Walleye
PeakWhere: lake mouths, harbor edges, deeper basin water, and low-light shoreline structure on Silver Creek.
Move: crawler harnesses, crankbaits, jigs, and evening presentations near moving water.
Species guide →Silver Creek
Fair
About Silver Creek
Silver Creek at the village of Silver Creek drains 31 square miles of Chautauqua County into Lake Erie, the smaller of the Silver/Walnut/Canadaway WNY trio and dependent on rain for runs. The creek runs tight to the village reaches with the Route 5 crossing as the iconic access. Best fished as a backup when the larger WNY tribs are blown out or as a stand-alone in low-water windows.
October through April when flows are present. Rain-dependent. Use Cattaraugus or Eighteen Mile Creek for proxy flow when the gauge is sparse. The steelhead model reference on Silver Creek is 30–80 CFS. Basis: Per-river researched optimal range This is not a flood-stage or wading limit. The historical median flow is approximately 2 CFS, based on the available gauge history.
Current conditions (gauge observation Nov 5, 2026 5:00 AM EST): flow 3 CFS, clarity estimated from flow: clear. The Almanac Briefing rates the river FAIR as of this reading.
Jump to:
Parking & river access · Members ↗
Almanac Briefing
Chrome Clock
7-Day Chart
Forecast
Reports
Flow Rate
3.3
CFS
Gauge Height
3.76
ft
Water Temp
-
°F
Air Temp
62.1
°F
Estimated clarity
Clear
Estimated from flow — visibility unverified
Wind
🌬 8 mph
SSW
Side
Current water temperature unavailable: a recent sensor reading with its own source and observation time is not established.
Gauge observation: 1 hour ago (Nov 5, 2026 5:00 AM EST)
Conditions today: Fair. Trending: rough.
Flow
Pressure
Air temp, scaled
Rain per hour
Storm pulse window
Hourly flow pending
Confidence: 0.24
No storm pulse was detected in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.29 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow ranged from 2 to 3 CFS (mean 3 CFS) across the selected lookback. Water-temperature data is unavailable for the selected lookback. Pressure alone does not confirm fish activity. No substantial rain or strong wind is indicated in the available forecast; this does not guarantee stable river flow.
Lookback window Nov 2, 6 am to Nov 5, 6 am 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 storm pulse was detected in the lookback, but the barometer dropped 0.29 inHg over the last 24 hours. Flow ranged from 2 to 3 CFS (mean 3 CFS) across the selected lookback. Water-temperature data is unavailable for the selected lookback. Pressure alone does not confirm fish activity. No substantial rain or strong wind is indicated in the available forecast; this does not guarantee stable river flow.
Lookback window Oct 29, 7 am to Nov 5, 6 am ET.
Data refresh every 15 min. This is a pattern read, not proof of causation; fish reserve the right to embarrass the spreadsheet.
Almanac Briefing
Guide-level river, weather and fishing intelligence
Based on gauge observation from Thu, Nov 5 at 5:00 AM EST (1 hour ago)
Evidence at a glance
- Last reported flow
- 3.3 CFS Configured USGS gauge for Silver Creek.
- Flow observation time
- 1 hour ago · Within the current observation window
- Water temperature · separate sensor evidence
- UnavailableA recent sensor reading with its own source and observation time is not established.
- Assessment basis
- Clarity is estimated from flow. Ratings are model assessments.
- Issued forecast · separate from observations
- 3.7 CFS projected for Fri Nov 6, 12:00 PM EST.Issued Nov 5, 5:00 AM EST. This is a forecast, not an observed reading.
Conditions do not establish fish presence or safe wading. Before a trip, verify current gauge readings, official weather alerts, access and regulations. Sources and methodology
Low flow at 3 CFS. Estimated clarity is clear. Water assessment: fair.
Season & Run Context
Lake Erie · Lake Above Fall Temperature Band
The lake-temperature model remains above its fall band. River temperatures may already be favorable, and fish may already be in tributaries. Check local river temperatures, flow and fresh fishing reports; watch lake cooling as separate seasonal context.
Model snapshot 2026-11-04 · lake surface temperature 60.4°F
Fishing Evidence
Quiet on the report front: no shared angler reports for these rivers in the last seven days.
