Fish Cayuga County Tributaries This Spring

By Cayuga County Tourism Ambassador George Fiorille

It was kind of an old-time, long, cold, snowy, winter this past season. Now spring is here and it’s time for outdoorsmen and women to get out in the great outdoors and enjoy its many benefits. 

If you’re looking to do some quality fishing this spring, check out the stream tributaries in Cayuga County this year. Each Finger Lake and others usually have an inlet and outlet at their ends. The great thing about these streams is that the water in them is usually warmer than the main lake. The water temperatures can often be as much as 10-degrees or higher than the bodies of water that they are flowing in or out of. This is due to the warmer land run offs that dump into these tributaries.

Fish are cold blooded and they have peak activity according to high and low water temps. One of the first fish that run the creeks in spring is the spawning of rainbow trout. It’s reported by biologists that the water temp of 42-degrees in the creeks is prime spawning temperatures for rainbows. These trout can run several miles up the creeks to find ideal spawning grounds and the right temps. Most Cayuga County streams open April 1 but check your fishing syllabus for the body of water you are fishing. One of the best baits to use are real trout eggs tied up in egg sacks. You can also catch trout with worms, flies, and lures such as spinners and others. 

Towards the end of the trout run, other fish migrate into Cayuga County streams. Non-gamefish such as suckers and bullheads will flood area streams and can be caught quite readily with live bait.

May 1 is the opening date for walleye and northern pike in Cayuga County. These fish filter into area streams to spawn. They can also be caught with live bait and lures. Lures such as crankbaits, stick baits, and jigs excel for these fish. Fishing around early spawn time may be slow but will pick up after the post spawn period arrives. Once the water warms up and some of the early spawning species mentioned are done, the fish will migrate back into area Finger Lakes.  The waters that were once “hot” in spring, will be devoid of fish in summer.

Bass fishing in Cayuga County streams can be phenomenal in spring. Even though bass fishing in New York State doesn’t officially open until June 15, there is an early catch and release season before the opening. There is also one after the November closing as well. 

Try using lures such as square bill and deep diving crankbaits, stick baits, jigs, and plastic worms. Lures with weed or brush guards will enable you to cast better into heavy cover and lose less baits.

The nice thing about fishing tributaries in spring in Cayuga county is the fact that you can usually fish these areas on the bank, in a boat, or out of a canoe or kayak. These areas are often protected from fierce spring cold winds. 

This spring fish the tributaries in Cayuga County.
The narrowed down water ways congregate various species of fish and offer quality angling.

Fish On!!

Click here to read more of George’s amazing fishing blogs:
🎣 Springtime Perch Fishing is Fantastic in Cayuga County
🎣Go Deep for Summer Smallmouth Bass in Cayuga County

Click here to Discover great places to fish in Cayuga County