New York Fishing Reports

Water temperatures logged at 64°F this afternoon at USGS gauge 04232050 on a Finger Lakes tributary, placing Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles squarely in the post-spawn transition window for smallmouth bass, historically the most productive stretch of the season on these lakes. Fish that were on beds a week or two ago are now regrouping along rocky points and deeper transitions in the 5 to 15 foot zone, actively feeding to rebuild after the spawn. Tactical Bassin notes that in clear northern fisheries at this stage, paddle-tail swimbaits and finesse presentations both earn bites, with the Neko rig becoming a reliable follow-up for pressured fish. The Waxing Gibbous moon should extend feeding activity into low-light windows at dawn and dusk. No region-specific charter or shop reports arrived in this cycle, so conditions reflect gauge readings and seasonal patterns typical for Finger Lakes in late May.

2d ago

Water at 63°F on the upper Hudson (USGS gauge 01357500) signals prime late-May conditions across the Hudson Valley. NY DEC's Fishing Line confirms the coolwater sportfish season opened May 1, with the inland striped bass run well underway since the April 1 opener. On The Water's May 22 striper migration map notes the spring run tracks closely with moon cycles; with a waxing gibbous overhead this week, timing favors active feeding windows. Across the broader New York freshwater system, Brookdog Fishing Co. reports smallmouth bass are getting spawny and sliding shallow, a pattern echoed by Wired 2 Fish's post-spawn breakdown, which notes bass cycling from beds into recovery and feeding aggressively near shad spawns. NY DEC's May 22 Fishing Line also flags that musky season is just around the corner for Finger Lakes anglers, worth checking regulations closely. Flow on the Hudson is running robust at 11,500-18,000 cfs (USGS gauges 01357500 and 01358000), keeping water slightly stained but moving bait.

3d ago

Water temperature at 62°F (USGS gauge 04232050, May 25) puts the Finger Lakes squarely in post-spawn bass territory heading into Memorial Day weekend. Wired 2 Fish's current post-spawn breakdown describes a split population: some fish are already off the bed and gorging aggressively on shad and forage, while others linger near shallow structure in a spooky, lockjaw mode. At 62°F under a waxing gibbous moon, the aggressive contingent should dominate early morning and evening windows on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. Tactical Bassin's smallmouth guide for northern, clear-water fisheries points to swimbaits, tube baits, and finesse presentations as consistent producers at this stage. Outlet flow at gauge 04232050 is a mild 70.5 cfs, suggesting stable lake levels and no significant inflow disruption. Lake trout and brown trout are retreating to deeper, cooler water as surface temps climb toward their upper comfort zone.

3d ago

Water temperatures recorded at 59°F (USGS gauge 04231600, May 25) put Western NY's Lake Erie and Niagara River corridor right in the thick of the late-May transition. At that temperature, smallmouth bass are either finishing the spawn or just off the bed, and Wired 2 Fish cautions that post-spawn fish can run the behavioral gamut: some aggressively gorging on baitfish, others shallow and spooky and unlikely to chase big presentations. Tactical Bassin identifies paddle-tail swimbaits and finesse techniques as proven producers for Great Lakes smallmouth in clear-water conditions this time of year. Walleye, Lake Erie's signature species, are at a seasonally strong feeding window post-spawn, though no charter or shop intel is available for this cycle. Flow at the gauge registers 5,700 cfs, consistent with active spring runoff. Check updated local reports and state regulations before heading out this holiday weekend.

3d ago

Water temperatures holding at 56°F on both NOAA offshore buoys, yet the striper bite is on fire across Long Island heading into Memorial Day weekend. Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle in Oakdale called this past week "one for the books," reporting bass going off from bay to beach with birds working over solid schools in the South Shore bays. At Shinnecock Inlet, Tight Lines Tackle logged fish to 35 pounds on bucktails, with Thursday and Saturday mornings producing the standout bites. Up at Montauk, per The Fisherman Long Island East End, slot fish and occasional larger bass are falling to diamond jigs, bucktails, and surface plugs from both boat and surf. Fluke season is gaining ground: Sea Rogue Charters in Freeport drilled nine keepers with four rods on Saturday, best on the outgoing tide, though cooler-than-average water is still holding back peak numbers. Scattered bluefish are also beginning to show across the island.

3d ago

Water at USGS gauge 01357500 has climbed to 66°F as of May 25, placing Hudson Valley bass squarely in the spawn-to-post-spawn transition window. NY DEC The Fishing Line (May 22nd issue) confirms musky season is around the corner and that the coolwater sportfish statewide season, which covers walleye, northern pike, and tiger musky, opened May 1. Spring trout stocking has been active per the DEC April briefing, though 66°F readings will push stocked fish toward deeper, cooler water as Memorial Day weekend arrives. Gauge 01357500 reads 7,500 cfs with downstream gauge 01358000 at 12,000 cfs, moderate flows that should keep most tributary access fishable. Wired 2 Fish's post-spawn bass breakdown this week notes the species is split right now: some fish are aggressively gorging on baitfish following the spawn, while others are holding shallow and spooky off spent beds. Carry both reaction baits and a finesse rig to adapt on each spot.

