Despite August not being one of the better months to catch fish, it's often the time when people and families take time off or vacations. And a popular outdoor activity for many with this free time on their hand is fishing. Unfortunately, some people spend far more time fishing than they do catching fish.
No doubt about it, just about all fishing/catching slows during the hot, high-sun month of August. The water temperatures are at or near their annual maximums, and the high overhead sun causes most fish species to seek shade (fish don't have eyelids). But that doesn't mean fishing is a waste of time, but rather the angler must choose both the optimum time and place to encounter cooperative fish. Chenango County may lack the big waters that some other areas have, but it offers surprisingly good fishing for a variety of species both big and small. The key is usually picking the best water for the species you're looking to catch, and also the most likely habitat areas and time of day (or night) that species will be there and actively feeding. If I had a buck for every time someone has asked where they could go (and especially take kids) to catch some fish, I could buy a couple new fishing outfits for myself. So in no particular order, here are some of my local picks for decent August fishing, along with the species these waters are often noted for producing.

Ponds and Lakes
Long Pond – A state-owned public water, Long holds bass, pickerel, bullhead, sunfish, perch, crappie and even tiger musky. It's easily accessible with a small boat or canoe and can also be fished from shore or by wading along the shoreline. It tends to be weedy, especially close to shore, but that often entices fish into the shallows to seek shade.
Hunts Pond – Another state-owned water, Hunts is smaller but very similar in its structure to Long. It holds largemouth bass, pickerel, perch, sunfish and bullhead. Lots of lily pads and submerged stumps and logs offer good cover. Great place for kids (or adults) to fish from shore, using a bobber with either a night crawler or live minnow as bait. At dawn and dusk, topwater plugs will catch bass.
Balsam Pond – One of the county's larger public waters, Balsam – which is actually an old beaver pond and swamp that was dammed – can easily be fished from shore off the dam or via a boat. Tons of submerged structure provide great cover for its pickerel, bass, perch, black crappie and bullhead. It's also stocked with tiger musky.
Guilford Lake – Although the majority of Guilford's shoreline property is private, the area near the dam is fishable from shore. It's also accessible via car-top crafts in that same area. In addition to its warmwater species such as bass, pickerel, sunfish, rock bass, bullhead and crappie, Guilford has an excellent population of rainbow trout that may be caught from shore or from a craft, using worms or small minnows. Best time for trout is at dusk or after dark.
Chenango Lake – Another water with limited access except for a small section of shoreline on the south end near the road. But there is also boat access available there, as well as shoreline fishing opportunities, primarily for panfish such as pumpkinseed, perch, bullhead and rock bass. The lake also is home to pickerel, bass and, most recently, crappie.

Rivers and Streams
Chenango River – What water is closer to home for many than the Chenango River? And unlike many lakes and ponds, shore anglers stand just as good a chance of catching fish as do anglers using a watercraft. The variety of fish finning in the Chenango is impressive: Pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, rock bass, pickerel, sunfish, bullhead, and also rough-fish species such as giant carp, sucker, fallfish and mullet. Even the occasional brown trout is taken, especially in sections north of Norwich. Pretty basic fishing is all that's required on the river ... cast lures or drift a fat night crawler, minnow or crayfish in the deeper and shaded pools and bends.
Unadilla River – Our other main tributary to the Susquehanna's main watershed, the Unadilla offers basically the same simplistic fishing the Chenango does. While pike are rare, there's abundant walleye, smallmouth bass, pickerel and rock bass, in addition to the same rough-fish species that are found in the Chenango. Same angling techniques will produce as well.
Otselic River – Although it's usually considered one of our area's premier trout waters, and rightfully so, the lower section below Cincinnatus also produces some excellent walleye and smallmouth bass fishing. After a rain that roils the river, there's also a good chance to catch a large brown trout in this section.
Lower Canasawacta Creek – From the confluence of the two branches downstream to the city, there are several deep pools and bends, many with either undercut banks or other cover structure. Although most fishing during clear-water periods will result in shiners, chubs and fallfish being caught, when the water becomes roiled after a rain some truly nice brown trout can be taken from these pools. Just drift a fat night crawler near bottom to attract a hungry trout.
Lower Genegantslet Creek – Same summer scenario as the lower Canasawacta ... fish worms or night crawlers in the deeper pools when the water's roiled after a rain. Be aware of the special regulation sections that prohibit live bait or are catch-and-release.
Bowman Creek – This outlet of Bowman Lake is rather long and the lower half is especially good trout fishing in summer. Same technique as above, or fly fish using terrestrial patterns such as a grasshopper or cricket, especially in early morning or evening.
I'm sure there are other anglers who have their own favorite August fishing spots and techniques, but these are just some of my personal favorites. The heat and humidity of August may slow fishing (actually catching) during the mid-day hours, but it shouldn't mean there's no sense even trying to wet a line. Remember that winter often lasts five months, so don't waste too many days during the months when the waters aren't frozen.