It’s a fishing day

Cayuga Lake fishing conditions · New York

Now until 7 amSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 96.

Log a trip here
Right now: 96 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.

  1. 963 am
  2. 96
  3. 96
  4. 966 am
  5. 86
  6. 86
  7. 869 am
  8. 78
  9. 76
  10. 8612 pm
  11. 86
  12. 86
  13. 863 pm
  14. 86
  15. 86
  16. 866 pm
  17. 86
  18. 86
  19. 869 pm
  20. 86
  21. 86
  22. 86Tue
  23. 86
  24. 86
  25. 863 am
  26. 86
  27. 86
  28. 866 am
  29. 86
  30. 86
  31. 869 am
  32. 86
  33. 86
  34. 8612 pm
  35. 86
  36. 86
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
6 mph

From the southeast

Flow
20.1 cfs

steady · +4% in 24 h

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:32 am

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
46°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

96GoNow until 7 am

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 chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Lake Trout

Lake trout

Salvelinus namaycush

90GoNow until 7 am

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 chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 30–200 ft down.

Keep

21" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New York statewide: 21" minimum, 3 lake trout a day, Apr 1–Oct 15, closed the rest of the year. Lake Champlain and the Finger Lakes have their own all-year rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New York

Season here: Sep–Jun. More on lake trout

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

90GoNow until 7 am

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 chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 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

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

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

78Worth the tripNow until 7 am

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

78Worth the tripNow until 7 am

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 chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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 8 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
  • River20.1 cfs · steady · +4% in 24 h
  • Barometer30.34 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:32 am
  • Sunset today6:08 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:30 pm–6:30 pm

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, 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.

Nearby

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

Oneida Lake51 mi · New YorkBest today 11 am to tomorrow 10 am
86Go
Selkirk Shores State Park64 mi · New YorkBest now until 7 am
100Go
Beaverkill River103 mi · New YorkBest today 11 am–12 am
80Worth the trip
Upper Delaware River (Callicoon)106 mi · New YorkBest today 11 am to tonight 4 am
92Go
St. Lawrence River (1000 Islands)117 mi · New YorkBest now until 7 am
90Go
Niagara River (Lower)125 mi · New YorkBest now until 7 am
96Go

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.