Fall smallmouth and walleye bites build across New York waters

What's biting

What's next

With water in the low 60s and cooling nights ahead, expect smallmouth to keep moving toward baitfish and feed more aggressively. Tactical Bassin points to fall bass chasing baitfish, and says adding a blade to a swimbait by running it on an underspin is one of the best ways to catch them. The same blog also highlights shallow water as an overlooked October option, with jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater all in play. Start shallow and work out to the edges if the bite is slow.

For walleye, Fishing the Midwest describes a plain snell with a nightcrawler on a bottom bouncer as a go-to rig for cooler water periods. It is a simple, slow-paced presentation that suits the fall transition. Brookdog's walleye success also leaned on jigging, so carry both approaches.

Plan around flow. Gauge 01358000 at 12,500 cfs means high, strong current, so seek out slack water, eddies and softer edges rather than the main push. Gauge 01357500 at 2,220 cfs is far gentler and easier to work. Fishing the Midwest also suggests looking for green, living weeds as the rest die off, since baitfish and gamefish relocate to the remaining cover.

Watch the wind. Brookdog noted that wind made for challenging conditions in recent weeks, so check marine and local forecasts before launching. The NY DEC Fishing Line also reminds anglers to check the October 16 trout season regulation reminders and its fishing access updates, including boat launch dock removal timing, before heading out. The moon is a waxing crescent, so expect darker evenings, which can favor low-light bites at dawn and dusk.

Context

Mid-October typically marks the heart of the fall transition for New York freshwater. Surface water that peaked in the 70s over the summer has cooled into the low 60s, and fish that spread out in warm weather start to feed up and concentrate. Smallmouth commonly shift from summer haunts toward baitfish concentrations and transition areas, and walleye tend to feed more actively as water cools.

This is also when anglers see fewer boats on the water. As one Fishing the Midwest author notes, pleasure boats and jet skis are mostly gone, and many anglers head to the woods for hunting season. That solitude is part of the appeal. Flows can swing quickly with autumn rain, so stay flexible and check current gauge readings on the day.