Western NY tributaries cool into fall steelhead and brown trout season

What's biting

What's next

Water in the upper 50s is right where Great Lakes tributary trout start to feel comfortable, and each cool night pushes temperatures further in that direction. Watch gauge 04231600: at 762 cfs it is running high, and flow that settles back toward clear, steady water is typically when tributary fishing is at its best. Fresh, rising flow can bring new fish up from the lake, while a falling, clearing river is the window to fish nymphs and streamers.

Wired 2 Fish's trout lure guide, which specifically mentions working a Great Lakes tributary for brown trout, supports leaning on proven confidence baits: spinners, small spoons and streamers fished through slower seams. Pair that with the low-light approach from MidCurrent, and plan around dawn and dusk, plus overcast stretches when fish feel secure and move into shallower runs.

With the New Moon in effect, nights are dark. Dark nights usually mean the best bite concentrates around first light and the last hour of daylight. Midday sun on clear, low water makes trout wary, so the small, low-flow stream at 4.79 cfs calls for a lighter leader, a longer cast and careful wading.

Context

Mid-October is typically the start of the fall run in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario tributaries, with steelhead and brown trout moving from the lake into creeks as temperatures drop and flows come up. The temperatures we are seeing look on schedule for this point in the season, with peak steelhead fishing generally building through November. Check current NY regulations for seasons, creel limits and any special tributary rules before heading out.