Lodging dates are available for summer 2009, call soon to reserve. Lots of good fishing for steelhead, salmon and brown trout ahead. Reservations now accepted for Fall 2009.

FISHING STIMULUS SALE extended through summer! Fly rod/reel combos receive free flyline and can take an additional 5% OFF the below discounts!

For example Ed from PA just purchased a great GLoomis fly rod and reel outfit and he is excited about using it this upcoming trib season. Here's how much he saved by getting 30% off the rod, 25% off the reel, a fly line for free and not having to pay sales tax... reg price $590.65 - Ed paid $348.70 - he saved $241.95!

Click on the red BIG TACKLE SALES button above or on the home page. This is truly a unique opportunity to purchase fly rods/reels or float & spin rods/reels at unbelievable savings. We are overstocked with 50+ rods and reels and want to sell these quality items to you. Nineteen (19) items sold already, don't miss this chance for some great gear!

Here's how it works...
Buy a rod OR reel get 20% OFF the reg price.
Buy a rod AND reel get 25% OFF the second item reg price. (you can take 25% OFF the more expensive rod or reel.)
Buy a rod AND reel AND line get 30% OFF the line reg price.

Careful and custom set-up for you. Please call soon to order your new rods and reels while they are available. Our goal is to empty the rack for the summer off season.

Thanks to all who helped for the Oak Orchard River spring clean-up on Sat, Apr 18. Volunteers included John, Cheyrl and Josh from Lake Alice Cottages, D. Agness, Professor John and the Licorice Man who picked up trash along the stream from the Waterport dam to the Archer's Club and the Town of Carlton parking area.

We are now on summer operating hours. The shop is open Thur, Fri, Sat and Sun. Lodging is still available everyday and all calls and messages will be returned daily.

Our last end of April Oak Orchard and trib report...
Oak Orchard turbine flows are so far hanging in at slightly better fishable levels compared to other smaller waterways. Water color has been mostly clear with 3+ feet of visibility, but now turning back a little more stained. The rain and cool temps earlier this week perked flows up only slightly. Now seasonal Erie Canal water feed will be commencing with the Canal being filled for the summer season, so flows may increase slightly and go a little off color. There has been an unseasonable warm-up thru weekend. A slight blip back to cooler temps today and the area received some thunderstorms last night. Some smallmouth bass have begun their spawning migration. Anglers can target these fiesty fighters now before the season opener on a catch and release basis. Anglers can still get in on some late season action with a few steelhead hookups too. Anglers might intercept some drop back fish or be lucky enough to come across a few fresh steelhead. Rivermouth and shoreline casting action is underway with spoon casters taking advantage of slowly warming in-shore waters. The action is mostly for hungry brown trout with a few cohos or steelhead in the mix. Persistent east or north winds can make for slower action.

The last of the steelhead action in the Oak Orchard should continue on any mod - med or greater flows coupled with cool weather thru April. This weekend's hot weather may just about cap off the last decent steelhead action in the Oak Orchard and smaller tribs. Any remaining fish seem to be in the middle reaches of the river near fast water gravel areas or dropping back into temporary holding lies in the downstream, slower, slack water. Look for mod turbine flows thru the weekend. Any more precip could bring flows higher and dirtier. Water temps have been around the low 50's F and will begin to climb with warmer weather. Earlier higher water temps put plenty of fish on gravel with spawning already complete for most fish. Suckers are fairly numerous and smaller, fresh jack steelhead are also being caught.

Each of the high water events since Jan encouraged some fresh steelhead migrations and redistributed a few browns and darker steelhead thru all the tribs. The last high flows about two weeks ago perked the action back up in the smaller waterways for what now looks like the last bit of spring time action. Anglers can also look toward the larger tribs like the Cattaraugus, Niagara or Genesee Rivers hanging on to some late season opportunities. Check out the pics below of some steelhead action from earlier late winter high and off color flows.

Thru the past week anglers making the typical dead drifts were into some hook-ups on a few fresh and dropback fish mixed in on the Oak Orchard. Warming water temps also offer the chance at shallower swung fly presentations. Trib temps will warm-up on lowering flows, longer days and any sunny warm weather. There are rising and off color flows in the overflow channel of the Oak Orchard whenever turbine flows cannot keep up with the water flow thru the Waterport reservior. Anglers might consider re-releasing any fish caught there back into the turbine channel to prevent fish from getting stranded and dying later this spring/summer.

Overall the fishing pressure has been light. Weekends and milder temps are bringing only a few more anglers out and about. Some anglers are now pursuing 8 - 10 inch trout in their home waters instead of getting out for the last of the trib season 8 - 10 pounders! Mod - med or greater and cool flows in the tribs will prolong and spread out the fishing action. Low and clear and warming flows will stall migrations and bring the dropbacks thru seeking cooler Lake waters.

Flows in the Oak Orchard are mod with slightly stained visibility of about 2 - 3 feet. Flows consist of turbine water. Any more precip could raise flows back up. The downstream, slower slack water is open and Lake Ontario levels are rebounding quickly leading to deeper, ponded water in the downstream reaches. The other area smaller tribs have mod flows and just slightly stained water color. Thunderstorms thru last night will cause a small increase in water flows with some color to the water.

Sportman's Archers Club of St. Mary's Catch and Release Fly Fishing Contest on Oct 21, 22 and 23, 2009. Youth division added for 2008. Come experience the fun and hospitality of the Archers Club and join them for the three day contest including breakfast and lunch with lots of prizes and parking. Sign up early and park and fish all week.

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