9/10/2026 Tioga County Fishing Report- Hammond Lake, Tioga Lake, Cowanesque Lake, Pine Creek and More

Tackle Shack Quick Take-
It was a busy holiday weekend and anglers had varying degrees of success to start out September.  Target weed beds and weed edges on any of the lakes to find bass and panfish. Trout fishing is picking back up on the streams with cooler weather settling in.  Nighttime lows in the high 40's to mid 50's has made for very foggy mornings too lately.

Tioga and Hammond Lake Fishing Report-

Anglers are finding both crappies and bass up shallow around weed beds.  Targetting areas between 2 and 8 feet were best in the no wake zone and along the 287 shoreline.  Trolling continues to work well for offshore schools of crappies too.  Some of the larger fish are chasing shad in open water.  Look for schooling baitfish in 12-16 feet of water in the main lake basin.  

CV Anglers is hosting their annual Bubba Orchowski Memorial bass tournament here on Sunday (9/13).  Details available on their website - CV Bass Anglers

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

Bass anglers found a tough bite this week.  Some of the best action is coming from the west end and along the dam.  A few anglers are trolling small shad and alewife imitations with success for offshore smallies and suspended crappies.  Tuesday night league fished here with top bags over 9lbs (3 fish).  Next week is the last league night of the season.  Tioga County Bass Anglers has a tournament here this Saturday.  Details can be found on their website - Leigh & Curt Sweely Memorial Open Bass Tournament.

Hills Creek Lake Fishing Report

Despite no stockings in over 15 years, 1 lucky angler landed a 27" walleye this week.  There is not a targetable population of them left, but  a few are caught every season.  The bass bite has been good all week.  Live shiners fished under a bobber near lily pads and weeds worked well.

Hamilton Lake Fishing Report

Crappies and bluegills are biting well towards the middle of the lakes.  Schools are suspended closer to the surface in the evenings and hanging deeper throughout the day.  Try a lipless crankbait, crappie magnet, or trout magnet.  Similarly, redworms, nightcrawlers, and fatheads are working.  

Hamilton is scheduled to be restocked on October 7th.

Beechwood Lake Fishing Report

Top water bass action was better this week with good catches on whopper ploppers, buzz baits, and frogs on the back side of the lake.  Live shiners were also working.  A few people asked about the trout fishing.  Beechwood is generally restocked again in December right before ice season.  As the lake cools down, holdover fish should leave their cool water summer shelters and be catchable in the fall months.  

Nessmuk Lake Fishing Report

Families have had a good time catching bluegills, sunfish and crappies off of the dock using live bait.  Boaters and kayakers found bass out in deeper weeds and off shore structure.  Larger fish in particular have been holding on offshore structure.   Live shiners were a good bet under a bobber too. 

Pine Creek Fishing Report

Pine was running clear, but murkied up some last night with passing rain storms.  It should continue to clear over the next day and be in nice shape by the weekend.  Temps are in the 60's and anglers did well catching trout in many of the holes 

It was slower here this week with a tough bite at the spillway.  Some smallies and rockbass were caught using nightcrawlers and minnows.  Keitech swimbaits, Ned rigged TRDs and crayfish imitations worked down river too.  As the water cools down over the coming weeks, expect this bite to pick up!

Tackle Shack Tip of the Week-

Mike: The topwater bass bite is hot and they're a good time on the fly!  (pictured) Frog and baitfish patterns are working around weed edges and cat tails.

Luke: Try a Eurotackle Z-Viber, or similar lipless bait, for crappies and perch.  Fish it in the deeper water on Hamilton and be on the move to stay with roaming schools of panfish.

Did you have a great catch this week? 

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