Skaneateles Creek fishing

Fishing at Skaneateles Creek is on a river section, stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. It is stocked about 3 times a year since 2011, most often in March and April. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout.

Last stocked

April 1, 2025

Plants on record

45

Since 2011

Species recorded

2

Average size

8.6 in

Elevation

374 ft

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Jordan
Shore access
Yes

This coldwater creek runs 14 miles from Skaneateles Lake to the Seneca River. A 10.2-mile no-kill, artificial-lures-only section runs from north of Skaneateles village to Jordan, with access via road right-of-ways and Erie Canal Park in Jordan.

Sources: water_type , access , shore_notes , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How Skaneateles Creek is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of March. In 2025 it was March 1, 2025, about when it usually is.

Fish at Skaneateles Creek

Fishing Skaneateles Creek is most likely to be for Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout accounts for 44 of 45 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout.

Rainbow Trout 44 plants
Plants
44 of 45
Last stocked
April 1, 2025
Average length
8.6 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Rainbow Trout guide.

Brown Trout 1 plant
Plants
1 of 45
Last stocked
March 1, 2012
Average length
9 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Fishing Skaneateles Creek

Skaneateles Creek is a brush and tree lined cold water stream that flows north for 14 miles, receiving exceptionally cold and clean water from Skaneateles Lake. A 10.2-mile stretch of this stream, from just North of the Village of Skaneateles to the Village of Jordan, has a special no-kill artificial lures only regulation. Each spring, Onondaga County Parks Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery stocks nearly 2,000 rainbow trout. Good bank cover and cool water temperatures foster a good holdover of stocked rainbow trout and a wild brown trout population.

Sources: fishonondagacounty.com

What to watch for

The creek is a brush and tree lined cold water stream.

Fish stocked per year

  • 1,9502011
  • 2,9502012
  • 2,3502013
  • 13,2002014
  • 9,2002015
  • 2,1502016
  • 2,1502017
  • 4,1502018
  • 9,3502019
  • 2,0502020
  • 2,6002021
  • 5,2002022
  • 5,4002023
  • 5,1002024
  • 1,6002025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 45 plants Showing 45 plants

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 1, 2025 Rainbow Trout 800 9.9 in report
March 1, 2025 Rainbow Trout 800 9.2 in report
April 1, 2024 Rainbow Trout 4,200 4.4 in report
March 1, 2024 Rainbow Trout 900 10 in report
April 1, 2023 Rainbow Trout 800 10 in report
March 1, 2023 Rainbow Trout 3,400 4.6 in report
March 1, 2023 Rainbow Trout 1,200 9.8 in report
May 1, 2022 Rainbow Trout 3,200 4 in report
April 1, 2022 Rainbow Trout 1,200 9.5 in report
March 1, 2022 Rainbow Trout 800 9.5 in report
April 1, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,000 9.7 in report
March 1, 2021 Rainbow Trout 1,600 9.5 in report
April 1, 2020 Rainbow Trout 750 9.1 in report
March 1, 2020 Rainbow Trout 1,300 8.9 in report
May 1, 2019 Rainbow Trout 8,000 5.2 in report
April 1, 2019 Rainbow Trout 600 9.6 in report
March 1, 2019 Rainbow Trout 750 9.6 in report
May 1, 2018 Rainbow Trout 2,800 5 in report
April 1, 2018 Rainbow Trout 600 7.3 in report
March 1, 2018 Rainbow Trout 750 7.3 in report
May 1, 2017 Rainbow Trout 850 9.6 in report
April 1, 2017 Rainbow Trout 650 9.1 in report
March 1, 2017 Rainbow Trout 650 10.2 in report
May 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 900 9 in report
April 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 600 9 in report
March 1, 2016 Rainbow Trout 650 9 in report
May 1, 2015 Rainbow Trout 1,100 10.4 in report
May 1, 2015 Rainbow Trout 7,000 5 in report
April 1, 2015 Rainbow Trout 550 10.4 in report
March 1, 2015 Rainbow Trout 550 10.4 in report
May 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 600 9.3 in report
May 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 600 9.3 in report
May 1, 2014 Rainbow Trout 12,000 2.5 in report
May 1, 2013 Rainbow Trout 1,000 10 in report
April 1, 2013 Rainbow Trout 100 11.7 in report
April 1, 2013 Rainbow Trout 300 9 in report
April 1, 2013 Rainbow Trout 400 8.2 in report
March 1, 2013 Rainbow Trout 550 9 in report
May 1, 2012 Rainbow Trout 1,300 9.4 in report
May 1, 2012 Rainbow Trout 600 9.1 in report
April 1, 2012 Rainbow Trout 500 9 in report
March 1, 2012 Brown Trout 550 9 in report
May 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 1,000 10 in report
April 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 400 8.5 in report
March 1, 2011 Rainbow Trout 550 9 in report
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Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

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