Fishing Season: Spring, Summer, Fall

Cattaraugus Creek - NY

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

54

Orvis Buffalo's Tip of the Week

Conditions are shaping up this week as the "Cat" is coming in at around 438 CFS and 10.5 Turbidity. Flows should encourage migrating bass to be on the aggressive side! With this volume of water please use caution while maneuvering through the system. Many places at this level will be a challenge to cross. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/uv?site_no=04213500

Directions open in app

Map of Cattaraugus Creek

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Alberto Rey

5-Day Outlook as of 5/10/24

Continue to watch the gauge and see if it comes down to a fish-able level (100-300 CFS and 20 turbidity). https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/uv?site_no=04213500

Techniques & Tips as of 5/10/24

- Streamer fishing with leech or baitfish patterns are the best way of targeting fish. Whatever steel head that are lingering in the creek should be fairly active as the water is still relatively cool which is nice for this time of year. At this point, we are primarily targeting large lake run smallmouth bass. Using indicator rigs with a bigger stoneflies and egg patterns will also produce fish. Look for evidence of spawning fish and target the areas downstream of these areas to potentially find fish feeding on eggs. Please respect the resource, fish ethically, and leave visibly spawning fish alone! We will have runs of smallmouth bass entering the system to spawn as well. These fish will chase anything that looks like a minnow or crayfish. Slow swing and strip baitfish patterns with sinking leaders to get gown in the deeper pools. Intermediate poly leaders work well in some of the longer and slower pools, strip your fly and keep it moving... and hang on tight!

Local Species Available Spring, Summer, Fall

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    Brown Trout

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    Steelhead

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    and Small Mouth Bass

Orvis Buffalo's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer Olive, Black, White 4-10
Muddler Minnow Brown sz 1
Bead Head Flash Zonker White 4-10
Tungsten Nemec Stone Nymph Gold, Black 4-8
Pheasant Tail Natural, Golden, Oli 12-16
Holy Grail Natural, Olive, Blac 12-16
Mickey Finn Orange 8
Franke Shiner Olive / White 8
crystal meth chartruese and orange 12
egg sucking leech black, olive 4-10

Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer

Every angler needs an assortment of these weighted attractor Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer flies.

2.49

Item #0311

Buy Now

Orvis Buffalo's Recommended Gear

Description: About Cattaraugus Creek

https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/cattcreeksteelhead.pdf

Nearest Airport:

Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)

Hatches:

Stoneflies, black #14-16 Caddis, Tan / Olive 14-16 BAITFISH!

Best Time to Fish:

Anytime is a good time

Best Stretch:

RT. 5 & 20 bridge to Scoby Dam

Best Access:

https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/cattcreekhosmer.pdf