Tioga River
The Tioga River flows from Pennsylvania into New York through Steuben County. The Tioga River joins the Cohocton River near Corning and forms the Chemung River. The river corridor consists of a mix of residential, agricultural, and forested lands. There is a mix of deep pools with soft river bed material and shallow riffles with harder gravel and cobble bottoms.
Access
There are many bridge crossings that provide access for anglers. Please respect private property when shore fishing; access is by landowner permission. Canoeing and kayaking are also popular and are options for anglers who want to access more of the river. The Tioga River is part of the Chemung River Basin Trail and there are two car top boat launches along the river:
- On Lindley Rd near the Village of Lindley. Hand launch. Parking for 15 cars.
- Off of State Route 417 at Mulholland Road bridge. Hand launch. Parking for 7 cars.
For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Steuben County page.
General Fishing Information
Smallmouth bass, muskellunge, and walleye are the main gamefish. Brown bullhead, common carp, rock bass, sunfish, and yellow perch can also be found in the river.
Smallmouth bass are slow growing but fairly common in the Tioga River. Try fishing deep pools or areas with structure such as downed trees. Spinner baits, jerk baits, spoons, crayfish, nightcrawlers, and minnows are all good choices for catching bass.
Walleye are often found in the Tioga River in pools with good cover or along current breaks. They are moderately abundant and have average growth rates. Their population is maintained by natural reproduction. Some good methods for catching walleye include drifting minnows and jigs and casting jerk baits. Walleye fishing can be more productive first thing in the morning or just before dark. The mouths of major tributaries of the Tioga River are popular areas to fish for walleye. Common carp are abundant in the river and can be caught by drifting corn or dough balls.
Some trophy muskellunge over 40 inches can be found in the deeper portions of the Tioga River. Muskellunge are not stocked in the New York portion of the river so these fish are either naturally produced or fish that migrated from the Pennsylvania portions of the river. Muskellunge are often caught using jerk baits, large spinners, or live minnows in calm water. You will need to use heavy tackle when fishing for muskellunge.
Regulations
Statewide Fishing Regulations Apply.
