As ice anglers, we’re all hopeful for an early and long-lasting winter to enjoy one of our favorite pastimes. Here in Region 8, anglers can take advantage of diverse bodies of water including the Lake Ontario bays and western Finger Lakes. Yellow perch are popular targets and are abundant throughout the region. Toothy fish such as walleye and northern pike grow to large sizes and are frequently caught within the Lake Ontario bays and Conesus Lake. Anglers can target lake trout on the smaller Finger Lakes such as Hemlock and Canadice and sometimes Canandaigua during extremely cold winters.
Ice Fishing in Region 8 (Western Finger Lakes)
Site Access During Winter: Some parking areas, roads, and trails may not be maintained through winter. For the most up to date access information, contact the Region 8 Fisheries Office.
Ice Safety: When deciding if ice is safe, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Before venturing out, review DEC’s Ice Safety Guidelines.
Fishing Regulations: Be sure to check the Statewide Fishing Regulations and the Special Fishing Regulations that may apply in the water or county you are fishing.
Places to Go (by County)
Chemung || Livingston || Monroe || Ontario || Orleans || Schuyler || Seneca || Steuben || Wayne || Yates
Chemung County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Station Pond | Erin | Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Black Crappie, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass Yellow Perch | Chemung County Park on Beaver Pond Road | No |
Livingston County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conesus Lake | Geneseo, Livonia, Groveland, Conesus | Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Smallmouth Bass, Tiger Muskellunge, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Vitale Park, Long Point Park, State Park Boat Launch off East Lake Road, DEC Fishing Access Site off South Cove Lane | |
| Hemlock Lake | Livonia, Conesus | Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Smelt | Located within Hemlock Canadice State Forest, Boat Launch parking northeast corner of the lake, off Rix Road, and at the southeast corner off Route 15A | |
| Office Pond | Avon | Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie, | Located at DEC Region 8 Headquarters in Avon, NY | No |
Monroe County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braddock Bay | Greece | Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Located within Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Parking on Braddock Road at DEC Boat Launch Site. | No |
| Cranberry Pond | Greece | Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Located within Braddock Bay WMA, Boat Launch Site parking at intersections of Cranberry Road and Edgemere Road | No |
| Long Pond | Greece | Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Located within Braddock Bay WMA, roadside parking along Edgemere Road | No |
| Buck Pond | Greece | Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Located within Braddock Bay WMA, parking area at east corner on Edgemere Road | No |
| Irondequoit Bay | Irondequoit, Webster | Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Multiple access points, municipal boat launch at south end of bay, Irondequoit Marine Park launch at north end of bay | No |
| Durand Lake | Irondequoit | Northern Pike, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie | Located within Durand-Eastman Park, parking off Lakeshore Blvd | No |
| Eastman Lake | Irondequoit | Northern Pike, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie | Located within Durand-Eastman Park, parking off Lakeshore Blvd | No |
| Hundred Acre Pond | Mendon | Northern Pike, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch | Located within Mendon Ponds Park, multiple parking areas around pond | No |
| Deep Pond | Mendon | Northern Pike, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch | Located within Mendon Ponds Park, parking off Pond Road | No |
| Round Pond | Mendon | Northern Pike, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch | Located within Mendon Ponds Park, Boat Launch Site on Douglas Road | No |
| Quaker Pond | Mendon | Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch | Located within Mendon Ponds Park, easy trail hike to pond | No |
Ontario County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadice Lake | Richmond, Canadice | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Rainbow Smelt | Located in Hemlock Canadice State Forest, informal parking pull offs on east shore, as well as two Boat Launch Sites | |
| Canandaigua Lake | Canandaigua, Gorham, Middlesex, South Bristol | Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Lake Trout, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch | Multiple access points including Canandaigua State Marine Park (north end), Onanda Park, and Woodville Boat Launch | |
| Honeoye Lake | Richmond, Canadice | Black Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Access through State Parks Boat Launch Site (south end) and Sandy Bottom Park (north end). |
Orleans County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterport Reservoir | Carlton | Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch, White Perch | Access through Town Boat Launch Site on Waterport Road (Route 279) | No |
| Glenwood Lake | Ridgeway | Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye | Orleans County Boat Launch Site off Nymo Road | No |
Schuyler County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waneta Lake | Several | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie, Rock Bass, Brown Bullhead, | Located in Waneta-Lamoka Wildlife Management Area | |
| Lamoka Lake | Several | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie, Rock Bass, Brown Bullhead, | Located in Waneta-Lamoka Wildlife Management Area | |
| Cayuta Lake | Catharine | Walleye, Chain Pickerel, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie, Rock Bass, Brown Bullhead | Access through DEC Boat Launch Site on Lock Heid Road, off Cayutaville Road. |
Seneca County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca Lake | Several | Landlocked Atlantic Salmon, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch | Multiple access points including Seneca Lake State Park, Sampson State Park, and Lodi Point State Park |
Steuben County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keuka Lake | Several | Black Crappie, Bluegill, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch | Multiple access points including Keuka Lake State Park, Village of Penn Yann Launch, and Indian Pines Park off Route 54A | |
| Loon Lake | Wayland | Tiger Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch | Possible access from restaurant on north-eastern most bay on lake, ask permission |
Wayne County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodus Bay | Sodus, Huron | Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, White Perch, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Multiple access points: Sodus Bay Municipal Launch, Lake Shore Marshes WMA pull offs on Leroy Island Road, and Sodus Point Beach Park | No |
| East Bay | Huron | Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch | Located within Lakeshore Marshes Wildlife Management Area, fishing access off North Huron Road | No |
| Port Bay | Wolcott | Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch | Access through DEC Boat Launch Site off West Port Bay Road | No |
Yates County
Water | Town | Species | Access | Contour Map Available (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keuka Lake | Several | Black Crappie, Bluegill, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch | Multiple access points including Keuka Lake State Park, Village of Penn Yann Launch, and Indian Pines Park off Route 54A |