New York fishing reports
188 reports for New York — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Post-Spawn Smallmouth Stirring on Lake Erie as Late May Arrives
Water temperature on Tonawanda Creek registered 57°F at 5:30 a.m. per USGS gauge 04231600, placing Western NY's Lake Erie and Niagara corridor squarely in the post-spawn transition for smallmouth bass. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes coverage identifies this as prime time for clear-water smallmouth fishing, pointing to paddle-tail swimbaits and finesse presentations as top producers for bigger fish moving off beds onto adjacent structure. Wired 2 Fish notes that post-spawn bass behavior varies widely right now: some fish gorging aggressively, others finicky and spooky near recovering beds, so carrying both power and finesse options is the smart call. Tributary flows are running high at 5,720 cfs on Tonawanda Creek, which may push fish toward main-lake and Niagara River edges rather than creek mouths. Walleye fishing on the western Erie basin typically peaks through May, though no local charter reports surfaced in this week's feeds.
Green drakes and sulphurs hit their prime window on Catskills trout streams
USGS gauge 01413500 logged 191 cfs and gauge 01415000 recorded 41.7 cfs at 5:45 a.m. this morning, placing two key Catskills drainages at fishable, wadeable levels heading into Memorial Day weekend. The timing matters: Flylords Mag notes East Coast green drake emergences run 'between early May and late June,' placing this week squarely in the heart of the Catskills' most celebrated hatch window. MidCurrent's hatch coverage this week highlights patterns designed for 'every feeding lane from the surface film to open water' as 'hatches begin to fire,' which maps cleanly onto late-May Catskills conditions. No water temperatures are available from current gauge readings; late May typically places these streams in the mid-50s to low-60s F, ideal for brown and brook trout feeding aggressively before summer warmth arrives. Gink and Gasoline notes that warm conditions can push hatch timing earlier than expected. Sulphurs and caddis overlap the green drake window through the holiday weekend, giving anglers multiple daily periods to target.
Salmon running hot on Lake Ontario as spring depths take center stage
Strike Zone Charters on Lake Ontario reports salmon fishing has been 'very good' this past week, with brown trout and lake trout mixing into catches across 100 to 160 feet of water. Depths have been shifting day to day as wind pushes temperature breaks around the lake, making flexibility essential. Mag Dipsey Divers have been the consistent producer when the thermocline runs deep, with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips earning the most bites. On the Salmon River itself, USGS gauge 04250750 recorded a moderate 313 cfs as of early morning May 25, workable levels for anglers fishing the lower river or harbor mouth. No water temperature is available from the current gauge reading, though late May typically finds tributary water in the upper 50s to low 60s Fahrenheit. Steelhead are tapering toward the end of their spring window, but the open-water salmon action is more than picking up the slack.
Hudson Valley stripers and Finger Lakes walleye hit late-May prime
Water at USGS gauge 01357500 is logging 62°F this morning, a temperature that puts the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes squarely in late spring's most productive window. NY DEC's May 22nd Fishing Line confirms musky season is nearly upon us, while the April issue noted the statewide coolwater sportfish season opened May 1, unlocking walleye, northern pike, and pickerel across Finger Lakes outlets and tributaries. The Hudson striped bass season has been open since April 1 per NY DEC, and with main-stem flows at 13,700 cfs (gauge 01358000) and 4,320 cfs on an upper tributary (gauge 01357500), current conditions keep bait moving and migratory fish active. Smallmouth bass are in classic late-May form: Brookdog Fishing Co., reporting from western New York waters this week, notes that river bass are "getting spawny and sliding shallow" at these temperatures, a pattern mirrored across Hudson Valley flats. Spring trout stocking is complete per NY DEC's April Fishing Line, with brook, brown, and rainbow trout distributed across tributary streams throughout both regions.
Hudson Valley bass reach peak spawn as Finger Lakes walleye season heats up
Water temperature on the Hudson River measured 63°F at USGS gauge 01357500 on May 24, placing the Hudson Valley squarely in prime smallmouth bass spawning conditions; males are pushing onto shallow gravel shoals and rocky points across the region. NY DEC's The Fishing Line confirms spring trout stocking remains underway through late May, with brook, brown, and rainbow trout accessible in recently stocked tributaries. The coolwater sportfish season opened May 1 per NY DEC, putting Finger Lakes walleye, now past their spawn, into active post-spawn feeding mode along deeper structure. Brookdog Fishing Co., reporting from western NY's Lake Ontario corridor where water temperatures are running parallel, notes smallmouth have gone 'spawny and slid shallow,' a pattern mirrored across upstate NY at similar temps. On The Water's May 22 striper migration update notes the spring Hudson River push remains active, with first-quarter moon timing (May 25) favoring feeding along current seams in the lower mainstem.
Lake Erie smallmouth prime as post-spawn window opens across Western NY
Water temperatures in the Western NY watershed are reading 57°F as of May 24 (USGS gauge 04231600), landing squarely in the late-spawn to early post-spawn transition window for Lake Erie smallmouth bass. Tactical Bassin's Great Lakes smallmouth breakdown highlights this as the phase when fish school together on clear-water rocky structure, making reaction-bait presentations and quick water coverage the most productive approach. The first quarter moon sets up solid morning and evening feeding transitions through the week. Walleye, Lake Erie's marquee draw, are typically staging their final pre-summer movements in this temperature range, though no local charter or shop reports reached us this cycle; anglers should verify specific bite windows locally before heading out. Yellow perch hold steady on deeper rocky and gravel structure. No open-lake buoy data arrived for this cycle, so confirm wave heights and wind before launching from any Western NY access point.
