New York fishing reports
434 reports for New York — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Late June terrestrials and low-light windows prime Catskills and Adirondack trout fishing
MidCurrent's recent tying coverage spotlights patterns for "every feeding lane from the surface film to open water as hatches begin to fire," a signal that matches what late June typically delivers across Catskills and Adirondack trout streams. No gauge or buoy data was available for this cycle, so verify river flows and water temperatures locally before heading out. Late June marks the transition to summer mode across both drainages: Catskills browns grow selective as midday water temps climb toward the stress threshold, while high-elevation Adirondack brook trout streams stay productive longer. Gink and Gasoline flag the trico spinner fall as a morning anchor event worth centering a trip around once summer heat settles in, and Flylords Mag reinforces that terrestrials, including caddis, stonefly, ant, and hopper imitations, belong in every summer dry-fly box. Fish dawn through mid-morning and the last hour before dark. Those compressed windows are where action concentrates when midday temperatures peak.
Lake Ontario kings and browns firing as tributaries run low
Strike Zone Charters out of Lake Ontario is reporting outstanding salmon fishing this past week, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out the catch. Working 100 to 160 feet of water has been the key depth range, though preferred zones shift daily as winds move the thermocline. Mag Dipsey Divers are the go-to when the temperature is running deep, paired with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips with Atomic rigs. Meanwhile, USGS gauge 04250750 shows the tributary system pulling 91 cfs as of June 24, reflecting low, clear summer flows typical for this stretch of the season. The tributary salmon run does not typically arrive until September, leaving the rivers in summer mode for now. Smallmouth bass offer a reliable wade-fishing option on the tributaries through the heat of summer. For anyone with boat access, the lake itself is producing well, and the mixed-bag action of kings, browns, and lake trout makes the trip worth it.
Keeper Fluke Chewing the Bays as Montauk Stripers Stay Hot
Per On The Water's June 18 Long Island report, keeper fluke are chewing better in the bays from the South Shore through the Peconics, while Montauk is delivering an excellent striped bass bite on squid and sand eels. Stripers have been sliding east through Long Island Sound, putting fish in range of both boat and surf anglers working the eastern end. NY DEC's recent newsletters confirm that recreational summer flounder, scup, and bluefish seasons are all open, and a new bluefish regulation — no size limit with a five-fish bag — makes blues a productive secondary target whenever they surface. OTW Surfcasting cautions that the coast-wide striper picture is uneven depending on location, but Long Island anglers appear to be on the right side of that split right now. Giant bluefin tuna are also showing within sight of the New York City metro, per On The Water, putting offshore action within reach for boats willing to make the run.
King Salmon Running Strong on Lake Ontario as Browns and Lakers Mix In
Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) is reporting excellent salmon fishing this past week, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out the catch. The action is concentrated in 100 to 160 feet of water, with preferred depth shifting daily as wind moves the thermocline. Mag Dipsey Divers have been the go-to presentation when fish are holding deep, and green, white, and chartreuse e-chips with Atomic hardware have been the consistent producers. For anglers planning a tributary outing on the Salmon River or Oswego River this week, note that the bulk of the chinook action remains offshore on Lake Ontario proper at this stage of the season. No USGS gauge or NOAA buoy readings are available for this cycle, so verify local flow and temperature conditions before heading out. Smallmouth bass in the tributary reaches are typically solid during late June as fish settle into summer patterns, though no local reports specifically covered that bite this week.
Bass Season Opens Across Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes as Summer Bite Builds
NY DEC The Fishing Line (June 12) reported the bass bite is picking up with warmer summer weather arriving just in time for the season opener. By late June, largemouth and smallmouth across Hudson Valley reservoirs and the Finger Lakes should be fully settled into early-summer patterns. Post-spawn fish are moving off their beds and staging on structure: rocky points, weed edges, submerged ledges, and depth transitions. In the Finger Lakes, smallmouth are a reliable summer target, often staging over gravel and cobble in clear mid-depth water as surface temps climb toward midsummer highs. Muskellunge season has also opened in eligible upstate waters per DEC's May newsletter, adding another premier target for Finger Lakes anglers. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this report period; check real-time sources for current water temperatures and river conditions before heading out.
Lake Erie walleye and post-spawn smallmouth headline a late-June bite
Fishing the Midwest is flagging active weedline walleye patterns across Great Lakes region waters this week, a cue that aligns well with typical late-June conditions on Erie's eastern basin and the Niagara corridor. No NOAA buoy readings or USGS gauge data were available for this update, leaving water temperature and flow figures unconfirmed. Based on seasonal patterns, walleye on Lake Erie have likely made their annual push from shallower spring staging zones into deeper mid-lake structure in the 30-to-50-foot range, where trolling crawler harnesses or stickbaits is the standard approach. Smallmouth bass are in peak post-spawn recovery mode, feeding hard on crayfish and gobies along rocky points and the Niagara's fast-water edges. Tactical Bassin's summer bass breakdown identifies three variables driving fish location right now: oxygen, temperature, and forage. That combination funnels bass to deeper structure and current seams by mid-day. No local charter or tackle shop reports were available for this cycle.
