Fishing The Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes offer anglers a multitude of different species to pursue. However, the most sought after gamefish tend to be trout and salmon (salmonids), which are found in 9 of the 11 lakes. Lake, brown and rainbow trout, along with Atlantic salmon (also called landlocked salmon), make up this incredible salmonid fishery. The table below shows which species are found in each lake. Some of the lakes are known for having large fish, while others have greater numbers of fish. If you want to catch a large lake trout or Atlantic salmon, Cayuga and Seneca lakes are the top choices. If you're interested more in sheer numbers of lake trout, Keuka Lake is a better bet. If rainbow trout are your target, Skaneateles Lake is known for numbers, while Cayuga, Seneca or Canandaigua are known for size. The Finger Lakes Angler Diary reports are a great source of information on the trout and salmon fisheries in each of the Finger Lakes.
Though there are many different methods of fishing for Finger Lakes salmonids, three main techniques stand out: trolling, vertical jigging and fishing with natural bait.
Trolling
Trolling is probably the most popular fishing technique for trout and salmon. It is a method in which up to five lures per line are slowly pulled or "trolled" behind a boat. Trolling has many advantages over casting. It allows the use of multiple rods rigged with different lures that can be set at different depths.
Trolling lures near the surface, referred to as flat-lining, can be productive, especially for landlocked salmon in the fall and winter, or brown trout in the spring. However, it's usually necessary to drop your lures deeper for trout and salmon. Methods to get your lures down to depth include:
Downriggers
Downriggers allow fishing at a precise depth. They are basically a heavy weight (called a ball) attached to a cable that is released and retrieved by a winch and pulley system. These are either hand operated by cranks or run with electric motors. A release mechanism is attached to the ball, and an angler attaches his fishing line to the release. When a fish strikes, the release mechanism releases the fishing line, so the fish may be fought and landed without the distraction of any additional weight.
Divers
Divers are generally circular or torpedo shaped. Their purpose is to get your lure down to depth. Divers are a great alternative for beginning trollers as they are cheaper than downriggers and no installation is required on your boat. Divers attach directly to your line. When trolling, the diver is set "in diving" mode. When a fish strikes, the diver is triggered, and you then play the fish in the "non-diving" mode.
Wire Line
Wire line is generally used with a diver. Wire does not stretch, so it allows baits to get deeper. Wire line is also said to have a "harmonic hum" that many anglers believe helps to attract fish.
Copper
Trolling with copper has been a popular method for decades on the Finger Lakes. The traditional method of using copper, called "pulling copper," was hand-lining without a rod. The copper line was held by hand, and action was imparted to the lure, usually a heavy spoon, by tugging on the copper as you trolled around. Some anglers modified old Victrola record players to wind the copper in, much like an automatic reel. Though a few anglers still do it this way, most now troll with the copper spooled on a level wind reel and a downrigger-style rod. Copper line, like wire, doesn't stretch, allowing lures to dive deeply. Copper is generally used plain, no diver, and lures are let out far behind the boat; like 350 to 500 feet.
Lures
Popular trolling lures for salmonids are spoons, plugs, and flies. These lures are often used with an "attractor" whose primary purpose, as the name implies, is attraction by giving the illusion of feeding fish and adding action to the lure. The three main styles of attractors are spinners, dodgers and flashers.
Choosing a lure color can be mind boggling when one looks at the colors available. Furthermore, the preferred color salmonids are hitting can change quickly. The size, action and speed of a lure are generally more important than color, but lure color does play an important role in salmonid fishing success. What many anglers do is start off using a variety of colors and sizes, then adjust if one color or size seems to be producing more hits.
For help choosing the lures and colors that might will work best at the time of your trip, stop at a local tackle shop or check the Central New York Fishing Hotline page.
Live Bait
The use of (live or dead) natural bait, unlike the other two methods, can be done from either shore or boat. Popular baits are alewives (often called sawbellies), minnows, egg sacs and the "marshmallow-and-worm" rig. These bait rigs are generally fished on the bottom with the use of an egg sinker, but they can also be fished anywhere in the water column. Minnows or sawbellies can be hooked through the lips, under the dorsal fin or threaded onto an English (double) hook.
The marshmallow-and-worm rig is a popular local method for catching rainbow trout, especially on Skaneateles Lake. It is a standard bottom rig baited with a nightcrawler, but a small colored marshmallow is also added. The marshmallow helps float the worm off the bottom, and the bright colors also act as an attractor. Some anglers skip the worm altogether and just use the marshmallow.
Vertical Jigging
In recent years, vertical jigging from a boat has become a very popular technique on the Finger Lakes. The phrase vertical jigging is somewhat of a misnomer however. Many anglers do lower the jig to the bottom, raise it up a few feet and then bounce, or "jig" it up and down. The more popular method of vertical jigging is to lower the jig to the bottom, raise it off the bottom a couple of inches and jig it a few times, then crank it toward the surface for some distance before dropping it again and repeating the process. On the retrieve, it pays to vary the speed by cranking fast, then slow and sometimes even by pausing the bait. Popular lures used are ½ to 1-ounce jigging spoons and lead head jigs rigged with plastic bait. Popular plastic baits include flukes, twister tails, tube jigs and swimbaits in white or chartreuse.
Jigging does not require specialized rods and reels, and it's a great alternative to trolling when waterfleas or weed mats are a nuisance. Proper boat control and the ability to use a depth finder are important when vertical jigging. Use your depth finder to locate fish or schools of bait, and then use your trolling motor, drift sock, outboard or all three to stay on top of the fish. Depth finders are also important as they enable you to literally see your lure and any fish that react to it. It's almost like a video game! You can see your lure and the fish as you watch and wait anxiously for the two lines to intersect!
| Lake | Lake Trout | Brown Trout | Rainbow Trout | Atlantic Salmon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadice | Y | Y | Y | |
| Canandaigua | Y | Y | Y | |
| Cayuga | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Hemlock | Y | Y | Y | |
| Keuka | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Otisco | Y | |||
| Owasco | Y | Y | Y | |
| Seneca | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Skaneateles | Y | Y | Y |
If you haven't experienced the thrill of catching a trout or salmon on one of the picturesque Finger Lakes, now is the time to get out and do it.
