Fishing near Buffalo, New York
Erie County, population 278,349.
- 37 milesto nearest lake
- 8launches nearby
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
What a Buffalo base gets an angler
Buffalo is a city in Erie County, home to 278,349 people at the 2020 Census. Lime Lake lies roughly 37 miles southeast of town, the closest lake page. Among nearby lakes, Silver Lake, Wyoming County is largest at 863 acres. Lake Erie access, Erie County (north), 2 miles off, is the nearest launch on record. It is around 2 miles to Lake Erie.
Waterport Pond is the nearest of 2 lakes nearby where DEC lists walleye. A 10 miles drive puts you on Cayuga Creek and its DEC trout reaches. Eighteen Mile Creek angler parking E-13, Eighteen Mile Creek 1, roughly 13 miles off, is the closest shore access. DEC lists 21,320 fish stocked in 2025 in waters close to town.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Buffalo; distances are straight lines.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Still water close to Buffalo
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lime Lake | 37 miles southeast | 151 | 1 | ice fishing allowed, stocked | largemouth bass, sunfish, yellow perch |
| Waterport Pond | 42 miles northeast | 215 | 1 | ice fishing allowed, stocked | smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, sunfish |
| Silver Lake, Wyoming County | 44 miles east | 863 | 1 | ice fishing allowed, stocked | largemouth bass, sunfish, yellow perch |
Stream pages close to Buffalo
- Buffalo River2 miles
- Cayuga Creek10 miles, Stocked 1.6 mi; 2,220 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (70.5 acres)
- Tonawanda Creek, Niagara County13 miles
- Eighteen Mile Creek, Erie County13 miles
- Eighteenmile Creek14 miles, Stocked 1 mi; 440 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (67.9 acres)
- Little Buffalo Creek15 miles, Stocked 2.2 mi; 870 trout stocked
NYS Hydrography lakes, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes species column and DEC trout reaches, retrieved October 2026.
Where to fish around Buffalo, on the map
- Lake Erie access, Erie County (north)Lake Erie, 2 miles
- Public Launch on Buffalo RiverBuffalo River, 2 miles
- Lake Erie access, Erie County (east)Lake Erie, 3 miles
- Buffalo Harborboat launch, 3 miles
- Public Launch on Buffalo River near SloanBuffalo River, 4 miles
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (south)Niagara River (upper), 4 miles
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (east)Niagara River (upper), 6 miles
- Niagara River (upper) access, Erie County (south)Niagara River (upper), 6 miles
Casting from land around Buffalo
- Eighteen Mile Creek angler parking E-13, Eighteen Mile Creek 1Eighteen Mile Creek, 13 miles
- Eighteenmile Creek fishing access parking 3Eighteenmile Creek, 13 miles
- Eighteen Mile Creek angler parking E-13, Eighteen Mile Creek 3Eighteen Mile Creek, 14 miles
- Eighteenmile Creek fishing access parkingEighteenmile Creek, 14 miles
- Eighteenmile Creek fishing access parking 2Eighteenmile Creek, 14 miles
- Eighteen Mile Creek angler parking E-13, Eighteen Mile Creek 2Eighteen Mile Creek, 14 miles
DEC launches and fishing sites, DEC marine access layers, retrieved October 2026.
Great Lakes and salt water near Buffalo
- Lake Erie2 miles to the nearest listed access
- Niagara River4 miles to the nearest listed access
- Lake Ontario27 miles to the nearest listed access
Distances to the nearest DEC launch or access point on each water.
What DEC released near Buffalo in 2025
| Water | Species | Fish |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo River | Steelhead | 7,500 |
| Waterport Pond | Walleye | 6,600 |
| Cayuga Creek | Steelhead | 5,000 |
| Cayuga Creek | Rainbow Trout | 2,000 |
| Cayuga Creek | Brown Trout | 220 |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), data.ny.gov, for the lake and stream pages nearest Buffalo; retrieved October 2026.
