She had attended a Creed Fisher concert at Iron Works that evening and had the courage to get backstage after sound check and meet Creed. She told him how much she enjoyed his music and asked if he wanted to go fishing. Amazingly, he said yes. I say “amazingly” because how many performing artists do you think would accept a fishing invite from a random fan—and the day after a performance?

I’ve never really listened to much country music, so when Kristen explained who he was and the story of her fandom, I went into the trip with an open mind. To me, it was another opportunity to show off the fishery to someone from out of town and make sure everyone had a good time.

We had a blast. Conversation flowed for hours, and before long we had our limit of Lake Erie gold. On the drive home, I listened to his music for the first time—and I have to say, I’m a fan.

06/09/2026 (morning) – 3 Generation Session

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Buffalo, NY with Bill, Scott, and six‑year‑old Lincoln — grandfather, dad, and son. I’m a huge fan of three‑generation sessions, and it seems like there’s been an uptick in them this year. Maybe it’s a sign of shifting priorities for this generation of parents.

Quick aside: I get a lot of calls from parents asking about the best age to get their kids into fishing. My answer is always the same — you know your kid better than I do. I’ve had five‑year‑olds on the boat who were laser‑focused and surprisingly good anglers. And I’ve had eleven‑year‑olds who started complaining an hour into the trip that they were hot and wanted to go in.  As a parent, you need to ask yourself what kind of day do you want to have and understand what your child is capable of.  Don’t underestimate your kids though – if they’re interested in fishing, their endurance will surprise you.

We started the day at 6:00 AM, so I was already impressed that Scott got Lincoln up and moving early enough to make that happen. I was even more impressed with how engaged Lincoln stayed throughout the trip. By hour three, he finally said out loud what all of us were thinking: “When are we heading back in?”

Why? Because we filled the box quickly, there was no wind, it was brutally hot and humid, the lake was crowded, and the midges were horrendous. Why keep grinding? We were only a couple fish short of our limit, and everyone was happy to head in and beat the crowds back to the cleaning station.

Awesome session.

06/09/2026 (afternoon) – Dodging Storms with the Boys

Fished an afternoon session on Lake Erie for walleyes out of Buffalo, NY with John, Michael, and Alex. I love these trips — parents drop their teenage boys off with me and we get to work. I fished with John and a couple of his friends last summer for bass and we had a blast. This time, he wanted to catch fish they could eat and show that he knew how to clean them — my kind of kid.

As we headed out, I could see thunderheads and showers on the horizon, so we got to work with ruthless efficiency and got into fish right away. When those ominous clouds crept closer, we pulled lines and tucked under the Hwy 5 bridge for about 30 minutes. The storm cells ended up missing us anyway, so we raced back out and got after it. The boys hammered while we talked about conspiracy theories and what life is like for teenagers these days. I get plenty of intel from my teenage daughter — the girl’s perspective — so it was interesting hearing it from the boys’ angle.

Public service announcement to all parents: if your kids are into fishing but you aren’t, you don’t need to feign interest. My father wasn’t an angler either. I got into fishing on my own, rode my bike to wherever I could fish, and he enabled the passion by taking us up to Georgian Bay, renting runabouts, and letting us roam. Booking a charter for your kids is the same thing. I’ve never had a negative experience with this — and I’ve done more than a handful.

06/10/2026 – Back out with Brian and Doc

Fished Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara with Brian and Doc.  I’ve been fishing with these guys for 6 years now and every session is a good time – non-stop conversation and stories for days.  The mission was to target walleyes for a couple hours then convert to bass fishing.  Mission accomplished.

The walleye bite was a little picky, but we got into them.  Lake Erie was rolling so I decided to move to the river to target bass.  The bass bite was equally picky.  It’s late in the spawn and every fish was in rough shape – skinny and some were badly beat up.  We caught many, but most were small males.  Plus, the algae in the river was problematic at times.  Although we battled wind and SUPER CLEAR water, the guys did well and, as always, we had a blast.    

06/11/2026 – Lake Erie Gold with New Clients

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Buffalo, NY with Dan, Jeff, and Todd.  These guys are all close to my age and are high school buddies.  They make it a priority to hang out and do different activities throughout the year – that’s awesome, I love seeing it from guys in their 40s.  It means they’ll continue it until they can’t physically do it anymore.  Something everyone in our generation should aspire to.

