Summer fishing in the Northeast: what bites and where

What the fish do in summer

• Trout: Too warm up top. Fish deep and cool, or near cold inflows.
• Smallmouth bass: Warm water. Go deeper off rocky points, best early.
• Yellow perch: Warm water. Look deeper along the weed line.
• Lake trout: Deep and cold-water only. Fish well below the warm top layer.
• Largemouth bass: Active early and late. Head to shade, docks and grass in midday.

1. Seneca Lake, New York

Seneca Lake spreads over 42,800 acres. It holds lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. At about 618 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work.

Seneca Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Cayuga Lake, New York

Cayuga Lake is a natural lake of some 42,800 acres. You will find it right by Union Springs. Lake trout, trout, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 435 ft.

Cayuga Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Champlain, Vermont

Lake Champlain covers 278,000 acres. Expect smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. The deepest water is around 400 ft. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake Champlain today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Willoughby, Vermont

Lake Willoughby is a natural lake of 1,690 acres of water. You will find it about 13 miles northwest of Newport. Expect trout, lake trout and yellow perch. It goes down to about 300 ft. Lake Willoughby's steep cliffs along Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor give it a dramatic, fjord-like profile. The water is known for being clear: lighter line and natural colours help.

Lake Willoughby today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Sebago Lake, Maine

At 30,500 acres of water, Sebago Lake is a big lake. It holds lake trout, smallmouth bass, trout and northern pike. At about 316 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. On the 3-D map the bed has three steep ledges and an upper arm: good places to start.

Sebago Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Moosehead Lake, Maine

At some 75,500 acres, Moosehead Lake is a huge piece of water. It holds lake trout, trout and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 246 ft. The lake bed gives you three steep ledges and an upper arm to work.

Moosehead Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Round Valley Reservoir, New Jersey

Round Valley Reservoir covers 2,350 acres of water. The lake is right by Lebanon. Expect lake trout, trout, catfish and yellow perch. At about 180 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Round Valley Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania

At some 8,300 acres, Raystown Lake is a good-sized lake. Expect striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye. The deepest water is around 200 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a wind-blown bank worth a first look.

Raystown Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Silver Lake (Madison), New Hampshire

Silver Lake (Madison) is a natural lake of 970 acres of water. It lies about 1.4 miles northeast of Madison. Expect trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and catfish. It goes down to about 164 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Silver Lake in Madison is unusually deep for its size, reaching about 164 feet.

Silver Lake (Madison) today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Winnisquam Lake, New Hampshire

At 4,210 acres, Winnisquam Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is next to Laconia. The fish here are trout, lake trout, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. It goes down to about 155 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Lake Winnisquam is part of the Winnipesaukee River chain of lakes and offers both warmwater bass and coldwater trout fishing.

Winnisquam Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Reading the water

In summer the surface temperature tells you most of what you need: each LakeScope lake page shows today's reading, the wind and the best bite windows, so you can pick the lake and the hour before you leave home.