Long Island, Metro NY - Freshwater Fishing Reports

Over at River Bay Outfitters in Baldwin, Paul reported freshwater fishing is shaping up nicely across Long Island and the surrounding region as cooler fall temperatures keep water conditions improving and trout stocking is now done on local ponds and lakes. One of the biggest challenges this time of year is the number of leaves falling into the water. Leaf-covered ponds and streams can make fishing difficult, foul your flies, and complicate presentations, so look for cleaner stretches and areas where wind and current haven't piled up debris. Carp are still a great option on the fly, especially on sunny days when you can spot fish cruising the shallows and present a small crayfish, carp bug, or nymph ahead of them. The Connetquot River continues to offer some good trout fishing, but these fish can be selective, so don't be afraid to downsize your flies and fish small nymphs, soft hackles, and Blue-Winged Olives. Connecticut rivers and the Catskills are also worth the drive, with cooler water temperatures and fall hatches providing some excellent opportunities for both dry-fly and subsurface fishing. Fall is a great time to be on the water, so get out and take advantage of what our local fisheries have to offer. Stop by River Bay Outfitters for the flies, gear, and local information you need to make the most of the season. Check out riverbayoutfitters.com and sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss our upcoming trips, meetups, and events. See you on the water!

John at J&J Sports in Patchogue said the local lakes are stocked for the fall. A float, a number 1 hook and a live shiner are great combo to catch bass, pickerel, perch and crappie. Nightcrawlers will get you the other panfish of the lake like bluegills, pumpkinseeds and perch. Artificial lures like curly-tail grubs or spinners will get bit from a variety of lake species. On the trout front, November is prime with stocked trout ready to eat!

At the Montauk Anglers Club, I heard from Chris Albronda who said fishing was really good with suspending jerk baits in yellow perch color. The smallmouth bass were on the prowl, they wanted sharp jerks with long pauses. Largemouths and walleye moved into deeper water and could be targeted using drop shots, Senko, and a variety of finesse baits (the Ned rig worked best). The panfish like crappie and white perch were loaded up at the launching ramp in fort pond. A worm on a float was the key to success.

Chasing Tails Bait & Tackle in Oakdale, Billy reported in the lakes, anglers will see the stocked trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, pickerel and all sorts of panfish. Paddletail swimbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits for the bass, walleye, and picks. Trout are crushing Kastmasters and inline spinners, and dough baits and worms are always a good choice, too. Panfish are going to be all over that same setup