New York fishing reports
434 reports for New York — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Beaverkill in summer low-water mode — terrestrials take center stage
The Beaverkill clocked 36.5 cfs at Cooks Falls (USGS gauge 01415000) on June 22, and the East Branch Delaware sat at 155 cfs at Margaretville (USGS gauge 01413500) — flows signaling the Catskills have entered summer low-water conditions. Neither gauge returned a water temperature reading. With streams running lean and clear, fish are predictably tucked into shaded lies, deep pools, and cold tributary confluences. Flylords Mag notes this is the season to stock up on terrestrials, highlighting the Chugger as a must-tie "for the summer heat" — foam-style beetle and ant patterns become the daylight workhorse as canopy insects fall to the surface. MidCurrent's current tying lineup spans the full water column, from high-riding dry-fly attractors to subsurface nymph rigs, a useful reminder that late June demands versatility as hatch timing shifts later into the evening. No regional charter or tackle-shop reports were available for this update; anglers should verify local conditions before heading out.
King salmon arrive in force on Lake Ontario as offshore trolling peaks
Strike Zone Charters on Lake Ontario is reporting that salmon have arrived in force, with fishing 'very good' this past week and browns and lake trout rounding out the catch. The productive zone sits in 100 to 160 feet of water, though preferred depths shift day to day as wind moves the temperature layer around the basin. When the thermocline runs deep, Mag Dipsey Divers are producing reliably, with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips drawing strikes. USGS gauge 04250750 shows the tributary system at 99.8 cfs as of June 22, a low-to-moderate summer reading that keeps salmon holding offshore in the main lake rather than pushing into the Salmon River or Oswego. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. The first-quarter moon on June 23 may concentrate near-shore brown trout activity during evening hours for anglers working shoreline structure.
Lake Erie walleye and smallmouth prime up as mid-summer heat sets in
Water at USGS gauge 04231600 reads 70°F with flow at 788 cfs as of June 22 — conditions typical of peak mid-summer on the Lake Erie and Niagara corridor. Direct local angler intel for this region is limited in current feeds, but Fishing the Midwest confirms the 2026 open-water season is "in full swing" and points to weedlines and structure transitions as the go-to summer pattern. Tactical Bassin underscores that summer bass behavior becomes highly predictable once temps stabilize, with fish pulled toward depth transitions, baitfish, and shaded cover. Walleye, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch are the anchors for late June on Lake Erie — seasonal norms suggest walleye keying on mid-lake humps in 20–35 feet, perch hanging over nearshore gravel flats, and smallmouth active along rocky current seams in the Niagara. The First Quarter moon tonight can trigger walleye to push shallower after dark. Check NYS DEC regulations before harvesting.
Bass Season Opens Strong Across Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes
NY DEC's June 12th Fishing Line reported the black bass bite is 'picking up with the warmer summer weather' — and with the season now open and the Hudson registering 73°F (USGS gauge 01357500), largemouth and smallmouth across the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes are fully into summer feeding mode. Bass are splitting predictably after the spawn: shallow fish holding on dock lines, laydowns, and weed edges through low-light windows; midday fish pushing deeper onto mid-lake structure as surface temps peak. The Hudson is running at 1,200 cfs on the upper gauge and 7,940 cfs downstream — moderate, fishable levels that concentrate baitfish in current seams and eddy pockets. Musky season is underway across eligible NY waters per NY DEC, with fish settling into summer ambush zones. Trout fishing has become a cooler-water proposition: 73°F readings push browns and rainbows into shaded tributary heads and deeper lake sections. Verify seasons and bag limits with current NY DEC regulations before heading out.
Finger Lakes Smallmouth Prime as Post-Spawn Bass Shift to Summer Structure
Water temperature logged at 62°F by USGS gauge 04232050 on the morning of June 22 confirms the Finger Lakes are crossing into early-summer fishing patterns. Smallmouth bass are the primary near-term target: post-spawn fish are recovering and migrating toward rock points, submerged ledges, and weedline transitions in 8 to 20 feet of water. Wired 2 Fish highlights the Senko worm as a go-to finesse option when bass turn picky in shallow water, and Tactical Bassin notes that summer bass split predictably between shallow feeders active in low-light windows and deep-structure fish hugging bottom during midday heat. On Cayuga and Seneca, cold-water species including lake trout and landlocked salmon are likely pressing below the developing thermocline as surface layers warm. No local charter or tackle-shop intel specific to the Finger Lakes appeared in this week's feed; anglers should check with local shops before heading out to confirm the latest bite windows.
King salmon firing on Lake Ontario as midsummer trolling heats up
Strike Zone Charters reports salmon fishing has been very good on Lake Ontario this past week, with brown trout and lake trout rounding out the mix. Trollers are finding fish in 100 to 160 feet of water, though the productive depth shifts day to day as wind-driven temperature movement reorganizes the thermal column. Mag Dipsey Divers are the go-to presentation when the temperature break runs deep, paired with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips. No USGS gauge data is available for the Salmon River or Oswego River this cycle, so in-tributary conditions cannot be assessed directly. Tributary steelhead runs typically wind down by late June in this region, making the offshore lake trolling bite — which Strike Zone Charters confirms is producing — the primary draw for the coming week.
