Freshwater Fishing, Fisheries Management, and Fishing Access News
In this issue:
Although the traditional trout season is closed, anglers can take advantage of productive Fall fishing opportunities for other noteworthy gamefish such as those in the Esocid family, including muskellunge, tiger muskellunge (pike + muskellunge hybrid), northern pike, and chain pickerel.
Fall is an excellent time to target these species as they feed heavily in preparation for the long winter ahead and their Spring spawning seasons. Cool nights and shorter days seem to trigger Esocids into actively feeding after the doldrums of summer. Fall is often considered the best time to capture trophy specimens. Common tactics include casting or trolling baits that imitate fish, a common food item for these species. Popular lures include large stickbaits, metal spoons, soft plastic swimbaits, chatterbaits, bucktail spinners and streamer style flies. Noisy topwater lures that “move water” are also effective. Don’t be afraid to use larger than average baits, this is the time of year when the largest fish are feeding! Esocids are ambush predators, utilizing their camouflage to hide perfectly still to suddenly charge and attempt to consume passing prey. If you miss a strike, cast right back into the same area, these aggressive fish will often make multiple attempts to capture your offering.
Whether you are fishing a river or lake, key spots to focus your efforts on include: any remaining live vegetation beds (look for green vegetation vs. brown), submerged logs/timber, slow eddies near current seams or anywhere where an abundance of prey fish species are observed. Pike, musky and pickerel can be found in dozens of waterbodies across the state and provide a great opportunity to land a high-quality sportfish before its time to pack the gear away for winter. For locations to target these species visit our website for Muskie, Pike, Tiger Muskie and Pickerel Fishing Opportunities, check out the Tackle Box feature in the HuntFishNY mobile app, or contact your Regional DEC Fisheries Office.
Esocid Seasons:
- Muskellunge (Statewide): June 1 - November 30
- Muskellunge/Tiger Muskellunge (Great Lakes and Tributaries): June 15 -December 15
- Tiger Muskellunge, Pickerel, Northern Pike (Statewide): May 1 - March 1
Before venturing out, check the current Freshwater Fishing Regulations to do your part in making sure these populations remain healthy for future generations to enjoy!
As part of a continued enhancement of Western New York's fishing opportunities, the NYS Canal Corporation’s annual program has been increasing flows into Lake Ontario tributaries. The draining of the Erie Canal in December, based on weather and operations activity, will mean higher flows from about mid-month to year-end on Sandy, Oak Orchard, Johnson, and Eighteenmile creeks.
For more information:
Canal Fall Fishing (includes 2025 Flow Release Schedule)
Steelhead Fishing in Lake Ontario Tributaries
On October 15th DEC, in partnership with the Seneca Nation of Indians and US Fish and Wildlife Service, stocked 1,000 eight-inch lake sturgeon into Cattaraugus Creek for the first time! This stocking represents the first step of a 25-year plan to reestablish a spawning population of adult lake sturgeon in the creek. Following stocking these fish will leave the creek and head to Lake Erie for several years before (hopefully) returning to spawn as adults. Historically, Lake Erie supported at least 19 spawning populations of lake sturgeon, including Cattaraugus Creek, but today only two populations remain. Due to low populations, fishing for lake sturgeon is prohibited in New York State.
Capable of living more than 100 years, lake sturgeon are one of New York State’s largest freshwater fish, sometimes reaching lengths of seven feet and weighing more than 300 pounds!
For more information: Lake Sturgeon Management in New York
While fly fishing for Pacific salmon in the famed Salmon River on August 30th angler Cliff Chamberlain hooked into a pretty rare fish – a pink salmon. Not only that, but it also weighed in at just over 6 pounds! Originally introduced in the Upper Great Lakes, these fish have made their way down to Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and are occasionally caught in a select few New York tributaries during the fall salmon runs.
In late September while fishing on Lake Erie, Joshua Gillis made a remarkable catch: a golden-colored walleye! Unlike the typical olive-green hue of most walleye, this fish displayed a bright golden-yellow coloration that immediately caught attention. While the unusual appearance may look surprising, biologists note that it is likely the result of genetic-based pigment change, similar to albinism or other color mutations occasionally seen in wildlife.
Rare catches like this serve as a reminder of the incredible diversity found within New York’s waters, and the many discoveries that await anglers and researchers alike.