The walleye bite was consistent – we got our limit in a few hours and converted to bass fishing.  The forecast called for wind gusting into the teens out of the SW and 1-3’ waves – but that didn’t happen.  It was super calm out there so the bass bite was a grind.  The fish we did catch were super skinny after being in spawn more for a couple weeks now.     

06/13/2026 – Half Day B4 Vacay

Fished a half day trip on Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY for walleyes and bass with Ed, Jesse, and Dom.  Lake Erie had a good walleye going but the bite was lackluster compared to recent outings.  We fished for an hour and a half and only managed 6 fish.  Not sure why it was slower for me – there’s still plenty of bait around, but I did notice the water temps are getting hot out there.  Close to 70 degrees.

Anyway, the guys only wanted a few for dinner, so we pivoted to bass/drum fishing.  We got a few.

06/14/2026 – Trip to Snake River Departure

To be continued…

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 06/15/2026 – 06/21/2026

The forecast for the upcoming week looks tough. Rain, big wind, and cooler temperatures will create some challenges — but that might also slow down the rapid climb in water temps we’ve been seeing. I won’t be around, so good luck to all of you getting after it. Stay tuned for my trip report. I’m hoping to tangle with some dinosaurs in a gorgeous place. I’ll be back on the water next Sunday.

Stay healthy, my friends.  Mentally and physically,

Ryan

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 06/01 – 06/07/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report:  Well, my streak came to an end, folks. It was bittersweet, but both Mother Nature and some maintenance issues conspired to force me to rest…for a day. Despite a little friction — and some awesome support from the folks at Collins Marine — I still managed to spend time on Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Upper Niagara.  As promised, I spent most of my time chasing Lake Erie gold. It felt good to get some reps in and fill the box with a few beauties. Things are changing fast out there, and I’m happy to meet the new challenges head‑on.  Summer is close — it’s going to be a good one.

Days on the water: 6

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Ontario, Upper Niagara, Lake Erie

What we caught:  smallmouth bass, king salmon, walleye

Tactics:  trolling spoons, casting finesse baits, drifting live bait, trolling worm harnesses

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

06/01/2026 – Fishing with David – Day 1

Fished the Upper Niagara with David.  Dave’s been fishing with me for a few years now.  He’s lived a long and very interesting life.  A retired firefighter, he’s managed to stay in shape and continue to travel the continent hunting big game and fishing wherever he can.  He’s covered a lot of ground – but keeps coming back to the Buffalo Niagara Region for its diversity.  On day 1 of this trip, we pursued smallmouth bass…and caught MANY. 

06/02/2026 – Fishing with David – Day 2

Fished Lake Ontario out of Wilson, NY with David via Matt Yablonski (Wet Net Charters). I guess this was the day my streak ended.  I fished – but didn’t guide – so one streak ended but my time on the water streak stayed intact.   

On Sunday (05/31/2026), my trailer broke. After putting my boat in the water that afternoon, I heard something dragging as I drove to a parking spot. Upon inspection, I saw the leaf springs on my starboard side had snapped and my brake lines were severed. Everything connected to my axles was badly rusted and close to failing — it was only a matter of time. All the road salt from trailering winter and spring, plus the ridiculous number of potholes around here, were the likely culprits.

Bottom line: my trailer needed repairs. Collins Marine took care of me and let me dock there until the trailer was fixed. That meant I was confined to the Upper Niagara and Lake Erie. I wanted Dave to get out on Lake Ontario as planned, and luckily Matt had the day open and was able to take us out.

We got our limit with ease. It was nice just being an observer for the day. I used to first mate for Matt back in 2017 and 2018 when I wasn’t booked. I learned a lot from him then, and learned even more from this outing.

Although my streak ended, I was happy Dave got the chance to battle some kings and leave with plenty of meat. I was also grateful for the learning opportunity.

06/03/2026 – Fishing with David – Day 3

Fished Lake Erie near Buffalo, NY with David.  In the spirit of catching multiple species on his trip, we decided to target bass and Lake Erie gold.  The bass bite was kind of a grind – a little bit of action – the lack of wind made it tough.  So, we converted to walleyes.  That went well.

06/04/2026 – Anglers Edge Assist – Day 1

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Jeff and Vestal.  My buddy, Joe Srouji (Anglers Edge Outdoors) brought me in on this trip.  The target was walleyes.  We got our limit with relative ease.  It wasn’t insane like mid-summer last year, but after covering a little ground and finding a good group of fish, the action was consistent.  Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures – blood lust kicked in.  That was a problem last year and it’ll likely be a problem again this year.  I’ll try my best to temper it.

