These small sweetwater seas are home to brown and rainbow trout, which migrate spring and fall into the tributaries to feed and spawn. Landlocked salmon also figure into the equation, chasing smelt and alewives up the creeks in spring, and then spawning when the November rains swell and chill the tributaries.

The Finger Lakes region is blessed with blue-ribbon streams like the Cohocton and Genesee rivers, plus a handful of freestone creeks open to year-round fishing.

Some of the lakes are also year-round fisheries, but during the summer the coldwater species might be hundreds of feet down. Seneca Lake, for instance, was deep enough to provide a site for submarine training during World War II. A few hardy souls prowl the points and drop-offs all winter in search of trout and salmon cruising the shallows. In winter, sinking-tips and streamers can take browns, rainbows, salmon, northern pike, and some impressive lake trout. But the spring and fall runs produce the best big-fish action when the spawning and inshore feeding sprees are underway. Most of the trout and salmon are 3 to 5 pounds, but every year some 7- to 10-pound fish are taken.

Fall Fishing
During the summer lull, trout and salmon retreat to the icy depths of the lakes, but the fly fishing improves in autumn. If the summer is wet and cool, fish return to the tributaries as early as September, but the good fishing typically starts later, in mid or late October. The real beginning of the fall run is ultimately determined by rainfall.

As the rivers swell, larger male landlocks arrive first to claim their territories. Tempt these holding fish with a Blue Charm, Undertaker, Silver Rat, or Green Highlander, and they will strike eventually--but it can take many drifts. Get the fly in the fish's face and keep it there for as long as possible. Learn to be persistent and you'll be successful.

On top of traditional salmon flies, Thunder Creek Minnows, Zonkers, Matuka-style streamers, and Lefty's Deceivers also work. Landlocks love bright colors, but golden-olive rabbit fur leeches or Zonkers are effective for taking early runners.

I never paid much attention to fly color until I discovered three holding fish that couldn't be convinced. They'd move a little for a black or brown leech, then retreat. For experimentation's sake, I tied on a Zonker with a golden-olive wing and had an immediate hook-up. I had just released the fish when Eric Seidler, a superb angler who died far too young, stopped by to say hello.

Eric was skeptical when I told him only olive seemed to work, so I invited him to try a cast. After tossing some hot-orange and chartreuse Comets and a few bucktails, he tried the golden-olive leech and hooked a fish on the first pass. We both felt there was more than coincidence at work.