Smallmouth Bass
Where: boulder runs, bridge shade, pool tails, creek-mouth rock, and lower-river current breaks on Buffalo Creek.
Move: tubes, Ned rigs, small jerkbaits, poppers, and crayfish-colored streamers.
Species guide →Buffalo Creek
Fair
About Buffalo Creek
Buffalo Creek drains 142 square miles of WNY hill country into the Buffalo River and Lake Erie, the smaller and more obviously tributary half of the system that also includes Cazenovia Creek. The creek is wadeable through most reaches, runs heavily wooded, and produces well in fall and spring when steelhead push up from the Buffalo River. Access is best below the Mt. Vernon dam removal sites.
Best October through April with peak runs late October through early December and again mid-March through April. Wadeable most flows; runs muddy after heavy rain. The optimal fishing flow on Buffalo Creek is 150–300 CFS — flows above this range are typically too high and stained, flows below run low and clear. The river's long-term median flow is approximately 45 CFS, computed from the last several years of USGS gauge readings.
Current conditions (live, updated every 15 minutes): flow 33 CFS, clarity clear. Steelhead Almanac's Guide's Report rates the river FAIR as of this reading.
Flow Rate
33
CFS
Gauge Height
0.65
ft
Water Temp
-
°F
Air Temp
72.6
°F
Clarity
Clear
Wind
🌬 10 mph
SSW
Side
Last updated: 2 minutes ago (9:15 PM EDT)
Conditions today: Fair. Trending: rough.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
Confidence: 0.6
No big rain in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.15 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow held steady at 54 CFS, water temp drifted held steady. Falling pressure has a reputation — sometimes it wakes fish up, sometimes it shuts them down, and we're not going to pretend we know which it'll be today. Quiet sky on the way. Conditions should hold.
Lookback window Sep 9, 9 pm to Sep 12, 9 pm ET.
Data refresh every 15 min. This is a pattern read, not proof of causation; fish reserve the right to embarrass the spreadsheet.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
No big rain in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.15 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow held steady at 48 CFS, water temp drifted held steady. Falling pressure has a reputation — sometimes it wakes fish up, sometimes it shuts them down, and we're not going to pretend we know which it'll be today. Quiet sky on the way. Conditions should hold.
Lookback window Sep 5, 9 pm to Sep 12, 9 pm ET.
Data refresh every 15 min. This is a pattern read, not proof of causation; fish reserve the right to embarrass the spreadsheet.
Guide's Report
Based on current conditions as of Sat, Sep 12 at 9:15 PM EDT (2 minutes ago)
Running 33 CFS, water is clear. Manage expectations, but don't stay home. Clear water means spooky fish. Approach low and slow. Forty Degrees Is Shorts Weather Here.
Buffalo Creek
Today's Weather: Good
42% rain
SW 6mph
Coming up: Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Flow Rate
0
CFS
·
0.65
ft
34th percentile · Typical
Summer mode - stale low
24h trend
↘
-30.2%
Summer fishability window
38–95 CFS
Current-month middle flow band for warm-water fishing
72h movement
stable (0%)
Distance
stale low · 0.65ft
Low water — projection flat
Clouds
· 73°F
· SSW 10mph
29.91" ↗
Guide says:
Running 33 CFS, water is clear. Manage expectations, but don't stay home. Clear water means spooky fish. Approach low and slow. Forty Degrees Is Shorts Weather Here.
"Tailouts Don't Lie"
Flow is low — fish are stacked in the deepest pools and runs. Approach carefully, they spook easy.
Clear water — steelhead can see everything, including you. Long leaders, lighter tippet (6lb fluoro), natural colors. Stay low and approach from downstream.
How to Fish It
Fly Selection
Clear water demands subtlety. Natural egg colors (Oregon cheese, pale peach), small stonefly nymphs (#12-#14), and pheasant tails. 6lb fluorocarbon tippet max.
Where to Fish
Low water concentrates fish. Target the deepest pools, undercut banks, and bridge pools. Steelhead will be stacked — find one, there's more. Tread lightly, they spook.
What's Coming
Heavy rain is incoming — fish NOW. Current conditions are fishable but the river will blow out. This is your window.
Rigs to consider right now
Match the current report to a setup
Centerpin Sucker Spawn Rig
Presents small egg patterns naturally through clear, pressured water where drift quality matters.
Advanced
Indicator Nymphing Rig
Suspends nymphs at a repeatable depth while giving you a visible take signal.
Intermediate
River Float Rig
Keeps a natural offering drifting at the same pace as the current instead of dragging behind your line.
Beginner
Spey & Swing Rig
Covers water efficiently when fish are willing to move for a broadside fly.
Intermediate
Fall river plan
Buffalo Creek summer fishing targets
Use the current flow, clarity, and sky conditions to choose the target. Summer fish usually reward shade, structure, and low-light timing.
Walleye
Where: lake mouths, harbor edges, deeper summer basin water, and low-light shoreline structure on Buffalo Creek.
Move: crawler harnesses, crankbaits, jigs, and evening presentations near moving water.
Species guide →Panfish
Where: docks, weed edges, ponds, marina slips, brush, and shaded shoreline structure on Buffalo Creek.
Move: small jigs, waxworms, micro poppers, and slip floats for kids or fast action.
