If you have been walking Sandy Creek and wondering why the salmon pods look scattered and the brown trout bite feels hit-or-miss, the October 29 Erie Canal flow increase is the event to watch. A scheduled bump in water gives Monroe and Orleans county anglers a second shot at kings and can help draw more brown trout up from the lake. In this guide to Sandy Creek salmon and brown trout fishing after the Erie Canal flow increase, I will lay out where the fish hold, what they eat, and the flies and lures I would tie on before leaving the truck.
On This Page
- What the Flow Bump Changes
- Where to Fish Sandy Creek Now
- Salmon Tactics
- Brown Trout Tactics
- Gear That Earns Its Keep
Gear Worth Carrying This Week
| Product | Image | Price | Best For | Shop Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Bead Twenty Incher Nymph, Size 10 |  |
$16.95 | Dead-drift nymphing for big browns | View product |
| Double Bead Peacock Stonefly Nymph, Size 8 |  |
$16.95 | Stonefly hatch and fall trout | View product |
The two weighted nymphs above are practical brown-trout options for getting a natural profile near bottom. For eggs, beads, tippet, or a better nymph box, stop in so we can match the current water clarity and speed.
What the October 29 Flow Bump Changes
Sandy Creek is one of the Lake Ontario tributaries that receives supplemental Erie Canal water each fall. The highest scheduled release tier runs from October 29 through November 11. The program then steps down to its regular increased-flow tier from November 12 through November 18, returns to the higher tier from November 19 through December 2, and begins draining releases on December 3. That extra water does three things for anglers.
- It moves fish. Kings and brown trout that have been holding low in the system or still out in the lake get a current signal to push upstream.
- It spreads them out. Fresh water opens up holding lies that were too shallow or stagnant during the dry stretch, so the pod you fished yesterday may be empty today.
- It may add some color. If the extra flow carries a little stain, fish may be less leader shy, especially brown trout. Check the actual clarity before choosing leader size.
The tradeoff is that wading gets trickier. Rocks that were exposed last week will be slick and submerged, and the current seams shift. Bring a wading staff, wear studs or felt if your boots allow it, and do not cross water that is running faster than you are comfortable with.
Where to Fish Sandy Creek Now
With more water in the creek, fish spread through three main zones. Your best plan is to pick one, work it thoroughly, then move rather than camp on a single hole.
- Lower creek and mouth. This is where fresh king salmon enter and where brown trout first nose in from the lake. Look for depth changes, current breaks, and the inside seam where fast water meets a slower slot.
- Mid creek runs and pocket water. Drift egg patterns and nymphs through the heads of pools and along undercut banks. Browns stage here behind spawning salmon.
- Upper gravel and tailouts. As salmon settle into spawning mode, they use gravelly riffles and tailouts. Brown trout sit just downstream to pick off eggs and dislodged nymphs.
If you see salmon paired up and digging, there are almost always brown trout nearby. Cast upstream of the redd and let your offering drift through the soft water below it. Do not cast directly onto the redd. Protect the spawn and you protect the fishing for next year.
Salmon Tactics for the Fresh Push
King salmon coming in on the new water are often still green and aggressive. The classic approach is a drifted egg sac or trout bead under a float, but jigs and small streamers can also turn fish that are not locked on eggs.
- Drift rig. Use a float matched to the depth of the run, enough split shot to tick bottom, and a short leader to a single egg sac or bead. The bite is usually a soft dip or stop, so set on anything that does not look natural.
- Jig and bead. A small jig under a float gives you a heavier presentation for faster water. Pink, orange, and chartreuse beads in 8 mm to 10 mm match what the fish expect.
- Streamers. If salmon are moving through fast water and ignoring eggs, a swung black or olive woolly bugger can provoke a reaction strike.
Fresh fish tend to hold in the lower and middle creek. If you are seeing dark, spawned out salmon in the upper water, slide back downstream and look for the next wave of green fish.
Brown Trout Tactics Behind the Spawn
Brown trout are the real prize once the water cools and the egg drop starts. They follow salmon upstream and feed heavily on eggs, nymphs, and small baitfish. This is when a dead-drifted nymph earns its keep.
The Double Bead Twenty Incher Nymph in size 10 is my first choice for a big brown hugging the bottom of a run. The double bead gets it down fast, and the profile matches a larger mayfly nymph or small stonefly. If the trout are keyed on stoneflies or you need a slightly bigger silhouette, the Double Bead Peacock Stonefly Nymph with amber biot legs in size 8 is the better pick.
Rig them under an indicator with enough weight to keep the fly near bottom, or tight-line nymph if the run is short and you can stay close. The take is often a subtle pause, so watch your line and set downstream.
Gear and Rigging Tips
The right setup makes a difference when you are casting to moving fish in heavier current.
- Spinning rod. A 7 to 8 foot medium-heavy rod with a 3000 or 4000 size reel spooled with 10 to 15 pound test. Use a fluorocarbon leader for browns in clear water.
- Fly rod. A 7 to 9 weight with a floating line and a sink tip for streamers. Bring indicators, split shot, and a selection of egg patterns and nymphs.
- Wading. Studded boots, a wading staff, and a pack that keeps your hands free. Fall leaves make rocks treacherous.
- Terminal. Floats, beads, egg hooks, jig heads, and a few small streamers cover most of the fishing you will see.
Handle Fish With Fall in Mind
Salmon that have been in the creek for a while are often dark and beat up. If you plan to keep one, target the brighter, fresher fish lower in the system. For brown trout, check the current regulations before you decide to keep a fish. Late fall rules on Lake Ontario tributaries can differ from the standard inland trout season, and it is your job to know them.
When releasing fish, wet your hands, keep the fish in the water as much as possible, and use pliers to back the hook out quickly. A brown trout hooked deep is usually better off if you cut the line close to the hook rather than trying to rip it free.
Shop the two weighted trout nymphs above, or stop into Shorette's Bait & Tackle before you head to Sandy Creek. We will set you up with the right eggs, beads, nymphs, and terminal tackle for the conditions, and we will tell you what we are hearing from the creek that morning.