Updated: Thursday, October 22, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, October 29, 2026
This Thousand Islands fishing report covers late October, peak season for musky on the St. Lawrence, with big fish feeding ahead of winter. Musky are the lead target, feeding aggressively on the shoals and weed edges. Smallmouth bass are on deep rocky shoals, northern pike are in the bays, walleye are active after dark, and perch are schooled in mid-depths. The main conditions to plan around are wind and water level: calm days are best for casting, and a falling barometer can turn fish on.
What’s Hitting
Musky are feeding aggressively on the shoals and weed edges, and smallmouth bass are on deep rocky shoals. Northern pike are in the bays.
Walleye are active after dark, and perch are schooled in mid-depths. Expect musky action to stay strong until water temperatures drop further, and big fish can show up any day.
Where to Find Them
Work the shoals and drop-offs near Clayton, Alexandria Bay and Cape Vincent for musky. These edges gather baitfish and let large predators move between deep water and feeding areas.
Drop-shot the deeper rocks for smallmouth and fish the weed edges for pike, which use the cover to ambush perch and other baitfish.
Tides & Conditions
The St. Lawrence has current, and wind and water level shape fishing more than tide. Calm days are best for casting, and a falling barometer can turn fish on. Current positions fish on the downstream side of shoals and points, so read the flow when choosing where to cast. Check a current marine forecast. Fall weather changes fast on the river, so watch for the calm windows between fronts and be ready to go when the barometer starts to fall.
Tackle & Tactics
- Musky: large jerkbaits, bucktails and swimbaits on a sturdy rod with a heavy leader.
- Smallmouth: drop-shot rigs.
- Walleye: minnows or jigs.
Always do a figure-8 at the boat, because many musky strike there. A musky that follows a lure to the boat often commits when the bait suddenly changes direction, so keeping the lure moving in a wide figure-8 beside the boat gives it one more chance.
Local Intel This Week
Launch at Clayton, Alexandria Bay or Cape Vincent for quick runs to the nearby shoals. The site’s guide also lists Cedar Point State Park, Keewaydin State Park and Tibbetts Point as access points along the river. Handle musky carefully if releasing. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Bring a big net and long-nose pliers. Musky need careful handling. A large net keeps a big fish in the water while hooks come out, and long pliers keep hands away from teeth and treble hooks, which shortens the time a fish spends out of the water. Have the tools within reach before the first cast so nothing slows the release.
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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.
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