It’s a fishing day

Niagara River (Lower) fishing conditions · New York

Now until 7 amSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 96. Water is 59°, inside their 55–78° range.

Log a trip here
Right now: 96 for smallmouth bass, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 963 am
  2. 96
  3. 96
  4. 966 am
  5. 86
  6. 86
  7. 869 am
  8. 86
  9. 86
  10. 8612 pm
  11. 86
  12. 86
  13. 863 pm
  14. 86
  15. 86
  16. 866 pm
  17. 86
  18. 86
  19. 869 pm
  20. 86
  21. 86
  22. 86Tue
  23. 86
  24. 86
  25. 863 am
  26. 86
  27. 86
  28. 866 am
  29. 86
  30. 86
  31. 869 am
  32. 86
  33. 86
  34. 8612 pm
  35. 86
  36. 86
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
59°F

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
7 mph

From the southwest

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:43 am

Sky
Partly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
51°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are New York regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

96GoNow until 7 am

Water

59°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Smallmouth bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lake Ontario: statewide bass rules, 12" minimum and 5 a day Jun 15–Nov 30, catch and release with artificial lures Dec 1–Jun 14. In Jefferson County waters no bass fishing at all is allowed Dec 1–Jun 14.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on smallmouth bass

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

84Worth the tripNow until 7 am

Water

59°
42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside common carp's active range. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New York statewide rule, Great Lakes included: carp are open all year, any size, any number.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · New York

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on common carp

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

60MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

59°
30°40–55° · ideal 48°65°

Why

Steelhead is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

21" minimum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lake Ontario and the Lower Niagara: 15" minimum (21" for rainbow trout and steelhead), 3 trout and salmon a day combined, no more than 2 rainbow trout or steelhead. In Lake Ontario tributaries rainbows must be 25" and only 1 rainbow and 1 brown may be kept.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

The water

  • Water temperature59°F
  • Barometer30.32 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:43 am
  • Sunset today6:16 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:50 am–8:50 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:40 pm–6:40 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

New York DEC report, undated

Names smallmouth bass, steelhead, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at New York DEC

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The lower Niagara gorge below the falls — a world-class winter steelhead and trout fishery in powerful green water, plus trophy smallmouth bass, lake trout, and salmon staging from Lake Ontario. Drift-boated and bank-fished from the gorge.

NY Lower Niagara: 3 trout and salmon a day combined, steelhead 21" minimum and no more than 2; smallmouth 12" minimum, kept Jun 15–Nov 30. Powerful, dangerous current in the gorge.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Presque Isle State Park96 mi · PennsylvaniaBest now until 7 am
96Go
Cayuga Lake125 mi · New YorkBest now until 7 am
96Go
Selkirk Shores State Park144 mi · New YorkBest now until 7 am
100Go
Oneida Lake156 mi · New YorkBest today 11 am to tomorrow 10 am
86Go
Sims Park Beach (Euclid)169 mi · OhioBest now until 7 am
96Go
St. Lawrence River (1000 Islands)172 mi · New YorkBest now until 7 am
90Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Niagara River (Lower)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Niagara River (Lower) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Niagara River (Lower)?

Niagara River (Lower) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Steelhead, Smallmouth Bass, Common Carp. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Niagara River (Lower)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Niagara River (Lower) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Niagara River (Lower) have?

Niagara River (Lower) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. NY Lower Niagara: 3 trout and salmon a day combined, steelhead 21" minimum and no more than 2; smallmouth 12" minimum, kept Jun 15–Nov 30. Powerful, dangerous current in the gorge.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Niagara River (Lower)?

state agency regulations apply at Niagara River (Lower). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Niagara River (Lower) tidal water?

No. Niagara River (Lower) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.