Benjamin LaDuca is pictured here with a 15 pound 31 inch brown trout, that he caught at 18 Mile Creek Olcott NY.

Eighteen Mile Creek is a tributary of Lake Ontario and is located entirely in Niagara County. The name "Eighteen Mile" creek refers not to the length of the creek, but to its distance from the Niagara River to the west.

Originating in the Town of Lockport, this stream travels approximately 26 miles flowing northward making a lot of twists and turns. The stream passes through the Town of Newfane. The Burt dam forms a widening of the creek as far upstream as the community of Newfane. Eighteen Mile Creek enters Lake Ontario, at Olcott Harbor.

Eighteen Mile Creek is home to runs of chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, brown trout and the occasional atlantic salmon.This stream is very popular and even has its own Facebook Page.

  The brown trout is not a native species to NY waters. The brown trout were introduced to NY waters from Europe. The brown trout is able to survive and flourish in warmer waters that other trout species will not tolerate. This is one reason for its growing popularity among the anglers of NY.

   The brown trout can thrive in streams or lakes. They can with stand heavy fishing pressure better than the native trout species. The main reason for this is that brown trout are more active at night and can be hard to catch in the daytime. The biggest brown trout are caught after dark, or early in the morning especially during the summer months.

  The brown trout will feed on a variety of items. In streams they will feed on snails, crayfish and other small fish species. They will feed on a variety of insects including mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies when they are available. In the larger lakes they feed mostly on smelt and alewives. This is why they grow to such large sizes in the lakes.

  The brown trout in the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario experience a phenomenal growth rate. They are able to utilize the colder water and venture in to warmer water that rainbow and lake trout do not feed in. The New York State record brown trout weighed 33 lb. 2oz. It was caught by Tony Brown on a Smithwick Rogue from Lake Ontario on June 10, 1997 aboard Dixie Dandy with Captain Gerry Bresadola.

  Spawning for the brown trout takes place in the fall. Each year in October and November the tributaries of the Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes receive a large run of these spawning fish. Unlike salmon Brown Trout will hit a fly or lure when presented properly. Eighteen Mile Creek, Oak Orchard Creek, Salmon River, Oswego River, Niagara River, Black River, Genesee River, and Maxwell Creek are some of the fall hot spots for fall brown trout fishing.

   The following links break down the best fishing options according to the month of the year. Certain times of the year present excellent fishing opportunities for differnt species and can help make the best of your limited free time.