Niagara River Fishing
Access sites, seasons and guides on Niagara River from New York.
Pick for black bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo of Lake Erie: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Say hello to Niagara River
Niagara River reaches New York along Erie County and Niagara County, where it serves as a connecting river. Anglers on it work for black bass, brown trout, rainbow trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, lake trout, brook trout, northern pike and walleye, among the species DEC regulates.
Access listed on this page: 18 launches, 0 piers, 0 shore sites, 0 GNIS harbors, 0 tributaries.
USGS GNIS, DEC launch, fishing access and marine access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
For the black bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 Open-to-all launches on Niagara River
Launch sites along Niagara River
- Beaver Island Launchboat launch
- Big Six Mile Creek Marinaboat launch
- Niagara River (lower) access, Niagara County (north)hard surface ramp, 30 parking spaces; managed by Municipal
- Niagara River (lower) access, Niagara County (south)hard surface ramp, 30 parking spaces; managed by Municipal
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (east)hard surface ramp, 55 parking spaces; managed by Municipal
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (east)hard surface ramp, 32 parking spaces; managed by Municipal
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (east)hard surface ramp, 43 parking spaces; managed by Municipal
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (north)hand launch, 15 parking spaces; managed by Oprhp
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (south)hand launch, 50 parking spaces; managed by Oprhp
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (south)hand launch, 15 parking spaces; managed by Oprhp
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (south)hand launch, 20 parking spaces; managed by Oprhp
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (south)hand launch, 15 parking spaces; managed by Oprhp
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (south)hard surface ramp, 25 parking spaces; managed by Municipal
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (west)hand launch, 40 parking spaces; managed by Oprhp
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (west)hand launch, 30 parking spaces; managed by Oprhp
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (west)hard surface ramp, 33 parking spaces; managed by Oprhp
- Niagara River (upper) access, Niagara County (east)hard surface ramp, 24 parking spaces; managed by Municipal
- Niagara River (upper) access, Niagara County (west)hard surface ramp, 45 parking spaces; managed by Municipal
DEC boat launch, fishing access and marine access layers, NYS Parks launches, USGS GNIS, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Level and tide gauges on Niagara River
NOAA CO-OPS Great Lakes water levels reading for Ashland Ave (IGLD85), recorded October 24, 2026; retrieved October 24, 2026. Values are provisional.
NOAA CO-OPS Great Lakes water levels reading for American Falls (IGLD85), recorded October 24, 2026; retrieved October 24, 2026. Values are provisional.
NOAA CO-OPS Great Lakes water levels reading for Niagara Intake (IGLD85), recorded October 24, 2026; retrieved October 24, 2026. Values are provisional.
Each NOAA station on Niagara River gives its latest water level and datum.
Seasons and creel rules on Niagara River
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bass (north of Peace Bridge) | Statewide | Statewide regulations |
| Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (incl. Steelhead), Coho Salmon, Chinook Sal | 3 in any combination | All year |
| Lake Trout | 1; minimum 12" | All year |
| Brook Trout | 5 | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Northern Pike | 5; minimum 22" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 6; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge | 1; minimum 54" | Jun 15 – Dec 15 |
| Lake Sturgeon | No harvest | Closed |
| Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (incl. Steelhead), Coho Salmon, Chinook Sal | 3 in any combination; no more than 1 Atlantic salmon, 2 rainbow trout (steelhead) or 2 lake trout; minimum 15", except Rainbow Trout 21" | All year |
| Lake Trout | see DEC rules; except only 1 may be 25" to 30" | Dec 1 – Sep 30 |
| Atlantic Salmon | see DEC rules; minimum 25" | All year |
| Brook Trout | 5 | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge | 1; minimum 54" | Jun 15 – Dec 15 |
| Northern Pike | 5; minimum 22" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 1; minimum 18" | Jan 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 3; minimum 18" | May 1 – Dec 31 |
| Lake Sturgeon, American Eel | No harvest | Closed |
The DEC Niagara rows, upper and lower river, are shown for Niagara River.