Left: pink salmon (photo courtesy of Facebook), Right: golden-colored walleye
Location: Allegany County
Size: 48 miles
Characteristics: From its headwaters in Pennsylvania, the Allegheny River flows into New York through southern Cattaraugus County, winding westward past Olean and Salamanca before emptying into the Allegheny Reservoir on Seneca Nation of Indians Territory. Beyond there, the river/reservoir continues south into Pennsylvania, eventually forming the Ohio River. The Allegheny is a larger river that averages 50-100 feet in width. The shoreline remains largely undeveloped, interspersed with a mixture of agriculture, residential, and industrial areas. The river is generally shallow with gravel/cobble riffles and banks of shale and clay; the shallow riffles make boat travel difficult to impossible except during higher flows. Fishing occurs mainly from shore or shallow boats such as kayaks and canoes. The Allegheny River watershed supports a diverse and unique fish community with up to 95 different fish species recorded, including numerous rare species and 13 species not found anywhere else in New York. The high quality riffle habitat supports a rich assemblage of darter species, including the state threatened bluebreast darter.
Primary Sportfish: walleye, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, carp
The Fishery: The mainstem Allegheny River and several major tributaries support moderately abundant, self-sustaining populations of both walleye and smallmouth bass. While overall abundance of these sportfish is general low, quality sized fish are common and trophy size walleye and smallmouth bass are caught annually. Native muskellunge are also present in the watershed and supplemented with annual stocking to maintain the population and sport fishery. Northern pike, first introduced in Allegheny Reservoir in 1968, are now well established throughout the river, reservoir, and tributaries such as Olean Creek, Ischua Creek, and Conewango Creek. Several tributaries and headwater streams in the watershed also contain wild trout populations, and some streams are stocked to provide a put and take trout fishery. A variety of panfish species are also present throughout the system and provide additional fishing opportunities.
Access: Access is considered good although the majority of the river lies on private land and permission should be sought. There are numerous bridges and parallel roads throughout the river’s length that provide access as well as public flood control dikes in Portville, Olean, Allegany and Salamanca. A small unimproved boat launch is maintained by the DEC on South Ninemile River Road just west of the village of Allegany underneath the I-86 Interstate bridge. Canoes or kayaks can be put in at most bridges, including public municipal hand launch sites located in Portville, Olean, and Allegany. A section of the river lies on the Seneca Nation of Indians property in the Salamanca area and anglers need to obtain a Seneca Nation fishing license and abide by Seneca Nation regulations when fishing this section of river. Trailered boat launches on the Reservoir are available at Friends-Allegany State Park, Onoville Marina, and High Banks Campground on Seneca Nation lands.
Current Management/Research: Fisheries management efforts on the Allegheny River include the continued stocking of fingerling muskellunge in the fall to supplement wild populations, and trout in some tributaries to provide both seasonal and year-round fishing opportunities. Fish community surveys are regularly conducted on the mainstem river and tributaries to monitor the status of fish populations and document rare fish species. A variety of sampling gears are used, including seines, backpack electrofishing units, and electrified trawls. A sauger reintroduction program was implemented in 2014, and monitoring indicates the successful development of an adult population in the Allegheny Reservoir with documented natural reproduction in 2024.
Dan Dougherty with a 10 pound Allegheny River walleye
With nearly 3 million New Yorkers potentially losing their federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance in November, DEC is encouraging hunters to help fight hunger in our communities at this critical time.
Each year, DEC partners with Feeding New York State to facilitate the donation of 50-70,000 pounds of venison from deer harvested by hunters to those in need.
To help join the fight against hunger by donating your deer harvest:
- Drop off any legally harvested, tagged, and reported deer at one of Feeding New York State’s participating deer processors.
- Call the processor ahead of time to ensure they can accept your deer.
- Complete the processor’s log sheet indicating your desire to donate the deer.
DEC and Feeding New York State will cover the processing costs for donated deer so that the venison can be distributed to food pantries and food banks throughout the state; however, funding is limited. If you don’t have a deer to donate but still want to help, consider making a financial donation to the venison donation program through Feeding New York State, by clicking the “Donations” link at the top of the DEC Automated Licensing System page, or when you purchase your next hunting license.
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