7/9/2026 Tioga County Fishing Report- Hammond Lake, Tioga Lake, Cowanesque Lake, Pine Creek and More

Tioga and Hammond Lake Fishing Report-
Water temps are in the  high 70's to mid 80's with much dirtier conditions (due to heavy rains earlier this week) in the upper end, clearing as you go down the lake.  Bass fishing has been good in the shallows.   Senkos, Yum Dingers, Fuzzy Senkos, Rage Craws and  various jigs were all popular.  Blue Craw, Junebug, black/blue, and green pumpkin orange have all been popular colors.

Tuesday night bass league fished here this week with many 1-2 lb fish weighed, and 1 giant 6lb 11oz largemouth.

Some anglers are catching carp and catfish too.  Corn, hellgrammite patterns, and worm patterns are working for carp.  Nightcrawlers and chicken livers are working for catfish.

Hammond Lake is officially under Panfish Enhancement Regulations.  Anglers may harvest 20 crappies measuring at least 9".   This only affects Hammond Lake.  

Cowanesque Lake Fishing Report

Water temps are in the low to mid 80's with very dirty conditions on the west end, clearing down the lake.  Flooding upstream has some floating debris too.  Bass fishing reports have been slow most of the week.  Anglers that did best fished the clearer water in the east end.  Crappies are also being caught around the timber.  Bluegills have been cooperative in the coves and near the camping areas.

Hills Creek Lake Fishing Report

Bass fishing has been steady here with topwater frogs and buzzbaits continually producing.  Fishing the weed and lily pad edges with senkos, jigs, and neko rigged plastics is also yielding fish.  

A few anglers noted good catches of perch and bluegills drifting nightcrawlers on the bottom.

Hamilton Lake Fishing Report

Bluegills, pumpkinseeds, bass, and some bullheads are being caught.  The dam end has fished best from shore.  

Beechwood Lake Fishing Report

Bass, crappies, and perch are all being caught.  Small swimbaits worked well for crappies.  Areas with weeds and lily pads are holding bass and topwater frogs are working well.

Nessmuk Lake Fishing Report

Weedbeds are quite thick and access from shore is getting more limited.  Areas around the dock and along the dam are both fishable, while other areas are tough to fish with thick weed growth.  Mealworms and nightcrawlers are working for bluegills and sunfish.  Anglers reported a good topwater bass bite too.

Pine Creek Fishing Report

Heavy rains early in the week brought Pine up and muddied it, but levels are back down and Pine is low and very warm.  Trout are packing into the feeder creeks and it's not a good time to target them.  High temps are extremely stressful on the trout.  If you plan to catch and release, consider smallmouth bass fishing instead.  Ned rigs, rebel craws, and small swimbaits are all effective, or try live fatheads and shiners.

Catch our latest fly fishing and hatch report- Pine Creek Fly Fishing & Hatch Report 

Tioga River Fishing Report

Both the Tioga and Cowanesque Rivers are off color, with a chalky hue from flooding early in the week.  Few reports these past few days, but water clarity is improving and it should be a good weeekend!