New York fishing reports
641 reports for New York — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Big stripers running the east end as Long Island shifts to summer pattern
Per On The Water's June 25 Long Island report, big stripers are feeding on a buffet of bait off the east end, with Montauk sustaining an excellent bass bite on squid and sand eels, a pattern holding since at least mid-June. The Fisherman's Long Island forecast for the week of June 25 confirms outstanding striped bass action island-wide, alongside improving sea bass and porgy fishing. Fluke are gaining momentum, with keeper fish showing up more consistently from the South Shore bays through the Peconics. South Shore reefs are producing sea bass on rigs and jigs, per On The Water. Offshore, OTW Saltwater's northeast report from June 24 puts canyon fishing at a red-hot start for the season, with yellowfin and bigeye tuna active. With the full moon peaking June 28, strong tidal movement should amplify the bite across all these fisheries this weekend.
Lake Erie walleye and smallmouth hit prime summer stride
Water temps holding at 67°F on Lake Erie (NOAA buoy 45132) and 70°F in local tributaries (USGS gauge 04231600) signal that Western NY's fishery has fully transitioned into summer mode. Surface conditions are ideal: wave heights of just 0.3 feet and light winds make weekend runs offshore or nearshore straightforward. The full moon this weekend can concentrate walleye and smallmouth feeding into low-light windows at dawn and dusk. Wired 2 Fish notes that round gobies have become a foundational forage species across Great Lakes fisheries, with walleye and smallmouth populations benefiting significantly from the abundant prey. That context points to goby-imitating tubes and drop shots near rocky Erie structure as productive presentations for smallmouth this week. Walleye trollers have historically found success in this temperature range across the main lake basin. Perch activity in the 25-to-35-foot zone typically ramps up through late June as bait concentrates.
Smallmouth season peaks across Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles
Tactical Bassin's summer bass analysis notes that post-spawn fish have separated into two distinct groups: shallow fish holding rocky points and early weedline edges through morning hours, and deeper fish suspending off main-lake structure by midday. That pattern maps closely to the Finger Lakes right now, as late June marks the peak of smallmouth season on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. Soft jerkbaits fished weightless, along with drop-shot presentations, are the dominant techniques when bass move to deeper transition zones. Lake trout, a cold-water anchor species on Cayuga and Seneca, typically retreat to 60-plus feet in late June as surface layers warm. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data was available this cycle to confirm surface temperatures. The current Waxing Gibbous moon sets up strong low-light bite windows at dawn and dusk through the weekend, worth planning your launch around.
Late June terrestrials and low-light windows prime Catskills and Adirondack trout fishing
MidCurrent's recent tying coverage spotlights patterns for "every feeding lane from the surface film to open water as hatches begin to fire," a signal that matches what late June typically delivers across Catskills and Adirondack trout streams. No gauge or buoy data was available for this cycle, so verify river flows and water temperatures locally before heading out. Late June marks the transition to summer mode across both drainages: Catskills browns grow selective as midday water temps climb toward the stress threshold, while high-elevation Adirondack brook trout streams stay productive longer. Gink and Gasoline flag the trico spinner fall as a morning anchor event worth centering a trip around once summer heat settles in, and Flylords Mag reinforces that terrestrials, including caddis, stonefly, ant, and hopper imitations, belong in every summer dry-fly box. Fish dawn through mid-morning and the last hour before dark. Those compressed windows are where action concentrates when midday temperatures peak.
Lake Ontario kings and browns firing as tributaries run low
Strike Zone Charters out of Lake Ontario is reporting outstanding salmon fishing this past week, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out the catch. Working 100 to 160 feet of water has been the key depth range, though preferred zones shift daily as winds move the thermocline. Mag Dipsey Divers are the go-to when the temperature is running deep, paired with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips with Atomic rigs. Meanwhile, USGS gauge 04250750 shows the tributary system pulling 91 cfs as of June 24, reflecting low, clear summer flows typical for this stretch of the season. The tributary salmon run does not typically arrive until September, leaving the rivers in summer mode for now. Smallmouth bass offer a reliable wade-fishing option on the tributaries through the heat of summer. For anyone with boat access, the lake itself is producing well, and the mixed-bag action of kings, browns, and lake trout makes the trip worth it.
Keeper Fluke Chewing the Bays as Montauk Stripers Stay Hot
Per On The Water's June 18 Long Island report, keeper fluke are chewing better in the bays from the South Shore through the Peconics, while Montauk is delivering an excellent striped bass bite on squid and sand eels. Stripers have been sliding east through Long Island Sound, putting fish in range of both boat and surf anglers working the eastern end. NY DEC's recent newsletters confirm that recreational summer flounder, scup, and bluefish seasons are all open, and a new bluefish regulation — no size limit with a five-fish bag — makes blues a productive secondary target whenever they surface. OTW Surfcasting cautions that the coast-wide striper picture is uneven depending on location, but Long Island anglers appear to be on the right side of that split right now. Giant bluefin tuna are also showing within sight of the New York City metro, per On The Water, putting offshore action within reach for boats willing to make the run.
