An avid ice fisherman, Connor Fatzinger was in his glory on a cold, windy, wintery recent morning.
Fatzinger, a Buffalo resident, spent some time ice fishing at Buffalo Harbor State Park and came away with a nice haul including some perch, pan fish and bass.
"This is probably the best conditions we've seen here in 10 years," Fatzinger said.
Ice at the Fuhrmann Boulevard marina and state park is eight inches thick - and counting, making it safe and welcoming for ice anglers, says Mark Mistretta, Niagara regional director for New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
With a deep bounty of fish including Northern Pike, Smelt and Walleye and a solid base, Buffalo State Harbor has cemented its position as the region's go-to ice fishing destination.
"People feel safe there," Mistretta said.
A strong season like this also helps concerted efforts by both Visit Buffalo and Destination Niagara USA to promote the region as an ice fishing hot spot.
Recreational fishing - and, especially ice fishing - is emerging as a major attraction drawing in out-of-town visitors.
"Look at the parking lot," Mistretta said. "There is an impact. These fishermen aren't coming in for just one day. They are staying overnight at area hotels and spending money here."
Officials peg ice fishing's regional economic impact deep into the seven=figure range.
Retail and hospitality research firm PRDUA Research and Media reports the sale of ice fishing equipment last year topped $396 million and is expected to grow by 51% to $600 million by 2031.
"You can, pretty much, catch anything here in Buffalo," Fatzinger said. "I tell that to all my friends."
Word of mouth among anglers matters, says Mistretta.
The region is playing off that buzz.
"Every year, I see more and more people fishing each winter and that's a good sign," Mistretta said.