Review regional steelhead signals in Pulse →Flow History & Response
Last 24 hours of stored flow history: 3.0–4.1 CFS across 171 readings. First-to-last change: +0.3 CFS.
Inspect the flow history →Prior Storms · Last 14 Days
Oct 29: October 29-30 New York (Lake Erie) & New York (Lake Ontario) & Ohio Storm; ended Oct 29, 9:00 PM EDT; archived rainfall forecast 0.000 in; archived basin rainfall maximum 0.320 in.
Oct 29: October 29 New York (Lake Erie) Storm; ended Oct 29, 2:15 AM EDT; archived basin rainfall maximum 0.000 in.
Issued River Flow Outlook
Silver Creek · 3.7 CFS projected for Fri Nov 6, 12:00 PM EST (issued Nov 5, 5:00 AM EST)
Silver Creek · 3.7 CFS projected for Sat Nov 7, 12:00 PM EST (issued Nov 5, 5:00 AM EST)
Silver Creek · 3.7 CFS projected for Sun Nov 8, 12:00 PM EST (issued Nov 5, 5:00 AM EST)
Regional outlook: next available target per river. Individual briefings: up to three targets.
Forecast vs. Actual · Verification
Saved system-wide verification as of 2026-11-05T10:05:38+00:00: 12834 locked forecast cases, 9256 evaluated against later own-gauge readings. Pending, missing and excluded cases and errors by model, river and lead time are documented in the methodology. River results for model c5c4a91f: 60 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 0.4 CFS. Paired comparison (60 cases): model error 0.4 CFS versus 0.2 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model 395a5868: 60 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 1.0 CFS. Paired comparison (60 cases): model error 1.0 CFS versus 0.9 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model c2a5feaf: 6 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 1.4 CFS. Paired comparison (6 cases): model error 1.4 CFS versus 1.3 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model 467e92d7: 12 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 1.4 CFS. Paired comparison (12 cases): model error 1.4 CFS versus 1.3 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model ae671bd0: 90 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 1.4 CFS. Paired comparison (90 cases): model error 1.4 CFS versus 1.3 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model 48521c91: 95 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 0.6 CFS. Paired comparison (95 cases): model error 0.6 CFS versus 0.6 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. River results for model b3f961a9: 30 scored cases; mean absolute flow error 0.5 CFS. Paired comparison (30 cases): model error 0.5 CFS versus 0.4 CFS for holding the issuance flow unchanged. This verifies flow forecasts, not catches, clarity or the entire Alley Index.
Review forecast verification →Sources & Methodology
Water ratings summarize flow, temperature and weather. Run context comes from the lake-temperature model; fishing totals come from shared angler reports. Clarity is estimated from flow, and temperature may come from a secondary gauge. Gauge timestamps and coverage describe the available history. Forecast verification measures river-flow error.
Read the methodology →Silver Creek
Today's Weather: Fair
75% rain
SW 16mph
Coming up: Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
Flow Rate
3.3
CFS
·
3.76
ft
Historical percentile 67 · Typical
24h trend
↘
-86%
Steelhead window
30–80 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Distance
27 CFS below optimal · 3.76ft
Low water — projection flat
Weather: Rain
· 62°F
· SSW 8mph
29.71" →
Guide says:
Low flow at 3 CFS. Estimated clarity is clear. Water assessment: fair.
Gauge observation: Nov 5, 2026 5:00 AM EST
"Every Thaw Is a Rumor"
Flow is below the river-specific reference range (30–80 CFS).
Flow phase: low.
Estimated clarity: clear.
Scoring reference: 30–80 CFS (manual). This is a model reference, not a flood-stage or wading assessment.
Water temperature is unavailable; this assessment has no temperature evidence.
Operational Outlook
Assessment
Fair water conditions.
Window
Put the next flow change alongside the basin weather and recent history. That’s where the useful planning picture comes together.
Weather Forecast & River Response
Weather forecast retrieved Nov 5, 4:01 AM EST.
Thursday: Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy, 63°F, wind SW 13 to 17 mph, precipitation chance 49%.
Thursday Night: Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers, 49°F, wind SW 6 to 12 mph, precipitation chance 32%.
Friday: Rain Showers, 56°F, wind SW 6 to 9 mph, precipitation chance 77%.
Friday Night: Rain Showers, 39°F, wind W 7 mph, precipitation chance 84%.
