Smallmouth Bass
PeakWhere: 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 72 CFS, computed from the last several years of USGS gauge readings.
Current conditions (live, updated every 15 minutes): flow 15 CFS, clarity clear. Steelhead Addiction's Guide's Report rates the river FAIR as of this reading.
Flow Rate
15
CFS
Gauge Height
0.49
ft
Water Temp
-
°F
Air Temp
77.7
°F
Clarity
Clear
Wind
🌬 Calm
≤5 mph
Last updated: 2 minutes ago (10:45 AM 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 20 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 Jul 23, 10 am to Jul 26, 10 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
Over the last three days, 0.61" of rain landed and the Buffalo Creek answered. Flow climbed from 17 to 94 CFS over 9.0 hours, then started its drop-back. Water temp shifted held steady — that's the storm's footprint. Quiet sky on the way. Conditions should hold.
Lookback window Jul 19, 10 am to Jul 26, 10 am 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 Sun, Jul 26 at 10:45 AM EDT (2 minutes ago)
Report generated 10:48:05 AM EDT
Running 15 CFS, water is clear. Manage expectations, but don't stay home. Visibility is high. Stealth is your best friend. Not a Phase, Mom. A Discipline..
Buffalo Creek
Today's Weather: Good
81° 21% rain
SW 3mph
Coming up: Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And...
Flow Rate
0
CFS
·
0.49
ft
4th percentile · Very Low
Summer mode - skinny but moving
24h trend
↘
-10.5%
Summer fishability window
22–45 CFS
Current-month middle flow band for warm-water fishing
72h movement
sharp fall (-47.6%)
Distance
skinny but moving · 0.49ft
Low water — projection flat
Clouds
· 78°F
· WSW 2mph
29.88" ↘
Guide says:
Running 15 CFS, water is clear. Manage expectations, but don't stay home. Visibility is high. Stealth is your best friend. Not a Phase, Mom. A Discipline..
"Sunrise > Salary"
Flow is low — fish are stacked in the deepest pools and runs. Approach carefully, they spook easy.
Clear water — ideal for visual hunters like smallmouth. Long leaders, natural colors, and finesse presentations like drop-shots will produce.
How to Fish It
Fly/Lure Selection
Clear water demands finesse. 6-8lb fluoro, natural colored tubes (watermelon, green pumpkin), 3-inch drop-shot worms, or small swimbaits.
Where to Fish
Target boulder runs, bedrock pools, bridge pilings, and shaded banks where river smallies find cover.
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
Ned Rig
Catches fish that are willing to eat but not interested in chasing something loud.
Beginner
Neko Rig
Adds a different fall and bottom posture when Ned or wacky presentations are getting ignored.
Intermediate
Texas Rig
Gets a soft plastic through cover without turning every cast into salad.
Beginner
Drop Shot Rig
Keeps the bait in the strike zone without dragging it into every rock on the bottom.
Intermediate
Summer 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
PeakWhere: 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
PeakWhere: 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 smallmouth bass. 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.
Email me when Buffalo 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 Buffalo Creek hits fishable flow + clarity. Tight lines.
7-Day Flow & Temperature
Flow distribution
1095-day history · n=2,168 · 85% confidence
Now vs history
135 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
150–300 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
46–188 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context:
Current flow is below typical for July.
July median on this river: 29 CFS
(n=608 hourly samples).
Clarity vs flow ranges
Steelhead Green
likely now
45–147 CFS typical
Stained
318–446 CFS typical
Muddy
675–1,416 CFS typical
Low:
Below typical — fish may be hugging deeper runs.
Sample quantiles
|
Theoretical line
Good fit (88%)
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.
Log catches, track your season, and help other anglers dial in current conditions. Your public angler profile lives at steelheadaddiction.com/u/you.
- Always free
- All 31 Alley rivers
- 30 seconds to join
No angler reports yet for Buffalo Creek.
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.
Explore Buffalo Creek and nearby
Open in Explorer
Plan your trip to Buffalo Creek
Booking.com hotels & rental cars — affiliate links support the site at no extra cost.
Finding nearby places...
Sponsored · Booking.com
Hotels & rentals near Buffalo 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
14 CFS
Max Flow
160 CFS
Avg Flow
39 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 — Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
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- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Today:
Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tonight:
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday — Angler's Report
poor fishing- Heavy rain expected — river will likely blow out. Fish early before it rises or wait 24-48 hours after for the drop.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Monday:
A slight chance of rain showers between 8am and 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday Night:
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday — Angler's Report
poor fishing- Heavy rain expected — river will likely blow out. Fish early before it rises or wait 24-48 hours after for the drop.
- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Tuesday:
Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 78. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night:
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. North wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
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 showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. North wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday Night:
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Thursday — 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
Thursday:
Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Thursday Night:
Mostly clear, with a low around 60.
Friday — Angler's Report
good fishing- Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.
NWS Forecast Detail
Friday:
Sunny, with a high near 81.
Friday Night:
A slight chance of rain showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
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 slight chance of rain showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night:
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Forecast via NWS, updated 2 hours ago (8:03 AM 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.
Scientific Anglers Absolute Fluorocarbon Saltwater Tippet, 30M (16lb)
$16.85
Trout Magnet Phantom Fluorocarbon Leader - Ultra-Invisible, 100% Fluorocarbon Clear Leader Line (Tippet) for Trout & Clear Water Fishing - 50 Meter Spool
$7.95
Scientific Anglers Absolute Fluorocarbon Trout Tippet Assortment - 4X-6X
$49.95
Scientific Anglers Absolute Fluorocarbon Trout Tippet
$15.30
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More on Buffalo Creek
Recent Storm Events
- July 4 Alley Storm — Jul 4, 2026
- June 25-26 Alley Storm — Jun 25, 2026
- June 14-15 Alley Storm — Jun 14, 2026
Species Profiles
- Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu
