January 2026 — Thousand Islands NY: Mid-Winter Ice, Trophy Perch and Pike. January is a mid-winter month with water in the 32-38°F range — ice fishing on protected bays — perch, walleye, pike, whitefish. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — January 2026
Primary targets this month: Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Walleye.
Yellow Perch
Yellow perch on the protected bays and weed edges, the inshore Lake Ontario — schools provide excellent ice fishing. Small jigs (1/16-1/8 oz) tipped with emerald shiners or minnows. Schools stack on hard bottom; once you find them, you can fill a cooler.
Northern Pike
Northern pike on the back bays and weed beds of the river system, the protected coves around the islands, and the marsh areas. Large spinnerbaits, spoons, and jerkbaits in shallow water; live dead-bait (smelt, suckers) under tip-ups through the ice. Wire leader essential.
Lake Trout
Lake trout on the deep eastern Lake Ontario basin and the deeper holes of the upper St. Lawrence — trolling at 80-200 feet. Trolled spoons or cowbell rigs deep (80-180 ft on downriggers); jigging white tube jigs over deep structure; ice fishing with jigging Rapalas and big spoons.
Walleye
Walleye through the ice at the deeper channels of the St. Lawrence, the eastern Lake Ontario basin, and the shoals at night — trophy walleye fishery. Jigging spoons (Buckshot, PK Flutterfish), tip-ups with minnows on quick-strike rigs. Dawn and dusk peak windows.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 32-38°F. Ice fishing on protected bays — perch, walleye, pike, whitefish. The Thousand Islands is a riverine system — no tides. Strong current in the St. Lawrence channel concentrates fish at current breaks, points, and shoals. Spring through fall is the prime open-water window. Ice fishing on the protected bays is a major winter component. Musky season opens late June (verify NY DEC dates).
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Ice fishing. Yellow perch, walleye, pike, whitefish on protected bays. Always verify ice safety.
January Outlook
Cold-water patterns will continue through February, then transition begins late month into early March.
Regulations Reminder
Walleye: 15″ minimum, 5-6 per day depending on lake/state. Lake Trout: Slot and bag limits vary by lake and state. Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Bonnie Castle Marina (Alexandria Bay), Clayton Boat Rental and Tackle, Cape Vincent Marina, Thousand Islands Bait & Tackle (Clayton), Schermerhorn Harbor.
Public Boat Ramps: Alexandria Bay public ramp, Clayton public boat launch, Cape Vincent town ramp, Henderson Harbor (Lake Ontario), Sackets Harbor, Kring Point State Park.
Charter Fishing: $500–$800 muskie charter (Thousand Islands specialty); $350–$550 bass/walleye; $400–$700 salmon trolling Lake Ontario; $250–$400 half-day.
More Thousand Islands NY Resources
Thousand Islands NY Fishing Guide · Thousand Islands NY Seasonal Calendar · All Thousand Islands NY reports →
Reports updated every Thursday on fishing.digital.