Central New York Fishing Hotline

Top Central New York Fishing Hotline

Boating Reminders

Docks at DEC Boat Launch Sites: As usual for this time of year, many docks are not in place this early in the season due to the possibility of weather-related changes. Please keep this in mind when venturing out to launch your boat. Boaters can contact DEC Regional Operations Offices for the most current schedule of when docks at DEC boat launches will be installed.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFD): During colder weather months, between November 1 and May 1, anyone underway in a boat that is less than 21 feet must wear a securely fastened PFD/life jacket. This includes canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and motorboats.

April 19 - April 26

Trout Season and Stocking

Stocked Trout Waters (as of April 19)

Broome County-Finch Hollow Site 1 (April 17), Little Choconut 2e (April 17), Nanticoke 7a (April 17), Patterson Pond#1 (April 17), Arctic Lake (April 16), Palmers Pond (April 16), Nanticoke Lake (April 15), Greenwood Lake (April 15), Oguaga Creek (April 2), Chenango Lake (April 18 and March 28), Dudley Creek (March 21), Nanticoke Creek (March 21), and East Br. Nanticoke Creek (March 21).
Cayuga County-North Brook (April 17), Fall Creek (April 16), Owasco Inlet (April 11), and Salmon Creek (April 9)
Chemung County-Eldridge Lake (April 4), Park Station Pond (April 4), Sing Sing Creek (March 25), and Cayuta Creek (April 12 and March 21).
Chenango County-Pharsalia Y Pond (April 11), Genegantslet Creek (April 3), and the Otselic River (March 27).
Cortland County-East br. Tioughnioga (April 17), Casterline Pond (April 15), Durkee Park Pond (April 15), Little York Lake (April 12), West Br. Tiouhnioga River (April 3), Otselic River (March 26).
Madison County-Beaver Creek (April 11), Limestone Creek (April 11), Oneida Creek (April 10), Cowaselon Creek (April 10), Payne Brook (April 9), Sangerfield River (April 9), Upper Lelands Pond (April 5), Eaton Brook Reservoir (April 5), Chenango River (April 3), Chittenango Creek (April 15 and March 29), and Lebanon Reservoir (March 7).
Onondaga County-Waters are stocked by Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery. For stocking information, call (315) 689-0003 or view Fish Onondaga County Stocking Reports.
Schuyler County-Cayuta Creek (April 12 and March 20).
Tioga County-Catatonk Creek (April 8), Cayuta Creek (March 22), Owego Creek (March 19), West Br. Owego Creek (March 19), and East Br. Owego Creek (March 18).
Tompkins County-Enfield Creek (April 17), Fall Creek (April 8), and Salmon Creek (April 8).

Check out the DECinfo Locator Map to view regulations per stream, stocked stream sections, and streams with public fishing rights for access to a new or favorite fishing site. If needed, refer to the Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide for how-to information on using this mapping tool. For helpful introductory information on trout fishing methods, view Fishing Tips for Stream Trout.

Salmon River

As of April 16, the flow is 1,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) at the dam and increases downstream with inflow from the tributaries. Some steelhead are still being found throughout the river, most have finished spawning by this time. Steelhead that are done spawning and heading back to the lake are called drop-backs. These steelhead can often be aggressive as they are hungry after the spawning process. Good baits are egg sacs (blue or pink mesh), 8-12mm beads, pink worms, nymphs, streamers, glo bugs, and sucker spawn flies. For more information, view Steelhead Fishing in Lake Ontario tributaries.

Oswego River

The flow is 17,200 cubic feet per second (CFS) as of April 16. This flow makes fishing very difficult so nothing to report this week. During last week’s report, steelhead were being caught, along with a few brown trout. Try egg sacs, beads or egg imitating flies. See link above for information on steelhead fishing. Just a reminder that walleye season closed on March 15^thand will reopen on May 1st.

Remember there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. For more information on PFD zones and life jacket loaner programs, visit the Oswego County Tourism website.

Lake Ontario

When conditions allow, anglers have been doing well on the spring brown trout bite. Trolling with small spoon or stickbaits usually works for the spring brown trout. Look for areas of off colored water around river mouths, these “mud-lines” can be good places to troll in or on the edge of.

Skaneateles Lake

Docks are now installed. Look for yellow perch in 15 to 40 feet of water.

Cayuga Lake

Some brown trout and Atlantic salmon are still being caught on the south end by anglers trolling with stickbaits or spoons. Look for lake trout in 100 feet of water, vertical jigging or trolling. Yellow perch are being caught on the north end on small minnows.

Oneida Lake

The docks are now in at the South Shore launch.

Other Waters in Central NY

Nothing to report at this time, but please remember that walleye, chain pickerel, northern pike and tiger muskellunge seasons closed on March 15^th. They will reopen on May 1st.

You can also listen to this hotline report by phone at (607) 753-1551. For fishing reports in more areas of New York, visit the DEC Fishing Hotlines page.

Additional Fishing Report Sources

For those interested, there are other fishing reports available in the Central NY region, which can be found through the following sites: Wayne County Tourism, Visit Oswego County, and Lake Ontario Fishing.

Contact Us

If you would like to contribute to the Central NY fishing report, need more fishing information, or have any fishing/fishing equipment related questions, you can contact [email protected]. Good luck fishing!

Participate in the DEC Finger Lakes Angler Diary Program

Warm water (bass, pike, etc.) angler diary cooperators are needed for Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua, Hemlock, and Canadice Lakes. If interested, please contact Region 8 Fisheries at [email protected] or by calling 585-226-5343.

Additionally, DEC is always looking for new participants in our Finger Lakes Angler Diary Cooperator Program. Our numbers have dropped in recent years, and we need new cooperators now more than ever. Contact us to learn more about this program and how to sign up:

If you fish Cayuga Lake, Owasco Lake, Skaneateles Lake, Otisco Lake or any of their tributaries contact the Region 7 Fisheries office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 213, or by email at [email protected].
If you fish Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Conesus Lake, Hemlock Lake, Honeoye Lake, Keuka Lake or Seneca Lake contact the Region 8 Fisheries office at (585) 226-5343, or by email at [email protected].

Boating Safety Certificate

Under Brianna's Law, all motorboat operators will need a boating safety certificate. How soon this certificate is required depends on your age, but by January 1, 2025, all operators of motorized vessels regardless of age will need a certificate. For more information on Brianna's Law, classes, and the age breakdown view the Boating NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Boating Education site.