November 2025 Fishing Reports
We are coming off a nice stretch of weather with warm temperatures and mostly clear. The fishing pressure that had picked up over the past weekend seems lighter so far this week. Looking ahead, thanks to holiday schedules and the forecast, we can expect continued lighter fishing pressure.
The forecast for midweek is turning colder, with a chance of showers later today and Wednesday, then transitioning to a chance of lake-effect snow (LES) Wednesday night into Thursday. Strong winds, likely triggering an advisory, are expected both days. For now, LES seems the more typical variety for accumulations southwest of here off Lake Erie, but as winds shift west or northwest through later Thursday or into Friday, there’s a chance for accumulations here on the WNY south shore of Lake Ontario.
Flows all around are dropping and clearing. The next chance for any rising flows without natural precipitation or snowmelt will likely be with the final canal drainage through the first part of December. Flows in the Oak are moderate to medium and mostly clear. Still, these are decent fishable flows, and when hydropower operations temporarily lower flows, there’s usually a humbling number of fish still revealed!
Anglers are still into brown trout and now seeing a few more steelhead. Atlantic salmon action is now more spread out, but hook-ups can still be expected. There are still some gamey, not “zombied-up” Kings at the dam. Most anglers are downsizing presentations, using small, subtle egg patterns and nymphs. Deeper slack water can still be productive for streamer action, and there are reports of good numbers of fish in downstream lower river areas.
Smaller tributaries, like Johnson, are at moderate levels, while Sandy is low. Anglers are having on-and-off action with careful wading and light-line drifts. Many of the browns in Sandy likely haven’t all retreated, they’re just hunkered down in pools and slots, taking advantage of water cover.
“Second” season post King time is solidly underway on the Oak and other area smaller tribs. Not that you can’t still find a few Kings around, and there are always reports of fresher fish, too. Some salmon and likely a few cohos are in the cards these past few years and likely this year, easily through Nov and some part of Dec. Consistent Fall Canal water feed from the Fall Fishing Program probably has something to do with that.
Fishing pressure is falling off somewhat as it usually does this time of year, thanks to holiday time upcoming, big game seasons opening, and cooler weather. But boy, there are great opportunities for brown trout and Atlantic salmon and steelhead angling this time of the year – especially as the precipitation lately is making for good water flows in combo with Canal water feed and upcoming winter drainage.
Flows in the Oak are slightly high and slightly stained with 2 – 3 ft of visibility. There’s plenty of water there to hide most fish passage, and anglers will have to fish the likely fish holding spots or travel ways. Through the past weekend on Saturday, some anglers reported the Oak fished real well with hook-ups on browns and Atlantics and a few steelhead.
Flows in the other area, smaller tribs are up and down some as the precipitation and snow-melt have gone. Right now, it looks like flows are slowly falling with anglers keying in on browns and some leftover and newly running Kings.
We are on the backside of some windy weather with some rain or snow showers. There’s been no significant accumulation here, and the short-term forecast ahead looks seasonal for temps and somewhat stable through the upcoming weekend.
There’s been some early season colder and snowy weather starting from the end of the past weekend. According to the forecast, the temps should start moderating back toward seasonal by this mid-week period and the upcoming weekend. Windy conditions are expected for a couple of days.
The previous cold front deposited some snow for the area, while points south got less. Then, some uncommon NW wind LES set up off Lake Ontario for more accumulations here on the Niagara Frontier. Winds have come around W and SW, setting up the more typical Lake Erie LES bands that may reach the area today, along with rain showers.
Give or take, there were 4–6 inches of wet accumulation for the area that have partially melted. That will mean some cold runoff as it slowly melts during daytime highs the rest of this week and weekend.
Flows in the Oak are med and mostly clear. A slug of “peak” flow Canal water release may raise flows more toward slightly high. Flows in Johnson look to be retreating toward low–mod. The cold temps are likely partially driving that.
Flows in Sandy are about med, and so far, no one has reported any chunky flows there. But there is the chance for colder or slushy flows there on that smaller, exposed waterway. Look for lowering flows there after “peak” Canal water release is reduced, unless run-off can maintain the existing good fishable flows.
With this change in the weather and snows, it looks like fishing pressure is taking another step back. Good for the anglers still out there because there is still plenty of good hook-up opportunity.
Archers Club parking has ended, but remember, anglers can still fish there afterwards by accessing from the dam or Park Ave Fishing Trail spot and keeping to the immediate bankside water at the Archers Club.
The passing cold front and snowy conditions may have made for a little tougher fishing action lately, but plenty of anglers are still doing good on Atlantics on the Oak with some browns and steelhead and those occasional few fresher Kings. Browns and Kings are spread out on Johnson, and the lowering and clearing and colder flows there could make for harder hook-ups. Still good brown trout action on Sandy, and that should last as long as the good fishable water flows hang on.
The area is getting some consistent precipitation now after a long period of dry conditions. Temps have cooled off too and it's feeling a lot like good fall fishing weather. There were thunderstorms with wind and hail that passed through Orleans County late Monday after some rain earlier in the day. All the trib flows are hanging in at med to slightly high with a little stain to the water. All the latest precipitation is maintaining the good flows which seems to be encouraging brown trout migrations and more salmon movement. Forecast is for chance of rain or showers Wednesday with windy conditions and chance of more precipitation for end of week and upcoming weekend. These windy conditions are making for lots of leaf fall so expect daily water level fluctuations in the Oak due to hydropower operations for turbine rack cleaning.
There are a fair amount of anglers out there like on the Oak and spread through the other waterways. Most guys are targeting browns with less guys left targeting salmon. The salmon “run” in the Oak is now probably past half way and approaching 3/4 played out. Some fish will still straggle in joining the party of earlier run fish. Some fish are showing signs of wear with more zombies on patrol. The majority of anglers are reporting good fishing for browns all around and some Atlantics and a few steelhead on the Oak.
The cooler weather and good water flows are making for more cooperative biting fish with anglers making good drifts and swings. That's a little different then the earlier season theme of good numbers of fish not really in a biting mood. We’ll take that! But of course the fish turn on and off through the day and you might find a hot period early or late. Egg patterns and eggs and beads have been the most consistent with light line drifts accounting for more hook-ups.
With the current and forecast ahead look for slightly high and slightly stained flows in the Oak. The other area smaller waterways east and west are likewise up a little with approx med flows in Johnson and something close to slightly high in Sandy. In those smaller waterways with longer watercourses fish will be spreading out farther upstream with new fresh fish in the lower reaches. Look for slowly falling flows all around unless there is significant new precipitation.
The St. Mary’s Archers Club 2025 public access fall season parking is open from Oct. 10 through Nov. 11. Parking is $10, with gates opening at 5 a.m. and closing at 4 p.m. A lunch will also be served this year. For updates, visit the Sportsman’s Archery Club of St Mary’s Inc Facebook page.
