New York State abounds with attractions that make it one of the top tourist destinations in the country. For those who wish to include fishing in their travels, the Empire State offers superb angling for a wide variety of species from Lake Erie to the Atlantic Ocean. It currently has six lakes on Bassmaster’s Top 100 Best Bass Lakes list.
Lake Erie
Buffalo
Enjoy buffalo wings at Anchor Bar where they were invented; partake of Buffalo’s burgeoning craft beer scene; visit the city’s fine zoo; and gaze upon wondrous Niagara Falls. There are also extensive art and entertainment venues here. If you’re in the mood to cheer, catch a Bills, Sabres or Bisons game.
Lake Erie is, unquestionably, the best smallmouth bass fishery in the nation. The eastern 40 miles of the big lake in New York is the best of the best for big numbers of heavyweight bronzebacks. Bassmaster ranks this area 19th on their Top 100 Best Bass Lakes list.
Fish Erie’s offshore reefs and rockpiles with drop shot rigs and tubes, and you’re sure to tangle with feisty smallmouth bass. Other productive lures include crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits. Should stout winds kick up rough seas, you can safely fish the harbors and their jetties. Smallmouth and largemouth bass in these protected waters pounce on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and soft plastic baits.
Lake Champlain
Plattsburgh
The drive through the Adirondack Mountains alone is worth the trip to Lake Champlain. When you set your eyes on this pristine lake surrounded by mountains that rise to 5,000 feet, you’ll know you’ve come to the right place. Stop by the War of 1812 Museum to learn about the Battle of Plattsburgh, known as the “Forgotten War.”
Lake Champlain is the best of both worlds for bass anglers because it abounds with smallmouth and largemouth. You’ll find the smallmouth on main-lake points and reefs, and these fish are often shallow enough to provide dynamic action with topwater baits. If they’re not in the mood for a surface bite, they’ll go for drop shot rigs, tubes, crankbaits and jerkbaits.
The largemouth grow fat in shallow, weedy bays. Buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, poppers and weedless frogs pick off active bass. Jigs and Texas rigged soft plastic baits also keep you in touch with the green ones. The historic Ticonderoga area of Lake Champlain is especially well known for producing heavyweight largemouth.
Oneida Lake
Syracuse
This lake has been ranked on Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes for the past four years for good reason: the smallmouth and largemouth populations here are world class. Although Oneida is the largest lake entirely within New York State, anglers shouldn’t be intimidated. Why? Because you don’t have to go far from any boat ramp to have a successful day on the water.
When looking for largemouth, target shoreline cover with soft plastics. The green fish are getting more prevalent here each year and grow big. If you prefer to fish for brown bass, look offshore. They can be caught on a variety of hard and soft baits near deep grass and rockpiles.
When you come off the lake, if you’re a baseball fan, catch a Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs game at NBT Bank Stadium. Or, head over to Destiny USA, a six-story shopping, dining and entertainment complex on the shores of Onondaga Lake.
Lake Ontario
Watertown
Situated at the very eastern end of Lake Ontario, Watertown puts you near the lake’s best bass fishing. Between fishing trips you may want to check out the 513-acre Thompson Park and Zoo, Boldt Castle and the Antique Boat Museum, just to name a few of the attractions in this region.
Chaumont and Black River are sister bays near Watertown that offer exceptional fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Chaumont Bay has good numbers of both species, thanks to its grassbeds and rocky bottoms. Henderson Harbor has more of the rocky offshore habitat that smallmouth favor.
Both species of bass attack dog-walking stickbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits with equal gusto. For smallmouth on deeper rocky structures, tubes and drop shot rigs can’t be beat. Texas rigged soft plastic baits consistently get bites from largemouth along weed edges.
St. Lawrence River
Waddington
Any fishing adventure to the St. Lawrence River is enhanced by the region’s splendid natural resources. Consider visiting the Indian Creek Nature Center and the Robert Moses Nature Center. Magnificent 100-year-old Singer Castle on Dark Island in the St. Lawrence River is open to the public, as is the Frederic Remington Art Museum and Kid’s Place. Here you can view a collection of Remington’s Western-themed oil paintings, bronze sculptures and personal items.
The fishing on the St. Lawrence is outstanding for largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, pike and trophy muskellunge. Largemouth tend to be caught in the bays where they prowl lush grassbeds. Spinnerbaits, weedless frogs, jigs and Texas rigged plastics rule here.
Smallmouth are more common on the main river where they feed in the current. Drop shot rigs are hard to beat when fishing deep rocky shoals and humps. Jerkbaits and walking stickbaits dupe bass that feed on points and shoals. During a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament here in August 2013, five-bass limits of smallmouth weighing 18 to 20 pounds were commonplace.
Chautauqua Lake
Jamestown
Chautauqua Lake has long been celebrated for its fabulous muskie fishing. The few anglers that target this 13,000-acre lake for largemouth and smallmouth are more than happy to keep a good thing to themselves.
The largemouth hang in shallow weeds and under the lake’s many boat docks. They respond well to topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, plastic worms and jigs.
Chautauqua’s smallmouth relate to deep dropoffs, points, rocky shoals, gravel bars near creek mouths and the islands in the south basin. They’re suckers for a drop shot rig.
Consider visiting some of Jamestown’s many attractions, such as the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum & Center for Comedy. Here, photos, original costumes and recreated sets from one of the most famous shows in television history are on display. Also, don’t miss the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. Peterson was a preeminent American naturalist who illustrated and chronicled the natural world for the public in the 20th century with his exquisite artwork.
Hudson River
Albany
This river is steeped in history, both old and new. From inspiring American author
Washington Irving in the 18th century to being the aquatic landing strip for US Airways flight 1549 in 2009 near lower Manhattan, the water that flows through this 315-mile vein of tradition has helped define this nation. Anglers are an important thread in the fabric of the Hudson. Largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass have been targeted by sportsmen since Henry Hudson (namesake of the river) first explored it in 1609.
When fishing the Albany area, largemouth and smallmouth are best targeted June through November. Shoreline vegetation and laydown trees should be the focus with soft plastics and crankbaits. These fish oftentimes take a backseat to the striped bass fishing, though, which can be phenomenal here. Look for the line sided beasts from late April until the end of May, as well as the fall months.
Once your day on the Hudson is complete, consider seeing a performance at the Palace Theatre. This is a stunning facility that has become the cornerstone of Albany’s growing entertainment district. If you prefer being outdoors for off-the-water entertainment, check out the Saratoga Race Track. This has been the venue for some of the most exciting horse races in history for the past 150 years.
Susquehanna River
Binghamton
Binghamton offers Path Through History Weekends. These outings include programs that take you to historic sites, museums, battlefields and more. If you like sweets, visit the Windy Hill Candle Factory, which is “Home to Candyland: The Sweetest Place on Earth.” Windy Hill also offers a huge selection of candles, air fresheners and soaps.
The fertile limestone Susquehanna River is a first-rate smallmouth bass fishery. The North Branch begins at Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, N.Y. From there the Susquehanna winds for 444 miles south before flowing into Chesapeake Bay.
Upstream from Binghamton, N.Y., anglers fish from canoes and kayaks and wade some stretches. Bass boats can access the river below Binghamton. In the upper reaches of the Susquehanna, drift crawfish, minnows, hellgrammites and crawlers through the heads and tail sections of the many pools. Crankbaits, topwater plugs, spinnerbaits and tubes in bright colors also work well. Some of the better fishing spots include Rock Bottom Dam, Hickories Park in Owego, Hiawatha Island, the Owego Creek mouth and the Cannon Hole in Waverly.