Smallies in Upstate NY 2024
bwel28 reply :
Any advise for smallies in upstate NY?
Tin reply :
What lakes?
bwel28 reply :
Saratoga Lake.
Tin reply :
I love Saratoga. I have a lot more fun running up the creeks and fishing frogs for largies that seem to never have seen a bait before.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
If you're looking for locations, the Mohawk River and Schoharie Creek are good SMB waters. Great Sacandaga Reservoir and Lake George are good also.
Tin reply :
QuoteIf you're looking for locations, the Mohawk River and Schoharie Creek are good SMB waters. Great Sacandaga Reservoir and Lake George are good also.
Sacandaga has really turned downhill, seem like those 40 fish days with nothing but 2 pound fish are gone. Most tournament weights are around 8-10 pounds and not nearly as many limits.
ww2farmer reply :
New York has more good smallmouth water than I can name. Out here in my neck of the woods (WNY) you obviously have Erie and the upper+lower Niagra rivers, Chautauqua Lake, and the western Finger lakes. The finger lakes are tough number wise, alot of here today gone tommorrow , but quality wise they fish are up there. Usually takes 18-20lbs of either (LM or SM) to win in the better lakes, and thats when the bite is tough, more like 20-24lbs when it's on.
Wild Bill [NY] reply :
You will find the best concentration of Smallies in front of Snake Hill.
Steep rocky drop-offs there.
Like member "Tin", I fish more for the LMs on Saratoga Lake, and I am going to ask him now ploitely to stop 'educating' and sore-mouthing my pet fish, please. {LMBO !!}
My sister's and bro-in law's house/dock is on Fish Creek , right where it tapers way down in width, just north of the ramp a bit, but on the opposite side.
If I want to target SMs, I would go to other waters.
The northern end of Champlain is just insanely sick SM fishing, as an example.
Don't overlook the Hudson River either, and it's right there, by Saratoga, just a few minutes away to the east.
I'd also hit Lake George if you want to fish for Smallies; I do way better for them there than 'Toga.
Tin reply :
Saratoga must also mean land of 12" largemouth.
Also to expand upon ww2farmers list, Cayuga is great.
Kind of funny WildBill, all my largemouth spots are north and smallie spots are south on Champlain.
JKarbo214 reply :
I fish Sacandaga regularly and have not had much success the past few summers. I agree that the Mohawk River is great for smallies, as you can catch anywhere from 3-4 fish an hour if using the right bait. Nothing real big, but no matter what size smallies are, they are always fun to catch. I have also had success on Saratoga Lake and Round Lake. Ballston Lake also has some very big largemouths for the Upstate New York area. There are many lakes in the southern Adirondacks that also have great bass fishing, including Canada Lake, Oxbow Lake, and Lake Pleasant.
Flukeman reply :
QuoteI fish Sacandaga regularly and have not had much success the past few summers. I agree that the Mohawk River is great for smallies, as you can catch anywhere from 3-4 fish an hour if using the right bait.3-4 fish an hour, why put yourself through that. Go to Oneida or Lake Ontario and wear your arms out. Not uncommon to go to Lake Ontario and catch 50-100 fish some days. Now they will not always be biggins, but you will have a blast!
Joe Boss reply :
I like Lake George for smallies way better than Saratoga. I go to Saratoga when I want to catch a variety of fish in one day like pike, sunfish, walleye and bass. I go to Lake George when I want great smallmouth action since the lake is full of them.
There is a place not to far (7 miles) from Lake George in Queensbury called Glen Lake. You can only get a canoe in there and it needs to be roof mounted (no trailers) for non residents. There are some nice sized bass in that lake both small and largemouth.
The Hudson River runs right under the northway at exit 18. If you get off that exit there is a road that will take you back to the river and there is a small park there with a boat launch and a fishing pier. I have caught sunfish, rock bass and small and largemouth bass from the pier.
riverfisher reply :
QuoteI agree that the Mohawk River is great for smallies, as you can catch anywhere from 3-4 fish an hour if using the right bait. Nothing real big, but no matter what size smallies are, they are always fun to catch..
Your right there are no big smallies in the Muddy Mohawk!! 
Joe Boss reply :
That is one sweet smallmouth! I pass over the Mohawk (Twin Bridges) on my way to work everyday. Is there anyplace to fish from shore that is accessible by car?
dmac14 reply :
Oneida lake was a blast when I fished it last year. Just flipped 5-8ft weed beds. Topwater and spinnerbaits were hot in the morning, lots of fun
JKarbo214 reply :
Riverfisher, great looking smallie. I have caught some decent sized smallies in the Mohawk but nothing like that. That's a beautiful looking fish. Where along the Mohawk was that caught? I fish in Fonda putting in at Duffel's Farm and in Canajoharie. What was it caught on?
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
When I lived up there I fished all those pools from St Johnsville down past Amsterdam. There is good shore fishing (at least there used to be) right at the Schoharie Crossing boat launch both upstream and out into the river. Cruise Rt 5 and 5s. There a lot of access points. Some are obvious, others less so.
JKarbo214 reply :
I live in Gloversville, so I'm well aware of the various access points on Route 5s. We usually put the boat in at Duffel's Farm. We've had a lot of luck between Amsterdam and Fonda.
iceintheveins reply :
The Susquehanna in the Binghamton area and downstream is very good for smallies with some pigs.
Wild Bill [NY] reply :
The fact of the matter is NY has been blessed with many great Smallmouth waters, and all you have to do is ask about a certain area, and you'll get people to tell you just about the fishing there.
