Quiet fall flows settle over Finger Lakes tributaries

What's next

Expect the cooling trend to continue through the week as days shorten and overnight lows drop, nudging temperatures down from the 61°F mark recorded this morning. As that continues, look for the thermocline to keep breaking down and baitfish to push shallower into creek arms and coves, usually the first sign the fall bite is building across the three lakes.

The First Quarter moon puts moderate light on the water into the evening hours, worth planning around for dawn and dusk windows this weekend. Check local weather before heading out, since wind direction will matter more than usual on open water while tributary inflow stays this low.

Context

Mid-to-late September sits in the shoulder period between summer stratification and fall turnover on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles, and a 61°F reading paired with flow this low is consistent with that transition running roughly on schedule rather than early or late. Expect the pattern to keep evolving over the next few weeks as surface temperatures fall and turnover works through each basin at its own pace.