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The two primary species of bass inhabiting N.Y. State waters are smallmouth and largemouth bass. Both species may be found in most all of the states lakes and rivers. The average bass caught is between 1 and 5 pounds, but there are many fish taken every year over 5 pounds. Bass fisherman by majority are a catch and release group so that affords this species a bit more protection than they would other wise receive. The state wide size limit on bass is 12 inches in length and a daily creel limit of 5. Open season on bass is the 15 th of June through November 30th.The state record largemouth bass was caught by John L. Higbie he was using a spinnerbait fishing in Buckhorn Lake on 09/11/87. This majestic fish weighed an amazing 11 lb. 04oz. The state record smallmouth bass was caught by Thomas Russell Jr., of Albion reeled in an eight-pound, six-ounce smallmouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Seneca County. Russell's bass surpassed the previous record by two ounces, caught from the St. Lawrence River in 2016. Smallmouth bass prefer deeper and colder water than largemouth bass which enables both species to coexist in the same environment without competing directly against each other. In rivers they prefer the faster moving water and will be found around large boulder or bridge abutments. Largemouth on the other hand prefer shallower and more turbid water and are often found in weedbeds and around fallen timber in the slower moving stretches of rivers. Both species will feed on minnows, crayfish, insects, worms, snails, frogs, or most anything that they can catch and swallow. This is one reason so many fisherman love bass fishing, because they are fairly easy to catch and will hit most any lure that invades their space. Tackle for bass fishing is as simple as you want it to be, or can be as complex as you want with many tournament fisherman having 5 or 6 rods all rigged with different lines and lures for certain fishing conditions. Most any medium action rod 6 foot in length and spooled with 10 or 12 pound test line would be sufficient for most fishing conditions. Lake Ontario and Lake Erie offer some of the states most fantastic smallmouth bass fishing. The bays along Lake Ontario also offer some great largemouth fishing, but the best largemouth bass fishing is in the Finger Lakes with Cayuga, Keuka, and Seneca Lake being the number one choices. Lake Champlain, Black Lake, Chautauqua Lake, and many of the reservoirs outside oy New York City offers some trophy bass fishing as well. |
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Back in May of 2003 Rick Burrows from Philadelphia P.A. and some friends were on a fishing trip to Keuka Lake when he caught this big 4 pound smallmouth bass. After a quick photo it was released. Keuka Lake has a good population of both smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, perch, crappie, rockbass, bluegills, and bullheads are plentiful here as well. Lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and landlocked salmon also abound in it's crystal clear waters. |
| Pictured here is Julie Stewart. She just started bass fishing 3 years ago, but has learned really quickly. She is holding a fabulous 5 and half pound Largemouth Bass she caught from Lake Champlain south of Crown Point. After a quick photo the fish was released to fight another day. Julie was using Yum Tubes and fishing the edges of the weed matts in the bays. |
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Corey White from Hallstead Pa. was fishing with his Mother and Father on Cayuga Lake, and caught this awesome Largemouth Bass. It fought reel hard , but he finally did manage to get it in the boat. After his father took a few pictures he let it go. He used a Quantum bait casting reel with 8lb. test stren. The Fish was caught around the Island. The bait is a secret sorry, but he plans to catch alot more on it. Very nice fish Corey and keep up that catch and release. |
| William Liljeroos is pictured here with a 6 pound Largemouth Bass he caught from the Amawalk Reservoir in Westchester county on July 12, 2001. This fine specimen was caught with live sawbellies (alewives) on a sliding float set at a depth of about 10 feet. All of New York City's 19 reservoirs have been quiet since September 11. To see how this situation is being resolved click here. |
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William Liljeroos is pictured here with a 5 pound Smallmouth Bass that was caught and released at the Amawalk Reservoir in Westchester county, NY. He was fishing with a Live minnow on a slip bobber rig set at a depth of about 4 feet. It was a tough spot to fish, they were hiding in a big fallen tree with lots of branches. For more information about fishing New York City resevoirs click here. |
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The date was May 2, 2003 when Will Daskal of New York City caught this incredible and amazing largemouth bass form a lake in the Harriman State Park's Seven Lakes chain, near Sloatsburg, NY. The big bass was caught on a Jimmy Houston Excalibur Super Spook, surface plug. After a few quick photos the fish was released. |
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Pictured here is Allison Wagner and Brian Brodman of Queens, NY. Brian is holding a feisty smallmouth bass that they caught while fishing on Lake George in August 2003. This smallmouth bass was taken on a minnow while fishing from a boat. They also caught rock bass and sunfish on this exciting summer trip to beautiful Lake George. |
| Pictured here is Jim Scott Jr. In late September he was fishing the Susquehanna River at Tioga Center. Jim was using nightcrawlers for bait and fishing mainly for walleyes, but was really surprised to catch this very nice smallmouth bass. The big bass was 19 and half inches long and was caught on 6 pound test line. |
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Pictured here is In-Fisherman Magazine Contributor Brett Richardson with a 7 pound 3 ounce Largemouth Bass that he caught from Round Lake just after the ice had left the lake. The big bass was taken on a jig fished off the edges of a weedbed. Weedbeds are fish magnets early in the spring because they collect the solar energy and warm more quickly than the deeper open water. They also provide cover for the forage base that has been under siege all winter. |
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