Type of fish in the genesee river?

Answer 1

The Genesee River has a tremendous amount of fish species, including large game fish, and non-game fish that are still fun to catch. Below is a list of some of the fish I've caught in the river over the last 20 years or so.

Common Carp - These fish range in size from just a pound, to over 50 pounds. Commonly they are dark in color (black to dark gray) from their dorsal fin to their pectoral fins where they become a gold color, however I have caught many that were purely gold, some that were almost completely black/dark gray) and I've even caught one that was white. You can catch these at pretty much any area of the river. Worms work ok, but they tend to like fresh Corn, especially in the lower areas of the river (Lower falls north to Lake Ontario). I bait the area with a handful or two of corn, then fill a large hook with fresh kernels, set the line out within 12 feet of shore, and wait. They like to hit and run so for the most part you don't have to try and set the hook. The largest I've caught is just over 35 pounds. These fish are great fighters. I use medium and light action tackle, so sometimes it can take an hour or more to land a big one.

Smallmouth Bass - Usually I don't fish for these as I prefer to fish for large fish species, however I have landed some in the neighborhood of 2 pounds on nightcrawlers, small frogs, small mice, and jigs. They tend to remain the common colorations of your average Smallmouth across the world.

Largemouth Bass - Though far more rare than the Smallmouth in the Genesee, they can be found there. The largest I've ever caught was only 2.2 pounds but I've heard of 5 and 6 pounders caught in there before. Again, typical colorations.

Walleye - Now these seem to get quite large in the Genesee, especially north of Lower Falls. I've caught they upwards of 8 pounds and 26 inches long about 300 yards north of the falls, just by handing a long fat nightcrawler off the hook and casting nearly to the other (Eastern) side of the river since they tend to be sensetive to disturbances, you should avoid casting near the shore you are fishing from. I've also caught them on chubs, white and even fusia jigs, and many other types of lures.

Pickerel Pike - I've only ever caught one of these in the Genesee, and it was pretty small, only about 14 inches. I actually caught it on corn while fishing for Carp.

Northern Pike - Far more common than the Pickerel, these can be found throughout most of the entire expance of the Genesee. The largest one I've caught was 18 pounds. I first set out a light line and caught a juvenile sucker, about 4 inches long, then used that as bait to fish for the Northern Pike. I jigged it like a normal lure, making it look as distressed as I could and after about fifteen minuted the pike hit. I caught it right up near Lower Falls in a small area just across from the RG&E plant where a small section of rocks has been carved out, so the pike can settle in calmer water and wait for prey to come by in the faster water.

Muskie (Muskellunge) - Some think these can't be foundi n the Genesee, but I've caught them both in the section north of Lower Falls, as well as much farther south where Black Creek dumps into the river. The largest I've caught in the river was 22 pounds and I caught it basically by accident. I was fishing for Carp, ended up hooking a small bullhead (maybe a half pound or so) and while reeling it it, the Muskie grabbed onto the bullhead and didn't let go for whatever reason. They are rumored to reach even greater in size in the Genesee, than they do in the St. Lawrence where that 69 pounder was caught.

Bullhead - I avoid fishing directly for these, but have caught hundreds of them. The largest was I think 6 1/2 pounds at the base of Lower Falls, but I know they can be found throughout the river.

Channel Catfish - These are the most common catfish in the Genesee, reaching over 30 pounds, they can be a beast to fight. The largest I've caught was 21 pounds 6 ounces directly across from the end of Seth Green Drive at RG&E (I never fish the Seth Green Drive side of the river).

Blue Catfish - These are the rarest catfish to find in the river. I've only ever caught two, one was 25 pounds, the other is actually my Freshwater Fish record at 47 pounds. I'm not exactly sure why they are so rare around here, but they are quite elusive and generally are caught by accident, such as my case where I caught them while fishing for Carp.

Chinook Salmon - This is the largest Salmon species we get here. The largest I've caught was 42 pounds, I caught it in the pool at the western edge of Lower Falls, using fresh Salmon Eggs as bait.

Coho Salmon - Probably the second most common Salmon, the largest I've caught was only 18 pounds.

Atlantic Salmon - I've never caught one, but have seen them caught where the river dumps into Lake Ontario, off the Charlotte Pier.

