New York Fishing Reports

Water temps have climbed to 55°F at USGS gauge 01357500 on the upper Hudson corridor, placing the region squarely in prime spring feeding territory for trout while setting the countdown on the bass spawning transition. NY DEC's The Fishing Line (April 24th issue) confirms hatchery crews are actively transporting and stocking brook, brown, and rainbow trout across New York — freshly stocked streams and pools are the most reliable path to consistent action right now for anglers working runs and eddies below stocking access sites. Equally significant: the statewide coolwater sportfish season opened May 1 per NY DEC, unlocking walleye fishing across the Finger Lakes for the first time this year. On the Hudson, On The Water's striper migration map from May 1 signals that post-spawn Chesapeake females are beginning their northward push — the corridor has been open since April 1 and conditions are tightening. The river is running at 4,850 cfs at the upper gauge (USGS 01357500) and 11,900 cfs downstream (USGS 01358000), manageable spring flows that keep most tributary access open.

May 4

Water at NOAA buoy 44065 is reading 51°F as of May 3 — right in the sweet spot for an active striper bite across Long Island. The Fisherman (Northeast)'s April 30 Long Island forecast confirms fish are now spread from the East End back bays to the South Shore surf and into the western bays, with schoolies and slot-size bass becoming consistent and larger fish pushing into the 30-inch class and beyond to 30-plus pounds. Bunker schools are the key driver: On The Water — New York / Long Island reports pods locked in both Long Island Sound and the South Shore surf, anchoring stripers in place. Anglers are connecting on plugs, soft plastics, bucktails, and fresh chunks, with the best action reliably tied to tide changes. With the full moon just passed and a waning gibbous overhead, the post-peak tidal windows are primed for the next few days of strong action.

May 3

Water temps on the Hudson are reading 57°F (USGS gauge 01357500, May 3) right as New York's coolwater sportfish season opened statewide on May 1 — the biggest calendar turn of the spring. Per NY DEC The Fishing Line (April 24th issue), walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge are now legally in play for the first time this year across Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes waters. Spring trout stocking is running simultaneously: DEC hatchery crews have been actively transporting brook, brown, and rainbow trout since mid-April. Inland trout season has been open since April 1 (per the March 27th Fishing Line). At 57°F, water is squarely in the feeding zone for trout and beginning to warm into walleye territory. The Hudson is flowing at 4,870 cfs at gauge 01357500 and 13,100 cfs at downstream gauge 01358000 — elevated spring levels but well within fishable range at most access points.

May 3

Water temperature is reading 51°F at USGS gauge 04231600 this morning — right at the threshold where Lake Erie's walleye and trophy smallmouth shift into active feeding mode. On The Water's recent podcast episode featuring Captain Joe Fonzi spotlights the lake right now: Fonzi covers a booming walleye fishery and trophy-class smallmouth fueled by goby-driven forage growth, with forward-facing sonar as the key tool for locating fish. Tonight's Full Moon adds a productive low-light dimension; walleye are known to push shallow and feed aggressively under bright moon conditions, making dawn and dusk the premium windows this week. Tributary flows are elevated at 7,290 cfs per USGS gauge 04231600, which may push some turbid water into nearshore zones — fish could be staging slightly off inflow mouths on adjacent hard bottom waiting for clarity to improve. Overall, this is a high-potential early-May window: temps are in the productive range, the moon is aligned, and both walleye and smallmouth are positioned for action.

May 3

USGS gauge 01413500 is pulling 290 cfs this morning — a strong but fishable mainstem flow — while gauge 01415000 reads a tighter 59.4 cfs, putting smaller tributaries in comfortable wading range. Neither gauge returned a water temperature today, but early May in the Catskills typically means low-to-mid 50s°F in mainstreams, right in the brown and brook trout feeding zone. Field & Stream recently highlighted the four aquatic insects that anchor a trout's May diet — mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, and midges — and the overlap of those hatches makes this week historically productive on Catskills freestone water. Tonight's full moon will likely compress the surface bite to low-light edges; plan morning and evening outings accordingly. No NY-specific tackle shop, charter, or agency intel appeared in today's feed, so conditions here reflect gauge data and seasonal norms.

