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.

We are now on winter operating hours open 600AM till 500PM Mon thru Thu, 600AM till 600PM Fri and Sat, 600AM till 100PM Sun.

Thanks to rain and snowmelt over two weeks ago, the Oak Orchard and area tribs went high, blown and dirty. There was some initial ice jamming in the smaller tribs but those waterways blew open and are now icing back up thanks to a return to cold temps. There was both turbine and overflow water in the Oak Orchard but flows now consist of just turbine water. Flows are retreating in all the tribs now that cold weather has returned. Most of the area snowpack was lost but there has been on and off LESnow totaling a few inches so far. Heavier LESnow accummulations have been south of the area. Seasonable cold temps are forecast thru the week with highs in the 20's. There is an area wide snowstorm in the forecast for Tues and Wed with heaviest accummulations south of the area.

Cold temps have returned but flows were up and are now retreating with some fresh steelhead present in the waterways especially the Oak Orchard. Here on the WNY Niagara Frontier temps have dropped from the warmer temps of a couple weeks ago when the snowpack melted down significantly. There is the chance for new on and off LESnow. The snowpack that melted down and the rain made for some quick run off and higher flows. Now run off has tightened up and flows are dropping back down in the Oak Orchard. Any gains made in opening up the smaller waterways with the previous higher flows for fishable conditions will probably be mostly lost now that cold temps look like they will hang in for a while.

On the Oak Orchard flows have been dropping and clearing thru the past weekend. Before the last rise in flows anglers were seeing just a few fresh and mostly darker steelhead in the Oak Orchard. The last rise in flows brought in some fresh fish and moved around some of the post spawn brown trout. This past week and weekend anglers have got hook-ups on some fresh fish under what were nearly ideal conditions on the backside of the last higher flows. Lowering and clearing flows thru this week will make for more difficult fishing conditions. Jan is somewhat of an in-between time for steelhead before the usual Feb/Mar runs so the good action now could mean better action yet for the rest of the winter and spring season. 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. Consistent fishable conditions without ice and/or slush will be the largest obstacle to hook-ups on the smaller waterways thru the winter.

The area is receiving timely precip so far this winter season. That's nice timing on the backside of losing the Erie Canal drainage water. Good water flows help keep steelhead action underway in the Oak Orchard. Cold weather wont affect the steelhead action as much in the Oak Orchard as the smaller area waterways. Downstream slower slack water areas in the Oak Orchard can freeze over with cold temps but upstream fast water areas rarely if ever freeze over except for some edge and bank ice.

The fishing pressure is generally light. Weekends and mild temps will bring a few more guys out. Anglers who will do well are those who can make good, slow drifts in the colder and/or higher flows. 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 will only help along trout migrations. More precip for increased flows with mild and not bitter cold temps is a nice scenario for winter action, especially if any warm-ups coincide with fishable trib conditions. Weather and water flows now thru the winter will be the most important factor in fishing action. Anglers are not likely to notice lots of fish on the move this time of year like what is more easily seen under low and clear fall flows, but steelhead should be present and reward anglers who get out under the more challenging fishing conditions. Check out the latest catch photos below.

Oak Orchard River flows are at mod - med levels with just slightly stained water color of about 3 - 4 feet of viz. Flows are going toward clear. Flows have been retreating from full bore turbine water, although thru the mid part of last week flows had gone back up a bit. There is no significant overflow water and turbine flows may fluctuate some due to hydro power operations. Flows should continue to drop and clear as the cold weather hangs in. The other area smaller area tribs have low flows and mostly clear water color. Right now those waterways are icing back up and could be running slushy with any snowfall. There may be some select open spots to fish. Reports from 18 Mile Creek at Burt dam are patchy due to a general lack of fishing pressure, but it should be similar to the Oak Orchard situation - hook up opportunities on some steelhead and a few browns as reasonable flow conditions allow. Consistent cold weather will bring the Genesee River back around from high and off color flows for some steelhead action as long as open water is available to fish.

Prospects look good for the remaining trib season. Steelhead fishing this winter and spring has the potential to be real good since 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