Port 10 of 11 · Jefferson County
Henderson Harbor fishing charters
The port to book if you want to catch a lot of fish. The eastern end of the lake breaks into islands, shoals, points and weed edges, and Henderson Harbor sits in the middle of it. This is structure fishing rather than open-water trolling, and the smallmouth bass population here is as good as anywhere in the Great Lakes.
The water
What Henderson is good for
Summer smallmouth is the headline. Rocky shoals and drop-offs around Association Island, Stony Point and the Galloo Island area hold numbers of fish along with genuine size, and they are caught on tube jigs, drop-shots and live bait in fifteen to forty feet. On a good day the count gets silly.
Walleye and northern pike fill out the warmwater programme, and there is a real winter fishery once the sheltered water locks up. Meanwhile a proper salmon fleet runs out of the same harbour to the deep water offshore, so the port covers both halves of the lake's personality.
Henderson is also the port that best suits anglers who would rather cast than watch rods. If your idea of a good day is bending a rod yourself rather than waiting for a rigger to pop, come here.
How it's fished
The programmes that actually produce here, and when each one is worth booking.
Smallmouth structure
Tube jigs, drop-shots and live bait on rocky shoals and drops in 15–40 FOW from June through September.
Walleye and pike
Trolling and jigging the weed edges, bays and points; pike hold in the sheltered water most of the year.
Offshore salmon
Riggers and divers out to deep water for Chinook and lake trout, run from the same harbour.
What you'll catch
Species that hold at Henderson, and the months they're at their best.
| Illustration | Species | Notes | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | King · to 35 lb | Jul, Aug, Sep | |
| Lake Trout | Deep · to 25 lb | May, Jun, Jul | |
| Smallmouth Bass | Eastern basin | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | |
| Walleye | Bays & rivers | Jun, Jul | |
| Northern Pike | Weed edges & bays | Jan, Feb, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov | |
| Yellow Perch | Schooling · bays | Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec |
Full twelve-month picture across all species: the seasons guide.
Captains & guides — Henderson Harbor
Listings for this port. Every charter is licence-verified before it appears.
Featured slot 1 of 2 — open
Top of this page, above every other listing, plus first call on every trip request for Henderson Harbor.
$149/mo — see detailsFeatured slot 2 of 2 — open
Same placement, second position. Both slots sell as a pair or singly, month to month.
$149/mo — see detailsFree basic listings — open
If you run a boat for Henderson Harbor, get your name on this page at no charge while we build the directory.
Claim a free listingThis week & what's coming
The current report as it applies to Henderson, and the dates worth planning around.
Common questions
What people ask before they book Henderson.
Is the smallmouth fishing really that good?
Yes. The shoal and island structure across the eastern basin supports exceptional numbers and above-average size. It is one of the genuine bucket-list smallmouth fisheries in North America.
When does bass season open?
New York's traditional statewide season opens the third Saturday in June, with catch-and-release opportunities earlier under current regulations. Check NYSDEC rules before you book, as they do change.
Can I fish for salmon here too?
Yes — there is a genuine salmon fleet working deep water out of this harbour. Many groups do a bass day and a salmon day back to back.
Fish Henderson Harbor
Your request goes to captains covering this port with open dates in your window.