Finger Lakes smallmouth peak as post-spawn bass lock onto summer structure
Per Tactical Bassin, summer bass have entered a predictable post-spawn phase governed by baitfish location, oxygen, and temperature — a pattern playing out across Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles right now as smallmouth push onto rocky points and cobble shoals. No environmental sensor data or regional charter intel reached our feeds this cycle, so specific water readings are unavailable, but late June historically delivers some of the year's best structure smallmouth fishing on all three lakes, with fish holding at 8–20 feet along prominent humps and drop-offs. Fishing the Midwest echoes the summer formula, flagging weedlines as a key edge where fish slide shallow at first and last light. Surface temperatures on Cayuga and Seneca are typically in the upper 60s to low 70s by late June; Skaneateles tends to run a few degrees cooler thanks to its exceptional depth and water clarity. Lake trout on Seneca and Cayuga will have pushed into the thermocline by now, following the summer deep-water pattern typical for this region.
Montauk Bass Bite Firing on Squid and Sand Eels as South Shore Fluke Improve
Per On The Water's June 18 Long Island report, Montauk is delivering an excellent striped bass bite, with fish stacked on squid and sand eels as the spring migration transitions into summer holding patterns. Stripers are also sliding east through Long Island Sound, giving boat and surf anglers multiple intercept points. On the flats, keeper fluke are chewing better across the South Shore bays from the South Shore out to the Peconics, a welcome uptick heading into midsummer. On The Water's June 19 striper migration map confirms bigger bass are concentrating on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring regionwide. The NY DEC notes recreational summer flounder and scup seasons are open, and bluefish regulations have shifted to a 5-fish bag limit with no size minimum. The first quarter moon on June 23 sets up moderate tidal exchanges and reliable low-light bite windows at dawn and dusk, especially around Montauk's rip lines.
Adirondacks and Catskills trout shift to summer mode as terrestrials take hold
Late June marks the pivot from spring runoff to summer rhythm on the Adirondacks and Catskills trout streams, with no USGS gauge readings available this cycle; verify current flows before wading. The broader fly-fishing community's seasonal signals point clearly to the season's position. Trout Unlimited's current piece on navigating tube and canoe traffic, invoking a classic summer scene on the West Branch of the Delaware, signals that freestone flows have dropped enough to draw recreational users to prime trout water. Flylords Mag's recent feature on terrestrial patterns, explicitly pegged to the "summer heat" window now underway, aligns with what late June typically delivers: sparse evening sulphur stragglers, early-morning trico spinner falls on slower pools, and the first reliable beetle and ant action on brushy stream sections. Gink and Gasoline's trico hatch piece this week reinforces the timing: expect spinner falls to peak between 7 and 10 a.m. once overnight temperatures stabilize. Dawn and dusk remain the most productive windows; midday fish will be tight to shade and broken water.
King Salmon Running Hot on Lake Ontario as the Summer Bite Peaks
Strike Zone Charters is reporting some of the best salmon action of the season on Lake Ontario, with kings, brown trout, and lake trout all active in 100- to 160-foot water. Depths are shifting daily as wind repositions the thermal layer, but Mag Dipsey Divers are the go-to delivery when fish hold deep; green, white, and chartreuse e-chips are the hot color choices, per the charter. On the tributary side, the USGS gauge at the Salmon River (site 04250750) shows a modest 102 cfs — typical low-summer flow well ahead of the fall salmon run. No water temperature reading is available from the gauge, but late-June conditions in the Salmon River corridor generally mean warm, low water that keeps tributary action quiet. The real show right now is offshore: anglers launching out of Oswego and nearby ports should be targeting the open-lake bite.
Black bass season hits stride as summer warmth arrives in Hudson Valley
Water temps clocking 71°F (USGS gauge 01357500) confirm that summer has fully arrived in the Hudson Valley corridor, and the timing lines up with what NY DEC's Fishing Line reported in its June 12th issue: the black bass bite is picking up as warmer weather takes hold. Largemouth and smallmouth are the headline species right now, staging on points, submerged weed edges, and river channel structure as bass season hits full stride. River flows are substantial, with 2,390 cfs at the upper gauge and 10,900 cfs downstream, so anglers targeting moving water should look for slack pockets and seams behind current breaks. With a first quarter moon overhead, dawn and dusk feeding windows are worth prioritizing this week. Trout anglers should exercise caution: at 71°F, coldwater species are under thermal stress in main river channels and will seek cold springs, tributary mouths, and the thermocline in deeper Finger Lakes basins.
Montauk Striper Bite Running Hot; Keeper Fluke Chewing Well Across the Bays
Water temps at 68°F, per NOAA buoy 44065 at the NY Bight, put Long Island in a strong late-June window across multiple species. The headline is On The Water's June 18 Long Island and NYC Fishing Report: keeper fluke are chewing better in the bays from the South Shore through the Peconics, stripers are sliding east in the Sound, and Montauk continues to see an excellent bass bite on squid and sand eels. The On The Water Striper Migration Map (June 19) adds that bigger bass have been locking onto concentrations of sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring as the season shifts into summer patterns. NY DEC Saltwater Fishing and Boating confirms recreational summer flounder, scup, and striped bass seasons are all open, and a bluefish regulation change is now in effect: no size limit, five fish per person. With a First Quarter moon providing steady tidal movement, rips and structure off Montauk are the prime targets this week.