Fishing and Outdoors in WNY: There are a lot of positives to a warm fall

By Capt. Frank Campbell

Destination Niagara USA Director of Outdoor Promotions

As our warmer-than-normal temperatures continue in November, I am definitely enjoying being outside minus several layers of clothing. A good layering system would keep you comfortable against all the chill a normal fall day throws at us. What effect does the elongated summer-like weather have on the fish and other creatures I often wonder?

In the underwater world, fish are not impacted by the temperature in our environment, but are impacted by the temperature of the water. The water temperature is driven by the outside weather and reflects the past temperatures an area has experienced.

Here in the Niagara Region, it takes much longer for the water temperature to rise or drop because of the volume of water found in our local waterways. Water temperature is a key factor in fish activity. Some species, such as smallmouth bass and muskie, have a preferred water temperature of approximately 70 degrees, which keeps the species most active. Cold-water species such as trout and salmon have cooler preferred temperatures ranging from 47 to 54 degrees.

Again, this is the water temperatures that the fish would seek out and most actively feed in. Additionally, bait fish also seek preferred temperatures, which is normally in the mid-50s. If the water temperatures are too warm or cold, the baitfish, such as alewife, will spend time either deeper or shallower in the water column to find preferred water temperatures.

At this moment, the water temperature in Lake Erie is hovering around 57 degrees, which is about 5 degrees above normal – and it looks to continue to be above-average according to the long-range weather forecast. Warmer-than-normal water temperatures will keep the baitfish healthy and, in turn, give the predator fish more feeding opportunity on more energy-rich prey. This equation will yield bigger and heavier fish to survive the colder months that are spent at a slower pace to conserve energy.

Meanwhile, above the water, the warmer weather has also slowed down the arrival of some waterfowl that visit the Niagara Region every fall and throughout the winter. I haven’t, nor has anybody else I’ve spoken with, spotted any long-tailed ducks. Long-tails are beautiful birds that spend their summers in the high Artic breeding, and winters along the Atlantic Coast, but a large number also winter over here in Niagara County on Lake Ontario and the lower Niagara River. The warm weather normally delays their arrival, while early arrival usually coincides with a colder-than-normal fall.

Sometimes paying attention to Mother Nature is a good indicator of our weather patterns.

 If you think about the journey these birds make, there are numerous variables involved, such as a quick cold snap freezing waterways used as rest areas along the journey, and dealing with weather events such as ruminants of hurricanes. It’s definitely not an easy trek of roughly 3,000 miles. However, arriving in the area to warm water also has advantages for the waterfowl, such as the baitfish they prey on being shallow and far more accessible than during a cold-water arrival. This gives the birds the opportunity to refuel their systems more easily and with less energy spent.

Once the weather does bring in some colder temperatures, I encourage you to take the time to head down to the river or lake and look for a long-tail duck, as the coloring on these birds is magnificent. Also keep in mind the obstacles each one of these birds was able to overcome to winter over in our region.

In my opinion, the overall warmer-than-average fall will have more positive impacts on the local fish and wildlife. The warmth also gives everyone the opportunity to go outdoors and enjoy the outdoors and all of Mother Nature.