Low flow means less water to work with. The next rain could provide a useful pulse; watch the rainfall amounts and how this basin responds.
Conditions
Stored air temperature: 62.1°F.
Stored weather: Rain.
Stored wind: 8.1 mph SSW.
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
Silver Creek other seasonal fishing targets
Use the current flow, clarity, water temperature, and sky conditions to choose among the in-season targets. Structure and low-light timing can help narrow your plan.
Northern Pike
PeakWhere: cooler weed edges, connected backwaters, tributary mouths, and ambush lanes on Silver Creek.
Move: spinnerbaits, spoons, jerkbaits, and quick releases when water warms.
Species guide →Current read
Flow-estimated clarity is clear; visibility is unverified. Overall rating: Fair for steelhead. Use the graph below to time falling or stabilizing flows before committing a trip.
Email me when Silver Creek drops into shape
Get a one-line note the day flow + clarity dial in. No spam, just fishable conditions.
Free. One-click unsubscribe in every email.
You're on the list.
We'll email you the moment Silver Creek hits fishable flow + clarity. Tight lines.
7-Day Flow & Temperature
Flow distribution
1095-day history · n=2,194 · 85% confidence
Now vs history
27 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
30–80 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
2–3 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context:
Current flow is above typical for November.
November median on this river: 3 CFS
(n=105 hourly samples).
Historical flow-based clarity estimates
Clear
flow estimate
2–4 CFS typical
Middle to upper range:
Between the historical 50th and 80th percentiles; not evidence of fishing productivity.
Sample quantiles
|
Theoretical line
Fair fit — tails diverge (72%)
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 Silver Creek? Share your report.
Log catches, track your season, and help other anglers dial in current conditions. Your public angler profile lives at steelheadalmanac.com/u/you.
- Always free
- All 31 Alley rivers
- 30 seconds to join
Sign in to see reports shared with members. Anglers choose who can read each report.
No reports are available to you for Silver Creek.
Near Silver Creek
Local Fly Shops & Guides
Featured
Around The Bend Fly Fishing
Angola, NY · 10 mi
Tyler Hageman’s Around The Bend Fly Fishing offers guided walk-and-wade trips and fly-fishing lessons in Western New York’s Lake Erie watershed. The website highlights Cattaraugus Creek and fishing for steelhead, trout and smallmouth bass. Beginners can book a private Flyfishing 101 class covering casting and reading river water.
Canadaway Creek Outfitters
Fredonia, NY · 10 mi
Canadaway Creek Outfitters offers guided fishing in New York and Pennsylvania’s Steelhead Alley. Marty Klemann and Adam Trick guide fly and float anglers for lake-run steelhead, brown trout, salmon and spring smallmouth bass. Founded in 2005, the service offers half- and full-day trips for new and experienced anglers.
West’s Angling Adventures
Fredonia, NY · 12 mi
West’s Angling Adventures offers guided steelhead fishing on Lake Erie tributaries with Taylor West, based in Fredonia, New York. Its website names Chautauqua, Canadaway, Walnut and Conneaut creeks among the waters fished, with additional Ohio tributary options. Fly, spin and centerpin approaches are available. Taylor also offers inland trout trips in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.
Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters
Gowanda, NY · 13 mi
Steelhead-focused guided fly fishing on Cattaraugus Creek, one of New York’s premier Lake Erie tributaries. Also targets smallmouth bass, inland trout and carp.
Zoar Valley Canoe & Rafting
Gowanda, NY · 13 mi
Whitewater rafting and kayaking through Zoar Valley canyon on Cattaraugus Creek. Spring season March-June.
Bills Hooks
Dunkirk, NY · 13 mi
Bill’s Hooks is a Dunkirk tackle business with an online shop featuring fishing products such as worm harnesses and trolling tackle. Its website lists the store at 5139 West Lake Road and publishes 716-366-0268 for assistance.
Explore Silver Creek and nearby
Open in Explorer
Plan your trip to Silver Creek
Booking.com hotels & rental cars — affiliate links support the site at no extra cost.
Finding nearby places...
Sponsored · Booking.com
Hotels & rentals near Silver Creek
Compare availability and prices on the same inventory you'd see going direct.
Sponsored · Booking.com
Flying in? Compare rental cars
Booking.com aggregates the major brands at nearby airports.
No results found nearby.
Places data powered by Google Maps. Results cached for 7 days.
