Spring stripers rolling on the Hudson; Finger Lakes walleye now in play

What's Biting

What's Next

With the spring striper migration fully extended through the Northeast — confirmed by On The Water's May 15 tracking update — the next 48 to 72 hours represent some of the best striper fishing of the season along the Hudson Valley corridor. Fish in the low-60°F range are actively feeding, and the new moon this week eliminates ambient light, shifting the premium action to dawn and dusk. Tidal current changes concentrate baitfish at channel edges, bridge pilings, and rocky points; target those transition zones during moving water, working bucktail jigs tight to structure or running topwater walkers along calm surface seams at first light.

Flow at the Green Island gauge (12,700 cfs, USGS 01358000) is running elevated from spring runoff, pushing off-color water through the upper tidal reach. As rainfall subsides and snowmelt tapers over the coming days, expect clarity to improve. When it does, fish that have been tucked into slower edge eddies will move back onto main-channel structure quickly. American shad typically run the Hudson alongside stripers in this window — schools stacking on current seams are both a live-bait opportunity and a reliable visual cue for nearby stripers.

In the Finger Lakes, walleye are now more than two weeks into the May 1 season per NY DEC. Post-spawn fish have typically transitioned off spawning shoals by mid-May and are moving toward deeper rocky structures and drop-offs. Jigging soft plastics or dragging live night crawlers over 15–25 foot ledges tends to produce as fish settle into early-summer feeding patterns. On calm evenings, trolling crankbaits along the first major depth break is worth exploring.

Spring stocking of brook, brown, and rainbow trout is confirmed ongoing by NY DEC, and recently stocked fish in Catskill tributaries and Finger Lakes feeder streams should be accessible through Memorial Day weekend. These fish respond well to spinners and PowerBait near public access sites in the first weeks post-release. Fly anglers should note that caddis and sulphur emergences typically peak in Catskill streams in the second half of May — an evening hatch window can produce exceptional dry-fly fishing well into the holiday weekend.

The key variable heading into Memorial Day is rainfall — continued runoff will prolong off-color conditions on the Hudson, while any clearing trend will sharpen striper and smallmouth action quickly as bass begin their pre-spawn staging on rocky shoals and pea-gravel flats.

Context

Mid-May is historically the apex of the Hudson River spring striper run, and 2026 appears to be tracking close to a normal calendar. Readings at Catskill fall squarely within the typical range for the date — the Hudson historically warms from the mid-40s in early April into the mid-to-upper 60s by late May, with the peak striper window generally bracketed between 58°F and 68°F. On The Water's migration tracking showing fish at Maine by May 15 aligns with expected historical progression for the Northeast run.

The coolwater sportfish season in the Finger Lakes opens May 1 each year under current NY DEC regulations, and post-spawn walleye patterns in this region follow a consistent mid-May script. NY DEC's Fishing Line (April 24 issue) not only confirmed the opener but solicited angler participation in active walleye monitoring — a signal that the department is treating the fishery as a priority this spring. Historically, Finger Lakes walleye produce their best post-opener catches in May and early June as fish finish recovering from the spawn and begin stacking on mid-depth structure.

Spring trout stocking timing is consistent year over year in New York, and the April 24 Fishing Line confirming active stocking is in step with what anglers expect: the bulk of brook, brown, and rainbow stocking in Catskill streams and Finger Lakes tributaries typically runs from late April through late May, with public access sites seeing the freshest fish earliest.

One caveat: no specific 2026 creel data, angler surveys, or in-season harvest reports for Hudson Valley or Finger Lakes waters are available in current feeds. The NY DEC's most recent Fishing Line is dated April 24, predating current conditions by nearly a month. The broader picture is consistent with normal seasonal progression for the region, but anglers should check the DEC website or a local tackle shop for any late-breaking reports before heading out.