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Top 10 Freshwater Fish to Catch in New York

Top Ten

Fish to Catch in New York

Walleye dreams, bass battles, pure New York grit

New York freshwater doesn't hand out trophies, you earn them. Chasing yellow walleye and smallmouth bass here means real work, not luck. Throw in pike, trout, and even landlocked salmon, and you've got options for any mood—fast, stubborn, or downright nasty. No two days fish the same.

Yellow Walleye

World Record 25 lb 0 oz
Mabry Harper / 1960
Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee

Signature Fact Those glassy eyes pack a mirror-layered retina that lets them hunt in near-darkness-and glow under headlamps.

Click to Learn More About Yellow Walleye

Smallmouth Bass

World Record 11 lb 15 oz
David L. Hayes / 1955
Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee

Signature Fact In winter, they huddle in massive "sleep piles"-hundreds nose-to-current, barely twitching for weeks.

Click to Learn More About Smallmouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

World Record 22 lb 4 oz
Manabu Kurita / 2009
Lake Biwa, Japan

Signature Fact High-speed videos show they snap their mouth fully open in about 30 milliseconds, vacuuming prey from 3 inches.

Click to Learn More About Largemouth Bass

Rainbow Trout

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 48 lb 0 oz
Sean Konrad / 2009
Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan

Signature Fact Siblings from one nest can grow up as 8-inch creek fish or 20‑plus‑pound ocean‑run steelhead, then spawn together.

Northern Pike

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 55 lb 1 oz
Lothar Louis / 1986
Lake of Grefeern, Germany

Signature Fact Unlike most fish, they launch with an S-start burst-arrow-straight acceleration that nails prey with sniper precision.

Muskellunge

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 67 lb 8 oz
Cal Johnson / 1949
Lake Court Oreilles, Wisconsin

Signature Fact A shocking number of hookups explode inches from the net during boatside figure‑eights-pure cardiac fishing.

Chain Pickerel

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 9 lb 6 oz
R. A. Copeland / 1961
Homerville, Georgia

Signature Fact Newly hatched pickerel have a built‑in "Velcro" forehead pad that glues them to plants until the yolk's gone.

Tiger Trout

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 20 lb 13 oz
Lloyd Tanner / 2003
Scofield Reservoir, Utah

Signature Fact Born sterile, tiger trout skip spawning entirely and channel that energy into freakish growth and unapologetic aggression.

Landlocked Salmon

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 50 lb 0 oz
Niels Jørgensen / 1987
Norway

Signature Fact Even trapped in lakes, they keep an ocean compass-orienting to Earth's magnetic field they'll never use.

Lake Trout

Learn More Here Verified Catch

World Record 72 lb 0 oz
Lloyd Bull / 1995
Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories

Signature Fact A deepwater "siscowet" morph packs ~35% body fat-so oily 1800s fishermen rendered it for lamp oil.

FAQs

What fish can you catch in New York?

You can catch yellow walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, rainbow trout, northern pike, muskellunge, chain pickerel, tiger trout, landlocked salmon, and lake trout in New York freshwater.

What is the best time of year to fish in New York?

Spring and fall are prime for most freshwater species in New York, especially bass and walleye.

Where are the best places to fish in New York?

New York is packed with freshwater hotspots for bass, walleye, and trout, from classic rivers to big lakes. Pick your water and get after it.

What gear do you need for fishing in New York?

Bring medium to heavy spinning or baitcasting setups for bass, walleye, and pike. Lighter trout gear covers rainbows and the trickier species.

What are the easiest fish to catch in New York?

Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and chain pickerel are some of the most accessible freshwater fish for anglers in New York.

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