New York Frontier Report:

November Trout and Muskie
A time for the devout

By Bill Hilts Jr.

November is the month when big-game seasons kick into high gear. It’s normally the rut for whitetail deer, as well as the opening of the regular season. Black bear become more of a target in the Allegheny Area of the state here in Western New York. Lump in waterfowl hunting and other small game options like pheasant, turkey, rabbit and squirrel and the list of outdoor activities is a long one. My point? With all the hunting options available, it’s also a great time to go fishing! Less fishing pressure means more fish to catch and that the fish aren’t as skittish from being pounded as they run through the angling gauntlet. Whether it’s action in the Niagara River for trout, bass or muskellunge; or Great Lakes trout fishing in the tributaries flowing into Lake Erie or Lake Ontario – fall fishing can be outstanding!

Fishing in the Lower Niagara River is ideal for trout in the fall after the salmon run is over. Steelhead migrate into the river from Lake Ontario seeking out the eggs being deposited from Pacific salmon, lake trout or brown trout. And with water temperatures being a bit warmer, these trout are even more active and acrobatic than normal. The one negative is you’re at the mercy of Mother Nature. High winds and rain will have a tendency to muddy the water up in Lake Erie, sending that turbid water through the Niagara River system and shut things down for a few days. 

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