Montauk Bass Bite Excellent as Keeper Fluke Heat Up Across the Bays
Per On The Water's June 18 Long Island report, Montauk is delivering an excellent striped bass bite on squid and sand eels, while keeper fluke are chewing better throughout the South Shore bays and into the Peconics. Stripers are also sliding eastward through Long Island Sound as the spring run transitions to summer patterns, a shift reinforced by On The Water's June 19 striper migration map, which notes bigger bass are now concentrating on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring. For bottom anglers, NY DEC has confirmed that the recreational summer flounder (fluke) and scup (porgy) seasons are now open. Bluefish regulations have also changed this season: NY DEC reports no size limit and a 5-fish individual bag limit, though anglers should verify current regs before heading out. The First Quarter moon this weekend sets up moderate tidal swings, which should help time rip-line sessions at Montauk.
Montauk striper bite peaks as bluefish arrive and yellowfin hit the docks
Multiple East End sources are confirming this is some of the best striped bass fishing Montauk has seen all season. The Fisherman — Long Island East End reports fish to 40-plus pounds on bucktails, jigs, and live eels in front of the Point, while The Fisherman (Northeast) puts quality bass to 50 pounds in the hands of both boat and shore anglers across Long Island. On The Water — New York / Long Island adds that Montauk's excellent bass bite is keying on squid and sand eels, with stripers also sliding east through the Sound. Bluefish have arrived in force around the Point, per multiple East End marina reports through The Fisherman — Long Island East End, while porgies are starting to show. Fluke has been slow this season; The Fisherman (Northeast) calls it "painfully inconsistent," though first doormat reports emerged from Nantucket Shoals and LIS catch counts are ticking up near Port Jefferson. Offshore, The Fisherman — Long Island East End confirmed the season's first yellowfin tuna reached the docks from the canyons.
Terrestrials take over as Adirondack and Catskill streams enter summer mode
Field & Stream's summer terrestrial guide points squarely at the seasonal moment on Adirondack and Catskill trout streams: beetles, ants, and grasshoppers move into the drift as aquatic hatch activity cools, and that transition arrives right at the solstice. No gauge readings or water temperature data were available for these drainages in our current pull, so verify flows before heading out. Flylords Mag reinforces the timing, spotlighting the Chugger this week as a foam terrestrial "every trout angler should be tying up for the summer heat." Hatch Magazine's recent piece on fishing through drought adds an important caution: if June precipitation has run below average, expect lower flows and fish stacked in the deepest, most shaded pools by midday, with productive windows compressed to first light and the last hour before dark. The First Quarter moon and long solstice light favor feeding surges at both ends of the day.
Lake Erie and Niagara smallmouth on swimbaits as early-summer bite opens
Tactical Bassin's latest Great Lakes smallmouth outing — targeting open water in windy, choppy conditions — turned up trophy-sized fish using a Dark Sleeper and Spark Shad swimbait combo, a pattern directly applicable to Lake Erie's rocky mid-lake structure and the Niagara River's current seams. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings are available for this report cycle, so precise water temperatures and flow figures are absent — verify conditions locally before launching. Late June is historically a prime window for Western New York anglers: walleye typically occupy summer staging areas on mid-lake humps and rubble transitions, smallmouth have largely finished spawning and are chasing baitfish aggressively, and yellow perch school along deeper weed edges. Fishing the Midwest notes that weed-edge pattern fishing is productive across the Great Lakes region right now. Anglers planning Niagara River trips should check current flow conditions, as strong mid-summer flow concentrates baitfish at key ambush points.
Bass Bite Picking Up as Summer Arrives Across Hudson Valley & Finger Lakes
NY DEC's June 12th Fishing Line reports the bite is 'picking up with the warmer summer weather arriving just in time' for the bass season opener, good news for Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes anglers entering the solstice stretch. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are the top freshwater targets right now, with warming conditions pushing fish into classic early-summer structure and shallow weed edges. Trout remain in the mix following DEC's confirmed spring stocking effort, though fish are moving toward deeper, cooler holds as late-June surface temps climb. Musky season, flagged as approaching in DEC's May 22nd issue, has opened across eligible Finger Lakes waters. No real-time gauge or buoy data is available for this cycle; verify local river flows before targeting tributary trout. Overall, the early-summer transition looks on schedule, with bass and musky carrying the most active action across the region's lakes and reservoirs.
Finger Lakes bass fire post-spawn as lakers seek the deep
Fishing the Midwest's current weedline breakdown, timed for the early summer transition, aligns squarely with what should be happening on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles right now: smallmouth bass recovering from the spawn and pushing onto structural edges in 8 to 20 feet of water. No local charter, shop, or state reports for the Finger Lakes appeared in this week's feeds, so conditions are read through seasonal signals. Lake trout on the deeper basins (Cayuga at 435 feet, Seneca at 618) are almost certainly pushing toward the thermocline as surface temps climb; downrigger trolling is the standard approach once lakers go stratified. Yellow perch remain distributed across basin structure. Brown and rainbow trout have largely retreated from shallower, warming water into cooler tributaries. The First Quarter moon on June 21 sets up favorable feeding windows at dawn and dusk for bass and perch through the weekend.