Best Cattaraugus Creek Fly Fishing

Southeast of Buffalo near Arcade, the Cattaraugus Creek is a popular steelhead fishing stream. In Cattaraugus Creek (aka The Catt), the steelhead average from 5 to 8 pounds. It is a Public Fishing Stream managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. While it is best known for the lower mile where the steelhead are near the Lake Erie confluence, there are freestone and tailwater fisheries that are stocked with brown trout and rainbow trout. The lower steelhead run is from October through November. As you move further south upstream, you'll find more freestone river stretches ane more trout. Just upstream of Yorkshire and above teh Springville Dam, the wild brown trout and wild rainbow trout are plentiful. This section is known as the Upper Catt.

The lower 20 miles of river are within the Senaca Indian Reservation. A fishing permit is required from the Senaca Nation. From mid-October through March, this is a catch-and-release only stream, and artificial lures only.

Overall, Cattaraugus Creek is the 7th most popular fly fishing river of all 29 fly fishing spots in New York.