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Fishing Niagara River (Lower): what the data says
Devil's Hole through the gorge to Youngstown: winter steelhead, lake trout and world-class fall drifts. The river tops out around 40 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Steelhead fishing at Niagara River (Lower)
In spring, steelhead run shallow here, mostly 3 to 20 ft. They move out to 4 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 4 to 15 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 5.6): a current seam around 22 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Lake Trout fishing at Niagara River (Lower)
In spring, lake trout run shallow here, mostly 10 to 40 ft. Summer fish stay in 12 to 40 ft, and winter fish hold in 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Tailout eddy (mile 1.7): a eddy pocket around 22 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Brown Trout fishing at Niagara River (Lower)
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 3 to 25 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 12 to 40 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 35 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 5.6): a current seam around 22 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Niagara River (Lower)
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. Summer fish stay in 12 to 40 ft, and winter fish hold in 12 to 40 ft. Robert Moses Power Plant tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 34 ft, rated prime for spring chinook salmon. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 12 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Niagara River (Lower)
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 12 to 40 ft. Current seam (mile 5.6) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 22 ft, rated prime for summer smallmouth bass. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Walleye fishing at Niagara River (Lower)
Spring walleye on Niagara River (Lower) hold shallow, usually 4 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 15 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 40 ft. Robert Moses Power Plant tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 34 ft, rated prime for summer walleye. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Notable structure
- Devil's Hole drift: creek channel, around 35 ft
- Robert Moses Power Plant tailrace: dam tailrace, around 34 ft
- Sir Adam Beck GS 1 tailrace: dam tailrace, around 34 ft
- Main-channel hole (mile 3.9): creek channel, around 32 ft
- Artpark drift (Lewiston): creek channel, around 30 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 1.7): eddy pocket, around 22 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 2.2): eddy pocket, around 22 ft
- Current seam (mile 5.6): current seam, around 22 ft
- Slackwater eddy (mile 7.3): eddy pocket, around 22 ft
Common questions
How deep is Niagara River (Lower)?
Niagara River (Lower) is about 40 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Niagara River (Lower)?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, chinook salmon, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout on Niagara River (Lower).
Where is the best fishing spot on Niagara River (Lower)?
Current seam (mile 5.6) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 22 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Niagara River (Lower)?
For steelhead, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Lake Ontario - Niagara Bar and Western Shore · Lake Erie - Eastern Basin · Cuba Lake · Findley Lake · Conesus Lake · Hemlock Lake
See how Niagara River (Lower) stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in New York · best walleye lakes in New York · best chinook salmon lakes in New York · best steelhead lakes in New York
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