Niagara River is a River located in Niagara County, NY. Starting in Buffalo, NY the Niagara River flows 19 miles through Niagara Falls, NY before ending in Youngstown, NY. The Niagara River rises to an elevation of 246 feet. Find maps, fishing guides, weather and recreation information at Guidesly.

About Niagara River, NY

The Niagara River is a 170-feet deep and 58-kilometer long river or strait that borders Ontario in Canada and the US state of New York. The river comprises Upper and Lower parts. Its waters flow north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario while its course includes the famous Niagara Falls, which is believed to be the fastest moving waterfall in the world, the Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Gorge and Niagara Whirlpool. The river also presents the Grand Island, Navy Island, Goat Island, Luna Island and Unity Island. The river exits to the Atlantic Ocean as it reaches the St Lawrence River. 

The river is about 12,000 years old as it was formed during the Pleistocene Epoch or Ice Age from melted continental ice sheets. Iroquoian scholar Bruce Trigger believed its name was derived from Niagagarega, the name of the people part of the Neutral Confederacy in the late 17th century. Historian George R. Stewart believes its name came from the Iroquois town, Ongniaahra, which means ‘point of land cut in two’. The Niagara River was the location of the earliest recorded railway in America and was an important passage to liberation during the American Civil War. It also became the first waterway in North America to harness large-scale generation hydroelectricity in the 1880s. New York State Office Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation manages multiple state parks adjacent to the falls and the river on its American side.

All About Fishing in Niagara River, NY

The Niagara River is a great and famous destination for sportfishing and trophy fishing. The Lower Niagara River is well known for its Chinook salmon, steelhead, and walleye fishing. Trout (rainbow, lake and brown), smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskellunge, yellow perch, smelt, Coho salmon, channel catfish, sturgeon and northern pike also provide for productive fishing in the freshwater river.

Fly fishing and simple reel fishing are mostly done in the river though charter services might inform anglers what other types of fishing can be utilised including drift fishing. The river offers shore access sites as well as opportunities to fish by boat. Whirlpool State Park, Devil’s Hole State Park, NYPA Fishing Platform, Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park, Joseph Davis State Park, Lewiston Landing Waterfront Park, Water Street Village Park and Constitution Park are the most popular sites to fish inshore in the lower section. There are boat launch sites at Lewiston, Youngstown, and Fort Niagara State Park. On the upper section of the river, the Niagara Reservation State Park, Bird Island Pier, The Riverwalk, Fishermen's Park, Gratwick Riverside Park and Griffon Park Shore are the most popular places to fish from.

Fishing Seasonality

Chinook and Coho salmon hit their peak during October when they spawn from September until early November. Steelheads start to emerge from November and stick around until May. They are a consistent target during the winter because after the water freezes over, the river becomes cleaner and attracts more fish. The spawning of brown and lake trout also occurs during the winter and helps attract steelheads as they feed on the lake trout’s eggs. Lake trout cannot be caught from October to December. Walleye can be found in the upper and lower river from May to September. This species prefers low light so it’s best to catch them before sunrise or after sunset. Bass can be caught all-year round but are most active from May to October. The only months an angler is allowed to fish for muskellunge is July and August as most of the year to fish for it is closed season. Yellow perch is best caught in May and June while the peak month for smelt is in April. Anglers are advised to look into daily weather conditions and water flow forecasts. One is also urged to look into local fishing regulations and daily catch and bag limits for certain species. 

Fishing Seasonality

Chinook and Coho salmon hit their peak during October when they spawn from September until early November. Steelheads start to emerge from November and stick around until May. They are a consistent target during the winter because after the water freezes over, the river becomes cleaner and attracts more fish. The spawning of brown and lake trout also occurs during the winter and helps attract steelheads as they feed on the lake trout’s eggs. Lake trout cannot be caught from October to December. Walleye can be found in the upper and lower river from May to September. This species prefers low light so it’s best to catch them before sunrise or after sunset. Bass can be caught all-year round but are most active from May to October. The only months an angler is allowed to fish for muskellunge is July and August as most of the year to fish for it is closed season. Yellow perch is best caught in May and June while the peak month for smelt is in April. Anglers are advised to look into daily weather conditions and water flow forecasts. One is also urged to look into local fishing regulations and daily catch and bag limits for certain species. 

All About Fishing in Niagara River, NY

The Niagara River is a great and famous destination for sportfishing and trophy fishing. The Lower Niagara River is well known for its Chinook salmon, steelhead, and walleye fishing. Trout (rainbow, lake and brown), smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskellunge, yellow perch, smelt, Coho salmon, channel catfish, sturgeon and northern pike also provide for productive fishing in the freshwater river.

Fly fishing and simple reel fishing are mostly done in the river though charter services might inform anglers what other types of fishing can be utilised including drift fishing. The river offers shore access sites as well as opportunities to fish by boat. Whirlpool State Park, Devil’s Hole State Park, NYPA Fishing Platform, Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park, Joseph Davis State Park, Lewiston Landing Waterfront Park, Water Street Village Park and Constitution Park are the most popular sites to fish inshore in the lower section. There are boat launch sites at Lewiston, Youngstown, and Fort Niagara State Park. On the upper section of the river, the Niagara Reservation State Park, Bird Island Pier, The Riverwalk, Fishermen's Park, Gratwick Riverside Park and Griffon Park Shore are the most popular places to fish from.