Niagara Multispecies, Buffalo New York Fishing

While many locations offer outstanding opportunities to catch outsize specimens of one or more fish species, none in the freshwater realm matches the waters surrounding Buffalo New York fishing for multispecies. Here, the waters of eastern Lake Erie pour into the Upper Niagara River, then cascade over the incredible Niagara Falls and into the Lower Niagara River and then to Lake Ontario.

Within a 15-mile radius of the Falls, anglers connect with steelhead that approach 20 pounds, along with legions of fat lake trout, coho, and Chinook salmon, trophy-size walleyes, and loads of smallmouth bass from 4 to 7 pounds. Throw in the occasional big brown trout, lake sturgeon, and muskie and you see what makes the Niagara region a world-class fishery.

Moreover, due to the geographic location of these waterways, wind that makes one area rough or even unfishable can be avoided. For example, with a west wind, the western end of Lake Ontario is protected, and when the easterlies blow, you can seek refuge at the eastern end of Erie. And the Niagara River's high banks, carved through hard rock over the eons, provide respite.

While spring and fall are popular times, hardy anglers fish all winter and these cool waters offer great fishing all summer as well.

Contact: Niagara Tourism, 716/282-8992, niagara-usa.com; Guide Frank Campbell, 716/284-8546, niagaracharter.com.

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