Capt. Frank Campbell, left, and Brandon Butler with a Niagara River smallmouth bass.
Niagara Falls is the biggest draw in Niagara County, New York, but fishing is a close second. I recently visited the area to fish with Captain Frank Campbell, owner and operator of Niagara Region Charter Service. Pairing great fishing with exploring the natural wonders and history of one of America's most exceptional tourist destinations made this a trip I will never forget.
The Niagara River is 36 miles long and serves as the border between the United States and Canada. It flows from Lake Erie and empties into Lake Ontario. Niagara Falls is located approximately in the middle of the river's course. The common nomenclature “Niagara Falls” is used to encompass a set of three falls: American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls. Collectively, approximately 750,000 gallons of water pour over the falls per second. This creates very rich fishing water from below the falls to the mouth of Lake Ontario.
Rainbow trout, coho salmon, king salmon, walleye, yellow perch, musky, brown trout, lake trout and smallmouth bass are the main fish targeted by anglers of Niagara. Many other less desirable fish species also inhabit the water, such as sheepshead. When you catch one of these fighting fish, you'll probably spend a few minutes thinking you're tangling with a giant smallmouth. When you realize what you caught, you might be disappointed for a while, but if you keep in mind how much fun the fish was to catch and how hard it fought, you should be grateful for the experience, whatever the species.
“I don't think there is a freshwater fishing destination anywhere else in the country that can find the size, diversity and number of fish that Niagara County has to offer anglers. This is a 12-month-a-year fishery where you never know what the next bite might bring,” Campbell said.
I agree with Frank's assessment, because every time you cast your line in the water, it's a guessing game as to what you're going to catch. The smallmouth bass fishing is world class. We sailed more than I could count, and none of them were small. The largest weighed five and a half pounds. We caught lake trout in the 10 pound range and rainbow trout pushing the same. Our tactics were simple, often just jigging a minnow to the bottom in 10 to 20 feet of water.
For history buffs, the region is astonishing. Old Fort Niagara is located at the mouth of the river where it flows into Lake Ontario. It is the oldest continuously operated military site in the United States. It was built in 1679 and was controlled by the French and British before becoming controlled by the Americans. The fort played a role in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812, in which the British burned Lewistown and left little behind.
During my trip, I stayed in the quaint village of Lewiston, located down the river, 10 miles from the falls. I spent three nights at the Niagara Crossing Hotel and Spa. The hotel is clean and comfortable and couldn't be better located for fishing on the river and access to amenities. I walked to the dock every day to meet Frank, then had dinner every night. Which I enjoyed at both Brickyard Pub and BBQ and Griffon Brewery and Gastropub. I also had to try the chicken wings at Anchor Bar, where the staple of my diet was created. They were good but not the best I have ever eaten.
I visited Niagara Falls with my family when I was younger. I was reminded of how impressive the falls were, but gained a new perspective on this trip as I hiked up the Maid of the Mist to the base of the falls. This boat ride was worth every penny, and I highly suggest that if you visit Niagara, you make it a point to get on the boat as well. Being at the base of the falls, where you can feel the force of the water crashing down, is incredible.
Niagara Falls is only an hour and a half from Toronto. Having never been to the fourth largest city in North America, I decided it was worth the trip to spend a night exploring and catch a Blue Jays baseball game. I enjoyed the experience and found Toronto vibrant, clean and safe. A first-inning grand slam led to a Blue Jays victory. A sushi dinner to close out the day was a perfect ending.
Plus, for me, hunting and fishing is as much about traveling to new places as it is about collecting fish and game. I'll never tire of outdoor activities close to home, but the lure of seeing what lies beyond the horizon is what draws me to adventure. This recent fishing experience on the Niagara River was one of the most complete and well-rounded fishing trips I have ever taken. I encourage you to consider a trip to Niagara Falls to mix sightseeing and angling.
See you soon on the trail….
Brandon Butler writes an outdoors column for The Republic. Send your comments to (email protected). To learn more about Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast at www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or wherever podcasts are streamed.
