6 Members of the Waterwolf Family in New York State
In New York State, the Waterwolf family consists of six species, each with unique characteristics and behaviors but sharing similar predatory traits. Here’s an overview of each member:
- Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
- Common Name: Pike
- Habitat: Northern pike are commonly found in shallow, weedy areas of lakes, rivers, and ponds throughout New York State.
- Size: They can grow up to 40 inches or more, with some individuals reaching weights over 30 pounds.
- Diet: They are primarily fish-eaters but will also take small mammals, frogs, and birds. Known for their voracious appetite and aggressive strikes.
- Angling Tips: Northern pike are a popular target for anglers, using both live bait and lures that resemble small fish or frogs.
- Chain Pickerel (Esox niger)
- Common Name: Chain Pickerel
- Habitat: Often found in slow-moving or shallow waters of lakes, rivers, and swamps, especially in the eastern part of New York.
- Size: Smaller than northern pike, typically reaching lengths of 18–24 inches, with some individuals growing up to 30 inches.
- Diet: Chain pickerel feed on fish, frogs, and invertebrates. Their sharp teeth and rapid strikes make them efficient hunters.
- Angling Tips: They can be caught with live bait such as minnows or frogs, or with lures that mimic small fish. Their smaller size makes them more accessible to anglers than larger pike.
- Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus)
- Common Name: Grass Pickerel
- Habitat: Found in weedy, shallow waters of lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams.
- Size: Grass pickerel are smaller than chain pickerel, typically reaching around 12–18 inches in length.
- Diet: They primarily feed on smaller fish and invertebrates, often ambushing their prey in dense aquatic vegetation.
- Angling Tips: Grass pickerel are less commonly targeted by anglers but can be caught using smaller lures or live bait like minnows or worms.
- Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus americanus)
- Common Name: Redfin Pickerel
- Habitat: Found in the same types of waters as the grass pickerel, but typically in more isolated, slower-moving areas.
- Size: Smaller than both chain and grass pickerel, rarely exceeding 15 inches.
- Diet: Redfin pickerel are opportunistic feeders, primarily eating smaller fish and invertebrates.
- Angling Tips: Due to their smaller size and less common nature, redfin pickerel are less targeted by anglers but can be caught with small jigs or live bait.
- Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
- Common Name: Muskie
- Habitat: Found in larger lakes and rivers, particularly in the northern regions of New York. Muskies prefer clear, deep waters with submerged structures.
- Size: Muskies are the largest members of the waterwolf family, often growing 40–50 inches long, with some individuals exceeding 50 inches and weighing up to 40 pounds or more.
- Diet: Muskies are apex predators, feeding on fish, frogs, and even birds and small mammals. They are known for their strength and aggressive feeding behavior.
- Angling Tips: Known as a challenging catch due to their size and elusive nature, muskies are typically pursued by experienced anglers using large lures or live bait.
- Tiger Muskie (Esox masquinongy x Esox lucius)
- Common Name: Tiger Muskie
- Habitat: Tiger muskies are a hybrid cross between northern pike and muskellunge and are stocked in some lakes across New York.
- Size: Typically between 30–45 inches in length, they combine the size and power of muskies with the speed and aggression of pike.
- Diet: They are carnivorous, feeding on smaller fish and amphibians. Like muskies, they can be very aggressive in their feeding behavior.
- Angling Tips: Tiger muskies are a popular target for anglers who want the challenge of catching a large, aggressive fish. Large lures and live bait are most effective in attracting these fish.
These six species are part of the diverse waterwolf family, and each presents its own challenges and rewards for anglers in New York State. Whether fishing for the smaller pickerel species or targeting the formidable muskellunge, these fish offer thrilling angling opportunities throughout the region.
Fishing the Finger Lakes for Walleye, Northern Pike and Chain Pickerel
Fishing for northern pike, chain pickerel, and walleye in the Finger Lakes offers exciting opportunities for anglers. Often mistakenly referred to as the “walleye pike” or “yellow pike,” the walleye is actually a member of the perch family, not a pike. Known for their great fight and delicious taste, walleye are considered a prized catch in New York, often called “the filet mignon of fish.”
The name walleye comes from their unique eyes, which contain a reflective layer called the tapetum lucidum, allowing them to see well in low-light conditions. This makes walleye fishing especially productive during dawn, dusk, or at night. Walleye inhabit a variety of environments, from shallow weed beds to deeper water basins, making them a challenging yet rewarding species to target in the Finger Lakes. Due to their tendency to move between different habitats, trolling is an effective technique for covering large areas and finding active fish. This method helps anglers locate walleyes in spots ranging from flats and humps to drop-offs and deep basins.
