About Black River Bay, NY

Black River Bay is a 1-mile wide water body formed from the flowing 125-mile Black River starting in the Adirondack Mountains. It is located in Jefferson County, New York State. It extends northeast for about 5.5 miles and has an elevation of 246 feet. The bay is about 2.1 miles from Sackets Harbor, situated west of Dexter Marsh and east of Pillar Point. The Black River Bay is also part of the Golden Crescent, along with Henderson and Chaumont bays.

The bay and its nearby water bodies are also a popular area for recreational activities, especially swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. There are also campground services offered on the banks of the bay that also provide rental services for boats. You may also experience their whitewater rafting adventures within the bay and river itself for fishing. Rafting and kayaking are most especially popular in the Black River Canyon that starts from Watertown and stops at Brownville. The bay is also considered a significant conservation area for waterfowl and doubles as their wintering area.

All About Fishing in Black River Bay, NY

Black River Bay is one of the recipients of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s annual fish stocking. The bay has been stocked with 50,000 chinook salmon and 10,000 rainbow trout last May 2021. This is part of their initiative to enhance the local fisheries up in the North Country. The bay is also considered as one of the best starting hot spots during walleye season, as anglers have reportedly caught walleye species that weigh more than 10 pounds or even more here. Note that the bay has a prime fishing section along the 8.5 mile stretch from the county line going to Lyons Falls. Other abundant species found in the area are northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, bullhead, channel catfish, and carp. The bay is where the NY state record burbot was caught. The fish weighed 16 lb. 12 oz. and was caught by Terrance Colwell in 1991.

The bay is accessible via public boat launches and guide services within the vicinity. Popular fishing techniques used here are spinning, trolling, baitcasting, jigging, and fly fishing in the river part of the bay. Ice fishing is also used, especially when on the search for walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch. Try trolling, baitcasting, or jigging techniques on smaller points in the bay. You may also try them over structures that project from the shoreline. The Everleigh and Pillar Points between the Black River Bay and Chaumont Bay are good alternative spots for slower days. 

Fishing Seasonality

There is generally poor access to fish in the bay at night, so the best times to fish in the Black River Bay and its nearby water bodies would be in the morning at around 2 AM to 4 AM and 10 AM. You may also try fishing between 4 PM to 7 PM. The best days to fish for walleye would be on weekdays, Monday to Friday, especially in the month of May. The weekdays are when there are fewer anglers, and when there are fewer anglers there is less pressure. Less pressure means more chances of catching walleye. Salmon season opens around April and ends in October. Bass are abundant during mid-June to late November. On the other hand, the perch season runs throughout the year.

The conditions in the bay are inconsistent, so it is best to keep the weather in check before going into the water. Note that Bluebird season can also be an indicator of good fishing days, but the fish tend to shy away from overcast conditions so it would be best to avoid fishing here when the weather is harsh.

Fishing Seasonality

There is generally poor access to fish in the bay at night, so the best times to fish in the Black River Bay and its nearby water bodies would be in the morning at around 2 AM to 4 AM and 10 AM. You may also try fishing between 4 PM to 7 PM. The best days to fish for walleye would be on weekdays, Monday to Friday, especially in the month of May. The weekdays are when there are fewer anglers, and when there are fewer anglers there is less pressure. Less pressure means more chances of catching walleye. Salmon season opens around April and ends in October. Bass are abundant during mid-June to late November. On the other hand, the perch season runs throughout the year.

The conditions in the bay are inconsistent, so it is best to keep the weather in check before going into the water. Note that Bluebird season can also be an indicator of good fishing days, but the fish tend to shy away from overcast conditions so it would be best to avoid fishing here when the weather is harsh.

All About Fishing in Black River Bay, NY

Black River Bay is one of the recipients of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s annual fish stocking. The bay has been stocked with 50,000 chinook salmon and 10,000 rainbow trout last May 2021. This is part of their initiative to enhance the local fisheries up in the North Country. The bay is also considered as one of the best starting hot spots during walleye season, as anglers have reportedly caught walleye species that weigh more than 10 pounds or even more here. Note that the bay has a prime fishing section along the 8.5 mile stretch from the county line going to Lyons Falls. Other abundant species found in the area are northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, bullhead, channel catfish, and carp. The bay is where the NY state record burbot was caught. The fish weighed 16 lb. 12 oz. and was caught by Terrance Colwell in 1991.

The bay is accessible via public boat launches and guide services within the vicinity. Popular fishing techniques used here are spinning, trolling, baitcasting, jigging, and fly fishing in the river part of the bay. Ice fishing is also used, especially when on the search for walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch. Try trolling, baitcasting, or jigging techniques on smaller points in the bay. You may also try them over structures that project from the shoreline. The Everleigh and Pillar Points between the Black River Bay and Chaumont Bay are good alternative spots for slower days.