John Antone of Sanborn did it again in the Upper Niagara River, reeling in a 48-inch musky while fishing with Captain Chris Cinelli of Grand Island. Musky season closes Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Chris Cinelli
The Upper and Lower Niagara River is home to some big musky populations, and as colder months arrive, larger fish tend to move into the deeper, slower-moving sections of the river. They conserve energy that way and stay on a steady, constant feeding diet, especially when a cold front is moving in. That happens a lot in Western New York. That means the likelihood of landing a trophy-sized musky is good if your boat is ready. That’s the tricky part: put the boat in a heated garage or re-winterize it several times before the final stowage for the season. Ah, to think we had good ice forming in Ashville Bay based on the recent Mike Sperry report, a renowned local angler and musky expert, at Chautauqua Reel Outdoors and Guide Shop. Sperry usually has a year-end sale on musky baits and gift cards. Great holiday gifts.
The inland lake musky season ended Nov. 30 on Chautauqua Lake and other inland lakes, but the musky season for the New York portions of the Great Lakes continues through Dec. 15, when the season closes until next spring. Of course, the inland musky season opens on June 1, while the Great Lakes musky season opens on June 15, so the number of fishing days for each area is the same. In all, including the inland and Great Lakes waters, 13 lakes and 19 rivers have musky populations in New York state.
NYSDEC has done a good job managing the musky as a trophy fishery. While the Great Lakes grow larger fish with a minimum size of 54 inches, the minimum size on inland lakes is 40 inches. Most anglers catch, photo, and release their musky. Most anglers want to see the fishery continue to grow — the fish get bigger every growing season.
With inland lakes already starting their ice-forming process, warm Lake Erie has a long way to go before it really chills down. The warmer-than-usual Lake Erie temp is one of the reasons we are getting so much snow and rain right now. More snow is on the way, too. The fish also know that winter is on the way, and their seasonal patterns and behavior reflect it, especially muskies. In the Niagara River and Lake Erie Harbor, muskies become more concentrated around structures like drop-offs, channels, and deeper pools. While the fish are less active right now in December, when anglers focus on key feeding zones, the giants are easier to find because the big fish are concentrated on gorging up forage for winter storage. Additionally, recreational anglers and boaters have left the river due to the colder weather, and there is nobody on the water except the musky diehards — mostly charter guides. This quieter environment provides a more relaxed habitat for the musky, increasing the chances of a successful catch.
Overall, if anglers are able to get on the Niagara River right now, weather permitting, the reduced fishing pressure, seasonal concentration of baitfish, and the more predictable musky feeding behavior in December make the Upper and Lower Niagara River a prime spot for giant musky fishing. The safe way is to hire a licensed USCG-certified charter captain and go hook a giant. The charter captains know exactly where to go and what to use, and they have the right gear. To find a certified Upper Niagara charter captain, visit https://comefishlakeerie.com/captains/ and for the Lower Niagara, visit www.niagarafallsusa.com. With only three days left in the season, every moment counts … hold the wind, hold the snow.
Anglers from near and far are drawn to lure colors, giant lure sizes and the mystique of certain brands of musky fishing lures.
Photo courtesy of Zach Baker
For your calendar: Note that the New York Musky Expo 2025 will be held Feb. 1 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Feb. 2 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the new Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron. The entry fee is $12 for a single day, $18 for both days. There is a discount for veterans, firemen and police with valid identification. Up to two children under 12 are free, with each paying adult. Tickets can be purchased in advance at nymusky69@gmail.com.
Gotta love the outdoors.
CALENDAR
Nov. 23 to Jan. 19: Late Canada goose season — South Area. See syllabus.
Nov. 30 to Dec. 14: Pennsylvania regular (firearms) deer season. See https://www.pgc.pa.gov.
Dec. 9-17: NYS Southern Zone late big game season for archery, muzzleloader and crossbow.
Dec. 12: Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, monthly meeting, 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15: Last day of NYS Great Lakes musky season.
Dec. 26 to Jan. 1: NYS Southern Zone holiday deer hunt season for archery, muzzleloader and crossbow.
NOTE: Send Calendar info or related outdoor news to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.