30-Day Statistics
Min Flow
1 CFS
Max Flow
8 CFS
Avg Flow
2 CFS
Min Temp
-
Max Temp
-
Avg Temp
-
7-Day Fishing Outlook
Quantitative precipitation coverage is incomplete. Rain chances do not establish rainfall amounts or future river flows.
Highest weather-only score: Friday. Check current water conditions separately; this is not a best-river or fishing-success forecast.
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 Almanac Briefing above for a complete picture.
Overnight — Angler's Report
fair fishing- A smaller rain amount is forecast. Check current flow and local visibility; weather alone does not confirm fish activity.
- Breezy conditions (16 mph SW) — adjust casting angles and expect some difficulty with line control.
NWS Forecast Detail
Overnight:
Rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southwest wind around 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Thursday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- A smaller rain amount is forecast. Check current flow and local visibility; weather alone does not confirm fish activity.
- Warmer air is forecast. Check an actual local water temperature before choosing a fishing window.
- Breezy conditions (17 mph SW) — adjust casting angles and expect some difficulty with line control.
NWS Forecast Detail
Thursday:
A chance of rain showers before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Southwest wind 13 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Thursday Night:
A chance of rain showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Southwest wind 6 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday — Angler's Report
good fishing- A smaller rain amount is forecast. Check current flow and local visibility; weather alone does not confirm fish activity.
- Warmer air is forecast. Check an actual local water temperature before choosing a fishing window.
NWS Forecast Detail
Friday:
Rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 56. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday Night:
Rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 39. West wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday — Angler's Report
good fishing- A smaller rain amount is forecast. Check current flow and local visibility; weather alone does not confirm fish activity.
NWS Forecast Detail
Saturday:
Rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 51. West wind 8 to 12 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday Night:
Rain showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Rainfall amount is unavailable or precipitation phase is mixed/frozen. Precipitation chance alone does not establish a river rise.
- Breezy conditions (18 mph W) — adjust casting angles and expect some difficulty with line control.
NWS Forecast Detail
Sunday:
A slight chance of rain showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 9 to 18 mph.
Sunday Night:
A chance of rain showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Rainfall amount is unavailable or precipitation phase is mixed/frozen. Precipitation chance alone does not establish a river rise.
- Breezy conditions (15 mph W) — adjust casting angles and expect some difficulty with line control.
NWS Forecast Detail
Monday:
A chance of rain showers before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night:
Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Tuesday — Angler's Report
fair fishing- Rainfall amount is unavailable or precipitation phase is mixed/frozen. Precipitation chance alone does not establish a river rise.
- Warmer air is forecast. Check an actual local water temperature before choosing a fishing window.
- Breezy conditions (17 mph SW) — adjust casting angles and expect some difficulty with line control.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tuesday:
A slight chance of rain showers between 7am and 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Tuesday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers between 7pm and 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Veterans Day — Angler's Report
good fishing- Rainfall amount is unavailable or precipitation phase is mixed/frozen. Precipitation chance alone does not establish a river rise.
NWS Forecast Detail
Veterans Day:
A slight chance of rain showers between 7am and 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
Forecast via NWS, updated 2 hours ago (Nov 5, 2026 4:01 AM EST). 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 Fluoroflex Strong Tippet, 100% Fluorocarbon Fly Fishing Tippet for Trout, Abrasion Resistant, Strong, & Knot Friendly, 100yd Guide Spool
$44.99
SF Clear Fluorocarbon Tippet Line Fly Fishing Tippets Leaders Trout 75M 100M 0X 1X 2X 3X 4X 5X 6X 7X
$8.79
QualyQualy Lighted Fishing Slip Bobber 4-5Pcs Wood/EVA Fish Float + 8-10Pcs Glow Sticks, Night Fishing Light Up Slip Bobber for Crappie Bass Panfish Catfish Walleye
$13.99
Okuma Celilo Salmon and Steelhead Lightweight Graphite Rods, CE-S-862MLb
$74.26
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More on Silver Creek
Recent Storm Events
- October 29-30 New York (Lake Erie) & New York (Lake Ontario) & Ohio Storm — Oct 29, 2026
- October 29 New York (Lake Erie) Storm — Oct 29, 2026
- October 11-12 Alley Storm — Oct 11, 2026
Species Profiles
- Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss
