Fishing Seasons

Smallmouth Bass (May - Oct)

  • Lake Erie and the Niagara River have become world renowned for they’re consistent catches of trophy smallmouths.
  • Beginning May 1st and continuing until the 3rd Saturday of June, when our regular bass season opens, the New York waters of Lake Erie are open to a trophy smallmouth season. It is during this time that anglers are allowed to fish the lake’s giant prespawn smallmouths with the hopes of catching the trophy “smallie” of a lifetime.
  • This season is one when hot, rod-bending action can be expected. These prespawn bass readily take live and artificial baits, with catches of 20 to 30 smallmouths being the norm. Our average bass in this prespawn season weigh in at about 2 pounds with many 4 plus pound fish and an occasional 6 pound bass boated in a day of fishing.
  • Tremendous fishing continues all the way into October as we follow our bronzeback bass friends out onto the reefs of Lake Erie where they spend the summer months.
  • This is a great time to bring the kids, as the bass fishing action is usually fast and consistent.
  • This is one of Captain Ted’s favorite fishing seasons.

Walleye (June - Sept)

  • As June nears Lake Erie’s well-known staple, the Walleye begin to go on their open water bite.
  • Walleye fishing is not for the faint at heart. Many days begin with a 10-mile run off shore to find these nomadic schools of “yellows”.
  • Patience is a virtue when fishing Erie ‘Eye’s. Hours of fishing can sometimes go by while waiting for the Walleye bite to turn on. But if you have the patience and the stamina you can be rewarded with a nice catch of some of the finest eating fish in the world.
  • Our main technique for the walleyes is bottom bouncing hand tied worm harnesses on reefs and rock piles.This hands on finesse fishing readily entices limit catches of fish.
  •  Lake Erie Walleyes average 3 pounds with many 8 to 9 pounders caught during our season.

Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout (April-August)

  • We’re now offering small boat Lake Ontario trips
  • Offshore trolling trips for salmon and trout in the summer months (weather dependent)
  • In August, our salmon begin to stage, several miles off shore, for their fall run up to Niagara. We now take advantage of this and target these fish as they feed up before their spawning run.  This is also a “mixed bag” trip where one can expect to catch several trout species as well as some salmon.

Trout (Nov - May)

  • As the waters of the Lower Niagara begin to cool with the onset of winter, the silver bullets of Lake Ontario, the Steelhead, begin their winter runs.
  • Known as the acrobats of the Niagara, when hooked, these giant rainbow trout put on an airily show that cannot be duplicated.
  • All of our popular stretches of the river become stacked with high numbers of these chrome rockets, as well as a large mix of Brown and Lake Trout.
  • This is some of the best light tackle action any angler will ever experience. Seven-foot light action rods and light lines tipped with small egg sacks and minnows are the technique of choice for these feisty winter trout.
  • Thanks to our hydroelectric plants, the Lower Niagara remains virtually ice-free all winter long, allowing us access to this phenomenal trout fishery all the way until the spring of the year.
  • The walls of the Niagara gorge shelter us from most of the chilling winter winds. With the proper attire, any angler is able to beat cabin fever and experience the Niagara’s world class trout fishing.

Musky (November)

  • Talk to any hard core Niagara Musky angler and they will tell you that November is the months of the giants.
  • The Musky is known as the “fish of a thousand casts”. We lower those odds considerably by utilizing hands on, live bait fishing.
  • Out technique of choice for, the ultimate Niagara predator is a large sucker chub drifted on medium weight tackle.
  • We present this offering to these hungry, giants as they gorge themselves before the long winter months arrive.
  • A common day of Niagara Musky fishing is a solid three fish, averaging 15 pounds being hooked. Many 20 plus pound fish are boated each season also.
  • This is a strict catch and release charter to assure that this fragile fishery will survive for years to come.