Fishing Hotspots in Central New York

Jan Hrdlicka (front center) holds a Chinook salmon on the Oswego River. Looking on are Olaf Jochmann, back left and Capt. Kevin Davis, right. Photos courtesy of Catch the Drift and Chasin' Tail Adventures guide services.
Jan Hrdlicka (front center) holds a Chinook salmon on the Oswego River. Looking on are Olaf Jochmann, back left and Capt. Kevin Davis, right. Photos courtesy of Catch the Drift and Chasin' Tail Adventures guide services.

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

New York boasts 7,500 lakes and ponds and 70,000 miles of rivers and streams, according to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Once you have your fishing license in hand, try angling at these top fishing spots.

Salmon River & Oswego River

There’s a reason it’s called the Salmon River; is the place to be in fall for salmon as they make their way down the river from Lake Ontario. From these waters, anglers have caught the Great Lakes record Chinook salmon (47 lbs. 13 oz.) and the world record Coho salmon (33 lbs. 4 oz.).

Also in the fall, don’t miss fishing in the Oswego River for Chinook, and Coho, as well as steelhead. Though it may be crowded along the shore because of the river’s increasing popularity, the fishing is brisk

Oneida Lake

Oneida Lake offers good fishing for numerous fish from its northern and southern fishing spots. The species include walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, northern pike, tiger muskie bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, black crappie, yellow perch, freshwater drum, common carp, bowfin, burbot, longnose gar, lake sturgeon, gizzard shad, and round goby.

Skaneateles

Skaneateles Lake’s reputation as trout waters has been growing. It’s also a hotspot for Atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, rock bass, black crappie, white sucker, and brown bullhead. The DEC recommends the south end for bullhead, panfish and pickerel. The lake also offers plenty of lake trout, though the fish tend to be smaller than elsewhere in New York.

Lebanon Reservoir

Lebanon Reservoir in Hamilton supplies water for the Erie Canal and is home to many largemouth bass and rainbow trout, along with walleye, black crappie, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill, rock bass, yellow perch, golden shiner, white sucker, and brown bullhead. The DEC annually stocks the reservoir with approximately 2,000 mature rainbow trout.

Owasco Inlet

Owasco Inlet, flowing through Peruville, Groton, Locke and Moravia, offers 13.3 miles of public fishing rights, along with rainbow trout, walleyes, brown bullheads, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, and white sucker. Thanks to the waterway’s variety of fish, the DEC considers the inlet as a multi-season fishing location.


Fishing Etiquette

• “Elbow room to fish is a common courtesy.

• “The stationary or slow moving angler should be given room by overtaking them noiselessly out of the water and re-entering as far away as practical.

• “Wading right up to another angler could disturb a pod of feeding fish, and no one appreciates this type of conduct.

• “Pleasant conversations are OK, so long as you don’t disturb other anglers.”

Source: DEC