Walleye, Lake Trout Keep Producing as NY's Fall Run Begins

What's next

September 26 brings a statewide Free Fishing Day tied to National Hunting and Fishing Day, a no-license window worth building a trip around this weekend, especially for anglers wanting to sample Lake Ontario tributary water before the fall run builds further. If the pattern Brookdog is describing holds, expect walleye to remain the most consistent producer over the next several days, with lake trout continuing to reward anglers willing to fish deep with jigging presentations rather than traditional trolling spreads.

Smallmouth bass should keep trending upward as water temperatures ease down through the fall transition, a period when bass push shallower to feed on baitfish before the weed die-off pushes them out further. Anglers planning around the Salmon River should double check the DEC's temporary closure on the lower fly-fishing section before making the drive, since access there is restricted for now even as the broader tributary system gears up for the incoming run. With the moon in a waxing gibbous phase heading toward full, low-light dawn and dusk windows are worth prioritizing over the next several days for the most active bite.

Context

Late September is exactly when New York's freshwater fishery shifts into its fall pattern: baitfish schooling tightens up, weeds begin thinning, and predator species from walleye to smallmouth bass start feeding more aggressively to build reserves ahead of winter. The DEC's own shift in coverage toward fall-run salmon and trout in Lake Ontario tributaries lines up with a typical late-September to October window for that run, so this year's timing reads as on schedule rather than early or late. For Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes anglers, this stretch of the calendar typically rewards patience with timing over any single technique, working low-light periods and staying mobile as fish relocate toward remaining green weed growth and baitfish concentrations through early fall.