NYS Archery Big Game Season Opens!
After weeks of dry weather and low stream flows along the five Chautauqua County tributary streams of Lake Erie that form Steelhead Alley here, the long-awaited rains and chilling temperatures have arrived. With the change in weather comes the first big push of steelhead and brown trout into Chautauqua County Creeks. For much of the early fall, the lake-run trout had been staging in Lake Erie, waiting for the chance to move upstream into the tributary creeks. Now, as water levels rise and water temperatures drop, anglers can look forward to some of the best action of the year in what’s known as “Steelhead Alley”- the legendary stretch of Lake Erie shoreline in Chautauqua County from Cattaraugus Creek to the New York-Pennsylvania state line.
The Steelhead alley streams include Cattaraugus Creek, Silver Creek, Walnut Creek, Canadaway Creek, and Chautauqua Creek, and all the tiny feeders of these creeks - the fish are there too. When the creeks run high and hard, the lower sections of these streams are turbid, the fish move up to the tiny feeders and clear water. A call to a local tackle shop or guide service, see below, will provide updates on the best time to fish here. These local guides, with their knowledge and experience, are your best bet for a successful fishing trip.
As creeks swell and color up, expect strong pushes of fresh steelhead into the lower reaches of each creek. Fish near the creek mouths and lower stream access areas like Chautauqua Creek in Westfield, Canadaway Creek in Dunkirk, and Silver Creek for easy access. One of the most popular tributary fishing hotspots located just south of Dunkirk, NY, is Canadaway Creek, where it meets Lake Erie. For a color map of Canadaway Creek from Lake Erie to Laona Falls, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/canadawaycreek.pdf. The Canadaway Creekmouth is a steelhead and brown trout entry point and offers easy, well-used angler walkway paths to the stream right from roadside parking on Route 5. The steelhead that enter Canadaway can swim as far as 6-miles upstream to Laona Falls, where they cannot swim the high falls there. Ask private owner permission to fish there.
Immediately after the rains, fall-run steelhead from Lake Erie savor a variety of baits, including brightly colored egg sacs, large streamers, and flashy spinners or spoons. Fly fishermen and spin-fishermen can both enjoy the fishing. Then three to five days after the heavy rains, clearing flows occur, the water drops and begins to clear, conditions become ideal with fish spreading to upper flows and settling into pools and runs. That’s when smaller natural offerings are best, including single eggs, nymphs, jigs under floats, micro-streamers, and similar baits. Water temperature is key, then turbidity. The clarity or cloudiness of the water affects how fish forage and how they find shelter and ambush areas, forcing visual orientation or scent preferences to feed.
Note that there is no closed season for trout and salmon in Lake Erie tributaries, but there are special seasonal regulations that do apply to ALL Lake Erie tributaries from Sept. 1 to Mar. 31. The special rules apply from the bridge closest to the mouth upstream to the first barrier impassable by fish. Fishing is allowed from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset (fishing at night is prohibited), and for hook size, the distance between a hook shaft and point cannot exceed 1/2 inch. Hooks attached to any artificial lure must be free- swinging, except on an artificial fly or jig. In addition, in Chautauqua Creek, from the bridge on South Gale Street upstream 1.3 miles to the upper Village of Westfield water intake dam, this is a catch and release zone for trout and salmon. Generally, for all Lake Erie tributaries of Chautauqua County, a 12-inch minimum size limit with a daily bag limit of 3 fish per person. Anglers can check the NYSDEC fishing regulations
at https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html. Catch/release is encouraged. Steelhead can live for decades.
Early Archery Big Game Season Opens: The New York State Southern Zone Early Big Game Archery Season for whitetail deer and black bear opened on October 1. It will run through November 14, the day before the NYS Southern Zone regular deer firearm season begins. The Southern Zone Regular Firearms (deer and bear) will run Nov. 15 – Dec. 7, followed by the late archery/muzzleloader season from Dec. 8 – Dec. 16; then, for deer only, the special late holiday season Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 (2026) in many wildlife management units. Archery gear (including crossbows) can also be used during any big game season.
The Hunters Moon usually follows the Harvest Moon (or Farmer’s Moon), and the Harvest Moon is the first full moon closest to the autumnal equinox (was Sep. 26 this year). So, the Harvest Moon occurred on October 6-7.
Since the Harvest Moon usually occurs in September, this year, there will be confusion on what to call the October Moon – Harvest Moon or Hunter’s Moon? Either way, the October moon was the first supermoon of the year. Supermoons appear larger and brighter due to their closer proximity to Earth, and if you’re out hunting early, these are great mornings to be in your tree stand – just for the visibility. The actual Hunter’s Moon by technical definition will take place on Nov. 5. According to the late Charlie Alshiemer, the peak rut for whitetail deer usually follows by five to seven days. Both the October and November full moon periods are expected to have rut activity that follows. Keep a keen eye!
Crossbows may now be used in all big game hunting seasons, where bowhunting is permitted, but always check the latest online syllabus. Hunting hours are from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
With any hunting implement, always be sure of your target and beyond. Respect private property boundaries, because with legal crossbow use in the early archery season, there will be a lot more hunters in the woods this year during the early season.
Some of the more recent regulation changes include print‐and‐email (paper) tags/licenses. The DEC changed the material for tags/licenses. Paper tags/licenses can now be received via email and printed at home, eliminating the need for special DEC paper stock. Backtags are no longer required; this was recently legislated for the 2025-2026 period. Good luck to everyone who is headed to the big game woods. Be careful. Be safe.
Stream Guides: Alberto Rey, Orvis-endorsed, 716-410-7003, www.albertorey.com; Julie Szur, Orvis-endorsed, 716-481- 6619, julieaszur@gmail.com, https://www.flyfishingjulieszur.com/; Marty Kleeman, 716-410-3720, Canadawaycreekoutfitters@yahoo.com, http://www.canadawaycreekoutfitters.com/.
Fish Reports: Mike Sperry, Chautauqua Reel Outdoors, 716-763-2947, www.chautauquareeloutdoors.com/; Hogan’s Hut, 716-789-3831; Gerry Begier, Bill’s Hooks, 716-366-0268, www.billshooks.com; Mike Nathan Queer, Westfield Bait & Tackle, 716-239-5062; Valley Outdoors, 716-595-3337, http://valleyoutdoorsinc.com/;
Fishing/Hunting/License Rules: https://www.dec.ny.gov/62.html.
Lake Erie Fishing Hotline: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9217.html.
Lodging: Enjoy late season rates: https://www.tourchautauqua.com/stay
The competition was fierce, but it was the team of Brandon and Gavin Guthrie (father-son), and Joe Dancho who emerged victorious. Their catch of three musky giants, including 45”, 44”, and 35” fish, secured their win. In second place, Doug Coney and Jim Schafer caught a 45” and 36” fish, While Chris Petro and Bobby Kish took third place with 36”, 35” and 33” muskies. The biggest fish award went to the Dave Commons and Blaine Bennett team with a true, thick 45” monster.