Lake Erie has SLOBS, The Thousand Islands area is reknown for them; Lake Champlain is a "Smallie Factory", etc, etc, etc., even NYC watershed reservoirs that feed NYC it's drinking waters from Westchester and Putnam counties have trophy-sized Smallies in them. NY has many, many rivers and lakes that can be 'mined' for "Bronzebacks".
NY is a big state, and just ask about waters you intend to fish; you'll get tons of info, no doubt.
Fish for them whereever and whenever your travels will take you in NY; you'll probably be pleasantly suprised by your results.
When fishing for bass in NY, be cognizant of the fishing games laws though for bass, as the season for Bass varies from DEC region to region, and in some cases, even water to water in some of the DEC regions. Some areas of NY have a closed season for Bass. Consult the DEC handbook if you are in question, the DEC website, or contact your local DEC regional office in inquire about the laws regarding fishing for Bass in your region.
JKarbo214 reply :
Has anybody ever fished Lake Lonely in Saratoga County or Mayfield Lake in Fulton County? I was reading an article from ESPN outdoors from a few years ago that said the smallmouth fishing in both of these lakes is outstanding. However, I am trying to figure out if there are public boat launches at either of these lakes, I couldn't find anything with searches on the Internet. Anyone know?
BassFrenzy reply :
caught this guy in Schuylerville Lock 5 about 20mins east of saratoga
Wild Bill [NY] reply :
QuoteHas anybody ever fished Lake Lonely in Saratoga County or Mayfield Lake in Fulton County? I was reading an article from ESPN outdoors from a few years ago that said the smallmouth fishing in both of these lakes is outstanding. However, I am trying to figure out if there are public boat launches at either of these lakes, I couldn't find anything with searches on the Internet. Anyone know?
.............
There's only one launch for Lake Lonely that I know of, and it's privately owned.
You can launch from it, but they do charge you, and it's not paved..
I have never launch a big boat from there myself, only car-toppers.
JKarbo214 reply :
Does Lake Lonely still do the Tuesday night fishing contests? I was reading a post on another site from a few years back that stated it was $15 to enter the contest and that included a boat rental. I guess they used to have Tuesday night one man bass fishing contests, biggest fish takes the pot. Anyone know if they still do this?
iceintheveins reply :
Quotecaught this guy in Schuylerville Lock 5 about 20mins east of saratoga
Dang that's a PIG!
Senkoman12 reply :
get over hear to oneida lake it has awesome smallies and lmb fishing best lake to fish for smallies imho
beloved78 reply :
WELL I HAVE DONE MY SHARE OF SMALLMOUTH FISHING AND UPSTATE IT IS GOOD.I NORMALLY GO TO ALL THE RESIVOIRS AND WE KILLEM.UP BY DELHI AND STAMFORD NY THIS IS WHERE THE BIG DELAWARE RIVER STARTS IS AWESOME.THEIR ARE SOME DEP OWEND WATERS UP THEIR THAT YOU HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE DEP TO GET A PASS AND A PERMIT.BUT ONCE YOU APPLY IT GOOD FOR 5 YEARS OR SO AND ITS FREE.THE BEST ONE IS THE GILBOWA POWER PLANT PROJECT.THESE WATERS ARE AWESOME YOU ARE LITTERLY ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN AND THE SMALLMOUTH ARE VERY ABUNDANT THEIR.ITS AWESOME ME AND MY BUDDY GO VERY OFTEN I AM ALSO A TROUT FISHERMAN AND THESE RESIVIORS UP HEAR ARE BEAUTIFULL.NOT ONLY GILBOWA THIER IS THE PAPACKTON ,AND ANOTHER ONE CALL THE UPPER RESIVIOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.SCLAHAIRY RIVER TOO.BUT NY IZ THE PLACE FOR SMALLMOUTH FISHING AND PLUS IT IZ SO BEAUTIFUL UP THEIR I LOVE IT.
beloved78 reply :
JUST LIKE WILD BILL SAID YA GOT TO BE ATTENTIVE TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ABOUT THE CERTAIN PREY YOU ARE HUNTING.NY GOT A KINDA CRAZY SEASON FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF FISHING ITS ONLY CRAZY TO ME CAUSE I LIVE IN NJ AND WE CAN FISH ALL YEAR LONG.BUT IN MY 1ST POST THESE DEP WATERSHEDS HAVE STRICT RULES THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED.THATS WHY THE FISHING IS SO AWESOME UP THEIR.TRUST ME TRY IT YOU WONT BE DISAPOINTED .IT IS ALSO SO BEAUTIFUL UP THEIR BRING THE LADY AND THE KIDS CAUSE YOU WILL HAVE FUN
JKarbo214 reply :
How has everybody been doing so far this year in Upstate New York? What's been working and where have you had success?
Senkoman12 reply :
QuoteHow has everybody been doing so far this year in Upstate New York? What's been working and where have you had success?
i have been doin alright on onieda lake and river nothin huge yet but those smallies are devouring craws i have been using chigger craws or craw worms
basspro215 reply :
I've caught two smalley's so far biggest was 3.5lb from shore on seneca lake using a lip less crank
JKarbo214 reply :
I've been having luck the past 2 weeks with buzzbaits and jerkbaits. I also got a few wacky rigging a senko. Anyone else having any luck?
RIVER_BASS reply :
I have been doing realy good on the black river from dexter to fort drum the small mouth are hitting real good on the gulp minnow's they like the white and the white and black. i run the 3in and always get a hit.
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