Waterbody · New York · Ohio
Seneca Lake Fishing Regulations 2026
Seneca Lake fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are catfish, crappie, largemouth bass. 99 current rules across 18 species from 2 state agencies (New York, Ohio).
New York waters
72 rules from DEC, 15 species.
Northern Pike
Seneca River From Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef) Upstream To Seneca LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 22"
Seneca River From Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef – Onondaga County) Upstream To Seneca LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 22"
Seneca LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Min size
- 22"
May 1 through March 15 Daily Limit-5 Minimum Length-22"
Lake Trout
Seneca LakeOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, Catch shall include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout or Atlantic Salmon
All Tributaries To Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Hemlock Lake, Keuka Lake, And Seneca Lake Upstream To The First Barrier Impassable By FishIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, Catch shall include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout
Atlantic Salmon
Seneca LakeOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, Catch shall include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout or Atlantic Salmon
All Tributaries To Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Hemlock Lake, Keuka Lake, And Seneca Lake Upstream To The First Barrier Impassable By FishIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, Catch shall include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout
Walleye
Seneca River From Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef) Upstream To Seneca LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Seneca River From Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef – Onondaga County) Upstream To Seneca LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Brown Trout
Seneca LakeOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Min size
- 15"
All Tributaries To Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Hemlock Lake, Keuka Lake, And Seneca Lake Upstream To The First Barrier Impassable By FishIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, Catch shall include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout
Seneca LakeOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Min size
- 15"
All Tributaries To Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Hemlock Lake, Keuka Lake, And Seneca Lake Upstream To The First Barrier Impassable By FishIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, Catch shall include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout
Channel Catfish
Greenwood Lake
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Min size
- 12"
All year Daily Limit 5 12"
Greenwood Lake (New York/New Jersey Border Water)
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
Crappie
Greenwood Lake (New York/New Jersey Border Water)
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Min size
- 8"
Lake Champlain And Tributaries To The First Impassible Barrier (New York/Vermont Border Water)
- Daily bag
- 25 fish/day
- Min size
- 8"
Black Bass
Seneca LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Mar 16
- Season closes
- Jun 14
- Gear
- Artificial Only
Catch and Release only
All Species
Barge Canal From Seneca Lake Upstream To The Northernmost Rte. 14 Bridge In Montour Falls, Schuyler CountyOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Additional Tributary Regulations B, C, D, E, F, and G Do Not Apply
Old Seneca Inlet In The Southeast Corner Of Seneca Lake Upstream Of State Rte. 414Open
- Status
- Permitted
Additional Tributary Regulations B, C, D, E, F, and G Do Not Apply
Largemouth Bass
Alewife
Seneca Lake
- Gear
- Angling Only
Gill nets: maximum length 25 feet, maximum area 200 square feet, maximum size 1” bar, Anytime
Plus 3 more species. See the New York pillar page for the full list.
Ohio waters
27 rules from DNR, 9 species.
Largemouth Bass
Lake Erie And Areas Immediately Upstream In Creeks, Rivers, And Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
singly or in combination, June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026 June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Lake Erie And Its Embayments Including Maumee Bay, Sandusky Bay, East Harbor, Middle Harbor, And West Harbor, And From Where Lake Erie Tributaries Enter The Lake Upstream To The Following End Points
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 14"
singly or in combination; June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026 June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Lake Erie And Its Embayments Including Maumee Bay, Sandusky Bay, East Harbor, Middle Harbor, And West Harbor, And From Where Lake Erie Tributaries Enter The Lake Upstream To The Following End Points: Arcola, Wheeler, Cowles, And Indian Creeks : U.s. Route 20 Bridges; Ashtabula River: E. 24th Street Bridge; Black River: State Route 611 Bridge; Conneaut Creek: Main Street Bridge (Downtown To Conneaut); Euclid Creek And Chagrin River: State Route 283 Bridges; Rocky River: Detroit Road Bridge; Sandusky River: Waterworks Dam In Tiffin; Maumee River: First Dam Upstream (Grand Rapids, Ohio); Vermilion River: State Route 2 Bridge; Grand River: State Route 535 Bridge; Cuyahoga River: Harvard Road Bridge.Out of season
- Season opens
- Jun 28
- Season closes
- Feb 28
- Min size
- 14"
June 28, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Ohio Waters, Ohio Shoreline, And All Ohio Embayments And Tributaries Within The Western Unit
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
singly or in combination
Ohio Waters, Ohio Shoreline, And Ohio Embayments And Tributaries Within The Western Unit
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
singly or in combination
Ohio Waters, Shoreline Anglers When Fishing On The Ohio Shoreline, And All Anglers In Ohio Embayments And Tributaries Within The Western Unit
- Daily bag
- 6 fish
singly or in combination with Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass
Ohio statewide
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Min size
- 12"
singly or in combination with Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass
Channel Catfish
Ohio statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 28"
No limit — No limit 28 inches or larger
Blue Catfish
Ohio statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35"
No limit — No limit 35 inches or larger
Flathead Catfish
Ohio statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 35"
No limit — No limit 35 inches or larger
Crappie
Ohio statewide
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
- Min size
- 13"
combined total for black and white crappie
All Species
Seneca Lake South Of State Route 147Open
- Status
- Permitted
Trotlines may be used only in
Black Crappie
Ohio River On Its Embayments And Tributaries To The First Riffle Or Dam In The Western Unit
- Daily bag
- 30 fish
singly or in combination with White Crappie
White Crappie
Ohio River On Its Embayments And Tributaries To The First Riffle Or Dam In The Western Unit
- Daily bag
- 30 fish
singly or in combination with Black Crappie
Catfish
Ohio statewideClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
All fish may be taken by hand except catfish
FAQ
Which states regulate fishing on Seneca Lake?
Seneca Lake spans 2 states (New York, Ohio). Each state's wildlife agency sets rules for its own waters; DEC / DNR.
What species can I target on Seneca Lake?
Seneca Lake is best known for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize DEC / DNR's published content. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.