New York has a fresh big-trout opportunity this week. The October 2 to October 9 fishing update says the Randolph Fish Hatchery is stocking surplus broodstock trout during the week of October 5, with every fish more than two years old and measuring 17 to 30 inches. Five western New York waters are receiving brown, rainbow, or brook trout, so this is a timely chance to fish for a genuinely heavy trout from shore. Here is where those fish are going, what to throw, and how to approach newly stocked brood fish without relying on guesswork.
Quick Guide
- The October 2026 stocking list
- Where to start at each water
- Best lures for big stocked trout
- A simple first-hour plan
- Handling and regulations
The October 2026 Broodstock Trout List
The current stocking notice names five waters and gives the planned mix for the week of October 5. These are mature hatchery fish, not the smaller yearlings anglers usually picture when they hear the word stocking.
| Water | Planned fish | Best first approach |
|---|---|---|
| Red House Lake | 130 rainbow trout and 200 brown trout | Cover water near public access, then work the first drop |
| New Albion Lake | 50 brook trout, 50 rainbow trout, and 150 brown trout | Rotate small spoons and spinners to learn what each species wants |
| Case Lake | 400 brook trout, 100 rainbow trout, and 25 brown trout | Start shallow at low light, especially near cool inflow |
| Genesee River | 250 rainbow trout and 200 brown trout | Fish current seams, soft edges, and deeper resting water |
| Quaker Lake | 200 rainbow trout and 200 brown trout | Fan-cast access areas before moving along points and banks |
Stocking plans can shift because of weather, water conditions, or hatchery logistics. The Randolph Hatchery stocking hotline is 716-358-2050, so call for the latest update before making a long drive.
Where to Start After the Truck Leaves
Begin near practical stocking access such as a launch, parking-area shoreline, or other place a hatchery truck can safely reach. Newly stocked trout may stay close for a short time, but do not assume every fish remains beside the ramp. Fan-cast the reachable water, then move toward the nearest point, drop, inlet, or current break.
On the four lakes, look for a quick change from shallow water into a comfortable holding depth. A spoon or spinner lets you count the lure down and search several layers. If fish follow without striking, change retrieve speed before changing color. A short pause, flutter, or direction change often gets a committed bite from a trout that ignored a steady retrieve.
The Genesee River needs a different mindset. Big stocked trout need places where they can hold without fighting the full current. Work the inside edge of a bend, the tail of a pool, seams beside faster water, and any depth change downstream of structure. Cast slightly upstream, let the lure settle, and retrieve just fast enough to keep it working through the seam.
Best Lures for 17-to-30-Inch Stocked Trout
You do not need a complicated box. Bring a few proven profiles that can search water at different depths, then let the fish tell you which speed and level matter.
Spoons for distance and depth
A compact 1/4-ounce spoon is the best starting point when wind, deeper water, or a long cast is involved. Silver is a solid choice in bright conditions, while gold or copper can show better under clouds or in stained water. Cast past the likely holding water, let the spoon sink, and use a steady retrieve with occasional pauses. Keep it moving fast enough that it does not drag bottom and foul.
Inline spinners for active fish
A size 2 or 3 inline spinner covers shallow and mid-depth water well. Start with a natural silver blade, then try chartreuse or another visible accent if the water has color. Begin reeling as soon as the lure lands when fish are shallow. Give it a short count before retrieving when you need to probe deeper water.
Small paddletails and marabou jigs for pressured fish
When spoons and spinners draw follows but no bites, slow down. A 2- to 3-inch paddletail on a light jighead gives off a natural tail kick without forcing you to retrieve fast. A small marabou jig can be swum, drifted, or suspended beneath a float. These quieter presentations are especially useful after the easy fish have seen several hours of hardware.
Large trout are capable of eating a large bait, but oversizing is not always the answer. Start compact, use sharp hooks, and step up only when you see bigger forage or need more casting distance.
A Simple First-Hour Plan
- Start with a spoon for 15 minutes. Fan-cast shallow, medium, and deep water. Count each cast down so you know where contact happens.
- Switch to a spinner for 15 minutes. Change speed and retrieve angle, not just blade color.
- Move at least one casting distance. Cover the next point, access edge, inlet, or current seam instead of waiting for fish that may not be there.
- Slow down for the final 30 minutes. Work a small paddletail or marabou jig through the best water you found.
Use a rod with enough backbone to steer a 20-inch-plus fish, but keep the line and leader sensible for clear fall water. Six- to eight-pound line is a practical starting range. Check knots, replace rough leader, and bring a net large enough for a deep-bodied brood trout.
Handle the Fish and the Rules Carefully
A 17-to-30-inch trout is valuable whether you keep it legally or release it. Wet your hands, support the fish horizontally, avoid squeezing its belly, and keep it in the water while preparing a camera. If the fish is exhausted, face it into gentle current or clean water until it can swim away under its own power.
Regulations can differ by water and species. Check the current New York freshwater fishing regulations for the exact water before fishing, including season, size, daily limit, and tackle restrictions. Do not treat a stocking notice as permission to harvest.
Get Ready for the October Window
This stocking is timely because the fish are being placed during the week of October 5, and the October 2 to October 9 update identifies exactly where the opportunity is. Confirm the latest stocking status, choose one water, and spend your first hour searching with a spoon, spinner, and small jig instead of camping on one cast.
Need to fill the gaps in your fall box? Browse the lure collection at Shorette's Bait & Tackle, or stop in and we will help you build a simple trout-ready selection without loading you down with gear you do not need.