Rainbow Trout - Very common (white tongue/mouth). I've caught them as big as 16 pounds.

Steelhead Trout - Almost as common as the Rainbow, they look nearly identical to the Rainbow trout except they have a black tongue and mouth. Largest I've caught was 21 pounds.

Brown Trout - Less common, but still obtainable, these fish get upwards of 25 to 30 pounds in the river. I've caught many of them but have never weighed them, usually I just throw them back. One in particular I caught, a nearby fisherman told me he estimated it at about 24 to 26 pounds, and tried to get me to give it to him, but I released it anyways, one that big deserves to live long enough to spawn (she was still full of eggs).

Brook & Lake Trout - I've never caught either of these, but the owner of the bait shop Hollow Grinders that used to be up on Stutson Street told me they can be caught right where the river meets the lake.

Sheephead - These are getting to be harder to catch around here. The largest I've ever caught, I actually caught right where the Genesee River and Erie Canal cross each other, it was 17 pounds and fought ferociously.

American Shad - These guys are all up and down the river, ranging from a few ounces to 2 and 3 pounds or more. Largest I've caught was 1 pound 7 ounces, I turned around and used it as bait to catch Northern Pike.

American Eel - I've never caught one, but have seen them caught many times. I have no idea how much they weighed, but they were upwards of 3 feet long.

Lamprey Eel - These things are just parasites, but I have caught them upwards of 2 feet long. Generally speaking these are a kill-on-sight fish as their populations have exploded over the years and they kill off game fish.

Lake Sturgeon - Until 5-6 years ago it was almost impossible to catch these in the river, but they have since started restocking them into the river and lake. I have yet to catch one, but I've seen them being caught upwards of 50 to 60 pounds recently, and even spoke with one fisherman that said he pulled one out of the river about a half mile from the lake while fishing for Walleye. He said he weighed it and it was 122 pounds. He had pictures with him and the thing was near 5 feet long. The running theory is that stocking them back into the river and lake has caused the surviving, long lived ones to come in for the lake now that there is a larger population and thus more males and females to spawn with.

White Sturgeon - I've one seen one of these caught, it was right where the river dumps into the lake. Legally the angler couldn't take it out of the water to weigh it, but it was nearly 7 feet long and estimated at over 300 pounds. These are extremely rare though and extremely hard to catch, you are more likely to find them much farther north towards and in the Oswegotchi river.

American Dog Fish - These fish are ferocious. The largest I've caught was only 7 pounds, but they can be found throughout the river and tend to hunt in 'packs' ... I've seen them attacking trout and salmon and even Carp.

Crayfish (Crawfish, Crawdaddy, Yabbie) - These are often called Freshwater Lobsters. You can find them in pretty much ever waterway in New York State, even in tiny backyard ponds. I mention them here because while most people are used to catching them here between 2 and 6 inches long and often use them for bait, I have actually caught some of them weighing upwards of 2 pounds and over a foot long. Generally if you cross the River to the eastern side of Lower Falls and follow the very narrow, very slick path that leads behind the falls you can find these giant Crayfish just sitting on the rocks, basking in the mist and eating minnows that get caught in the rocks while tumbling over the falls. I've seen hundreds of them, all over 9 inches long, just sitting on the rocks, with claws big enough to take a finger. Also note though if you go back there, a lot of snakes hang out back there as well, even the fairly uncommon Cotton Mouth/Water Moccasin has been caught back there, which of course is a venomous snake belonging to the Pit Viper family, so tread carefully.

We have a lot of other fish, such as the common pan fish ... Below is a list of them that I've caught and seen caught in the river, but I never weight them since I avoid fishing for the smaller fish species ...

Crappie

Black Bass

Rock Bass

Bluegill

Sunfish

Black Bullhead

Cranberry Bass

Mudpuppies (a large species of Salamandor)

Gobbie - These are a KILL ON SIGHT fish ... They are not native to these waters and have been taking a large toll on native species of fish. If you ever catch these the Department of Environmental Conservation as issued a statement that you must kill them, do not release them back into the water, and contact them about the exact location where you caught them.

And others whose species name I didn't know.

Just wanted to add a couple things, Your Pickerel Pike, was actually a Chain Pickerel, and kudos on your bullhead thats only one pound off the state record!