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New York is for bass lovers. Two of the best bass fisheries in the northeastern U.S. lie in the very heart of the state within a stone’s throw of Syracuse. Besides fabulous fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, you can enjoy innumerable other attractions, from nightlife to fabulous restaurants, amusement parks, scenic waterfalls and more.
Cayuga Lake
Largemouth and smallmouth abound in the vegetation and on the bottom structures that rim this deep 42,956-acre, glacial Finger Lake. Jamie Hartman of Newport, N.Y., won a Bassmaster Elite Series event here in August 2019 with 80 pounds, 13 ounces.
Your guide: Elite Series champion Jamie Hartman
Where to fish: “Many bass spawn on the flats in the northern 8 to 10 miles of the lake,” says Hartman. “In July they begin making their way farther south. The largemouth hang in the grass near shore. Smallmouth tend to suspend after they spawn.”
What to use: Hartman says everything from a drop shot to grass punching rigs, Texas rigs, crankbaits, topwater lures and ChatterBaits will help you put bass in the boat. Jigs excel for trophy bass. After the smallmouth spawn, target them offshore with forward-facing sonar.
Area attractions: Enjoy superb views while driving the 87-mile Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway. Taughannock Falls, which drops over 200 feet, offers multiuse trails. Taste a bit of history on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, the first designated wine trail in the U.S. See birds of prey, including bald eagles, at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge a short drive away.
Oneida Lake
With a surface area of 79.8 miles, this scenic Finger Lake is New York’s largest inland lake. Smallmouth are more abundant than largemouth. Casey Smith of Victor, N.Y., won a Bassmaster Open here in July 2022 with 55 pounds, 13 ounces.
Your guide: Bassmaster Open champion Casey Smith
Where to fish: For smallies, you can’t go wrong any time of year fishing points, humps and offshore shoals, Smith says. Massive Shackleton Shoals always holds bass. Largemouth stay close to shore relating to docks and shallow grassbeds.
What to use: Basic smallmouth lures work well, such as a drop shot, Ned rig and a small finesse jig, Smith says. Jerkbaits are players in spring and fall, while poppers and walking Spook-type baits generate strikes in the summer months. Target largemouth with Senkos, jigs and ChatterBaits.
Area attractions: Oneida Lake’s shoreline is home to some of the finest restaurants in New York. Minutes away are Central New York’s Coney Island, the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Turning Stone Resort Casino, Vernon Downs Casino Hotel and Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo. Go camping or take a swim at Verona Beach State Park, then head down the road for fun and games at Sylvan Beach Amusement Park.