Looking for advice Finger Lakes region
General Topic
As I ponder retirement next summer Im looking to do some hunt/camp/fish scenarios. Ill be on 2 new knee replacements and looking forward to jump back into a canoe. My attention is centered on the adirondack region finger lakes of central NY.
Im primarily a Traditional Bowhunter but my wife won a Henry Big Boy brass edition and gave it to me for my birthday so it may be used for deer. I understand there arent tons of deer in the area but living off squirrel/grouse/duck or 2 and fish plus some stuff I bring along will make me happy:)
The whole idea is to relax with solitude. I plan on a friend or son or daughter to be with me. I see vids of these kinds of trips with predetermined campsites which doesnt bother me at all. But I was told there are some areas on the edges of this region where random camping (and wood cutting?) is possible.
I dont expect to see many deer but only to relax. What else can be hunted during archery? Small game? Trout are fine but perch, walleye any panfish get me going:) I would expect a brookie from a cold northern lake to be of better tablefare than a stocked pellet fed brownie from Sw Pa. So a NY trout may be quite better eating!
I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions from anyone familiar with a hunt like this!
My in-laws live in Ithaca where they have too many deer. I think Cayuga lake fishes well too?
I have fished the Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks a good bit so I'll give you an overall view. The finger lakes are above average fishing with warm water fish (bass, perch, walleye, bluegill) as well as cold water fish (trout, landlocked salmon). The lakes were made by glaciers and are predictably shallower on the north and south ends. The middle of the lakes are deeper. A canoe would generally not be recommended because of how open the water is. Of course the rivers/streams/canals that feed the lakes would be a good place for a canoe. But there is a fair amount of boating traffic so you'd have to cautious about where you canoed.
The Adirondacks are completely different. Surrounding the Adirondacks are a variety of streams and rivers that range from poor fishing up to maybe average. I once took a flyrod and went deep into the Adirondacks to fish an unnamed stream because I wanted to catch brookies. The stream had a strange orange color and after several hours I hadn't even seen a trout or any other living thing for that matter. The effects of acid rain have made the Adirondacks' streams too acidic for much fish life. There are some streams/rivers that are okay but you'll have to research to find the decent ones.
You left off the Lake Champlain area from your short list. I would suggest giving it a serious look if you're looking for excellent fishing. It is similar to the finger lakes but better because there are fewer people. There are moose in the nearby beaverponds. Abundant trout in the surrounding streams and fantastic fishing overall.
LOL! Dale, The politicians who 'rule' this state mean nothing when it comes to hunting and fishing here, so far. There is plenty of opportunity. The Adirondacks are a huge expanse of territory with tons of great fishing and some pretty decent hunting once you know where to go, but that will take some research. That said, there are quite a few deer and pretty decent bear and turkey hunting along the Chain Lakes area, from the park entrance at Woodhull all the way up through Racquet Lake, along Rt. 28. There are deer all over the place around Old Forge (and right in it actually!). Once you get north of there it gets pretty remote for deer hunting although the fishing in Tupper Lake and Long Lake can be good, esp. Big Tupper. There is way more public land to access and a lot of campgrounds to choose from. Seventh and Eighth Lake north of Inlet is a pretty good camping and fishing. There are plenty of deer and turkeys there, and bear around Inlet. Limekiln Lake is also good camping, and there is remote camping all through the Moose River Plains. Nicks lake right near Old Forge is great camping and fishing, with bear and deer common there. If I were coming for a first time, I'd stay in this general region, and talk to locals. There is a visitor center in Inlet, and a gentleman named Mitch who will help you out with wildlife and fishing guidance at the visitor center there. Mitch is a great resource - consider talking to him about hunting and fishing ops. He is right on the north end of 4th Lake across from stores and shops in Inlet. He has tons of information in pamphlet form at the visitor center there that tells you all about trails, fishing, hunting, camping, etc. I'd personally recommend the 'dacks for an all-around better experience than the Finger lakes. As for the Finger Lakes, its beautiful, but a lot of that area is private, and mostly posted. There are some campgrounds, particularly Samson State Park on Seneca Lake, the old Seneca Depot. You can bow hunt deer there and they are plenty of deer, but it does get hunted some. You can find spots to hunt there though. A nice side attraction is the white deer inside the enclosure along the highway to Samson Park. You could probably pick up a camp brochures online. If you like wine, the Finger Lakes is the place to go. If you want to fish, you would be mostly in big water in a decent sized boat, and it gets windy a lot. Probably trolling for lake trout, or casting for smallies along riprap. I'd go with the Adirondacks if it were me. And don't worry about AOC and ChuckUSchumer, they haven't impacted the outdoor sports opps. yet.