May 3

The USGS gauge at site 04250750 recorded 278 CFS on the morning of May 3 — a moderate, wading-friendly flow as the spring steelhead run on the Salmon River enters its final weeks. Most migratory rainbows have pushed back toward Lake Ontario by now, but a trailing edge of fish typically holds in deeper pools and green-water pockets through mid-May, particularly with the full moon phase we're currently in spurring low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. No local charter, shop, or state-agency intel appeared in this cycle's data feeds, so conditions here reflect gauge readings and regional seasonal patterns rather than fresh on-the-water reports — plan your trip accordingly and confirm with a Pulaski-area shop before launching. Resident brown trout become increasingly reliable targets as May progresses. Near Oswego, walleye activity at the river mouth and Lake Ontario nearshore typically picks up meaningfully as the lake transitions into its spring warm-up.

May 3

Water temps at NOAA buoy 44065 are holding at 50°F this Sunday morning — classic trigger territory for active spring stripers on Long Island. Per On The Water — New York / Long Island's April 30 report, bunker schools have spread through both Long Island Sound and the South Shore surf, and the striper bite has taken off over the past week with shore and boat anglers both finding steady action heading into this full moon. The Fisherman (Northeast) echoes that fish are now ranging from East End back bays to the South Shore surf and into the western bays, with consistent slots and fish reaching into the 30-inch-plus class. Plugs, soft plastics, bucktails, and fresh bunker chunks are all working, with the best windows tied to tide changes and bait concentrations. Tautog season is open, and NY DEC Saltwater Fishing and Boating confirms both scup and summer flounder seasons have kicked off for 2026.

May 3

Water temperature at USGS gauge 01357500 logged 56°F on the morning of May 3, placing the Hudson system in the sweet spot for spring trout and coolwater species. NY DEC The Fishing Line (April 24th issue) confirmed that hatchery staff have been actively stocking brook, brown, and rainbow trout throughout the region — those fish are available now and likely staging in deeper pools along stocked streams. The coolwater sportfish season — covering walleye and related species — opened statewide on May 1, per NY DEC, making this the first weekend walleye anglers can legally target the Finger Lakes. On the Hudson, striped bass are in play: On The Water's May 1 migration map reports that the post-spawn push is building momentum as large females clear the Chesapeake. River flows are running elevated at 5,610 cfs (gauge 01357500) and 14,800 cfs (gauge 01358000), so targeting current seams and eddies will be key. Tonight's full moon extends feeding windows after dark.

May 3

Water temperatures reached 48–50°F this evening (NOAA buoys 44025, 44065), ideal for an accelerating striper bite. Per On The Water — New York / Long Island's April 23 report, stripers are chasing bunker east along the South Shore beaches and bays, with Western Sound receiving a strong influx of slot-size fish. The Fisherman (Northeast) confirms the spring striper push is "well underway" with fresh migratory waves lighting up both South Shore marshes and East End oceanfront. Western Long Island Sound is delivering fish to 30 pounds on topwater and bunker-pattern presentations. Scup (porgy) and summer flounder seasons have also opened per NY DEC Saltwater Fishing and Boating, broadening target opportunities. Waves are running 4.3 feet with moderate 8-knot winds—typical late-April conditions for this region.

Apr 28

Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes water temps are holding steady at 58°F (per USGS gauge readings as of April 28), creating favorable conditions for early-season freshwater trout. NY DEC's spring stocking campaign continues, with the statewide inland trout opener on April 1 now in full swing. Current USGS flow data shows moderate mainstem conditions (2,820 cfs) supporting stable habitat. While region-specific angler reports are limited in this week's intel, late April typically favors midday dry-fly and nymph presentations as water temps allow consistent small insect hatches. Expect more aggressive feeding as air temps climb into the 60s over the coming days. Waxing Gibbous moon phase suggests steady feeding windows throughout daylight hours.

Apr 28

Early scouts report scattered stripers around Montauk Point. Charter fleet starting spring trips for bass and tog.

Apr 9

River herring pushing upstream, bringing striped bass with them. Bank anglers catching quality fish near tributary mouths.

Apr 8