APRIL
Brown Trout
Owasco Lake
Owasco Lake boasts some great spring fishing for brown trout.

Most of the Finger Lakes are two-story fisheries. Owasco Lake is no exception.

Anglers can look forward to abundant numbers of lake trout, rainbows, walleyes and smallmouth bass. During spring’s high waters, anglers have the best luck taking browns from shore or by surface trolling.

Access to the northern end of the lake can be had from Route 38A.

Rainbow Trout
Lake Colby
This small Adirondacks lake in Franklin County is known for its excellent rainbow and brown trout fishery. The daily creel limit on trout is five fish of any length.

Lake Colby is also home to landlocked salmon, yellow perch and pumpkinseeds.

Access is off Route 86.

Landlocked Salmon
Boquet River
Each spring, landlocks are drawn to the Boquet. Fishing remains good here from mid-April to late May. Salmon crave baits or artificial lures that mimic their natural food items. Worms, spinning lures and streamers take the majority of spring salmon.

Be sure to check for additional regulations that may apply to this Lake Champlain tributary.

Much of the river may be accessed from Route 22. Check out DeLorme’s New York Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 97.

MAY
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Erie
A special season on this Great Lake gives anglers an early shot at bass. The regular season opens during the third week of June. In Lake Erie, from the first Saturday in May until the arrival of the regular season, anglers can take one bass per day, with a minimum length of 15 inches.

Access Dunkirk Harbor from Lake Shore Drive off Route 5. Access to Buffalo Bay is off Route 5 south of Buffalo.

Walleyes
Conesus Lake
Conesus Lake is known for its excellent spring walleye fishing. In most New York waters, walleyes may be fished from the first Saturday in May until March 15, with a 15-inch length limit and a daily creel limit of five fish.

Conesus Lake is also home to excellent spring fishing for largemouth bass. Bronson Hill Road runs along the shore of the lake and offers several points of access.

Brook Trout
Mad River
The Mad River flows through Oneida County, offering anglers plenty of fishing opportunities for brookies and brown trout.

Access can be had at several points along the river. Try River Road off Route 13, or consult the DeLorme’s Gazetteer, Map 76.

JUNE
Stripers
Montauk
This is one of the Empire State’s best saltwater hotspots for stripers. When these fast fish strike, let them run for a count of six before setting the hook.

With Block Island Sound on one side of the peninsula and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, great saltwater action is as close as the next surf cast. Boat access may be had from Soundview Drive.

Excellent surf casting opportunities await at Montauk Downs State Park off Route 27.

Lake Trout
Skaneateles Lake
Skaneateles has a naturally reproducing lake trout population, as well as excellent fishing for rainbows and smallmouth bass. Access may be had from several points along routes 41 to the east and 41A to the west of the lake.

Largemouth Bass
Honeoye Lake
This Ontario County lake, 28 miles south of Rochester, offers up excellent bass fishing. Honeoye is also home to walleyes, chain pickerel and plentiful panfish. There’s a boat launch at the southeast corner of the lake off East Lake Road.

Launch cartop craft and small trailered boats from Sandy Bottom Beach at the northwest corner of the lake.