Species guide →Northern Pike
Where: cooler weed edges, connected backwaters, tributary mouths, and ambush lanes on Buffalo Creek.
Move: spinnerbaits, spoons, jerkbaits, and quick releases when water warms.
Species guide →Current read
Clarity is clear. Overall rating: Fair for steelhead. Use the graph below to time falling or stabilizing flows before committing a trip.
Summer FAQ
What can I fish for on Buffalo Creek in summer?
Focus on the warm-water species shown above, then use the live flow, clarity, and temperature read to choose shade, rock, current breaks, creek mouths, lakefront structure, and low-light windows.
Steelhead care
Should I target steelhead on Buffalo Creek in summer?
Usually no. When water is warm, shift to smallmouth, walleye, panfish, pike, or another summer target instead of pressuring stressed trout.
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7-Day Flow & Temperature
Flow distribution
1095-day history · n=2,116 · 84% confidence
Now vs history
117 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
150–300 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
23–67 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context:
Current flow is below typical for September.
September median on this river: 61 CFS
(n=271 hourly samples).
Clarity vs flow ranges
Steelhead Green
likely now
23–63 CFS typical
Stained
331–442 CFS typical
Below average:
Quieter than usual — stealth matters.
Sample quantiles
|
Theoretical line
Good fit (83%)
Points on the dashed line mean the river's flow distribution is log-normal. Bows at the tails suggest multiple flow regimes (snowmelt vs rain events) or sensor artifacts. The math for this river uses log-space statistics, so a poor fit here is a reason to squint at the optimal zone.
Recent Angler Reports
Join to PostBeen on the Buffalo Creek? Share your report.
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Near Buffalo Creek
Local Fly Shops & Guides
Featured
The Hairy Trout Fly & Tackle
West Seneca, NY · 2 mi
Combined barbershop and fly/tackle shop specializing in steelhead and Great Lakes gear. Houses 716 Fly Fishing guide service.
Buffalo Fly Co
Buffalo, NY · 7 mi
Buffalo's premier fly fishing guide service. Lake-run steelhead, brown trout, and salmon. Beginner-friendly, all gear provided.
Water Wizard Tackle Co
Hamburg, NY · 9 mi
Full-service tackle shop since 1983. Handmade jigs, rod and reel repair near Eighteen Mile Creek.
Brookdog Fishing Company
Tonawanda, NY · 13 mi
Year-round charters and guided wade trips for steelhead on Cattaraugus, Canadaway, and 18 Mile Creek. 10+ years experience.
Webers Bait & Tackle
Angola, NY · 19 mi
Local bait and tackle near Lake Erie and Eighteen Mile Creek steelhead water.
Around The Bend Fly Fishing
Angola, NY · 20 mi
Certified instructor and award-winning angler. Walk-and-wade steelhead trips on 18 Mile Creek and other Erie tribs.
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30-Day Statistics
Min Flow
12 CFS
Max Flow
515 CFS
Avg Flow
76 CFS
Min Temp
-
Max Temp
-
Avg Temp
-
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Multiple days of heavy rain ahead — expect significant flow increases and muddy water. Plan trips for windows between rain events or 1-2 days after.
Best day to fish: Today — Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
Today is the day before rain moves in — barometric pressure drop often triggers aggressive feeding. Don't miss it.
Daily Fishing Forecast
Weather-based daily ratings — independent of current river flow. A "good" forecast day can still mean a blown-out river. Cross-reference with the Guide's Report above for a complete picture.
Today — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tonight:
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and midnight, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between midnight and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Moderate rain will push flows up. Water may get stained to muddy — switch to bright flies and heavier weight.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Sunday:
A slight chance of rain showers after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night:
A chance of rain showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. West wind 5 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Dry conditions — flows should remain stable. Good day to target tailouts and runs.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Monday:
Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Northwest wind around 7 mph.
Monday Night:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tuesday:
Partly sunny, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 8 mph.
Tuesday Night:
A chance of rain showers after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Wednesday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Wednesday:
A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Wednesday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Moderate rain will push flows up. Water may get stained to muddy — switch to bright flies and heavier weight.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Thursday:
Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night:
Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Friday:
A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Saturday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Light rain will bump flows slightly and give overcast skies — steelhead feed aggressively in these conditions.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Saturday:
A chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Forecast via NWS, updated 1 hour ago (8:01 PM EDT). Fishing ratings are estimates based on weather — always check current river conditions.
Recommended Gear
Clear water + low water — finesse tippet and natural patterns first.
Rio Products Fly Fishing Tippet, Fluoroflex Strong Leader, 100% Fluorocarbon for Trout, 30YD Spool
$17.99
RIO Products Fluoroflex Freshwater Tippet - 100% Fluorocarbon, Medium-Stiff Leader for Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, and Bass - Abrasion Resistant - 25 or 30 yd Spool, 0X-20lb Sizes
$13.99
SA Mastery Trout Fluorocarbon Freshwater Fly Fishing Tippet
$12.95
M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Tippet Material Leader Line -Virtually Invisible - 55yards 0X-6X (Made in Japan)
$8.99
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More on Buffalo Creek
Recent Storm Events
- August 30 - September 1 Alley Storm — Aug 30, 2026
- August 26-29 Alley Storm — Aug 26, 2026
- August 8 Alley Storm — Aug 8, 2026
Species Profiles
- Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu
