South Sandy Creek is a River located in Jefferson County, NY. Starting in Lorraine, NY the South Sandy Creek flows 33 miles through Pierrepont Manor, NY before ending in Ellisburg, NY. The South Sandy Creek rises to an elevation of 246 feet and has a surface area of 200,812 square miles. Find maps, fishing guides, weather and recreation information at Guidesly.

About South Sandy Creek, NY

South Sandy Creek is a 50-feet wide medium-sized, annually stocked, freestone tributary situated in the counties of Jefferson and Lewis. It runs from its source in the region of Tug Hill through the village of Ellisburg in Upstate New York before reaching its mouth at Lake Ontario near the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area. It is part of the Great Lakes Tributaries and forms part of Sandy Creek in Oswego County along with North Sandy Creek and Little Sandy Creek. The creek shares a watershed with the famous Salmon River and that watershed contains over 6800 acres of wetlands.

The Big Battle of Sandy was fought along the banks of the lower part of South Sandy Creek during the War of 1812. A memorial to the Americans who fought and died in that battle was established at a public parking lot on New York State Route 3. The lower end of the stream has a bottom lined with mud and rock and caters to deep, slow-flowing water. The creek also has a limestone bottom with shallow holes and several runs and riffles from the Ellisburg bridge to the impassable waterfalls. 

All About Fishing in South Sandy Creek, NY

South Sandy Creek is annually stocked by the New York State Department of Conservation with salmon and trout, making it popular among anglers who prefer to avoid the more likely crowded Salmon River. The creek every year is mainly stocked with hundreds of thousands of Chinook salmon and tens of thousands of rainbow trout (steelhead). One can also catch similar species such as lake and brown trout and Coho salmon due to its proximity to its fellow namesake creeks. It is considered the most productive stream compared to the connecting Little Sandy Creek and North Sandy Creek of the whole of Sandy Creek by most anglers as it’s the largest.

Fly fishing is the most effective method for anglers to implement at South Sandy Creek. It offers special regulation fishing from September through March. Fishing at this creek is dependent on water levels following rain as fish only enter when there are periods of high levels of water. Because of this, the creek is most fit for wading and inshore fishing. The stream can be accessed from South Landing Road and roads leading off Route 193 where they provide the entrance to the most ideal places to fish. Additional access is also available through the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area. Anglers are encouraged to check the New York Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide. 

Fishing Seasonality

South Sandy Creek is popular over its seasonal runs of salmon and trout. Chinook salmon are mostly seen from September until November while steelhead or rainbow trout occur in the creek in November and stay until their spawning season finishes in April. During the summer, there are some runs of salmon and brown trout. October is the best season to fish for both species and their variations. Winter months may find the creeks too shallow but anglers can still have a productive catch given if water levels are acceptable. Make sure to check the weather forecast as well as stream and current flow conditions before venturing out.

Fishing Seasonality

South Sandy Creek is popular over its seasonal runs of salmon and trout. Chinook salmon are mostly seen from September until November while steelhead or rainbow trout occur in the creek in November and stay until their spawning season finishes in April. During the summer, there are some runs of salmon and brown trout. October is the best season to fish for both species and their variations. Winter months may find the creeks too shallow but anglers can still have a productive catch given if water levels are acceptable. Make sure to check the weather forecast as well as stream and current flow conditions before venturing out.

All About Fishing in South Sandy Creek, NY

South Sandy Creek is annually stocked by the New York State Department of Conservation with salmon and trout, making it popular among anglers who prefer to avoid the more likely crowded Salmon River. The creek every year is mainly stocked with hundreds of thousands of Chinook salmon and tens of thousands of rainbow trout (steelhead). One can also catch similar species such as lake and brown trout and Coho salmon due to its proximity to its fellow namesake creeks. It is considered the most productive stream compared to the connecting Little Sandy Creek and North Sandy Creek of the whole of Sandy Creek by most anglers as it’s the largest.

Fly fishing is the most effective method for anglers to implement at South Sandy Creek. It offers special regulation fishing from September through March. Fishing at this creek is dependent on water levels following rain as fish only enter when there are periods of high levels of water. Because of this, the creek is most fit for wading and inshore fishing. The stream can be accessed from South Landing Road and roads leading off Route 193 where they provide the entrance to the most ideal places to fish. Additional access is also available through the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area. Anglers are encouraged to check the New York Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide.