The Buffalo River is a freestone river in New York, listed as Steelhead / salmon water by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Bureau of Fisheries.
The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled. 3 guides and 2 shops nearby are listed here.
Buffalo River is a freestone river in New York.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Buffalo River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Buffalo River with 1 USGS gauge, and shops and guides with an exact address within 40 miles.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Buffalo River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
Map of the restroom near Buffalo River
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 1 restroom near Buffalo River, numbered as in the list, with the water’s point marked.
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Cazenovia CreekOatka Creek at Le Roy, New York, looking north from the Main Street bridge. Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cazenovia Creek.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Niagara RiverAnglers on the lower Salmon River near Port Ontario, New York, in October. Photo: Bill Blevins, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Niagara River.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Buffalo CreekThe West Branch Delaware River at the Hale Eddy bridge, Deposit, New York. Photo: Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Buffalo Creek.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Cayuga CreekA foggy morning on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. Photo: National Park Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cayuga Creek.
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Eighteenmile CreekThe East Branch Delaware River at its confluence with the Beaverkill, East Branch, New York. Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Eighteenmile Creek.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not South Branch Eighteenmile CreekThe Beaverkill in autumn rain. Photo: Jack Enright, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Branch Eighteenmile Creek.
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout, salmon & steelhead.
On the Great Lakes tributary sections with their own seasonal (Sept 1 - Mar 31) trout and salmon run regulations list (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Bureau of Fisheries, read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
On the Great Lakes tributary sections with their own seasonal (Sept 1 - Mar 31) trout and salmon run regulations list (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Bureau of Fisheries, read 2026-10-24). All waters with this designation
Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.
From the agency’s own records (Fish Stocking Lists (Actual): Beginning 2011, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), via data.ny.gov, read 2026-11-04), listed as Buffalo River (Erie County). Check the agency for this season.
Past stockings, not a schedule
2025: Steelhead in Apr (1 stocking, 7,500 fish).
2024: Steelhead in Apr (1 stocking, 7,500 fish).
2023: Steelhead in Apr (1 stocking, 7,500 fish).
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
Niagara Falls, NY · 18 mi
Map listing: trips not confirmed
Nearby
What 2 nearby guide websites mention: what guides advertise, not a survey or a promise of what you will catch.
Named on 2 nearby guide websites
8 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
Blue Quill (April) · Hendrickson (April) · Quill Gordon (April) · Green drake (May) · Mayflies (best hatches) (May) · Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (June to September) · and 2 more on the chart
None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.
No hub within 40 miles
A practical checklist for fly fishing small mountain trout streams: a short 3–4 weight rod, light line, a few buoyant dries and simple wet-wading gear, with estimated prices and where to buy.
7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Buffalo River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: a point on the mapped channel of “Buffalo River”, halfway along its length in New York, from the USGS high-resolution hydrography (NHDPlus HR), read 4 Nov 2026. It marks the water, not a particular access or reach. Water type is our own classification.
Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here
No water temperature here.
At BUFFALO CREEK AT GARDENVILLE NY (USGS 04214500). No gauge on this reach of Buffalo River. Nearest: BUFFALO CREEK AT GARDENVILLE NY (4.6 mi away), upstream on the same stream. Provisional USGS data
USGS 04214500 · NWS GDVN6
No gauge on this reach of Buffalo River. Nearest: BUFFALO CREEK AT GARDENVILLE NY (4.6 mi away), upstream on the same stream.
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 168 readings from Oct 29, 7:30 PM EDT to Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST; ranging 18 to 26.6 ft³/s; latest 23.1 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM EST | 25.4 | 0.63 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM EST | 25.4 | 0.63 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM EST | 25.4 | 0.63 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM EST | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM EST | 21 | 0.59 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM EST | 21 | 0.59 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM EST | 21 | 0.59 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM EST | 21 | 0.59 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM EST | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM EST | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM EST | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM EST | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM EST | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM EST | 25.4 | 0.63 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM EST | 25.4 | 0.63 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM EST | 25.4 | 0.63 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM EST | 25.4 | 0.63 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM EST | 26.6 | 0.64 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM EST | 26.6 | 0.64 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM EST | 26.6 | 0.64 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM EST | 26.6 | 0.64 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM EST | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM EST | 18 | 0.56 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM EST | 18 | 0.56 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM EST | 18 | 0.56 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM EST | 18 | 0.56 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM EST | 20 | 0.58 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM EST | 20 | 0.58 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM EST | 20 | 0.58 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM EST | 20 | 0.58 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM EST | 18 | 0.56 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM EST | 18 | 0.56 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM EST | 18 | 0.56 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM EST | 18 | 0.56 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM EST | 18 | 0.56 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM EST | 20 | 0.58 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM EST | 19 | 0.57 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM EDT | 20 | 0.58 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM EDT | 20 | 0.58 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM EDT | 20 | 0.58 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM EDT | 20 | 0.58 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM EDT | 20 | 0.58 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM EDT | 20 | 0.58 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM EDT | 20 | 0.58 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM EDT | 20 | 0.58 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM EDT | 21 | 0.59 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM EDT | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM EDT | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM EDT | 24.3 | 0.62 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM EDT | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM EDT | 23.1 | 0.61 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM EDT | 22.1 | 0.6 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM EDT | 20 | 0.58 |
| Oct 29, 8:15 PM EDT | 19 | 0.57 |
| Oct 29, 7:30 PM EDT | 18 | 0.56 |
Normal for Nov 5: 39–174 ft³/s (middle half of 88 years of record). Now: 23.1 ft³/s, below normal.
Below normal for this date. 23.1 ft³/s is between the 10th and 25th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 88 years of record (1939–2026): 10th 20, 25th 39, median 77, 75th 174, 90th 438 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 10 ft³/s, highest 3,180 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+0% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 0.61 ft stage, 23 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST (NWS gauge GDVN6; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 10:32 AM EST. Highest point: 0.8 ft, 49 ft³/s on Nov 7, 7:00 AM EST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 0.6 ft | 22 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 0.6 ft | 22 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 0.8 ft | 49 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 0.8 ft | 49 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines New York DEC uses are 70°F.
This gauge is on our page for Buffalo River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 6:18 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Cazenovia CreekOatka Creek at Le Roy, New York, looking north from the Main Street bridge. Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cazenovia Creek.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Niagara RiverAnglers on the lower Salmon River near Port Ontario, New York, in October. Photo: Bill Blevins, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Niagara River.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Buffalo CreekThe West Branch Delaware River at the Hale Eddy bridge, Deposit, New York. Photo: Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Buffalo Creek.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not Cayuga CreekA foggy morning on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. Photo: National Park Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cayuga Creek.
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Eighteenmile CreekThe East Branch Delaware River at its confluence with the Beaverkill, East Branch, New York. Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Eighteenmile Creek.
Steelhead / salmon waterRepresentative photo · not South Branch Eighteenmile CreekThe Beaverkill in autumn rain. Photo: Jack Enright, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Branch Eighteenmile Creek.
