Fishing near Syracuse, New York
Onondaga County, population 148,620.
- 5 milesto nearest lake
- 3launches nearby
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Syracuse for visiting anglers
In Onondaga County, Syracuse is a city with a 2020 population of 148,620. Closest still water with a page: Onondaga Lake, 5 miles northwest. Size leader close by: Oneida Lake, 51,324 acres. Nearest launch: Onondaga Lake Park, roughly 5 miles.
DEC lists walleye at 3 of the lakes below; Onondaga Lake is the nearest. Trout water on Geddes Brook is about 5 miles away. Without a boat, Butternut Creek fishing access parking, Butternut Creek 2 is 4 miles from town. Waters near town received 169,517,944 stocked fish in 2025.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Syracuse; distances are straight lines.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Lake pages a short drive from Syracuse
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onondaga Lake | 5 miles northwest | 2,976 | 1 | smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, sunfish | |
| Jamesville Reservoir | 5 miles southeast | 217 | 1 | stocked | |
| Oneida Lake | 13 miles northeast | 51,324 | 5 | ice fishing allowed, stocked | smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, sunfish |
| Otisco Lake | 14 miles southwest | 2,266 | 1 | ice fishing allowed, stocked | brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass |
| Cazenovia Lake | 14 miles southeast | 1,166 | 3 | ||
| Skaneateles Lake | 17 miles southwest | 8,777 | 1 | ice fishing allowed, stocked | rainbow trout, lake trout, ll salmon |
Streams a short run from Syracuse
- Geddes Brook5 miles, Stocked 2 mi; 800 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (8.1 acres)
- Ninemile Creek, Onondaga County9 miles, Other 7.9 mi; Stocked-Extended 7.9 mi; Stocked 3 mi; 10,645 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (230.9 acres)
- Oneida River13 miles
- Carpenters Brook14 miles, Stocked 1.8 mi; 775 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (43.8 acres)
- Butternut Creek, Onondaga County14 miles, Stocked-Extended 22.1 mi; 7,498 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (408.4 acres)
- Limestone Creek15 miles, Stocked-Extended 22.6 mi; 7,695 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (103.3 acres)
NYS Hydrography lakes, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes species column and DEC trout reaches, retrieved October 2026.
Launches and lakes around Syracuse on a map
- Onondaga Lake ParkOnondaga Lake, 5 miles
- Public Launch on Jamesville ReservoirJamesville Reservoir, 5 miles
- Public Launch on Seneca River near Seneca KnollsSeneca River, 8 miles
No-boat options near Syracuse
- Butternut Creek fishing access parking, Butternut Creek 2Butternut Creek, 4 miles
- Ninemile Creek fishing access parking 1Ninemile Creek, 7 miles
- Ninemile Creek fishing access parking 2Ninemile Creek, 9 miles
- Butternut Creek fishing access parking 1, LafayetteButternut Creek, 10 miles
- Ninemile Creek fishing access parking 4Ninemile Creek, 10 miles
- Ninemile Creek fishing access parking 5Ninemile Creek, 10 miles
DEC launches and fishing sites, DEC marine access layers, retrieved October 2026.
DEC stocking close to Syracuse, 2025
| Water | Species | Fish |
|---|---|---|
| Oneida Lake | Walleye | 169,454,538 |
| Otisco Lake | Walleye | 40,414 |
| Ninemile Creek, Onondaga County | Brown Trout | 14,292 |
| Jamesville Reservoir | Walleye | 6,600 |
| Ninemile Creek, Onondaga County | Brook Trout | 2,100 |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), data.ny.gov, for the lake and stream pages nearest Syracuse; retrieved October 2026.