Types of Lures for Walleye
When targeting walleye, a variety of lures can be used, each suited to different fishing conditions and depths. One of the most reliable and traditional options is the bucktail jig in black, brown, or purple, tipped with live bait such as a minnow, leech, or nightcrawler. This classic setup is great for attracting walleye in various conditions. For deeper waters, blade baits in colors like gold, silver, or fire tiger, when tipped with a minnow or piece of nightcrawler, are incredibly effective.
Crankbaits, particularly in black and silver, blue and silver, or shad and yellow perch colors, are also popular for walleye fishing. These lures should be chosen based on the depth of the water you are fishing in, ensuring that the crankbait occasionally contacts the bottom to mimic the movement of prey. While a steady retrieve often works best for walleye, adding pauses or sweeping motions can make the lure more enticing. Stickbaits and jerkbaits in similar color schemes to crankbaits can also yield great results, with these lures being suitable for both casting and trolling.
Popular Live Baits for Walleye
In addition to lures, live baits such as nightcrawlers, minnows, and leeches are highly effective for catching walleye. These live baits can be fished using various methods such as spinner rigs, bottom bouncing, or on a jig. Jigs can be fished directly on the bottom or suspended under a float, depending on the fish’s location. For the Finger Lakes region, Otisco Lake in Onondaga County is known for being a top spot for walleye fishing.
Local experts, like New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Senior Aquatic Biologist Jim Everard, suggest trolling along the weed edges with stickbaits or crankbaits as an excellent technique for targeting walleye. For shore anglers, casting stickbaits from the causeway just before and after dark can be particularly productive. Additionally, drifting with worm and spinner rigs or trolling with stickbaits around locations such as Fitzgerald Point and Lader’s Point are effective methods for catching walleye in the region.
“Fishing the Finger Lakes” by J. Michael Kelly
In Fishing the Finger Lakes, local angler and author J. Michael Kelly highlights walleye as the top game fish in the region. He explains that during the spring, particularly from the season opener through mid to late June, walleye are drawn to shorelines to feed on alewives as they spawn. Alewives typically appear along the shore at night, with the best times being when the moon is dark or obscured by clouds, and they often swarm in shallow waters, sometimes less than ankle deep. Kelly notes that the sound of walleyes feeding on the alewives can be heard as they swirl and slurp around the baitfish.
For northern pike, Kelly points out that the weed beds at the south end of Owasco Lake in Cayuga County provide excellent fishing opportunities. Anglers can target pike using a variety of lures, including large stickbaits, spoons, spinnerbaits, and live minnows under a float. Charlie from Bearwood Bait and Tackle in Skaneateles suggests drifting with large shiners under a bobber at the extreme south end of Owasco Lake for the best pike fishing action.
Northern Pike Fishing Tips from Mike Kelley
Mike Kelley offers valuable northern pike fishing tips for the Finger Lakes, specifically at Emerson Park. He suggests that the fishing pier provides fair to good walleye action during the spring after dark, although this is not a year-round opportunity. Kelley recommends arriving before dark and casting skinny stickbaits into the darkness for the best results. For those fishing from boats, night fishing just off the pier can also yield success. Additionally, tossing a minnow under a bobber from the pier during the spring can be an effective method for catching northern pike.
Fishing the Finger Lakes: Where Northern Pike and Walleye Abound
Cross Lake
Cross Lake, situated on the border of Cayuga and Onondaga counties, is renowned for producing large northern pike, with some reaching up to 15 pounds. Live minnows, stickbaits, and spinnerbaits are recommended for pike fishing here. Additionally, Cross Lake is stocked annually with 33,500 walleye fingerlings, which thrive in the Seneca River, where it flows into the lake, and downstream in the area known as Jack’s Reef.
Oneida Lake
As the largest lake in New York, Oneida Lake is famous for its excellent walleye fishing. In the spring, walleyes can be found near spawning areas and tributaries. Oneida is also home to sizable pickerel, many of which exceed 24 inches. Biologist Jim Everard recommends using bass-type lures like spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and swimbaits to target these pickerel.
