Freestone · Shale · New York

Cattaraugus Creek

New York's premier Lake Erie steelhead stream — a big creek running partly through the Seneca Nation's land, with a strong wild-and-stocked run and a long season.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

90% confidence in this read
Water temperature for steelhead
Ideal
12°C est.ideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for steelhead
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time8013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity5212% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
12.3°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
22°C
Wind
W 17 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1025 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for steelhead
When
Steelhead Oct–Apr; slow to clear after big rain
Where
New York's premier Lake Erie steelhead stream — a big creek running partly through the Seneca Nation's land, with a strong wild-and-stocked run and a long…
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Local fly shopsChagrin River Outfitters·East End Angler·Elk Creek Sports Shop
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • New York licence; the reach through Seneca Nation territory requires a tribal permit — confirm before fishing
  • Verify NY DEC rules
  • Introduced/wild sport fishery.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

New York's premier Lake Erie steelhead stream — a big creek running partly through the Seneca Nation's land, with a strong wild-and-stocked run and a long season. Clay-influenced, so it takes its time to clear, but it holds a lot of fish and a lot of water.

  • Shale
Other water nearby · 1