Saint Lawrence River is a River located in Franklin County, NY. Starting in Cape Vincent, NY the Saint Lawrence River flows 1096 miles through Clayton Lake, ME before ending in Van Buren, ME. Find maps, fishing guides, weather and recreation information at Guidesly.

All About The Saint Lawrence River, NY

The Saint Lawrence River is a large river located in east-central America. It is the second-longest river in Canada, as the river runs for 700 miles and can be divided into three sections with the upstream region containing the Great Lakes. While moving further east, you’ll find the center section of the river ranging from Lake Ontario to Île d’Orléans. Finally, when the river reaches Cabot Strait, the water system widens up and proceeds to empty out into the Atlantic Ocean.

The length of the river makes it so that it receives water from a lot of different water bodies. These sources include Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, Lake St. Claire, and Lake Huron as well as rivers like Niagra, Saint Louis, and Saint Mary. The river also occupies three great geologic locations in North America; the Canadian Shield, Appalachian Mountains, and sedimentary rock platforms. 

The first explorers who discovered the river during the 11th century were the Norse. Fast forward to the 16th century and European explorers led by Jacques Cartier arrived at the then gulf on Saint Lawrence’s feast day, which is why they named it after the saint. From the 16th to the 17th century, the river was an important area for whalers as well as the indigenous tribe who traded with the European whalers.

All About Fishing In The Saint Lawrence River, NY

An average width of 2 miles and a depth of 200 feet makes the Saint Lawrence river the largest east-west river in North America. It can also run varyingly from narrow waters to wide and even lake-like bodies. The length of the river also makes for a diverse marine ecosystem for both beginner and experienced anglers. 

Popular game fish like largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are plentiful. Catch largemouth bass in abundance when you visit Wellesley Island. Smallmouth bass are even easier to catch as you can find them in different islands, off-points, and bays located in the river. For bass fishing, it’s important to bring  6 or 8-weight rods as well as a 6 to 10 pound test line as both bass put up a fight. Using live bait like minnows and worms do the trick but artificial ones like crank and jerkbaits will do just fine. But for largemouth bass specifically using more colorful flies in the murkier areas where the fish are usually found will catch their attention.

You could also find fish like the northern pike, walleye, and bullhead but the real challenge for those that visit the river is the muskellunge. For muskie fishing, it’s important to know that using hooks with barbs isn’t recommended as the muskie’s needle-like teeth make them hard to remove. When drifting, get a lure that’s as big as possible to trick the muskellunge into thinking it has a large prey. Trolling using a crankbait is also a good alternative.  Finally, as muskellunge are heavy, make sure to bring a strong line. 

Fishing Seasonality in the Saint Lawrence River, NY

Whether summer or winter, the great thing about fishing in Saint Lawrence is that you’ll always find the perfect catch. Northern pike are available all year round but will generally be found in cooler waters. This is also the case for the walleye who tend to spend the daylight hours in deep holes while moving to shallower waters when it’s cooler. The smallmouth bass can be found in abundance all year long but they’re usually found in clearer and cooler parts of the river, especially from June to August. 

Opposite them are the largemouth bass, who like warm and shallow waters. As well as the bullhead, which can be found in muddy and shallow parts of the river throughout the year. Muskellunge as well, are fish that sunbathe in shallow waters. They’re usually more active during late to midsummer as well as in autumn but will hide during the colder months.

Fishing Seasonality in the Saint Lawrence River, NY

Whether summer or winter, the great thing about fishing in Saint Lawrence is that you’ll always find the perfect catch. Northern pike are available all year round but will generally be found in cooler waters. This is also the case for the walleye who tend to spend the daylight hours in deep holes while moving to shallower waters when it’s cooler. The smallmouth bass can be found in abundance all year long but they’re usually found in clearer and cooler parts of the river, especially from June to August. 

Opposite them are the largemouth bass, who like warm and shallow waters. As well as the bullhead, which can be found in muddy and shallow parts of the river throughout the year. Muskellunge as well, are fish that sunbathe in shallow waters. They’re usually more active during late to midsummer as well as in autumn but will hide during the colder months.

All About Fishing In The Saint Lawrence River, NY

An average width of 2 miles and a depth of 200 feet makes the Saint Lawrence river the largest east-west river in North America. It can also run varyingly from narrow waters to wide and even lake-like bodies. The length of the river also makes for a diverse marine ecosystem for both beginner and experienced anglers. 

Popular game fish like largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are plentiful. Catch largemouth bass in abundance when you visit Wellesley Island. Smallmouth bass are even easier to catch as you can find them in different islands, off-points, and bays located in the river. For bass fishing, it’s important to bring  6 or 8-weight rods as well as a 6 to 10 pound test line as both bass put up a fight. Using live bait like minnows and worms do the trick but artificial ones like crank and jerkbaits will do just fine. But for largemouth bass specifically using more colorful flies in the murkier areas where the fish are usually found will catch their attention.

You could also find fish like the northern pike, walleye, and bullhead but the real challenge for those that visit the river is the muskellunge. For muskie fishing, it’s important to know that using hooks with barbs isn’t recommended as the muskie’s needle-like teeth make them hard to remove. When drifting, get a lure that’s as big as possible to trick the muskellunge into thinking it has a large prey. Trolling using a crankbait is also a good alternative.  Finally, as muskellunge are heavy, make sure to bring a strong line.