Canadaway Creek

Fair

About Canadaway Creek

Canadaway Creek is a Lake Erie tributary in New York, draining a 30-square-mile watershed. The river is one of the actively-fished steelhead tributaries that make up Steelhead Alley — the south-shore Lake Erie steelhead fishery. Stocking and regulations are managed by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NY DEC).

The optimal fishing flow on Canadaway Creek is 40–100 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 75 CFS, computed from the last several years of USGS gauge readings. Steelhead enter the river from late September through early May, with peak runs typically in October–November and February–April.

Current conditions (live, updated every 15 minutes): flow 14 CFS, clarity clear. Steelhead Addiction's Guide's Report rates the river FAIR as of this reading.

Flow Rate
14
CFS
Gauge Height
2.13
ft
Water Temp
-
°F
Air Temp
52.2
°F
Clarity
Clear
Wind
6
mph SW

Last updated: 1 minute ago (6:15 AM EDT)

Guide's Report

fair smallmouth bass fishing

Based on current conditions as of Wed, Jun 3 at 6:15 AM EDT (1 minute ago)

Report generated 6:16:53 AM EDT

Running 14 CFS, water is clear. Not ideal, but persistent anglers find fish. Visibility is high. Stealth is your best friend. Yes Dear, Just One More Run.

Steelhead green DAWN DAWN DUSK 72° 72° 69° 62° 61° Sunset 8:49pm Solar Noon 1:15pm Dawn 5:07am Dusk 9:23pm Sunrise 5:41am Dawn 5:07am 14 CFS 🌖 91% Waning Gibbous N E S W 6 SW mph 30.30" inHg stable Now 6:16am
Canadaway Creek
Today's Weather: Fair SW 3mph
Coming up: Mostly Clear
Flow Rate
0 CFS · 2.13 ft
1th percentile · Very Low
24h trend
-11%
N E S W 6 SW mph wind 72h ago now High 111 Normal 75 Low 52 Flood 342 OPT 6h 24h 72h 2.13ft
Optimal window 40–100 CFS
Distance 26 CFS below optimal · 2.13ft
Clouds · 52°F · SW 6mph
30.30"
Guide says: Running 14 CFS, water is clear. Not ideal, but persistent anglers find fish. Visibility is high. Stealth is your best friend. Yes Dear, Just One More Run.
"Waiting on the Blowout Like It's Santa"

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

No rain in the forecast — flows will continue to drop. Fish deep pools and slow runs where smallmouth stack up in low water.

Summer Species on Canadaway Creek

Beyond steelhead — species actively targeted in Great Lakes tributaries right now.

See summer gear →

7-Day Flow & Temperature

Flow distribution

1095-day history · n=2,228 · 85% confidence

1th percentile · Low
6h 24h 72h 14 CFS 52 p25 75 p50 111 p75 OPTIMAL freq
Now vs history
26 CFS below optimal
Optimal window
40–100 CFS
Per-river researched optimal range
Typical range
52–111 CFS
25th–75th percentile
Seasonal context: Current flow is below typical for June. June median on this river: 16 CFS (n=56 hourly samples).
Clarity vs flow ranges
Steelhead Green likely now
43–70 CFS typical
Stained
62–101 CFS typical
Muddy
134–343 CFS typical
Low: Below typical — fish may be hugging deeper runs.
-2 -1 0 1 2 1438101264691 Theoretical z (standard normal) Sample flow (CFS)
Sample quantiles | Theoretical line Good fit (84%)

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.

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Near Canadaway Creek

Local Fly Shops & Guides Featured

Frank's Tackle

Erie, PA · 44 mi

tackle shop

Local bait and tackle shop serving Erie steelhead and walleye anglers.

Canadaway Creek Outfitters

Fredonia, NY · 2 mi

guide

Full-time licensed guides since 2005. Fly and float fishing for steelhead, browns, and salmon on NY and PA tribs.

Bills Hooks

Dunkirk, NY · 2 mi

tackle shop

Family-owned bait and tackle serving Erie and Chautauqua counties. Covers Dunkirk, Fredonia, Silver Creek, and Hamburg areas.

Westfield Charters Bait & Tackle

Westfield, NY · 14 mi

tackle shop

Bait, tackle, and Lake Erie charters for walleye, steelhead, and lake trout near Chautauqua Creek.

Around The Bend Fly Fishing

Angola, NY · 21 mi

guide

Certified instructor and award-winning angler. Walk-and-wade steelhead trips on 18 Mile Creek and other Erie tribs.

Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters

Gowanda, NY · 21 mi

outfitter

Guided steelhead and salmon trips on Cattaraugus Creek, one of NY's premier Lake Erie tributaries.

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30-Day Statistics

Min Flow
14 CFS
Max Flow
735 CFS
Avg Flow
75 CFS
Min Temp
-
Max Temp
-
Avg Temp
-

7-Day Fishing Outlook

Best day to fish: Friday — Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.

Friday 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.

Overnight — Angler's Report

fair fishing
  • Dry conditions — flows should remain stable. Good day to target tailouts and runs.

NWS Forecast Detail

Overnight: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Southwest wind around 3 mph.

Wednesday — 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

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 3 to 8 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southwest wind around 6 mph.

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 77. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind 2 to 8 mph.

Friday — Angler's Report

good fishing
  • Warm for steelhead season — focus on early morning when water is coolest.

NWS Forecast Detail

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 8 to 13 mph.
Friday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind 6 to 12 mph.

Saturday — 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

Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southwest wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday — 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

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

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 80.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Tuesday — 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

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

Forecast via NWS, updated 1 hour ago (5:04 AM EDT). Fishing ratings are estimates based on weather — always check current river conditions.

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