06/05/2026 – Anglers Edge Assist – Day 2

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Jeff, Vestal, and Clint.  I forgot to mention this in the last entry, but these guys are all former military.  It was an absolute blast fishing with them – non-stop ball busting and telling stories.  These guys live all around the country – Arizona, Maryland, and Texas.  It was good to see a few older vets still making it a priority to get together every year and do something fun.  I aspire to do the same.

The bite was a grind at first – until the wind kicked up.  Once the walleye chop started rolling, action got crazy.  Once again, blood lust kicked in and I didn’t take any photos.  Well, at the end of the day, I reminded myself to take at least one.   

06/06/2026 – First Day off the Water in 52 Days

I had a trip booked – one of my regulars who fishes with me a couple times per year.  He lives near Corning, NY and planned on coming in with his buddies the night prior and staying in a hotel. 

The forecast called for rain and HUGE wind.  I gave him an out and understandably, he took it.  We could’ve fished, but it would’ve been nautical and they didn’t want to risk making that drive and spending money on a hotel to potentially have a day cut short due to huge waves.   

I was a little disappointed for my on-the-water streak to come to an end.  However, it felt good to stay up late and watch a little bit of TV the night prior (the first time in nearly two months) and sleep in the following day.  I took advantage of the time off the water to hit the gym, catch up on accounting, and get a haircut. 

06/07/2026 – 3 Generation Session

Fished Lake Erie out of Buffalo, NY with Howard, Dan, and Jake – 3 generations of anglers.  This was their first time fishing with me and we had a blast.  We started off with smallmouth bass and got into a few quickly – then the wind died.  So, we converted to walleyes.  That bite was excellent.  Nothing insane – the kind of bite I like – some wild points, some long droughts, and a strong finish.  The guys left happy with their limit of walleyes.  I’m looking forward to seeing them again.

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 06/08/2026 – 06/14/2026

The forecast for this upcoming week looks like summer – hot days with minimal wind and sporadic precipitation.  I’m booked daily and expect to fish all of them.  I’ll check in on the Upper once.  Lake O might get some attention too.  However, the bulk of my days will be spent on Lake Erie in pursuit of gold. 

There won’t be a fishing report this week – I depart for Idaho this weekend.  Stand by for the trip report!

Stay healthy, my friends.  Mentally and physically,

Ryan

P.S.  I only have one day open this month.  July is filling up but uncomfortably lean considering it’s less than month away.  I’m not too worried (yet), it’s finally warm/hot and people are starting to think about summer – I received a little uptic in calls this past week.  Still, I have plenty of openings for summer walleye trips.  Call soon and pick your date before there aren’t many left. 

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 05/25 – 05/31/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report:  Another week on the books where I managed to fish all 7 days! That’s 47, folks – and I’m feeling great. King salmon, smallmouth bass, and walleyes were the targets.  I covered a lot of water to stay in the action and keep tabs on all the changes happening around the Buffalo Niagara fishery. Lake Ontario delivered some arm-burning chaos (and some hard lessons), Lake Erie kept me humble, and a couple 360 programs on the Upper Niagara allowed me to keep tabs on the smallmouth bass spawn. Mix in some familiar faces, some new ones, and a lesson or two I probably should’ve already known — it was great week, especially this late in spring.

Days on the water: 7

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Ontario, Upper Niagara, Lake Erie

What we caught:  smallmouth bass, king salmon, coho salmon, walleye

Tactics:  trolling spoons, casting finesse baits, drifting live bait, bottom bouncing worm harnesses

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

05/25/2026 – Memorial Day Reconnect

Fished Lake Ontario out of Lewiston, NY with Heath and Casey.  I’ve been fishing with this father/daughter duo for 8 years now.  However, it’d been awhile since I last fished with Casey (teenage life getting in the way).  Catching king salmon had been a dream of hers so we set out to make that happen. 

It was a gorgeous day – and dead calm on Lake Ontario.  It took us a little bit to get into a consistent bite, but once we figured out the pattern, it was chaos.  Awesome session – arms were trashed – they tapped out after a few hours.

05/26/2026 – Recon with the Whisperer

Fished Lake Erie for walleyes out of Buffalo, NY with the Whisperer.  It was a recon mission – just poking around to see where we could find fish.  Well, we only found a couple.  After all the east winds, the water got super clear and a couple of degrees colder around the eastern basin.  Not sure if that contributed to the lack of action – but whatever the cause, they weren’t stacked up anywhere we went.  So be it – it’s early – and we learned.  No pictures taken.

