Special Winter Rod and Reel Sale going on NOW! Instead of our everyday savings of 10% OFF on any rod/reel combos you can take 10% OFF on any rod OR reel alone and then if you purchase a combo (both rod and reel) you can take 20% OFF that more expensive second item. Watch for the updated list of tackle available coming on the Big Tackle Sale Red Button or just give us a call 585 682 4546.

Be sure to visit Carlton's Four Season Restaurant just next door to Orleans Outdoor to the north. Outstanding dining by executive chef/owner Steven and great hospitality by owner Sandy. Full bar open for your enjoyment. Ask about our dining gift certificates. Open Monday thru Saturday.

The Sportsmen Archer's Club Fly Fishing Catch and Release Contest was held Oct 21 - 23. Everyone surely enjoyed the great hospitality and comradorie of the Archer's Club. Their cooperation with out of the area fishermen is greatly appreciated by all. Join them next year Oct 20 - 22, 2010.

The slow melt off stalled some the past weekend thanks to cold nights, but this weeks forecast is promising with warmer temps and precip forecasted for the end of the week and weekend. There is no blow out event yet but the tribs are coming up thru this week with temps in the 40's and near 50 F with the chance for precip. The Oak Orchard is wide open to fish from the dam to the downstream slack water and a few steelhead are being hooked up. A greater push of water should bring in some fresh fish that will waste little time going toward the spawning gravel. The smaller waterways are mostly opened up in their upstream reaches, there is still some bank ice and downstream ice cover. Finally now here for the begin of Mar there are some signs of a gradual loosening of the colder weather with highs through this week forecasted in the 40's F. There is a nice batch of wet area wide snow of approx 1 foot that as it melts will mean good trib flows. It has been a gradual melt down so far but according to the forecast it looks like it will pick up some steam this week. For now Oak Orchard flows consist of just turbine water.

This weeks weather should usher in some early spring fishing conditions. The WNY Niagara Frontier is looking toward another melt off of the most recent snowfall thru this week to hopefully combat the relatively dry late winter. There are slow gains made in opening up the smaller waterways everyday now with lengthening daylight. Sometime by the end of week or upcoming weekend flows will likely be enough to blow open completely the area smaller tribs especially in their downstream reaches.

The last rise in flows over a month ago brought in some fresh fish and moved around some of the post spawn brown trout in the Oak Orchard. Anglers got hook-ups on some fresh fish under what were nearly ideal conditions on the backside of the last higher flows. Check out the first couple new fish pics below. That good action in late Jan/early Feb could mean good action again now for Mar on the next rise in flows with new steelhead migrations. Erie Canal drainage water has run out but if precip and/or snowmelt with milder temps prevail then anglers will find good high fishable flows in the Oak Orchard with steelhead and a few browns catchable thru the rivercourse from the dam to the downstream slack water. Fishable conditions without ice will be the largest obstacle to hook-ups on the smaller waterways as spring approaches.

The area had been receiving timely precip this past winter season thru Jan. That was nice timing on the backside of losing the Erie Canal drainage water. Then flows went low and clear thru Feb. The change in the weather occurring now should mean good water flows to help keep steelhead action underway in the Oak Orchard thru the spring.

The fishing pressure is generally light. Weekends and mild temps will bring a few more guys out as was evidenced this past weekend on the Oak Orchard. Anglers who will do well are those who can make good, slow and light line drifts in colder/clearer flows. With a slow warming of water temps and rise in flows with fresh or spawning fish, a swung fly or similar presention on a heavier leader should also be productive. The fishing action will be mostly for steelhead and a few browns. Any higher water flows in the Oak Orchard can draw fish. Any higher flows in the Oak Orchard also make for more difficult drifting conditions for the average angler who is used to low and clear fall flows. BUT - good (read high) water flows are the number one trigger for trout and salmon migrations so anglers who can still make good slow drifts will enjoy the best fishing under higher and off color flows, especially steelhead. Fly anglers can take a cue from float fishermen who do pretty well by making good, checked (slow), natural, dead drifts. Chances are best now for spawned out browns and newly migrating or staged up steelhead.

Any more precip and mild weather with higher flows will help along trout migrations. More precip for increased flows with mild and not bitter cold temps is a nice scenario for late winter/spring action, especially if any warm-ups coincide with fishable trib conditions. Weather and water flows are usually the most important factor in steelhead fishing action for the winter and spring.

Oak Orchard River flows are at med - slightly high levels with mostly clear water color. Flows are on a slow rise now with some new late winter run off. Flows should continue to rise more thru this week week and go off color with any precip or quicker melt off. There is no significant overflow water yet and turbine flows may fluctuate some due to hydro power operations. There is still ice cover on Lake Alice but it is softening some each day under the sun and warmer temps. The other area smaller area tribs have slightly high flows and slightly stained water color. Right now those waterways are opening up. A push of water coupled with warmer temps will be needed to completely blow open the smaller waterways. Reports from 18 Mile Creek at Burt dam indicate that some steelhead are being caught, generally the situation there should be similar to the Oak Orchard or a little bit ahead. There should be hook up opportunities on some steelhead and a few browns as reasonable flow conditions allow. The previous cold weather brought the Genesee River back around from high and off color flows for some steelhead action. A warm-up and/or precip will bring that waterway back high and dirty as it usually does toward late winter and early spring.

Prospects look good for the remaining trib season. Steelhead fishing this spring has the potential to be real good. This past winter in mid Jan there was good fishing on the backside of high water in the Oak Orchard and lake trollers came across good catches of robust, well fed fish weighing in the teens+ last summer. Stay tuned and get in on all the great tributary and lakeshore fishing action for the fall, winter and spring!

What does the Oak Orchard River, Lake Ontario and WNY offer? The chance to fish from your own two feet for trout and salmon you measure in pounds, not inches, for 7 - 9 months depending upon weather and water conditions. Sure these recent economic times may make it more difficult to make a fishing trip to WNY. We would point out though, that a day or few day trip here to the Oak Orchard River and WNY to fish for World Class trout and salmon is still easily the best bargain in trophy fishing. The working man's big trout and salmon trip is still here, and it's not even a contest compared to the other exotic, far off angling destinations. The 2008/2009 trib season prospects look good too so come out and experience some big fish action. We believe our web reports are the straightest poop by far about Oak Orchard and most WNY conditions. We are living and experiencing all the fishing action directly or thru trusted reports of other die hard anglers as it happens, so consider a fishing trip here to the Oak Orchard or any of the other WNY tribs this 2008/2009 trib season. Orleans Outdoor and the angling opportunities here are still easily the best value in trout and salmon sportfishing.

So how do you know if trophy trout and salmon will be catchable upon your travels to the Oak Orchard and WNY area? All the best web info, bulletin boards, angler skill and top notch equipment cannot replace getting out there and actually fishing! The nuances of fish migrations is an inexact science and we cannot predict the future. Fish as soon as reasonable conditions allow instead of waiting for supposed better conditions that may or may not materialize. Be one of the lucky few that experiences good fishing as it takes place instead of hearing that famous quote, "you should have been here yesterday!"

Tight lines and smooth drags!
Licorice Man