New York Fly Fishing

New York has some of the best northern fishing in the Northeast. The St. Lawrence River has some good pike fishing, from the river bays around Lake St. Lawrence, Waddington, Ogdens-burg, Chippewa Bay, Wellesly Island (my favorite fall area), to the islands around Clayton, and Carleton. As for the river, concentrate on the back sides of islands (where weed growth is most prominent) from Clayton downriver to Massena. The heads of islands (facing the current) will have fewer pike, but chances are they’ll be bigger ones.

On Lake Ontario bays, particularly Chaumont, Black River, and Hender-son, south to Lakeview, Sodus, and Port Ontario and others, northerns offer some terrific sport.

To the south, the Finger Lakes have some good pike fishing.The Barge Canal in Montezuma Swamp area is a good choice, as are Conesus Lake, Cayuga Lake, Otisco Lake, Seneca Lake, and Honeoye Lake.

The Adirondacks also have some good pike destinations. The Black River, from its mouth at Lake Ontario to the town of Lowville has good pike fishing. Long Lake, Tupper Lake, and the Raquette River Reservoirs-including Blake, Stark, and Carry Reservoirs-are all possibilities. On the Adirondack periphery, the pike fishing actually improves. Sacandaga, Saratoga, Lake George, and Lake Champlain all have good fall northern fishing. Champlain’s best pike fishing (from the New York side) can be found at the northern end, from Plattsburgh north to Rouses Point.

• Black River Fly Fishing – Central New York
• Catch Hudson River bass above Waterford
• East Branch of The Croton River Fly Fishing
• Fish southern quarter for Cayuga salmonids
• Jamaica Bay Fishing
• Lake George landlock salmon, lakers & bass
• Long Island Sound Striper Fishing
• Montauk Striper Blitz
• New York City Striper Flats Fishing
• Wade top 2 miles of The Oak for steelhead