Before I retired I came to the finger lakes on business, often. Beautiful country. However, with NY politics, taxes, and the weather there, there is absolutely no way I’d live there.
"...with NY politics," agree, but this coming from a CO res? How do the politics differ? The taxes suck here. But the weather isn't that bad. I happen to like cool weather though. Its too hot and muggy I the summer, too many bugs. Give me Sept - May all year. Dala Hajas, If you go to the Adirondacks, you may get to see moose up around the Inlet to Tupper Lake area, in between. NY has over 700 now. That Mitch guy can tell you where they are being seen now. If finger Lakes, Keuka Lake and Hemlock lake areas are great deer hunting - big bucks. Livingston County. The western Fingers...
Wow Thanks to all! MY wife and I are taking a week long trip in July to check out this area. Of course we start with her ambitions which include 1 might Niagara Falls and the Seneca Casino, then work towards Salamanca and the Seneca Casino, lol then upwards to wherever our SUV takes us! Actually Long Lake is a lake on which several YouTube videos were filmed and this place really called for me! I'm kind of curious to head towards Lake Placid. We always take camping gear along so we generally wing it during these week long excursions:) I cant wait to go! Thanks again!
You have to go through Long Lake to get to Lake Placid. Lots of lakes along the way, and towns. Blue Mt. Lake has a nice museum, Adirondack Museum (logging etc., Adir. guides of old days, old resorts), (other than that there is nothing in Blue Mt. Lake really) and Tupper lake has the Wild Center. Worth a stop for sure. If you want a great casino, the Oneida Nation's Turning stone Resort is better than Seneca and has great food, some shops and bars, and big variety of gambling options. It is actually on the way to Rt. 28 and Old Forge if you are coming from the west. It is just off Thruway exit 33, Verona. Exit 32 Westmoreland to the east will take you to Rt. 28 through Rome (Floyd). Lake Placid is commercial but a great place to take your wife. Trust me. The Hampton Inn there is a great option. Saranac Lake is a great stopover too, just prior to Lake Placid. One week will NOT be enough time to take all this in.. ;)
Ive hunted south of Kueka for 25 yrs in Steuben county. Its fantastic. Biggest bucks from NY come from Steuben
I hunted with an outfitter and could see Keuka Lake from my stand. That area is loaded with deer.
Well we are looking more at the Lake Placid area. We are going in July northeast to LP for the first night or 2 then west to Niagara then finally down to Salamanca and Childs Blueberry Farm:) We may hop on to this Amish Trail along our way. I'll try to meet this Mitch feller trapper, Thanks!
I'd like to ask.... Pat and others...... Where would YOU go for a simple canoe in stay a week or so, do some fishing and hunting? Would Vermont or even Maine or dare I say Canada be a target?
My son was a competitive freestyle skier and spent 4 summers training at the Olympic ski jump center (jumping off the big ramps and flipping into a big swimming pool) so I spent a lot of time in Lake Placid. Definitely try to get to the jump center (on left coming into town, can’t miss it) and see the exhibition, it’s pretty impressive. Overall, it's a really pretty area, and it was a great place to spend time with my family, but I found it way too crowded with tourists for my liking. I did my share of fishing and hiking and getting off the beaten path but I never could find the peace and quiet up there that I was hoping for. And I never found any decent fishing, but I was only fly fishing, and was only there in summer (off-peak).
