Fishing Seneca Lake

AKA: Lake Seneca

Popular Fish Species
Seneca Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Seneca Lake, NY

Popular Fish Species Seneca Lake, NY

Lake Trout Fishing

Seneca Lake is known as the Lake trout Capital of the world, and fishing for lake trout in Seneca Lake is good as ever. These large trout can be caught from as shallow as 15 to 30 feet in Spring and Fall, to as deep as 150 feet or more during Summer and Winter. Good electronics are a big help in locating lake trout. They feed on baitfish, so jigs rigged to imitate their prey often work well straight down under the boat. Trolling with numerous set-ups can also produce good catches. It is a monumental help to use fish finders to locate lake trout. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing for big lake trout with spoons can deliver some great catches.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Smallmouth bass are still a favorite of many locals at Seneca Lake, due to their spectacular fighting spirit and the quality of the average smallie caught. Fishing for smallmouth bass is good anytime they are shallow - in spring, during high water, mornings in summer and during warmer fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap, and around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In winter, spend your time on deeper structure with small worms, jigs and spoons. Largemouth bass and spotted bass also reside here in good numbers. When the lake freezes over, try your luck at ice fishing.

Yellow Perch Fishing

Seneca Lake continues to have a very healthy population of yellow perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line. They make for an excellent fish fry, are a food source for many of the larger predator fish in the lake, and they are fun to catch in winter when ice fishing.

Seneca Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch, landlocked salmon (Atlantic salmon) and northern pike at Seneca Lake in New York.

Considered by many to be the lake trout capital of the world, Seneca Lake is a 43,000-acre lake in central New York. There are close to a dozen marinas and boat ramps scattered along the well over 100 miles of shoreline to serve the boating public.

One of the prized fish species in Seneca Lake is lake trout, plus healthy population of rainbow trout and brown trout are also present. Smallmouth bass are another popular species here. Other fish species include largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, and panfish such as bluegill and pumpkinseed. Check out fishing reports for popular species at this lake.

Many fishing enthusiasts come here in hopes of catching a monster lake trout or landlocked salmon. Additionally the lake is a fertile fishery for bass, trout, sunfish, perch and pike. The bass and perch fishing are also considered some of the best in the area. Fishing charters and local fishing guides offer fishing trips for most all species in the lake. Much of the shoreline, some of which is accessible for fishing from the bank, is cluttered with aquatic vegetation creating excellent cover for baitfish as well as bass, pike and sunfish.

Primary fish species residing in Seneca Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Seneca Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

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Marinas

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