The New York side of the Great Lakes and their tributaries is covered by the ordinary DEC freshwater license, with no extra stamp: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, or $5.00 and $10.00 for one day.
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations (statewide table effective April 1, 2026), retrieved October 24, 2026, figures checked against the DEC pages October 25, 2026. All New York limits.
Stocking tallies for Niagara River
From 2023 on, DEC logged 20 releases into Niagara River.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Brown Trout | planned spring 2026 | 1 | 37,100 | 8 inches |
| 2025 | Chinook | stocked | 2 | 115,000 | 3.2 in, 3.9 in |
| 2025 | Brown Trout | stocked | 2 | 77,640 | 3.4 in, 8.3 in |
| 2025 | Steelhead | stocked | 2 | 54,088 | 5.27 in, 6.2 in |
| 2024 | Brown Trout | stocked | 3 | 135,220 | 3.6 in, 3.7 in, 8.7 in |
| 2024 | Chinook | stocked | 1 | 90,000 | 3.7 in |
| 2024 | Steelhead | stocked | 2 | 65,380 | 4.6 in, 5.4 in |
| 2024 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 23,200 | 1.2 in |
| 2023 | Chinook | stocked | 2 | 117,740 | 3.1 in, 4 in |
| 2023 | Steelhead | stocked | 2 | 39,974 | 4.9 in, 5.8 in |
| 2023 | Brown Trout | stocked | 1 | 35,000 | 8.9 in |
| 2023 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 23,200 | 1 in |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and DEC Current Season Spring Trout Stocking, 2026 (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 24, 2026.
DEC record entries for Niagara River
| Species | Weight | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass, White | 3 lb. 8 oz. | Morgan Fonzi | 2020 |
DEC current state record fish table, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Fishing guides who work Niagara River
Marinas and bait counters by Niagara River
- Big Six Mile Creek Marinamarina, Erie, 2 miles
- Main Dockmarina, Erie, 3 miles
- Anchor Marinamarina, Erie, 3 miles
- Secondary Dockmarina, Erie, 3 miles
- Winter Boat Storagemarina, Erie, 4 miles
- North Tonawanda Marinamarina, Niagara, 4 miles
- Lake Effect Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Buffalo, 5 miles
- Harbour Place Marinamarina, Erie, 6 miles
- Rich's Marinamarina, Erie, 7 miles
- Rich Marine Salesmarina, Erie, 7 miles
- West Canal Marinamarina, Erie, 8 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 640 Alberta Drivesporting goods store, Amherst, 8 miles
DEC licensed guide list (business name and county), OpenStreetMap and DEC license agent shop listings, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Next to Niagara River on the map
- Lake ErieGreat Lake
- Lake OntarioGreat Lake
- St. Lawrence Riverconnecting river
Piscifun picks for fishing Niagara River
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
The fish of Niagara River, pictured one by one
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
Niagara River, asked and answered for Empire State anglers
Do visitors need a license on Niagara River?
The New York side of the Great Lakes and their tributaries is covered by the ordinary DEC freshwater license, with no extra stamp: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, or $5.00 and $10.00 for one day.
How do I launch on Niagara River?
18 launches are listed on this page, among them Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (west), Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (north) and Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (west).
Which fish can I target on Niagara River?
Black bass, brown trout, rainbow trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, lake trout, brook trout, northern pike, walleye and muskellunge, tiger muskellunge.
Which piers reach out over Niagara River?
0 piers and 0 other shore sites are listed.
Are there charters on Niagara River?
No guide business on the DEC list names it; nearby shops are listed instead.
Where is the tide or level for Niagara River?
3 NOAA stations print their latest reading in the water level band.
What shoreline counties face Niagara River?
Erie County and Niagara County.
Which walleye season applies on Niagara River?
1; minimum 18"; Jan 1 – Mar 15.
Which lake trout season applies on Niagara River?
see DEC rules; except only 1 may be 25" to 30"; Dec 1 – Sep 30.
Make room for Niagara River on the calendar
Check the tide or level, then the limits.