05/27/2026 – Jerry and Mark Trip (Day 1)

Fished the Upper Niagara with Jerry and Mark.  I hadn’t seen these guys in more than a year.  They usually fish with me in the fall, but weather got in the way last year.  I was happy they wanted to give spring a shot.  We kicked it off with a little bassing.

I did what I always do this time of year – fished the entire circumference of Grand Island, NY and hit every drift only once.  The water was gin clear everywhere except the northern bank downstream of the canal – it’s still burping out mud from the rain we had last week.  In all that clear water, I could see beds everywhere in shallow.  So, we stayed deep and hunted females.  We found quite a few.

Also, small schools of smelt are circulating throughout the upper.  Many of the girls we caught threw them up – some freshly eaten.  I love it when those big baits are in the system – lots of calories to aid in growth and recovery from the spawn. 

05/28/2026 – Jerry and Mark Trip (Day 2)

Fished Lake Ontario out of Wilson, NY followed by the Lower Niagara with Jerry and Mark.  We got into salmon right away and had a consistent bite for the first hour or so.  However, the action died off a bit for the second hour – a few bites but nothing landed.  Then, another spike in action to complete our box.  That’s the emotional roller coaster of salmon fishing for me – lots of talking to myself – “stick it out, man!  It’ll happen.”

With our limit achieved, we moved to the Lower Niagara for a short session targeting smallies and whatever else would bite.  Jerry managed a steelhead right away.  However, it was a total grind after that.  Should’ve stayed on Lake O and just released salmon – but you know me, always curious about what’s going on somewhere else after being in a spot for a while.

As always, it was an awesome 2 days spent with these guys.  They’ll be back and I look forward to having them.     

05/29/2026 – Getting Humbled

Fished Lake Ontario out of Wilson, NY with Frank and Lois. The original plan was to fish Lake Erie for bass and walleyes. However, as I was getting ready for bed, Frank called to see if we could go for salmon instead. My reply was something like, “Don’t tempt me with a good time. Let’s do it!”

I followed the same route I did yesterday and we got into fish right away—two small ones and one decent-sized fish. Then things got quiet for a while. I should’ve continued my route from the day prior, out into deeper and clearer water. However, I decided to head in the other direction—into the more stained stuff.

You might ask, “Why would you do that?” Good question: because when I ended my day the day prior in that zone, I marked a lot of fish. I marked a lot of fish on this day too. We got bit there, but nothing stayed buttoned—likely because the water clarity had them swiping at the spoons instead of hammering them. Lesson learned: as my friend Matt Yablonsky (Wet Net Charters) told me—during this period of transition, when in doubt, keep going out.

Note: Frank has been a client for five years now and has been up here many times during that period. He always comes up for three days. He booked this trip early spring, when I only had one day open. Since he wanted three, I sent him to my buddy Mike Trifiletti (Riverborn Fishing) for the first two days. I bring this up because he was well-fished from the days prior to fishing with me. So, we decided to cut it off at a half-day trip instead of continuing to grind. I was happy to get a little rest, but it hurt getting humbled like that.

Another note: I consider myself a tourist on Lake Ontario, as I only fish it in the spring. The big-boat guys, like my buddy Matt, spend all their days out there. I can only aspire to know the system as well as they do. However, I learned a lot this spring, as I fished out there way more this year than I ever have in a season. It’s been awesome sharpening the sword on Lake O, and I intend to do more of it in years to come. In the spring, that is—walleyes will continue to be my summer love.

05/30/2026 – Good Times with New Clients

Fished the Upper Niagara with Dave, Josh, and Matt.  The weather didn’t turn out as forecasted.  The wind was bigger and from a few northerly directions throughout the day.  It stayed cloudy until after noon.  Plus, it was chilly.  Put those factors together and you’ve got a challenging situation for fishing the Upper.  Thankfully, these guys were a blast and genuinely happy to be on the water.  Fish were caught – but it was a grind for the most part.  Still, they had no frame of reference and had a great time.  I was happy they were happy – but also wishing they got to see it when conditions are prime.

05/31/2026 – Welcome to Buffalo, NY

Fished an afternoon trip on the Upper Niagara with Austin.  He reached out a few days prior looking for an opportunity to get on the water in the next week or so.  I told him I was booked but that if I had a cancellation, I’d give him a call.  That cancellation came – and he was ready to make it happen.