USGS gauges near Buffalo
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Creek At Gardenville Ny | 17 cfs, 0.55 ft gage height | Oct 25 6:15 pm |
| Cazenovia Creek At Ebenezer Ny | 16 cfs, 2.35 ft gage height | Oct 25 6:00 pm |
| Ellicott Creek Below Williamsville Ny | 28 cfs, 1.84 ft gage height | Oct 25 6:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 25, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Supplies near Buffalo
Where to grab bait before Buffalo
- Erie Basin Marinamarina, Erie, 2 miles
- Cazenovia Community Boating Centermarina, Buffalo, 2 miles
- Buffalo Coast Guard Slipmarina, Erie, 2 miles
- Russ's Tackle Shop, Incbait and tackle shop, Buffalo, 3 miles
- NFTA Small Boat Harbormarina, Erie, 3 miles
- Rich Marine Salesmarina, Erie, 4 miles
- Rich's Marinamarina, Erie, 4 miles
- Harbour Place Marinamarina, Erie, 4 miles
DEC license sellers close to Buffalo
- Nysdec Region 9 BuffaloBuffalo, 1 mile
- Russ's Tackle Shop, IncBuffalo, 3 miles
- City of LackawannaLackawanna, 5 miles
- Town of TonawandaKenmore, 5 miles
- Cabela'sCheektowaga, 5 miles
OpenStreetMap shops, DEC license issuing agents and the DEC licensed guide list (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 2026.
Event dates for Buffalo anglers
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 26, 2026 | Southtowns Walleye Association one-day Walleye Tournament (2026) | Lake Erie | Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York |
| July 31, 2026 | Con Club Walleye Tournament (2026) | Lake Erie | Con Club |
| June 13, 2026 | Southtowns Walleye Tournament (42nd annual 9-day, 2026) | Lake Erie | Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York |
| 2026, date not printed | Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Lake Erie (2026) | Lake Erie | B.A.S.S. |
Organizer schedule and results pages for Erie County events, checked October 2026.
Keeper rules around Buffalo
Anyone 16 or older fishing fresh water carries a license, $25.00 for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, $5.00 for seniors 70 and up. For a weekend there are 1-day ($5.00 or $10.00) and 7-day ($12.00 or $28.00) licenses.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout in inland trout streams (Apr 1 to Oct 15) | 5, no more than 2 longer than 12" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Trout in inland trout streams (Oct 16 to Mar 31) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Oct 16 – Mar 31 |
| Brown and rainbow trout, splake in lakes and ponds | 5, no more than 2 longer than 12" | All year |
| Brook trout in lakes and ponds | 5 | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Lake trout | 3; minimum 21" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30) | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Dec 1 to Jun 14) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Northern pike | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Chain pickerel | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Black and white crappie | 25; minimum 10" | All year |
| Yellow perch | 50 | All year |
| Sunfish | 25 | All year |
| American eel | 25; minimum 9" | All year |
DEC 2026 Freshwater Fishing Regulations (web pages), statewide inland table, checked October 25, 2026. Lake pages show special rules.
Places bordering Buffalo
Places to sleep within reach of Buffalo
- Sloan3 miles
- Kenmore5 miles
- Lackawanna5 miles
- Cheektowaga6 miles
- Eggertsville6 miles
County guides sharing Buffalo
- Erie CountyDEC Region 9
Reels and pliers from Piscifun for Buffalo trips
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Camera views of lakes and streams around Buffalo
Photo: Gogerr, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
A fishing weekend based in Buffalo, explained
What still water suits Buffalo anglers best?
Lime Lake, 37 miles southeast.
What launch lies nearest Buffalo?
Lake Erie access, Erie County (north), about 2 miles off.
Which shore site do Buffalo anglers walk to first?
Closest: Eighteen Mile Creek angler parking E-13, Eighteen Mile Creek 1, 13 miles.
Which tackle store is the shortest drive from Buffalo?
Erie Basin Marina, 2 miles from town.
Which DEC lake list near Buffalo includes walleye?
Waterport Pond, 42 miles away, is the nearest with walleye.
What New York county holds Buffalo?
Erie County covers it.
What trout stream page is nearest Buffalo?
Cayuga Creek, 10 miles away (Stocked 1.6 mi; 2,220 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (70.5 acres)).
What trout rules apply near Buffalo?
April 1 to October 15 for keeping trout on streams, then catch and release on artificials.
What does an out-of-state visitor to Buffalo pay the DEC?
Visitors can buy a $10.00 one-day, $28.00 seven-day or $50.00 annual license.
Is there stocked water near Buffalo?
Yes: in 2025 DEC stocked 21,320 fish nearby, the most steelhead in Buffalo River (7,500).
Fish out of Buffalo this season
Lake pages list species, launches and stocking.