Fishing Places in New York
New York has some of the best lakes on the East Coast of the United States.
The 27th largest state in the US, it is known for magnificent Niagara Falls, the Statue of Liberty… and it is famous to anglers, a fantastic place for fishing. New York State has more than 7600 freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs, as well as portions of two of the five Great Lakes and over 70,000 miles of rivers and streams. These waterbodies provide habitat for aquatic animal life.
You are a big fan of Taylor Swift, you will probably listen to this song “welcome to New York”, especially, you are interested in fishing, New York is definitely a right place for you. “Welcome to New York” and welcome you to our article and go with us to explore how great spots for fishing in New York are.
1/ Chautauqua Lake
Chautauqua is a great place for catching Bass, Musky and Walleye, with angling tournaments held here annually like Chautauqua Lake Bassmasters, Walleye challenge, NCCC Walleye Derby. The lake supports great numbers of Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Perch, Sunfish and Muskie.
Spring and fall are ideal times to fish the shorelines and shallow areas. In summer, the temperature is warmer, the more fish move to deeper water. Chautauqua is an excellent ice fishing lake in winter.
2/ Lake George
Known as the “Queen of the American Lakes” with its 109 miles of shoreline and more than 300 islands. In summers, fishing makes this the best lake in New York for fun and during the cooler months, you can go ice fishing on it, include Lake trout, landlocked salmon, black bass, and yellow perch are popular in Lake George.
3/ Lake Champlain
In addition to be a spot for fishing, this is a scenic masterpiece. The 400 feet deep lake has over 80 species of fish and it is a really big lake with more than 400 square miles of surface area, 70 islands.
4/ Seneca Lake
This is the largest of the Finger Lakes in New York, Seneca lake offers an abundance of fish to catch for anglers. It is known as “Lake Trout capital of the World”, and National Lake Trout Derby and Catharine Creek were both held in this lake where is a favored spot to catch Lake Trout. The lake’s rainbow trout fishery is sustained entirely by natural reproduction.
Catherine Creek, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, is a particularly favorable spot for trout fishing.
5/ Canandaigua lake
In Addition to its popular trout fisheries, It produces some excellent angling for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, including Yellow Perch, Blue gills, Black Crappie and bullheads. It also offers some good to excellent fishing for Lake Trout.
6/ Keuka Lake
Due to its unique Y – shape, Keuka Lake has another name is the Crooked Lake. It is known for having some of the best ice fishing. The best time to hook areas from the fall through early spring.
This is a solid lake for Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass fishing from the early season opener in May through the Fall. Other species found on Keuka Lake include Crappies, Northern Pike, and Bluegills, sunfish.
7/ Oneida Lake
Oneida Lake is located entirely within New York State and is the largest lake. Spring is the season when the majority of the fish species on Oneida Lake reproduce. Yellow Perch, Bullheads, Bluegills and Crappie will spawn in shallow water.
8/ Conesus Lake
It is the home to many fishing tournaments, Conesus Lake is a lake near Canandaigua. The most popular species caught here are Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass. It also has been a productive fishery for Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed and Brown Bullhead.
9/ Saratoga lake
Saratoga Lake produces some decent size Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Northern Pike. Each year approximately 8,600,000 Walleye are stocked in the lake. To find the Northern Pike, anglers should fish the edge of weed beds. However, Smallmouth Bass and Walleye are found in rocky shores. For fishing aficionados, head to Saratoga Lake and cast your lines to Bass, Bluegill, Perch and Walleye fish.
Waterfront Park on Saratoga lake is a good place to enjoy the food from the fish you have caught.
We also make a list of fish in lakes, rivers, streams of New York. It is hard to describe all variety of fish in the state, and we hope you have a general view after reading our article.
Check out the location you will go and see which type of fish you will enjoy in your dinner. Enjoy your trips and give us some minutes to look at our fishing shirts.
Lake |
Type of Fish |
Lake Ontario |
Chinook, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Panfish |
Oneida Lake |
Walleye, Yellow Perch, Largemouth, Smallmouth |
Lake Erie |
Smallmouth Bass, Walleye |
St. Lawrence River |
Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Walleye, Panfish |
Hudson River |
Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, Striped Bass |
Lake Champlain |
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon, Channel Catfish, Yellow Perch, Panfish |
Niagara River |
+ The lower river: Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, Walleye, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Yellow Perch + The Upper river: muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass |
Seneca Lake |
Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, landlocked Atlantic Salmon, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, |
Salmon River |
Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead |
Cayuga Lake |
Largemouth Bass, Lake Trout |
Lake George |
Brook Trout, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie |
Chautauqua Lake |
Walleye, Bass, Muskellunge, Panfish |
Mohawk River |
Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge |
Black Lake |
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Panfish, Bluegills, Yellow Perch |
Keuka Lake |
Smallmouth Bass, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Northern Pike, Panfish, Yellow Perch, Bluegills, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass and Balck Crappie |
Susquehanna |
Walleye, Smallmouth Bass |
Oswego River |
Chinook Salmon, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Catfish |
Saranac Chain of Lakes |
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout |
Saratoga Lake |
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Panfish |
Cattaraugus Creek |
Steelhead, Brown Trout |
Genesee River |
Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon |
Canandaigua Lake |
Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Panfish, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Bullheads |
Delaware River and Tributaries |
Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass |
Beaver Kill |
Rainbow Trout |
Peconic River |
Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Panfish |