King Salmon Running Strong on Lake Ontario as Browns and Lakers Mix In
Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) is reporting excellent salmon fishing this past week, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out the catch. The action is concentrated in 100 to 160 feet of water, with preferred depth shifting daily as wind moves the thermocline. Mag Dipsey Divers have been the go-to presentation when fish are holding deep, and green, white, and chartreuse e-chips with Atomic hardware have been the consistent producers. For anglers planning a tributary outing on the Salmon River or Oswego River this week, note that the bulk of the chinook action remains offshore on Lake Ontario proper at this stage of the season. No USGS gauge or NOAA buoy readings are available for this cycle, so verify local flow and temperature conditions before heading out. Smallmouth bass in the tributary reaches are typically solid during late June as fish settle into summer patterns, though no local reports specifically covered that bite this week.
Bass Season Opens Across Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes as Summer Bite Builds
NY DEC The Fishing Line (June 12) reported the bass bite is picking up with warmer summer weather arriving just in time for the season opener. By late June, largemouth and smallmouth across Hudson Valley reservoirs and the Finger Lakes should be fully settled into early-summer patterns. Post-spawn fish are moving off their beds and staging on structure: rocky points, weed edges, submerged ledges, and depth transitions. In the Finger Lakes, smallmouth are a reliable summer target, often staging over gravel and cobble in clear mid-depth water as surface temps climb toward midsummer highs. Muskellunge season has also opened in eligible upstate waters per DEC's May newsletter, adding another premier target for Finger Lakes anglers. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this report period; check real-time sources for current water temperatures and river conditions before heading out.
Lake Erie walleye and post-spawn smallmouth headline a late-June bite
Fishing the Midwest is flagging active weedline walleye patterns across Great Lakes region waters this week, a cue that aligns well with typical late-June conditions on Erie's eastern basin and the Niagara corridor. No NOAA buoy readings or USGS gauge data were available for this update, leaving water temperature and flow figures unconfirmed. Based on seasonal patterns, walleye on Lake Erie have likely made their annual push from shallower spring staging zones into deeper mid-lake structure in the 30-to-50-foot range, where trolling crawler harnesses or stickbaits is the standard approach. Smallmouth bass are in peak post-spawn recovery mode, feeding hard on crayfish and gobies along rocky points and the Niagara's fast-water edges. Tactical Bassin's summer bass breakdown identifies three variables driving fish location right now: oxygen, temperature, and forage. That combination funnels bass to deeper structure and current seams by mid-day. No local charter or tackle shop reports were available for this cycle.
Finger Lakes smallmouth peak as post-spawn bass lock onto summer structure
Per Tactical Bassin, summer bass have entered a predictable post-spawn phase governed by baitfish location, oxygen, and temperature — a pattern playing out across Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles right now as smallmouth push onto rocky points and cobble shoals. No environmental sensor data or regional charter intel reached our feeds this cycle, so specific water readings are unavailable, but late June historically delivers some of the year's best structure smallmouth fishing on all three lakes, with fish holding at 8–20 feet along prominent humps and drop-offs. Fishing the Midwest echoes the summer formula, flagging weedlines as a key edge where fish slide shallow at first and last light. Surface temperatures on Cayuga and Seneca are typically in the upper 60s to low 70s by late June; Skaneateles tends to run a few degrees cooler thanks to its exceptional depth and water clarity. Lake trout on Seneca and Cayuga will have pushed into the thermocline by now, following the summer deep-water pattern typical for this region.
Montauk Bass Bite Firing on Squid and Sand Eels as South Shore Fluke Improve
Per On The Water's June 18 Long Island report, Montauk is delivering an excellent striped bass bite, with fish stacked on squid and sand eels as the spring migration transitions into summer holding patterns. Stripers are also sliding east through Long Island Sound, giving boat and surf anglers multiple intercept points. On the flats, keeper fluke are chewing better across the South Shore bays from the South Shore out to the Peconics, a welcome uptick heading into midsummer. On The Water's June 19 striper migration map confirms bigger bass are concentrating on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring regionwide. The NY DEC notes recreational summer flounder and scup seasons are open, and bluefish regulations have shifted to a 5-fish bag limit with no size minimum. The first quarter moon on June 23 sets up moderate tidal exchanges and reliable low-light bite windows at dawn and dusk, especially around Montauk's rip lines.
Adirondacks and Catskills trout shift to summer mode as terrestrials take hold
Late June marks the pivot from spring runoff to summer rhythm on the Adirondacks and Catskills trout streams, with no USGS gauge readings available this cycle; verify current flows before wading. The broader fly-fishing community's seasonal signals point clearly to the season's position. Trout Unlimited's current piece on navigating tube and canoe traffic, invoking a classic summer scene on the West Branch of the Delaware, signals that freestone flows have dropped enough to draw recreational users to prime trout water. Flylords Mag's recent feature on terrestrial patterns, explicitly pegged to the "summer heat" window now underway, aligns with what late June typically delivers: sparse evening sulphur stragglers, early-morning trico spinner falls on slower pools, and the first reliable beetle and ant action on brushy stream sections. Gink and Gasoline's trico hatch piece this week reinforces the timing: expect spinner falls to peak between 7 and 10 a.m. once overnight temperatures stabilize. Dawn and dusk remain the most productive windows; midday fish will be tight to shade and broken water.