Canal Fall fishing

Home » Fishing Program

Fall Fishing Program. More Water. More Fishing.

Image of fishing

The New York State Canal Corporation releases water from the Erie Canal into Lake Ontario Tributaries in Western New York for an extended period each fall to create a longer season and even better angling experience.

A calendar of releases will be posted here soon and updated frequently. Releases may change due to weather and other conditions.

Check back for great fishing in the fall.

Between mid-Sep and mid-Dec
- Increased flow releases on Eighteenmile Creek (Niagara County), Oak Orchard Creek (Orleans County), and Sandy Creek (Monroe and Orleans counties).
- This entices more brown trout and steelhead to enter and remain in these waterways, improving fish spawning conditions and expanding angling opportunities.
- Additional flow releases also scheduled to further boost increased flows.
For 10 days in Nov and another 10 days in Dec
- Increased flow releases on Salmon Creek and Johnson Creek to expand angling opportunities.

Calendar of Releases

Releases subject to change due to natural and water management conditions.

Waterway	County	Increased Flow Releases	Additional Flow Releases
Eighteen Mile Creek	Niagara	Sep 16 - Dec 13	Sep 16 - 30
Oak Orchard River	Orleans	Sep 16 - Dec 13	Oct 1 - 14
Sandy Creek	Monroe & Orleans	Sep 16 - Dec 13	Oct 15 - 29
Salmon Creek	Monroe & Orleans	Nov 4 - 15 & Dec 6 - 13	Not scheduled for 2021
Johnson Creek	Niagara & Orleans	Nov 4 - 15 & Dec 6 - 13	Not scheduled for 2021

Holidays
Oct 11- Indigenous People's Day
Nov 11 - Veterans' Day
Nov 25 - Thanksgiving
Dec 25 - Christmas

Free Fishing Days - No License Required
Sep 25
Nov 11

Public Fishing Locations

Eighteenmile Creek(Niagara County)

Oak Orchard Creek (Orleans County)

Sandy Creek(Orleans & Monroe counties)

Salmon Creek(Orleans & Monroe counties)

Johnson Creek(Niagara and Orleans County)

Learn About the Fall Fishing Program

Image of fishing The Erie Canal in Western New York is an entirely man-made channel while in other regions the Canal generally follows a natural river course. Lake Ontario Tributaries serve as an outlet for the Canal’s water management gates which can be opened or closed to maintain Canal water levels, provide supplemental tributary flows, and to drain the Canal following navigation season.

Historically, at the end of the navigation season the Canal is emptied over the course of a week, raising water levels on these tributaries. The Canal Corporation schedules water releases, when available and appropriate, in the fall during navigation season and during the Canal draining process providing a longer season for anglers and improved wildlife habitat.

The Canal and tributary waters are monitored for quantity and quality to help ensure the program maintains the health of the fishery.

As part of New York State’s Reimagine the Canals initiative, NYPA and the Canal Corporation are expanding fishing opportunities to promote outdoor recreation and local businesses.