Fall fishing is well underway—and the New York Canal Corporation and Department of Environmental Conservation are working to create a longer season and even better angling experience in Western New York.
For the first time in recent memory, New York is raising canal gates and releasing water from the Erie Canal into Lake Ontario tributaries. These world-class fishing locations are going to be even better — expect more brown trout, steelhead and Atlantic and Pacific salmon to run up these streams.
The water releases began in late September and will continue until mid-December.
•Until October 18, flows in the Sandy Creek will be increased to mimic a heavy rainfall event.
•From October 19 to 30, similar high flows will occur on the Oak Orchard Creek •The annual draining of the western portion of the Erie Canal will take place over a longer period of time and send more water down all Lake Ontario tributaries (Eighteenmile, Johnson, Oak Orchard, Sandy and Salmon Creeks). These creeks will experience increased flows November 6 to 15 and December 4 through 14.
For more information on the program see pamphlet: http://canals.ny.gov/Canals_fishing_pamphlet.pdf
