Seneca River fishing

Seneca River fishing: not stocked since August 2023. It was stocked with Tiger Muskie and Walleye on a river section. Also recorded: Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, and 12 more. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, Black Crappie, and White Crappie, dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch, and dawn and dusk for Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Common Carp.

Seneca River
Photo: MTBradley, CC BY-SA 3.0
Last stocked
August 2023
Tiger Muskie
Plants on record
38
Since 2011
Species stocked
2 (+18 also recorded)
Average size
7.9 in
Elevation
362 ft

Fish at Seneca River

2 stocked · 18 confirmed present

Tiger Muskie Stocked · 33 plants · last August 2023

Last stocked August 2023 · avg 9 in · 33 plants

Tiger Muskie species guide
Walleye Stocked · 5 plants · last June 2020 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked June 2020 · avg 1.5 in · 5 plants

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Walleye species guide

The Seneca River provides fishing for various species, including walleye, tiger musky, and northern pike. Anglers can also target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, yellow perch, and bluegill. Additionally, a wheelchair accessible fishing/viewing platform is available at the Hayes Road Parking Area near the outlet to Onondaga Lake. (dec.ny.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

How Seneca River is stocked

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

No plants recorded in 2022.

Fish stocked in 2011

20,700

Fish stocked in 2012

18,800

Fish stocked in 2013

12,800

Fish stocked in 2014

19,800

Fish stocked in 2015

36,800

Fish stocked in 2016

12,800

Fish stocked in 2017

24,800

Fish stocked in 2018

27,483

Fish stocked in 2019

52,849

Fish stocked in 2020

42,234

Fish stocked in 2021

3,000

Fish stocked in 2023

24,800

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
August 2023Tiger Muskie6,8009 inreport
August 2023Tiger Muskie6,0009 inreport
July 2023Tiger Muskie6,0006.8 inreport
July 2023Tiger Muskie6,0006.8 inreport
July 2021Tiger Muskie3,00012.2 inreport
September 2020Tiger Muskie6,80010.1 inreport
September 2020Tiger Muskie6,00010.1 inreport
July 2020Tiger Muskie5,4346.1 inreport
June 2020Walleye24,0001.5 inreport
September 2019Tiger Muskie6,8008.4 inreport
September 2019Tiger Muskie6,0008.4 inreport
August 2019Tiger Muskie4,60011 inreport
August 2019Tiger Muskie5,0008.2 inreport
June 2019Walleye30,4491.3 inreport
September 2018Tiger Muskie3,4839.5 inreport
June 2018Walleye24,0001.6 inreport
September 2017Tiger Muskie6,80010 inreport
September 2017Tiger Muskie6,00010 inreport
June 2017Walleye12,0001.4 inreport
September 2016Tiger Muskie6,800–report
September 2016Tiger Muskie6,000–report
September 2015Tiger Muskie6,8009.4 inreport
September 2015Tiger Muskie6,0009.4 inreport
June 2015Walleye24,0001.5 inreport
September 2014Tiger Muskie6,8008.5 inreport
September 2014Tiger Muskie3,5008.5 inreport
September 2014Tiger Muskie3,5008.5 inreport
September 2014Tiger Muskie6,0008.5 inreport
September 2013Tiger Muskie6,8009.5 inreport
September 2013Tiger Muskie6,0009.5 inreport
September 2012Tiger Muskie6,80010.4 inreport
September 2012Tiger Muskie6,00010.4 inreport
August 2012Tiger Muskie3,0007.8 inreport
August 2012Tiger Muskie3,0007.75 inreport
September 2011Tiger Muskie4,1009.4 inreport
September 2011Tiger Muskie3,6009.4 inreport
August 2011Tiger Muskie7,0007.8 inreport
August 2011Tiger Muskie6,0007.8 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Lysander
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
Facilities
dock

Much of the river is channelized as part of the Erie Canal. DEC's Hayes Road launch in Lysander, near the Onondaga Lake outlet, has a hard-surface ramp, a dock and a fishing/viewing platform that DEC lists as wheelchair accessible. Other DEC launches are in Cayuga and Seneca counties.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before you go.

About Seneca River

Photo of Seneca River
MTBradley, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearest lakes

Ninemile Creek 8.2 mi last stocked May 2025 Onondaga Lake 8.5 mi last stocked September 2014 Geddes Brook 8.9 mi last stocked May 2024 Onondaga Creek 10.6 mi last stocked April 2023 Lake Neatahwanta 10.8 mi last stocked August 2015

Common questions

What fish are at Seneca River?

Fishing Seneca River usually means Tiger Muskie: Tiger Muskie accounts for 33 of 38 plants on record, ahead of Walleye. Tiger Muskie was last stocked August 2023, averaging 9 in. Walleye was last stocked June 2020, averaging 1.5 in. Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Bluegill, plus 14 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Seneca River stocked?

Not stocked since August 2023. No plants recorded in 2022.

How big are the fish stocked at Seneca River?

Stocked fish average 7.9 in. Tiger Muskie average 9 in. Walleye average 1.5 in.

How do you get on Seneca River?

Shore fishing is available and there is a boat ramp. The nearest town is Lysander. Facilities include dock. Much of the river is channelized as part of the Erie Canal. DEC's Hayes Road launch in Lysander, near the Onondaga Lake outlet, has a hard-surface ramp, a dock and a fishing/viewing platform that DEC lists as wheelchair accessible. Other DEC launches are in Cayuga and Seneca counties.

Which lakes near Seneca River were stocked more recently?

Ninemile Creek (8.2 mi) and Geddes Brook (8.9 mi) were stocked more recently.

Sources (3) +