THE striped bass has been getting a lot of attention of late, but there are two other kinds of bass that draw equal attention to the lakes and rivers of New York State.
The smallmouth and largemouth bass season opens Saturday and from all the early reports the start to the season should be an excellent one.
“Bass are the most popular fish species sought by anglers and New York has some of the best smallmouth bass and largemouth bass fishing around, a direct result of cooperation between the State and the fishing public,” Dept. of Environmental Conservation commissioner John Cahill said. “The conservative harvest regulations and the volunteer practice of ‘catch and release’ of medium and large fish have been the keys to perpetuating our excellent bass fisheries.”
Many of New York’s traditional bass waters experience heavy fishing activity during the first few weeks of the season, so anglers looking to get away from the crowds should explore some of the smaller lakes and ponds, or the hundreds of miles of good bass fishing available in New York’s rivers.
A good bet for opening day is the Susquehanna system. Numerous sections, including Susquehanna, Chenango, Otselic, Chemung, Tioughnioga and Unadilla rivers, are lightly fished and readily accessible to wading and canoe or cartop boat anglers. There are numerous access sites along these waters for comfortable floating-and-fishing outings.
In northern New York, try the major Eastern Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River tributaries such as the Black, Indian, Oswegatchie and St. Regis rivers, as well as sections of the Saranac system. The Allegheny River offers good opportunities in the western part of the state, while Seneca, Oswego, Oneida and Genesee rivers are good bets for north-central residents. In addition, in eastern New York, anglers should try the Schoharie Creek downstream of the dam at Blenheim-Gilboa, and the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers.
River anglers are reminded to keep updated on flow and turbidity conditions to avoid unproductive and possibly dangerous trips and to be sure to scout out access and any fast water prior to launching boats. In addition, be sure to check the Fishing Regulations Guide for any special bass regulations.
For those anglers who prefer lakes and ponds, try Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, Silver Lake, Cuba Lake, Rushford Lake, Lime Lake, Cassadaga Lake, Bear Lake, Honeoye Lake, Conesus Lake, Findley Lake and Quaker Lake in the west; Lake George, Lake Champlain, Saratoga Lake and Black Lake in the north; and Cayuga Lake, Oneida Lake, Owasco Lake, Otisco Lake and North Sandy Pond in the north-central part of the state. Also, Lake Ontario has excellent smallmouth bass fishing, especially from Oswego County to the western parts of the lake.
Anglers are also reminded that the Upper Hudson River from the Troy Dam upstream to Bakers Falls in the Village of Hudson Falls is open to bass fishing on a catch and release basis. The 2000 bass fishing season runs through Nov. 30.