December 2025 Fishing Reports
The previous bump up in flows from a little bit of snowmelt and some warmer temps was somewhat underwhelming! There was barely a bump up in flows and opening up from icing conditions in the smaller waterways, while the Oak showed little to no change.
Through last night there were light rain showers in the area and light snow accumulation south of the area. The near-term forecast looks up and down for temps with highs during the day above freezing and dropping back down at night. This may not change the existing conditions all that much. Next chance at precipitation is the end of the week, and the long-term forecast after that may be a return to colder, winter-like temps.
Flows in the Oak are low and clear. Despite the low and clear flows through yesterday, both drifters and swingers reported some action. Swingers found browns that wanted bigger fly patterns, while centerpin drifters did best on steelhead and light takes on jigs.
Downstream flat water areas are open for now. The other area smaller waterways east and west, had a small open water window in upstream reaches on the backside of the previous warm-up (and melt-off), with guys reporting some brown trout hook-ups. After that, one cold night seemed to make finding productive drifting water challenging.
As the weather and water flows go ahead, so will the chance for productive drifts in the smaller waterways. For now, look for slowly dropping flows in those smaller waterways with icy conditions and the low to mod flows in the Oak to hang in until the next major weather change.
The early winter season cold weather we’ve been having has caused some low and clear flows all around. The smallest waterways are running icy and slushy or downright frozen in spots, especially downstream flat water areas. Fish are likely hunkered in the water cover they can find or have dropped back downstream.
Flows in the Oak are low and clear and the downstream frog water is reported frozen over. With the loss of the final bit of seasonal Canal water feed and drainage, all the trib flows took that next step down to low and lower flows.
Fishing pressure is real light. Look for a few guys at the dam on the Oak or else drifting the low, clear water slots and holes in the downstream fast water. Some hunkered post-spawn browns, Kings and steelhead can provide on and off action for light line drifters. There’s always at least a few fish holding at the dam!
There is a forecasted warm-up for mid and end of week with the chance of rain. There is light snow accumulation on the ground, but not a heavy snowpack. We’ll have to wait and see if the warm-up and precip will be enough to affect trib levels and raise flows or open anything up substantially. After the warm-up, the forecast through the end of the month and holiday time looks just seasonably cold for now.
Stay tuned for what the rest of the winter weather brings. The chances for good steelhead action in the traditional Feb and Mar timeframe ahead are looking good!
Winter and cold weather seem to be getting an early start this year. Last winter eventually turned cold, but last December was warmer with good fishable conditions. Not so much this year, at least for now.
In the near-term forecast, cold temps will linger with a chance of light snow, sleet, or rain today, Wednesday. No great accumulations expected, but some kind of mixed bag precipitation is likely for Wed. Then continued cold and snowy after that through the weekend.
We can hope for an upcoming warm-up that will help trib flows. For now, flows are dropping and clearing and sometimes running slushy from cold and/or snow. Slow water areas are beginning to freeze over, esp on the smaller waterways. Erie Canal final winter time drainage is underway with what amounts to prob a few days + of water feed left. Look for all the trib levels to drop more when that water source is played out with continued icing conditions.
Fishing pressure is real light. Flows in the Oak are mod – med and mostly clear. Upstream fast water sections to the dam are fishable, and as of the beginning of this week, the downstream flat water areas remain open. Look for frog water areas to begin to freeze over sooner than later, especially as the Canal feed lessens and flows continue to drop. Flows my go low.
For now there is good action for spawning browns and post spawn fish and some nice steelhead. Fly rod swingers and center pin dead drifters are both having action. In the smaller area tribs like Johnson and Sandy flows are likewise dropping and showing icing conditions. Downstream spots on Johnson are froze over and upstream faster water area intel is light. Sandy has been flowing mostly slushy thru upstream areas.
Cold temps and wind and snow and clouds and lowering flows could make drifting chances there tough. Browns and steelhead in all the tribs will be hunkered in any deep water spots affording water cover or else dropping back. Remaining Kings will be mostly at the dam on the Oak.
The weather is getting a little chilly, but good late fall and early winter trib action can keep you warm! The forecast ahead for this week is for temperatures dropping back into the 20s with 30s F for highs, so water temps are going to continue to ease down.
There is a chance of light snow accumulation from a region-wide storm through Tuesday, with greater impacts expected southeast of the area along the storm track. By mid to late week, lake-effect snow is possible, beginning off Lake Erie and then becoming more impactful for the Niagara Frontier as northwest winds off Lake Ontario develop.
Water flows across the region are benefiting from recent precipitation, snowmelt, and likely the early stages of the Erie Canal winter drawdown. Winter drainage is scheduled to be completed by mid-December and typically takes one to two weeks. It is likely the process has begun, but it's not known exactly at what rate through what tribs the winter time drainage will take place.
Different successful techniques in use – fly, spin or float for spawning and post spawn browns and fresh steelhead. Fishing pressure is the most manageable yet of this season and anglers can likely find unharried water on their favorite trib.
Flows in the Oak are medium and mostly clear. Browns and steelhead are spread out, with scattered Atlantic salmon hookups reported. A few Kings still reported at the dam. Plenty of water flows there to hide fish and make for good drifts in fast water spots or downstream flat, frog water.
Flows in Johnson are moderate and steady for now, with flows in Sandy real fishy at med. With the good water flows, there are a few guys on that waterway who are quietly enjoying good action on mostly browns, with a few more steelhead reported just recently.
Further to the west, still hearing of good brown trout action at 18Mile at Burt dam. There’s been a good number of steelhead hookups to the east on the Genesee River – with some fishing pressure picking up there.