Streamflow close to Syracuse
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Onondaga Creek At Spencer Street, Syracuse Ny | 50 cfs, 2.49 ft gage height | Oct 26 8:15 pm |
| Onondaga Creek At Dorwin Avenue, Syracuse Ny | 21 cfs, 1.50 ft gage height | Oct 26 7:30 pm |
| Oneida River Near Euclid Ny | 99 cfs, 2.96 ft gage height | Oct 26 7:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 26, 2026 8:34 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Tackle, licenses and guides around Syracuse
Lures, line and live bait near Syracuse
- Troutfitterbait and tackle shop, Syracuse, 3 miles
- Anglers Assn. of Onondagabait and tackle shop, Syracuse, 3 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 3469 Erie Blvd. Eastsporting goods store, Dewitt, 4 miles
- Onondaga Lake Park Marinamarina, Onondaga, 5 miles
- Mickey's Bait And Tacklebait and tackle shop, Onondaga, 7 miles
- Butter-Nut Sport Shop Inc.sporting goods store, Minoa, 8 miles
- Lake Shore Yacht & Country Clubmarina, Onondaga, 12 miles
- Conway's Aero Marinamarina, Onondaga, 12 miles
Sporting license agents by Syracuse
- County of OnondagaSyracuse, under a mile
- City of SyracuseSyracuse, under a mile
- Anglers Assn. of OnondagaSyracuse, 3 miles
- Town of OnondagaSyracuse, 3 miles
- Town of GeddesSolvay, 4 miles
OpenStreetMap shops, DEC license issuing agents and the DEC licensed guide list (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 2026.
Big fish recorded near Syracuse
| Species | Weight | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drum, Freshwater | 36 lb. 0 oz. | Oneida Lake | 2017 |
DEC state record fish table, as of December 10, 2025.
Harvest rules close to Syracuse
A year on New York fresh water costs $25.00 with residency, $50.00 without, and $5.00 for residents past 70; under-16s need none. Day passes are $5.00 and $10.00; week passes $12.00 and $28.00, resident first.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout in inland trout streams (Apr 1 to Oct 15) | 5, no more than 2 longer than 12" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Trout in inland trout streams (Oct 16 to Mar 31) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Oct 16 – Mar 31 |
| Brown and rainbow trout, splake in lakes and ponds | 5, no more than 2 longer than 12" | All year |
| Brook trout in lakes and ponds | 5 | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Lake trout | 3; minimum 21" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30) | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Dec 1 to Jun 14) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Northern pike | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Chain pickerel | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Black and white crappie | 25; minimum 10" | All year |
| Yellow perch | 50 | All year |
| Sunfish | 25 | All year |
| American eel | 25; minimum 9" | All year |
DEC 2026 Freshwater Fishing Regulations (web pages), statewide inland table, checked October 25, 2026. Lake pages show special rules.
Next to Syracuse on the map
Communities that serve Syracuse visitors
- Lyncourt3 miles
- De Witt3 miles
- Solvay4 miles
- Westvale4 miles
- Galeville4 miles
Which county pages include Syracuse
- Onondaga CountyDEC Region 7
Packing Piscifun gear for Syracuse
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A field guide in photos for Syracuse
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
Common asks for a day out of Syracuse
How far is Syracuse from a lake with a page?
Onondaga Lake, 5 miles northwest.
Where do Syracuse boaters put in?
Onondaga Lake Park is 5 miles out.
Where can kids fish from land near Syracuse?
Butternut Creek fishing access parking, Butternut Creek 2, some 4 miles away.
Who sells fishing tackle around Syracuse?
Troutfitter is the closest listing, 3 miles away.
Which DEC lake near Syracuse has walleye?
Onondaga Lake (5 miles) has walleye on the DEC list.
Which county is Syracuse in?
It belongs to Onondaga County.
Which trout stream page lies closest to Syracuse?
Nearest: Geddes Brook, 5 miles off, Stocked 2 mi; 800 trout stocked; Public Fishing Rights (8.1 acres).
Is trout season open in winter near Syracuse?
Yes, in winter as catch and release with artificial lures; harvest is April 1 to October 15.
Is there a day license for Syracuse visitors?
For a short stay a $28.00 seven-day license usually fits; one day is $10.00.
Which waters near Syracuse are stocked?
Yes: in 2025 DEC stocked 169,517,944 fish nearby, the most walleye in Oneida Lake (169,454,538).
Plan a morning on the water from Syracuse
Each DEC launch page links its map directions.