Thousand Islands fishing report for the week of September 24, 2026. The St. Lawrence River is one of the best fall fisheries in North America, and this is the start of prime time. The water is cooling, the fish are feeding, and the muskie hunters are on the water.
What’s Hitting
What’s hot this week is muskie. Fall is the best time to catch a big one on the St. Lawrence, and anglers are putting in the hours. Smallmouth bass are stacked on deep structure, and northern pike are feeding along the weed edges. Walleye and yellow perch are also active.
Where to Find Them
Muskie are on the shoals, weed edges, and drop-offs throughout the Thousand Islands. Smallmouth are on the deep rock piles and shoals in 20 to 40 feet of water. Pike are along the weed edges in the bays. Walleye are on the deeper structure.
Tides & Conditions
There are no tides on the St. Lawrence, but the current is an important factor. The water temperature is in the low 60s and falling, which is triggering the fall feeding frenzy. Windy days can be good for muskie, but also make for challenging conditions on the big water.
Tackle & Tactics
For muskie, troll large crankbaits or cast bucktails, jerkbaits, and swimbaits. Always do a figure-8 at the boat. For smallmouth, a drop-shot rig, a tube jig, or a jigging spoon fished on the deep structure is effective. For pike, cast spinnerbaits, spoons, or swimbaits along the weed edges. Use a heavy leader for muskie and pike.
Plan on long days for muskie and short bursts of action. Most fish this time of year come in the last hour of light or when a front pushes through, so stay on your best spots when the weather changes rather than running around. For smallmouth, a slow-drifting drop-shot with a goby-colored bait is the most consistent producer on the deep shoals, and anglers are reporting quality fish over four pounds.
Local Intel This Week
Clayton and Alexandria Bay are the main towns in the area, and both have public boat launches and many fishing guides. There are also many public access points along the river. Fish are concentrating on the shoals and weed edges. The St. Lawrence is a border water, so check current New York DEC and, if you cross into Canadian waters, Ontario regulations, licenses, and seasons before you fish.
This Week’s Tip
Muskie are known for following lures to the boat without striking. Always finish every cast with a figure-8 at the side of the boat. It’s often the thing that triggers a strike.
More Thousand Islands NY Resources
All Thousand Islands NY 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.