February 2026 Reports

Winter weather is hanging in with cold temps and snow showers off and on. On the ground, there is 2 +/- ft of windblown snow. There is a chance for 1 – 3 inches of snow from an area-wide system for the end of the week.

The LES machine off Lake Erie is reduced now that ice cover predominates. Shifting ice, cracks, or winds could change that formula at times and again toward spring warm-up when open water returns. Depending upon winds or weather patterns, WNY can still see some LES from the upper Lakes or Lake Ontario.

Temps are forecast in the 20’s F for this week, and then the forecast is for another cool down for the weekend with highs in the single digits.

Flows in the Oak are low and clear. There is still open, but skinny moving water down through about the Archers Club with some bank ice. Flows at the dam are open and there could be some frozen foam right there at the turbine tunnels. A few anglers are scoring steelhead hook-ups at the dam each day on mostly small and light and bait presentations. Flows may continue to drop back and/or close in with ice or bank ice with more cold weather. Downstream flat water areas are frozen over and the other area, smaller waterways are low and clear and frozen. Access at the dam is good with the parking lot plowed out. Anglers looking to hit any of the downstream moving skinny water may be busting a trail through some snow if no one has been ahead already.

Ice anglers are out on area inland waters like Lake Alice or the big Lake embayments, or lower trib areas. Tip-up anglers typically pursue pike or even trout. Be aware of the special seasonal tributary regs that may or may not apply for the waters you set up on. Jigging anglers are usually after panfish or perch and can be surprised by large browns or steelhead grabbing tiny jigs or bait. Now that’s a battle on a light jigging rod! Use caution and all safety considerations for venturing out on safe ice. Heavy snow cover on top of ice can lead to soft, slushy, or thin ice underneath.