Austin just moved here from NC and wanted to spend some time on the water to get a sense of what the Buffalo Niagara fishery has to offer.  I was happy to give him that introduction.  We executed the full 360 program as per usual.  Fish were caught and good times had.

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 06/01/2026 – 06/07/2026

The forecast for this week looks excellent – I’m ready to hit 54 so long as my clients are.  I’ll spend at least a day on Lake Ontario and the Upper, but the plan is to spend the bulk of the days on Lake Erie in pursuit of gold.  Despite my failure to get into a consistent bite that one day last week, I’m confident you’ll be seeing pictures of ‘eyes in my next report.  Stay tuned!       

Stay healthy, my friends.  Mentally and physically,

Ryan

P.S.  I only have a couple days open in June.  July is filling up but concerningly lean considering it’s only a little more than a month away.  I’m not too worried (yet), we’ve only had small doses of pleasant weather so I’m not sure how many people are thinking about summer.  In other words, I have plenty of openings for summer walleye trips.  Call soon and pick your date before there aren’t many left. 

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Observations from 05/18 – 05/24/2026

Here’s our latest Buffalo NY fishing report:  What a stretch. Another 7 straight days with time spent on Lake Erie, the Upper Niagara, and Lake Ontario.  The week delivered just about every mood swing spring can offer — grinding smallmouth bites mixed with personal‑best giants, brutal east winds that turned both lakes into washing machines, and a couple of wild salmon sessions that reminded me why we keep pushing through the chaos. Some days were pure work, others were pure joy, but every one of them had its moments — big fish, big laughs, tough conditions, and the kind of company that makes even the grind worthwhile. As May winds down, the transition is underway, and the season keeps moving forward. More good times are ahead. 

Days on the water: 7

Who we fished with: friends/clients

Where we fished: Lake Ontario, Upper Niagara, Lake Erie

What we caught:  smallmouth bass, king salmon, atlantic salmon

Tactics:  trolling spoons, casting finesse baits, drifting live bait

Detailed Reporting/Daily Observations

05/18/2026 – Frushour Bros (Day 2)

Fished Lake Erie for smallmouth bass with Paul and Doug.  The bite was kind of a grind.  However, Paul managed to land a fish slightly above 7lbs – a true monster and his personal best.  More than a handful of biggies had me grabbing the net throughout the day, but it was tough getting them to go.  Also, I saw a handful of beds on side scan and there were fish bedding up in the harbor when we returned at the end of the day.  Super disappointing to see that – but it’s inevitable and the circle of life.     

05/19/2026 – Frushour Bros (Day 3)

Fished the Upper Niagara with Doug and Paul.  There was a huge SW wind ripping, which limited our options.  We put in work where we could and got into them – mostly small males with only a couple of good-sized females all day. With the surface chopped up it was hard to see if they were on beds but I’m pretty sure they were considering where we found them.  Again, heart breaking that it’s happening already.  The month flew by – I feel like I didn’t spend as much time on the upper as I wanted.  Time to start making the transition though.     

05/20/2026 – Another Wild Session with Al and Bob

Fished Lake Ontario out of Wilson, NY with Al and Bob.  If you read my reports regularly, you recognize these guys.  They started fishing with me last fall and have done a bunch of trips with me since.  Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your perspective), Mother Nature always seems to make it hard for us on all our outings, and these guys refuse to be deterred.  This day was no different.

Looking at the forecast, I decided to start later in the morning as it looked like the wind/waves were supposed to lay down around 8:00AM.  When I pulled up to the launch, they had NOT.  She was big and hauling ass out there.  My first emotion was disappointment – quickly followed up with the thought, “Whatever, the Warrior can handle it and so can these guys.”

We were doubled up almost immediately after getting all my rods in the water and chaos ensued for another couple hours.  We had so much action, I decided to only fish downriggers to avoid too much drama in the waves.  There was a long lull late morning, followed by consistent action at the end of the day.  As always, good times with these guys – and another adventure.

05/21/2026 – The Dragon and my Old Chum

Fished Lake Erie with the Dragon and my Old Chum — they chose those nicknames, still a work in progress. I’ve been fishing with this duo for six years now, and it’s always a treat. They’ve carved out a special place in my heart. There’s never any pressure with them — just good times, great conversation, and enjoying each other’s company. Oh, and we usually land a few biggie smalls along the way.

