Cayuga Lake fishing conditions · New York

Now until 7 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 93.

Right now: 93 for smallmouth bass, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

934 pm
93
93
867 pm
83
83
8310 pm
83
86Sun
861 am
86
86
864 am
86
86
867 am
86
86
8610 am
86
86
861 pm
86
86
864 pm
86
86
867 pm
86
86
8610 pm
86
83Mon
831 am
83
83

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 7 mph
Flow: 125 cfs
Light: Daylight
Sky: Chance Rain Showers
Air: 50°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are New York regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

93GoNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Smallmouth bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New York statewide: 12" minimum, 5 black bass a day combined, Jun 15–Nov 30; Dec 1–Jun 14 catch and release with artificial lures only. Lake Champlain opens the second Saturday in June; the St. Lawrence is closed to bass fishing Dec 1–Jun 14.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Lake trout

Salvelinus namaycush

87GoNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Lake trout bite in 40–52° water, best near 48°.

Why

Lake trout is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 30–200 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15" minimum, open all year; 5 brown, rainbow and lake trout and Atlantic salmon a day combined, no more than 3 brown, 3 rainbow or 3 salmon.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Cayuga Lake

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Sep–Jun. More on lake trout

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

87GoNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Largemouth bass is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

87GoNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Yellow perch is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

50 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New York statewide: 50 yellow perch a day, any size, open all year. Lake Champlain has no daily limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–May, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

40Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New York statewide: carp are open all year, any size, any number.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · New York

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
River125 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
Barometer29.87 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today4:52 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:49 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

New York DEC report, undated

Names lake trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at New York DEC

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The longest Finger Lake — a deep, clear lake near Ithaca holding lake trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, landlocked Atlantic salmon, and yellow perch.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesNew York
WhereCayuga County · 42.7000, -76.7000

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Oneida Lake51 mi · New YorkBest tomorrow 11 am–7 pm

84Worth the trip

Selkirk Shores State Park64 mi · New YorkBest tonight 9 pm to tomorrow 10 pm

100Go

Beaverkill River103 mi · New YorkBest tonight 11 pm to Monday 4 am

80Worth the trip

Upper Delaware River (Callicoon)106 mi · New YorkBest now until Monday 4 am

100Go

St. Lawrence River (1000 Islands)117 mi · New YorkBest tomorrow 6 am–8 am

57Marginal

Niagara River (Lower)125 mi · New YorkBest now until tomorrow 11 am

86Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cayuga Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Cayuga Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Cayuga Lake?

Cayuga Lake is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Cayuga Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Cayuga Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Cayuga Lake have?

Cayuga Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cayuga Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Cayuga Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Cayuga Lake tidal water?

No. Cayuga Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.