Fall browns and smallmouth set the tone across New York

What's biting

What's next

With water in the low 60s on the upper Hudson system and nights lengthening, expect fish to keep shifting toward fall feeding patterns over the next few days. Smallmouth should hold on to deeper structure and rocky transitions as temperatures slide, and Brookdog's recent reports suggest the bite stays strong even in rough conditions, so a windy day need not keep you home.

Field & Stream advises that fall turnover does not hit a lake all at once, so move toward clear, shallow bays or creek arms that have stayed stable, and avoid off-color, debris-filled water. Search baits such as spinnerbaits help you cover ground and locate active fish. Tactical Bassin points to the shallows in October as an overlooked option, using jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater, and notes that finesse presentations help on the tough days.

For trout anglers, NY DEC's Fishing Line reminds readers that October 16 brings trout season regulation reminders, so check the current rules before you head out. The waxing crescent moon means darker evenings, which tends to favor low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk. For Walleye, Fishing the Midwest describes a plain rig of bottom bouncer, snell and nightcrawler as a go-to for cooler fall water, a method that translates readily to the region's lakes.

Context

Mid-October in the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes is typically the heart of the fall transition. Surface water cools through the 50s and low 60s, weed beds begin dying back, and baitfish gather in the remaining green cover and along edges. Bass tend to feed heavily ahead of winter, and lake-run Brown Trout stage near tributary mouths before moving upstream. Gauge flow at the Mohawk and Hudson sites is moderate, with readings of 2,200 cfs and 3,010 cfs, which is a comfortable range for wading and drifting. This is generally on schedule for the season, and many anglers consider it one of the best stretches of the year with far less boat traffic.