Landlocked Salmon

These fish were reportedly once native to Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. They grow quickly in the Finger Lakes and are considered one of the top freshwater gamefish in the world. They typically run from 15” to 22” with fish occasionally reaching 26” or more. They are surface oriented which makes them a terrific fish to chase on the fly. There is no known natural reproduction of these fish in Seneca or Cayuga Lakes, thus keeping an occasional salmon for the table does no harm to the fishery. Streamers tied on #2 to #4 hooks work great, and baitfish colors are usually the best.   Fishing Landlockeds from November through early May is my personal favorite angling opportunity in the region - especially fly-fishing!

Cayuga Lake is generally the #1 lake for Landlocked Salmon in the region and oftentimes in the STATE!    The salmon fishing during the winter of 2008/2009 on Cayuga Lake was excellent!    NYS changed the stocking sites used for these fish and it appears to have paid off.   I expect 2010 to offer more excellent salmon fishing. When the smelt population does well, the salmon seem to do well.  Cayuga's smelt have rebounded a bit and so have the salmon.   Cayuga is capable of producing 8lb. landlockeds!

Seneca Lake offered some hot salmon fishing in the early 2000s.   The salmon on my homepage were Seneca fish taken in 2002 or 2003 near the lake's south end.   I didn't target salmon much at all in Seneca Lake this past year, since Cayuga was so good.

Skaneateles Lake also offers good salmon fishing year after year.   They average around 17" to 19" over there.  Any fish over 24" is a real trophy on Skaneateles!

This fish was the nicest looking Landlocked Salmon I've ever caught.  I landed it while fly-fishing during December 2008 on Cayuga Lake.   It was 26" long and we released the fish.