Waneta & Lamoka Lakes Bass Fishing Guide
Leave Your $200 Swimbaits Home — Musky Mike Lives Here
Book a Waneta-Lamoka TripWhy Waneta & Lamoka Are Two Lakes Worth the Drive
Waneta and Lamoka are twin lakes connected by a navigable channel in Schuyler County, New York, about an hour south of the Finger Lakes region. Together, they offer a unique two-lake system that gives anglers access to diverse water and structure without ever trailering the boat. Waneta is the deeper and cleaner of the two, with rocky shorelines and moderate weed growth. Lamoka is shallower, weedier, and loaded with vegetation that holds big largemouth bass throughout the warm months.
What truly sets these lakes apart from every other fishery I guide on is the musky population. Waneta and Lamoka are home to a healthy population of muskellunge, and these apex predators share the same water as the largemouth. On any given cast, what you thought was a four-pound largemouth hitting your soft plastic could turn out to be a follow from a 40-inch musky. It adds an element of unpredictability and excitement to every trip that you simply can't find on other bass lakes in the region.
My Experience on Waneta & Lamoka
I'll never forget the day I caught five muskies while bass fishing on Waneta and Lamoka. Five. In one day. I was throwing soft plastics targeting largemouth along the weed edges on Lamoka, and musky after musky kept showing up. Some followed the bait to the boat, and a few committed and ate. That day taught me two things about these lakes: first, the musky population is far more aggressive than most people realize, and second, leave your $200 swimbaits at home unless you want to see them destroyed.
With 112 days logged on the Waneta-Lamoka system, I've developed a deep understanding of how to fish both lakes effectively. The key is knowing when to fish each lake based on conditions. On windy days, Waneta's deeper, more exposed water can be tough, but Lamoka's protected shallows stay fishable. On calm, clear days, the rocky structure on Waneta produces quality bites that you won't find in Lamoka's heavy vegetation. Being able to run through the channel and fish two entirely different lakes in a single trip is a massive advantage.
Soft plastics are the foundation of my approach on these lakes. Texas-rigged creature baits, Senko-style worms, and small swimbaits fished in and around the weed growth produce consistent largemouth action throughout the summer. As a licensed USCG Captain with three career wins, 24 top-10 finishes, and over $575,000 in career earnings on the FLW and MLF circuits, I bring a tournament-level approach to every trip. My 40 years of meticulous notes on these lakes mean I know exactly where the fish set up based on the time of year, water temperature, and conditions.
What Makes My Waneta & Lamoka Trips Different
- 112+ days of personal experience on the Waneta-Lamoka system
- Tournament-rigged Bass Cat Puma with Lowrance & Garmin LiveScope electronics
- Access to two distinct lakes connected by channel — double the water, double the options
- All rods, tackle, and lures provided — just bring your fishing license
- Soft plastic techniques refined through decades of tournament competition
- Bonus musky encounters add unpredictable excitement to every trip
Waneta & Lamoka Seasonal Guide
Spring (April – June)
Largemouth move shallow early on both lakes as water temperatures rise. Lamoka warms faster due to its shallower profile, making it the first lake to produce quality shallow bites in spring. Pre-spawn bass stage on weed edges and transition areas before pushing up to spawn on shallow flats. Jigs, tubes, and Texas-rigged creature baits fished slowly around emerging vegetation are the top producers. Spring is also when musky begin to cruise the shallows, adding surprise encounters to every outing.
Summer (July – September)
Summer is the best time to fish Waneta and Lamoka. Dense weed growth fills in across both lakes, providing extensive cover for largemouth. Lamoka's heavy vegetation is ideal for flipping, pitching, and working soft plastics through thick cover, while Waneta's cleaner structure offers better opportunities for moving baits and finesse presentations. Full-day trips are ideal in summer — you can fish the morning bite on one lake and run the channel to a completely different pattern in the afternoon. This is also peak musky activity season.
Fall (October – November)
As water cools and weeds die back, bass concentrate on remaining green vegetation and transition to harder structure. Baitfish schools push into the backs of coves and along weed edges, drawing aggressive feeding from largemouth. Lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits worked over dying weed beds produce explosive strikes. Fall fishing on the Waneta-Lamoka system can be outstanding when you find the right combination of remaining vegetation and baitfish activity.
Waneta & Lamoka Trip Rates
All trips include rods, tackle, and lures — just bring your fishing license
Half Day
- Morning or afternoon
- All tackle provided
- Great for beginners
Full Day
- Dawn to dusk
- All tackle provided
- Cover more water & patterns
Rates are for 1-2 anglers. Contact me for group pricing. Gratuity not included.