They always catch fish, but we’ve had everything from wild days to grindy ones. This one leaned grindy. The spawn is happening throughout the system, which never makes things easy. Plus, there was a big NE blowing — far bigger than forecasted — so Lake Erie was a washing machine. The wind was cold, the bite was lackluster, and staying upbeat took some effort.

We covered ground as best we could and picked off a few here and there. Not our best day, but still a good one — because time with these two is always time well spent. I hugged them goodbye and immediately started looking forward to the next trip.

05/22/2026 – Then it all Changed

Fished Lake Ontario out of Wilson, NY with the Whisperer, Captain America, and Bruce.  The Whisperer has enjoyed a few doses of the insanity on Lake O this season with friend and colleague Matt Yablonski (Wet Net Charters).  When we talked the night before, he said something along the lines of, “We’ll be boxed out in a couple hours and I’ll be home for my afternoon nap.” Weirdly, I didn’t share his confidence.

If you’ve been reading my reports, you’re aware the salmon bite has been crazy for the last month.  However, something felt off to me going into this day.  I shrugged that feeling off – assuming fishing for 37 straight days was getting to my head.

The forecast called for “nautical conditions” — a big and cold east wind building from 1–3’ to 2–4’ waves later in the day. The plan was simple: get into fish early and often so we didn’t have to ride out the worst of it. Well… that didn’t happen.

The moment we cleared the safe harbor at Wilson, my confidence took a hit. As far as you could see: deep blue water. If you fish Lake O this time of year, you know that’s the super-cold stuff — usually empty of bait and only sparsely populated by predators. The ideal setup is the edge of that water and the green plume coming out of the river. But there was no plume. None.

The bite was tough — at least compared to what we’ve been spoiled with lately. Still, it was an adventure. Those kings fought insanely hard in that cold water and huge waves.  We ended the day after about 4 hours with a very healthy box of fish but missed “boxing out” for my first time this year.  If we had decided to grind all day, we would’ve finished the job — but in those waves, sanity won.

05/23/2026 – Going for it

Fished the Upper Niagara as part of a 2-boat trip that my buddy Mike Trifilietti (Riverborn Fishing Company) brought me into.  That big east wind continued to howl, temps were in the 40s, and rain fell for most of the morning – brutal conditions.

Emma and Dalton were dressed for the conditions, but no gear/body can stand up to weather like that for long.  When the wind blows and the rain comes down hard, you’re going to get wet.  If you have good gear, you won’t get wet to the bone, but you’ll get wet enough to drop your core temperature and reduce your dexterity…and morale.  They lasted for 4.5 hours and understandably called it quits.  “It’s supposed to be vacation folks, not a torture session.”

05/24/2026 – Busting Chops and Catching a Lot (Round 4)

Fished the Upper Niagara with Jim, George, and Mark.  I’ve been fishing with these guys for 4 years now and every session is a riot – lots of busting balls and having a good time.  This time was no different. However, the wind/rain/mist during the front half of the day dampened morale a bit.  Admittedly, even I was a bit cold and struggling to stay motivated – the forecast was way off and I underdressed.  Once that cleared, things got REALLY fun.

We fished the entire circumference of Grand Island – one drift per zone as per usual – and absolutely hammered fish.  The water was a bit dingy in spots due to all that rain from the day prior.  Action was lackluster in those areas, but where it was clear, rods stayed bent.  Wild day – with a lot of chunky females who hadn’t dropped eggs yet.  Good times!    

Seasonal Assessment/General Observations

Buffalo NY Fishing Report – Forecast for 05/25/2026 – 05/31/2026

The forecast for this week will provide every opportunity to figure out what all this east wind did to both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.  Every day looks mild – both temperatures and wind.  Rain will make an appearance here and there, which might pose an obstacle.  However, every day will be fishable and I’m booked daily.  Can I pull off 47?  That depends on my clients.  I’m certainly ready to make it happen.

With the bass on beds, don’t expect to see too many pics of them.  I’ll check in here and there but getting a good walleye program dialed and figuring out how Lake O is setting back up is the priority.  I’m looking forward to the challenge.  Stay tuned!

Stay healthy, my friends.  Mentally and physically,

Ryan

P.S.  I only have a couple days open in June.  July is filling up but concerningly lean considering it’s only a little more than a month away.  I’m not too worried (yet), we’ve only had small doses of pleasant weather so I’m not sure how many people are thinking about summer.  In other words, I have plenty of openings for summer walleye trips.  Call soon and pick your date before there aren’t many left.