Central New York Fishing

Central New York encompasses a nine county area and offers a very diverse fishery from Lake Ontario in the north to the Susquehanna River in the south. There are a variety of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds spread throughout Central New York. Four of New York's Finger Lakes (Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles and Otisco) lie within the region. Some other popular water bodies include Oneida Lake, Whitney Point Reservoir, the world famous Salmon River, Oswego River, Tioughnioga River and Chittenango Creek. These are just a few of the many water bodies found within Central New York.

Fish Species

With the diversity of habitats, anglers have a wide selection of fish species to choose from. Central New York produced eight New York State records and two world records. There are over twenty five species of game and panfish found in the region. Cold water gamefish include Atlantic (or landlocked), chinook and coho salmon and brook, brown, lake and rainbow trout. Warm water gamefish include largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger musky. Along with the gamefish, there are great angling opportunities for a host of other species. Popular panfish species include bluegills, pumpkinseeds, rock bass, both black and white crappie, yellow perch, white perch, bullheads and channel catfish. Another fish, often overlooked is the common carp. They are plentiful, grow large, and are found in most bodies of water across the region.

Fish Stocking

Many of Central New York waters receive yearly stockings of fish from New York State Fish Hatcheries. Onondaga County also receives fish from their County's Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery. Central New York is stocked annually with approximately 243,600 brown trout, 12,100 brook trout, 56,000 lake trout, 138,800 rainbow trout, 62,000 Atlantic salmon, 158 million walleye, and 33,500 tiger musky. In addition, Lake Ontario and it's tributaries in the Central New York area receive yearly stockings of around 108,000 brown trout, 155,000 lake trout, 188,200 steelhead, 20,000 Atlantic salmon, 90,000 coho salmon, and 604,000 Chinook salmon.

Trout stocking maps for Central New York counties indicate streams and rivers that have been stocked.

Broome County Trout Stocking Locations (618 Kb, PDF)

Cayuga County Trout Stocking Locations (506 Kb, PDF)

Chenango County Trout Stocking Locations (884 Kb, PDF)

Cortland County Trout Stocking Locations (584 Kb, PDF)

Madison County Trout Stocking Locations (1,028 Kb, PDF)

Onondaga County Trout Stocking Locations (1,022 Kb, PDF)

Oswego County Trout Stocking Locations (523 Kb, PDF)

Tioga County Trout Stocking Locations (544 Kb, PDF)

Tompkins County Trout Stocking Locations (523 Kb, PDF)

Angling Methods

With the diversity of species and habitats in Central New York anglers have the option to fish in many ways, from wading a small remote stream for wild brook trout to trolling miles off shore on Lake Ontario for trophy king salmon. Anglers can pursue their favorite species by boat, from shore, by wading or on the ice. Anglers can fish all year by fishing the open water in the Finger Lakes, ice-fishing, streams with year round trout seasons, and tributaries to Lake Ontario throughout the winter. Additionally there is a catch and release bass season that makes that a year round fishery as well.

Fishing Access

Central New York has over 235 miles of public fishing rights along it's streams and rivers. Boaters have access to 16 lakes and 8 rivers with NYS operated boat launches.

Angler Diary Program

The NYSDEC Region 7 Fisheries unit is responsible for fisheries management in Central New York. Region 7 has an Angler Diary Program for four of the Finger Lakes and their tributaries: Otisco, Owasco, Skaneateles and Cayuga. Volunteer anglers keep track of the hours they fish and the fish they catch. This information is used to help manage the Finger Lakes fisheries. Yearly summaries are available to view on line and we are always looking for more volunteer anglers, if interested click on the Angler Diary Cooperator Program link below.

Fishing Hotline

NYSDEC provides a fishing hotline that is updated weekly which provides current fishing information for selected waters in Region 7. The hotline can be viewed at Central New York Fishing Hotline or heard by calling 607-753-1551.