Fall smallmouth and walleye bites hold as trout season shifts

What's biting

What's next

Expect the cooling trend to keep nudging fish toward their fall patterns. Per Brookdog Fishing Co., the temperature drop on Lake Erie changed the bite, and anglers who adjusted their approach kept catching smallmouth. Jigging has become a regular part of their walleye and lake trout program, so a jig is a sound first option when the bite turns finicky.

Wind has been the main obstacle in recent reports. Plan around calmer mornings when you can, and check the local forecast before launching on big water. The Hudson Valley gauges show cool, moving water, so keep an eye on flow before wading. The 01358000 reading of 8,320 cfs is a substantial volume, so use caution near the banks.

The NY DEC Fishing Line from October 9 reminds anglers about trout season regulation changes on October 16, and it points to upgraded fishing access sites and a final chance to use DEC boat launch docks before they come out. Read the full issue and check state regs before you go.

With a waxing crescent moon, there is little moonlight early in the evening, so dusk and dawn windows are the natural times to plan around for the bite.

Context

Mid-October is a transition period across New York freshwater. Surface water in lakes and rivers is cooling through the low 60s, and smallmouth typically feed hard before they drop to deeper wintering water. Walleye generally become more active on cooler, low-light periods, and lake trout often move shallower as temperatures fall. Brook trout enter their pre-spawn phase in cool streams, so they get more aggressive and colorful. This all lines up with a normal fall progression, and the cooling trend appears on schedule rather than early or late. Anglers who fish a variety of waters at this time of year typically have good variety to choose from, so it pays to match your approach to the weather and the water in front of you.