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Finger Lakes is a group of eleven lakes located in New York State. You know that this region is popular for award winning wines. Not only for wines, Finger Lakes fishing is also popular and it is the best adventure place for anglers. During my journey to these wonderful lakes, I have found some of the top-notch fishing spots all around. In this blog, I have mentioned the top places for fishing along with the essential guidelines and regulations that you should know before going. 

Scroll down and chase the thrill of Finger lakes NY fishing. 

Why Finger Lakes? 

Finger Lakes is a year-round fishing spot where you can enjoy your fishing in a unique way according to the season you’re visiting. 

Enjoy the lovely view of the lake along with the fishing; this region is the home to many breathtaking areas. You can enjoy various things to do along with fishing according to the season. You can relish in the restaurants during the cold night and make it warm. 

You can enjoy the water activities in the summer. This spot’s natural beauty with the vibrant atmosphere is perfect for your weekend out. 

Best Fishing Spots

Finger Lake is the home for the popular fishing spots where you can thrill in fishing in great lakes, rivers and streams like Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, Catharine Creek and Nine Mile Creek. 

Cayuga Lake 

Cayuga Lake is the longest and second largest Finger Lake. This is also one of the deepest lakes and it is a popular Finger Lakes fishing spot for brown trout, rainbow trout and lake trout. 

During my visit to the Cayuga Lake, I have found this amazing fishing spot in the northern and southern ends of Cayuga lake which features great shoals. 

The specialty of this lake, it is an amazing open year round fishing spot for both warm-water and cold-water species. 

Seneca Lake 

Seneca Lake is largest by volume and second longest Finger Lake. This popular fishing spot is best for fishing smallmouth bass, yellow perch and lake trout. 

In recent years, there has been a drastic increase for steady stocking of landlocked salmon, brown trout and hatchery-reared lake trout. 

Catharine Creek 

This stream is around 15 miles long and flows through Chemung and Schuyler counties in NY. This creek is named after Catharine Montour and it is one of the main tributaries to Seneca Lake which encompasses approximately 31% of the total lake. 

In the spring, Catherine creek is popular for its yearly migration of wild rainbow trout. Many of the anglers yearly move to this creel to catch great lake run rainbow trout. 

Nine Mile Creek

Nine Mile Creek is located in Onondaga County and this is a popular trout fishing destination in NY. It supports a large number of both stock and wild brown trout. 

The specialty of this creek is just a short drive from the city Syracuse. Here, you can get brown trout, tiger musky, brook trout, rainbow trout and white sucker. These are some of the species where anglers can get into adventure. 

Regulations and Fishing Guide

Guidelines and information on some of the best practices to follow and make your fishing expedition a safer one.

Essential Gear

  • You can carry essential gear before starting your fishing expedition. Trolling, downriggers, divers, wire line, copper and lures are some of the fishing gear used in the Finger Lakes for fishing. 
  • For trout and salmon, trolling is the best method which allows the use of multiple rods. For depth fishing, downriggers are the best.  
  • Divers are beginner-friendly and it is also cheaper since there is no need for the installation in the boat. The wire line that is used with the diver which doesn’t stretch and it is believed by many anglers that it is used to attract the fish. 

These are some of the popular gears and methods used for fishing. Nowadays, vertical jigging is the popular method for fishing in the boat. 

Fishing License 

  • Before you go, you should know about the fishing licenses and general regulations. To fish in New York State, most of them need a fishing license. In New York, you can find out three ways to get a fishing license. 
  • You can get the license by visiting an official license agent or online. You can purchase your license and to know more about the fee and for further details, check their official website.

Wrapping Up 

During my visit to Finger Lakes, I indulged in an amazing fishing adventure with my friends. It was a great experience and as a beginner, I have found the perfect place for me. I hope you guys will plan your visit to and dive in the thrilling fishing spots that I have mentioned in this blog. 

Along with the fishing spots, I have given you the idea about the usage of the fishing gear along with how to get the fishing license. After your thrilling adventure in the fishing, have a visit to HolidayKeepers. Where you can experience a homely feeling in our amazing property types with all the essential and luxury amenities.

Contact us for further information and have a wonderful stay. 

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