Thousand Islands fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. Fall is muskie season on the St. Lawrence River. The water is cooling, the fish are feeding heavily, and the big muskie are on the move. October is one of the best months of the year to chase a trophy.
What’s Hitting
This week on the water, muskie are on the fall pattern, feeding heavily as the water cools. Smallmouth bass are feeding on the shoals and the drop-offs. Northern pike are in the weedy bays. Walleye are feeding on the deeper structure. Yellow perch are schooling.
Where to Find Them
For muskie, fish the weed edges, the shoals, and the drop-offs near the islands and the channels of the St. Lawrence River. For smallmouth, the rocky shoals and the drop-offs in 15 to 30 feet. For northern pike, the weedy bays near Clayton and Alexandria Bay. For walleye, the deeper structure in the main river.
Many of the biggest muskie of the year are caught from October into early December on the St. Lawrence, and the trolling crowd is starting to work the deep breaks along the main shipping channel. Casters are doing best on the shallow weed edges near the islands on overcast, windy days. Smallmouth are grouping up on the deeper shoals, and anglers are finding schools of fish in 20 to 35 feet with good electronics.
Tides & Conditions
There are no tides on the St. Lawrence River, but the current is strong and affects the fishing. The wind and the weather also matter. Water temperatures are dropping, which triggers the fall feeding. Check the forecast before heading out.
Tackle & Tactics
For muskie, a large bucktail, a jerkbait, or a large swimbait. Use heavy tackle and a long, heavy leader. For smallmouth, a tube jig or a drop-shot rig. For northern pike, a spinnerbait or a spoon. For walleye, a jig with a minnow or a crankbait.
For trolling muskie, large crankbaits run along the deep breaks at 3 to 4 miles per hour are a productive fall tactic. Use 80- to 100-pound braid and a fluorocarbon or wire leader, and keep a large net and long-nose pliers or jaw spreaders ready so you can release fish quickly.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Clayton area ramps, the Alexandria Bay area ramps, and the Wellesley Island State Park area. Fish are concentrated on the weed edges for muskie and on the shoals for smallmouth. Muskie fishing on the St. Lawrence has a specific season and size limits, and the river borders Canada, so check current New York State DEC and Ontario regulations and seasons before fishing.
This Week’s Tip
Muskie are known as the fish of 10,000 casts. When a muskie follows your lure to the boat, finish every retrieve with a figure-eight motion at boatside. Many muskie are caught on the figure-eight after following the lure all the way in.
More Thousand Islands Resources
All Thousand Islands fishing reports · Seasonal fishing calendars · Submit your own report
Planning a trip to Thousand Islands NY?
This report tells you what happened. ReelAI tells you what to do about it — a briefing for your date, your target species and how you're fishing, built from our reports plus live NOAA and USGS data.
Powered by ReelAI — fishing.digital's intelligence layer. Answers are generated from fishing.digital reports and public NOAA, NWS and USGS data, and may be incomplete or out of date. Regulations and marine safety information are summaries only; always confirm with the responsible authority before you fish.