3d ago

Water at 57°F per USGS gauge 04232050 puts Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles squarely in the post-spawn transition window for bass. Wired 2 Fish notes that post-spawn fish run the full behavioral spectrum right now, with some gorging aggressively on available forage while others hug shallow cover and refuse fast, bulky presentations. Tactical Bassin points to finesse approaches, specifically the Neko rig and paddle-tail swimbaits, as reliable producers when power-fishing stalls in clear-water conditions like these. Topwater is worth working at first light around dock edges and emerging weedlines; Wired 2 Fish flags low-light periods as the prime surface-strike window during this phase. Deeper on Cayuga and Seneca, lake trout are likely transitioning toward summer depth as the thermocline begins to set up, and walleye remain in late-May patterns on Seneca. No Finger Lakes-specific charter, shop, or agency reports landed in this week's intel feed, so treat the lake trout and walleye calls here as seasonal inference rather than direct testimony.

4d ago

Water temperature on Tonawanda Creek registered 57°F at 5:30 a.m. per USGS gauge 04231600, placing Western NY's Lake Erie and Niagara corridor squarely in the post-spawn transition for smallmouth bass. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes coverage identifies this as prime time for clear-water smallmouth fishing, pointing to paddle-tail swimbaits and finesse presentations as top producers for bigger fish moving off beds onto adjacent structure. Wired 2 Fish notes that post-spawn bass behavior varies widely right now: some fish gorging aggressively, others finicky and spooky near recovering beds, so carrying both power and finesse options is the smart call. Tributary flows are running high at 5,720 cfs on Tonawanda Creek, which may push fish toward main-lake and Niagara River edges rather than creek mouths. Walleye fishing on the western Erie basin typically peaks through May, though no local charter reports surfaced in this week's feeds.

4d ago

USGS gauge 01413500 logged 191 cfs and gauge 01415000 recorded 41.7 cfs at 5:45 a.m. this morning, placing two key Catskills drainages at fishable, wadeable levels heading into Memorial Day weekend. The timing matters: Flylords Mag notes East Coast green drake emergences run 'between early May and late June,' placing this week squarely in the heart of the Catskills' most celebrated hatch window. MidCurrent's hatch coverage this week highlights patterns designed for 'every feeding lane from the surface film to open water' as 'hatches begin to fire,' which maps cleanly onto late-May Catskills conditions. No water temperatures are available from current gauge readings; late May typically places these streams in the mid-50s to low-60s F, ideal for brown and brook trout feeding aggressively before summer warmth arrives. Gink and Gasoline notes that warm conditions can push hatch timing earlier than expected. Sulphurs and caddis overlap the green drake window through the holiday weekend, giving anglers multiple daily periods to target.

4d ago

Strike Zone Charters on Lake Ontario reports salmon fishing has been 'very good' this past week, with brown trout and lake trout mixing into catches across 100 to 160 feet of water. Depths have been shifting day to day as wind pushes temperature breaks around the lake, making flexibility essential. Mag Dipsey Divers have been the consistent producer when the thermocline runs deep, with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips earning the most bites. On the Salmon River itself, USGS gauge 04250750 recorded a moderate 313 cfs as of early morning May 25, workable levels for anglers fishing the lower river or harbor mouth. No water temperature is available from the current gauge reading, though late May typically finds tributary water in the upper 50s to low 60s Fahrenheit. Steelhead are tapering toward the end of their spring window, but the open-water salmon action is more than picking up the slack.

4d ago

Water at USGS gauge 01357500 is logging 62°F this morning, a temperature that puts the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes squarely in late spring's most productive window. NY DEC's May 22nd Fishing Line confirms musky season is nearly upon us, while the April issue noted the statewide coolwater sportfish season opened May 1, unlocking walleye, northern pike, and pickerel across Finger Lakes outlets and tributaries. The Hudson striped bass season has been open since April 1 per NY DEC, and with main-stem flows at 13,700 cfs (gauge 01358000) and 4,320 cfs on an upper tributary (gauge 01357500), current conditions keep bait moving and migratory fish active. Smallmouth bass are in classic late-May form: Brookdog Fishing Co., reporting from western New York waters this week, notes that river bass are "getting spawny and sliding shallow" at these temperatures, a pattern mirrored across Hudson Valley flats. Spring trout stocking is complete per NY DEC's April Fishing Line, with brook, brown, and rainbow trout distributed across tributary streams throughout both regions.

4d ago

Water temperature on the Hudson River measured 63°F at USGS gauge 01357500 on May 24, placing the Hudson Valley squarely in prime smallmouth bass spawning conditions; males are pushing onto shallow gravel shoals and rocky points across the region. NY DEC's The Fishing Line confirms spring trout stocking remains underway through late May, with brook, brown, and rainbow trout accessible in recently stocked tributaries. The coolwater sportfish season opened May 1 per NY DEC, putting Finger Lakes walleye, now past their spawn, into active post-spawn feeding mode along deeper structure. Brookdog Fishing Co., reporting from western NY's Lake Ontario corridor where water temperatures are running parallel, notes smallmouth have gone 'spawny and slid shallow,' a pattern mirrored across upstate NY at similar temps. On The Water's May 22 striper migration update notes the spring Hudson River push remains active, with first-quarter moon timing (May 25) favoring feeding along current seams in the lower mainstem.

4d ago