C a n a l s off the state ramp in Nichols. There are also nice pools of good habitat near Barton. Fall Walleye fishing is exceptionally good in the slack water between Owego and Hiawatha Island. Muskies are found in the deepest pools around sunken trees and structures in the river and near Hiawatha Island, Big Bend, Nichols, the pools at Barton and south. Pan Fish are abundant throughout the river. Public access includes Hickories Park, Owego - hard surface ramp; Hand launch at village of Barton off Rt. 17C; East of Nichols on East River Dr. - hard surface ramp; West of Nichols, West River Rd. - hand launch; exit 66 off Rt. 17 in Apalachin – hard surface ramp; Rt. 434 in Apalachin on Marshland Rd. – hard surface ramp. Tioughnioga River - Cortland County A diverse water with fishing in three branches. The main branch runs along Rt. 11 south of the city of Cortland. The west branch runs near Rt. 11, while the east branch is paralleled by Rt. 13. In the main stream, good fishing starts below Blodgett Mills with Brown and Rainbow Trout, Bass, Pickerel, Walleye and Northern Pike in deep pools. Fly fishing is popular throughout the river. The East Branch extends north of Cortland and is known for its Smallmouth Bass, Pickerel and pan fish. Brown Trout appear above the village of Homer. East of Homer, Walleye, Largemouth and Northern Pike have especially good habitat in deep slow moving sections between Homer and Truxton. The middle reaches have Trout at tributaries of branching creeks. Toward Truxton, fish for Brown Trout with some Brook Trout. Above Truxton, try wet and dry fly fishing.
The West branch runs from Cortland to Tully Lake and has good Brown and Brook Trout fishing, especially at the mouths of creeks and above Homer to Tully Lake. Most people start fishing for Brook and Brown Trout and Pickerel at the park in Homer and from there to Cold Brook. May and Caddis fly hatches make for good fly fishing along this branch. Canals - The Erie Canal has been dubbed “America’s Great Waterway”. 363 miles of the waterway connect Lake Erie to the Hudson River. The Finger Lakes has prime claims to great fishing along its sections of the Canal from Syacuse to Rochester. Erie Canal - This system offers a good variety of Large and Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike Channel Catfish, Bullhead, Pan Fish. Walleye are found where streams enter the canal. The best Bass fishing is at the wide water section west of Newark. The Cayuga - Seneca Canal traverses Seneca County and connects Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Fishing is best in weed areas at either end as opposed to the middle. It’s also better around islands and tributary mouths, below the dams in Waterloo and Seneca Falls and in Van Cleef Lake. Best Bass fishing is under docks and in weed beds in the western end between the Seneca Lake State Park and Kendig Creek, especially in fall. They’re also caught in the small channels and open pockets in the eastern portion. Northern Pike are the second most abundant game fish in the canal. Best bets include weed beds adjacent to major islands in the extreme wester n end and downstream from Lock One (mud lock) at the very eastern end.
abundant between Lock One and the Erie Canal as well as at the mouth of Kendig Creek. Seneca Lake Brown Trout move into the canal in late fall.
Rivers Chemung
The canal is paralleled by Rts. 5 and 20. There is a launch at Waterloo and at the Seneca Lake State Park. Shore fishing access is plentiful.
Elmira, Corning
Seneca River - Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca Counties - The river is an integral part of NY’s Erie Canal System starting at Howland Island Wildlife Management Area and flowing 47 miles before joining the Oneida River to form the Oswego River at Baldwinsville.
Cohocton, Savona,
The best fishing is upstream toward the outlet of Onondaga Lake. It’s especially good for Channel Catfish in deeper water where there are no weeds. HOT SPOT: Mosquito Point off the eastern end of Haiti Island where Rt. 38 crosses the river...especially good for Bullheads. Walleye like the deeply dredged sections of the river used for canal traffic, especially downstream to Cross Lake. A good spot is below Baldwinsville Bridge in late spring. Northen Pike are prevalent from Howland Island to Haiti Island. In summer and early fall, try drift fishing along submerged weed beds or from shore on Mosquito Point. HOT SPOT: For trophy Northerns, work the channel between Bonta Bridge and Cross Lake. Largemouth Bass are well distributed near vegetation and overhanging willows. Pan Fish including Bluegills, Perch and Crappie are concentrated upstream near Onondaga Lake. Smallmouth are not prevalent, but can be found in the dredged channel.
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Cohocton Bath, Corning ---------------
Erie and Cayuga-Seneca Canals Montezuma, Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Geneva, Rochester, Syracuse ---------------
Genesee Mt. Morris, Geneseo, Rochester ---------------
Otselic Willet, Cincinnatus, Taylor ---------------
Seneca Howland Island, Cross Lake, Baldwinsville ---------------
Susquehanna Owego, Nichols, Barton, Apalachin ---------------
Tioughnioga Tully Lake, Homer, Cortland, McGraw, Marathon
Bullhead and Channel Catfish are
www.fingerlakes.org
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