9/24/2026 Tioga County Fishing Report- Hammond Lake, Tioga Lake, Cowanesque Lake, Pine Creek and More

Tackle Shack Quick Take-
Fall is here!  Cooler weather has been improving the bite countywide with good catches of panfish, bass, and trout. 

Salmon fishing is heating up on the Lake Ontario tribs.  We are glad to help you get setup for your trip and can recommend some areas we like to hit in the fall too.

Tioga and Hammond Lake Fishing Report-

Pictured: Roughly 18" Crappie caught and released from Hammond Lake

Good reports for crappies have been coming in all week.  Tackle Shack staff found a good bite on offshore structure using Eurotackle B Vibes.  Other anglers have been doing well on live minnows, chartreuse, white, and shad colored crappie baits.  Crappie Magnets have been a favorite.  Look for structures in 10-12 feet of water.  It's worth checking weedlines and shallower fallen timber, but more fish seem to be holding deeper now.  Plenty of 10-12" fish are being caught with some undersized crappie, and a few giant 14+ inch fish.  Bluegills are also mixed into the schools and holding on the structures. (Scroll to the bottom for our latest short video from Hammond)

Perch (mostly smaller fish) and crappies are being caught on Tioga Lake.   Areas near Mill cove and the connecting channel have both been producing with both jigs and live minnows.

Tioga County Bass Anglers is hosing a 3 day tournament this weekend.  Anglers will be on Hammond on Friday 9/25 , Tioga on Saturday 9/26, and finishing at Cowanesque on Sunday 9/27.  Expect extra both traffic on the lakes those days.

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

Nelson falls has been producing a few muskies and a number of smaller smallmouth.  Water temps are starting to drop into the 60s and anglers found a solid topwater bite in the shallows for bass.  As noted above, expect additional boat traffic here Sunday with the final day of TCBA's 3 day tournament.

A few walleye are being caught trolling stickbaits along weed edges.  The campground shoreline and the dam weed beds are producing some with a few bass mixed in too.

Hills Creek Lake Fishing Report

Perch and crappies are being caught on live minnows and small swimbaits in deeper water near the dam and the swimming area.  Bass are being caught shallow and the morning and evening topwater bite has been good using frogs, buzzbais, and whopper ploppers.

Hamilton Lake Fishing Report

Like last wee, panfish are being caught near the dam and towards the middle of the lake.  Look for roaming schools throughout the day.  Slow trolling or drifting with live bait and small jigs has been a good way to catch them.  Bass are being caught mostly with topwaters and finesse presentations.  Target timber and weeds with a wacky or neko rig.

Hamilton is scheduled to be restocked with trout on October 7th.

Beechwood Lake Fishing Report

Anglers found bluegills, perch and some crappies along weed lines with live minnows, wax worms, and redworms.  Areas near the boat launch and by the dam fished best.  Some bass are being caught too using live shiners near weeds.

Nessmuk Lake Fishing Report

A few nice bass were caught off the dock using buzzbaits and whopper ploppers.  Live shiners are also working.  For panfish, redworms and mealworms are catching fish from the dock too.  Boaters are having good luck around the weeds near the launch and along the 287 shoreline.

Pine Creek Fishing Report

Pine is at a nice level and is mostly clear.  Holdover trout are being caught in the Keystone select stretch area and in deeper pools or runs in upper Pine. Small stick baits, butter worms, and Joe's flies spinners are working.   

The Keystone select stretch will be restocked on October 7th. Just a reminder- This stretch is artificial lure/fly only and harvest is closed under Delayed harvest regulations.

Local Class A streams are fishing very well with good levels after the recent rains.  Tackle Shack staff did well this week on both Asaph and straight run with dry dropper combos.  

Walleye fishing picked up nicely this week, particularly in the evening.  Keitech swimbaits, live shiners, and nightcrawlers were all working. Some smallmouth and panfish are being caught too.

Tackle Shack Tip of the Week-

Paul: Don't overlook small pocket water when trout fishing. Trout can hold in very small areas, especially in low water conditions.  Dries with a light dropper are a great way to hit these spots.

Mike: Water is cooling down.  It's a great time to throw a jerkbait!

Don: Fish the Eurotackle B-Vibe 2 ways.  For covering water and locating fish, try a slow steady retrieve.  When fishing for crappies holding on structure, a yo-yoing action (lifting and dropping) the rod tip mimics a dying baitfish well and it'll usually get bit on the fall. We requested our custom color 'TS Shiner' because the bright chartreuse stands out in stained water, but the pearl bottom helps mimic the gizzard shad too.  Give it a try!