New York's Finger Lakes Fishing & Hunting Guide

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Keuka Lake Outlet flows from the Penn Yan arm as an eight mile stream to Seneca Lake at Dresden. Small pools and wide-open shores make fly fishing possible. A hiking/biking trail runs the length of the outlet and provides easy access. (See Keuka Lake pages 12-13 for more details) Maxwell Creek, Wayne County. One of Wayne County’s most popular streams for its large runs of Rainbows, Browns and Salmon. Two DEC parking areas provide easy access to water on either side of the Lake Rd. You’ll catch Bullhead, Smelt and an occasional Northern Pike in the lower estuary before it enters the lake. Mill Creek, Livingston & Steuben Counties. A better wild Trout stream than most, fish for Brookies north of Patchenville. Work small pools south of there for nice Brown Trout using worms or small spinners. In the middle section, below the crossing of Rt. 390, most anglers take their limit of five Trout per day drifting a small spinner or worm. Naples Creek, Ontario County. One of the state’s most productive Trout streams, fishing Naples Creek on opening day is a rite of spring for hundreds of anglers. Three to six pound Rainbows are common and caught on egg sacs. There is good fishing in the Eelpot and Grimes Creek tributaries to Naples. Fishing fall Rainbows, if the water levels are up, is a special treat. Nine Mile Creek, Onondaga County. The outlet of Otisco Lake is a top Brown Trout stream, but from Otisco Dam to Marcellus Falls, it’s a warm water fishery. North of the falls is a thriving cold water Trout habitat with good fishing in the neighborhoods of Camillus and North Amboy. Access is marked by public fishing signs, and more than a dozen bridges cross the stream as it runs along Rt. 174. Posted signs are few. The best hot spot is pocket water around Marcellus Falls or deep pools

at Martisco Railroad crossing and Camillus. Salted minnows, worms, and light spinners are favored baits. There are heavy fly hatches in late May and early June. Oatka Creek, Monroe County. From Mumford and its confluence with Spring Creek, to the Genesee River, this is a blue ribbon Trout stream. The creek is known for good fly fishing mid-winter into spring. Special regulations apply to nearly four miles of the creek during the fall and winter months. Beware of posted areas. Owego Creek, Tioga County. The creek consists of a main branch from Flemingville to Owego. The east and west branches run through the northeast part of the county. Both branches have Brown and Brook Trout. In the east branch, Brown Trout fishing is good above Berkshire and Brook Trout are found toward the Tioga County line. Bait fishing is most productive. In the west branch the best quality Brook and Brown Trout action is above Speedsville. On the main branch at Owego you will find Smallmouth and Walleye. Salmon Creek, Cayuga & Tompkins Counties. Also known as Big Salmon Creek, it is said to have the best spring smelt run on Cayuga Lake. Intensely fished in spring for wild Rainbows, the creek also offers up an occasional Landlocked Salmon, especially in the fall if the water levels are up. Above the falls at Ludlowville, the Brown

Trout are found in long still pools making for good fly fishing. There’s public fishing access in the Town of Genoa. Skaneateles Creek, Onondaga County. This high quality Trout stream runs from Skaneateles Lake to the Seneca River and offers many bridges and road side parallels for access. From old Seneca Tur npike bridge downstream to Jordan Road bridge, this 10.2 miles of water is a no-killartificial-lures only area. Dry fly fishing during May and June is exceptional especially between Elbridge and Jordan. Spring Creek, Livingston County. Also known as Springbook and the source water for the Caledonia Fish Hatchery. The stream has good numbers of wild Brown, Brook and Rainbow Trout all year. Special regulations are enforced in this unique water. The Trout are also some of the most educated fish in the state. Sterling Creek & Pond, Cayuga County. Running through Fair Haven Beach State Park, there are spring and fall spawning runs of Trout and Salmon. The Creek’s lower reaches offer Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Bullhead and smaller populations of Largemouth, Pike, Pickerel and Pan Fish. West River, Yates County. A warm water stream flowing into Canandaigua Lake, most fishing is by boat in the 2.5 miles of navigable waters. Largemouth Bass is the principle species. Fish the extensive weed beds and lily pads. There’s also a “duck channel” that starts near Canandaigua Lake that holds chain Pickerel and Pan Fish - particularly Crappie - in good numbers. A hot spot for Crappie is the old marina off Rt. 245. Bullhead are throughout the river and are especially good in spring.

Branchport Caledonia Canandaigua Conesus Cortland Dresden Fair Haven Geneseo Hammondsport Ithaca Jamesville Marcellus Moravia Mumford Naples Newark Owego Penn Yan Skaneateles Sodus Watkins Glen

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