Cayuga Lake: Best Location for Northern Pike
Cayuga Lake’s north end, which features extensive weed growth, is the prime location for northern pike. Large stickbaits, spoons, spinnerbaits, and live minnows under a float are effective for pike. Pike can also be found along weed beds throughout the lake, and casting spinnerbaits, Johnson spoons, and stickbaits will attract these toothy predators. Additionally, the north end of Cayuga is home to numerous chain pickerel, with some reaching up to 25 inches in length.
Seneca Lake
Seneca Lake offers excellent northern pike fishing in the spring. The pike population has fluctuated over the years but has shown signs of increasing. Pike anglers should focus on casting spoons, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and minnows around the weed beds, particularly near Dresden, Severne, and Glass Factory Bay. Shore anglers can also find success at the municipal pier in Watkins Glen, the City of Geneva’s pier, and Sampson State Park’s breakwall. According to Pam, owner of Brewer’s Sporting Goods in Ovid, the red and white daredevil spoon has long been a go-to lure for pike in Cayuga and Seneca Lakes.
Keuka Lake
While northern pike and pickerel are not abundant in Keuka Lake, both species can be found in the shallow, weedy areas around the Branchport and Penn Yan arms. Anglers should focus on these areas for the best chances of landing these fish.
Canandaigua Lake
Canandaigua Lake is renowned for producing some of the largest chain pickerel in the region. The best areas to target these fish are near the weed beds at the south end of the lake. Blaine, from The Bait Barn in Naples, suggests fishing near the Vine Valley area using blue and silver or orange and red spinnerbaits.
Honeoye Lake
Located on the southwest side of Ontario County, Honeoye Lake is not typically known for pickerel fishing. However, the numbers of pickerel have been increasing in recent years, especially around the lake’s weed beds. Northern pike, although not abundant, are occasionally caught, and these fish are often large when landed.
What is the Best Time to Troll for Walleye with Stickbaits?
The best time to troll for walleye with stickbaits, according to J. Michael Kelly in his book Fishing the Finger Lakes, is during the second half of May. This period is considered one of the prime times for night trolling, especially around and over emergent weed beds. The weed growth in the Finger Lakes can make fishing challenging, but this time frame offers optimal conditions for targeting walleye. Kelly suggests that shore fishing after dark with stickbaits or using a slip sinker rig with a floating jig head tipped with a worm can also be productive techniques during this time.
Best Techniques for Walleye Fishing
The south end of Honeoye Lake, near the State Park boat launch, is known for holding good numbers of walleye. According to Ted, the owner of Ted’s Tackle Shop in Lakeville, slow trolling with a bottom bouncer and worm harness along the edges of the weed beds is a highly effective technique for walleye fishing in this area.
Hemlock Lake, located in eastern Livingston and western Ontario Counties, is renowned for its large chain pickerel population. The extensive weed beds along most of the shoreline are prime locations for chain pickerel, with the south end of the lake being particularly productive. A shiner fished a few feet below a bobber is a solid choice, as well as casting spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and stickbaits. While Hemlock Lake doesn’t have a large walleye population, there are a few remaining from the last stocking in 2008. Nighttime shore casting is the preferred method for walleye here, and if you manage to hook one, it’s likely to be a sizable fish, potentially reaching up to 10 pounds.
At Canadice Lake, located in western Ontario County, casting a spinnerbait over the weed beds can yield pickerel weighing between two and four pounds. The southern end of the lake offers excellent fishing opportunities for pickerel, especially in the thick weed beds.
Conesus Lake, in central Livingston County, is famous for its 10-pound northern pike that are eager to strike at stickbaits. Ted’s Bait Shop recommends fishing the south end of the lake with live sucker chubs or pike minnows for the best results. Trolling with jointed rapalas also proves effective for pike. For walleye, the best action comes after dark, particularly during the three to four weeks following the season opener in the Conesus Inlet. Another prime location for walleye is Long Point Park, located midway along the west shore.
The Finger Lakes Region offers excellent opportunities for northern pike, pickerel, and walleye fishing, especially during the spring season opener. Whether you’re trolling, casting, or fishing from shore, these lakes provide an abundance of fishing action for anglers of all skill levels.
Original Article By Wayne Brewer
About The Author
Wayne Brewer was an avid outdoorsman. At one point he was the Director of Law Enforcement for the NYS DEC. He was the author of a fish and game cookbook Enjoying Nature’s Bounty and a freelance writer for several publications. Wayne Brewer passed away in 2019.