Hudson bass hit the beds as Finger Lakes walleye season gains steam
USGS gauge 01357500 recorded the Hudson River at 63°F and 2,440 cfs on the morning of May 24, squarely in the prime spawning window for largemouth and smallmouth bass and well within range for the spring striped bass push through the lower river corridor. NY DEC The Fishing Line's May 22nd issue signals how deep into the warmwater calendar we have moved, noting musky season is now 'just around the corner.' For Finger Lakes walleye anglers, the coolwater sportfish statewide season opened May 1 per NY DEC, and dawn and dusk transition windows over rocky structure should be producing. Spring trout stocking remains active; DEC hatchery crews have been moving brook, brown, and rainbow trout across the region throughout the season. The main-stem Hudson at gauge 01358000 is running a muscular 12,800 cfs, rewarding anglers who target current seams and hard structure edges.
Finger Lakes Smallmouth Approaching Pre-Spawn Peak as May Closes Out
Water temp on Finger Lakes tributaries is sitting at 53°F per USGS gauge 04232050 as of Sunday morning, right at the threshold where smallmouth bass begin their final pre-spawn staging on Cayuga, Seneca, and Skaneateles. With spawn typically triggering when surface temperatures push past 60°F, the fish are likely concentrated on rocky transition zones and wind-swept points in 8 to 20 feet of water. Tactical Bassin's coverage of clear northern lake smallmouth bass highlights paddle-tail swimbaits as consistent producers during this staging window, with fish schooled on structure before committing to beds. Wired 2 Fish contributor Justin Lucas notes that early-morning topwater around shallow cover creates aggressive reaction bites during low-light windows, a technique that applies directly to Finger Lakes docks and boulder fields at this time of year. No direct charter or tackle-shop reports from these specific lakes appeared in this week's feed; check with local shops before heading out.
Lake Erie smallmouth transition post-spawn as late-May warmth arrives
Water temps at 59°F per USGS gauge 04231600 mark the late-May transition across Western NY's Lake Erie and Niagara corridor. Tactical Bassin's recent Great Lakes smallmouth breakdown identifies clear-water Erie-style fisheries as the prime moment for paddle-tail swimbaits and tube jigs, with bass moving off gravel spawning beds and turning aggressive on rocky nearshore structure. Walleye are scattering from post-spawn staging areas and settling into summer feeding patterns along mid-lake humps, where jig-and-minnow and bottom-bouncer rigs remain productive. Fishing the Midwest flags shallow flats as an underutilized spring target before warming water pushes fish deeper, a window still open across Erie's western basin right now. Yellow perch stay reliable on eastern basin reefs through late May. Tributary flow at 2,910 cfs at gauge 04231600 signals moderate runoff; check water clarity at your launch before committing to open-lake runs.
Green Drake Season Peaks on Catskills and Adirondack Trout Streams
Flylords Mag places the East Coast green drake hatch squarely between early May and late June, and late May is the prime window for Catskills and Adirondack trout streams. USGS gauges show the region carrying 229 cfs and 68.5 cfs as of May 23, both within wading reach with enough current to stack feeding fish along seams and outside bends. Water temperatures are not available from either gauge at this reading. For the pre-hatch hours, MidCurrent's recent fly-tying coverage highlights beaded dark nymphs for overcast, low-light conditions and sparse midge-style patterns for clear, selective water, both staples on technical Catskills limestone sections. Gink and Gasoline has noted that warm weather can push Sulphur and Light Cahill emergence ahead of their typical late-April-to-May schedule, so carry a full range of emerger sizes even if conditions look textbook. First Quarter moon extends productive twilight windows through late evening, when Catskills browns are most likely to commit to a dry.
Salmon on fire offshore as Lake Ontario's late-May bite peaks
Strike Zone Charters is reporting excellent salmon fishing on Lake Ontario this past week, with brown trout and lake trout mixing into the action. The productive zone sits in 100 to 160 feet of water; Mag Dipsey Divers are the go-to tool when the temperature layer pushes fish deep, and green, white, and chartreuse e-chips have been producing results. On the tributary side, the USGS gauge on the Salmon River (site 04250750) shows flow at 125 cfs as of May 24, a manageable level that should allow wade access in the lower river. Water temperature data was unavailable from gauges this cycle. With the First Quarter moon coinciding with this active offshore period, anglers targeting Lake Ontario's mixed trolling spread heading into Memorial Day weekend are in a solid window. The lake bite is clearly the headline story this week.
Big Stripers Running Island-Wide as Memorial Day Weekend Arrives
Water temperatures holding at 55°F across both NOAA monitoring stations are keeping the fluke bite measured, but striped bass are the undisputed headliner across Long Island this week. Per The Fisherman — Long Island East End, Montauk is delivering steady action on slot fish and occasional larger bass taking diamond jigs, bucktails, trolling lures, and surface plugs from boat and surf alike. On the South Shore, Chasing Tails Bait & Tackle in Oakdale called this past week 'one for the books,' with solid bass schools working bays and beaches. River Bay Outfitters on the West End confirms big fish are keying on bunker, sand eels, and spearing, with early mornings and moving tides most productive. Fluke are cooperating in spots: Sea Rogue Charters in Freeport drilled nine keepers on Saturday, though cooler-than-average water is still limiting numbers. Porgies are showing well inside Peconic Bay, bluefish have begun trickling into bay systems, and sea bass season opened May 16, per NY DEC.