Southeastern New York Fishing Hotline

May 9 - May 16, 2008

Willowemoc Creek and Beaverkill

Water temperatures are currently around 55 degrees. Reports are saying that the fish catching is picking up. Wading conditions are still good even with the rain we had. There have been reports of nice sized hold over fish from the fall being caught and anglers are having alot of success with stocked trout. Anglers using spinning tackle are doing well using worms, inline spinners, and small spoons. With the weather warming the trout are starting to bite dry flies in the afternoon. Fly anglers are catching fish using nymphs, Quill Gordons, Hendricksons, Blue Quills, Red Quills and streamers.

Neversink River

Water temperatures are currently around 55 degrees. Wading conditions are good but can change due to rain. Reports of some browns being caught using nymphs, streamers and Quill Gordons.

Esopus Creek

Water temperatures are currently around 50 degrees. Wading conditions are good but can change due to rain. Fly anglers are starting to have success using Quill Gordons, Blue Quills, nymphs and streamers.

Wallkill River

Water temperatures are currently around 55 degrees and the action is starting to pick up. The water levels are low and water clarity is good this time of year for this river. The Wallkill River offers a great opportunity to catch a variety of fish species. Using crankbaits and jigs bounced on the bottom can be very productive this time of year.

Ramapo River

There have been reports of rainbow and brown trout being caught. Popular baits at this time are night crawlers, inline spinners and spoons.

Neversink, Rondout and Ashokan Reservoirs

Reports are that fishing is slow. As the water temperature warms the fish will move to the shallows to feed and the action should start to pick up. There have been reports of anglers fishing from shore catching nice sized trout using large minnows and Krocodile spoons.

Cross River, Kensico and Titicus Reservoirs

With the warm water there have been reports of nice sized trout being caught. These reservoirs have been known to produce some really big fish! Trolling with spoons can provide good action. Fishing from shore can also be productive using spoons, rapalas and inline spinners. There have been reports of good numbers of crappies and perch being caught. Popular baits for crappies and perch include road runner jigs, fat head minnows and jigs tipped with night crawlers.

Wappingers Creek

Anglers have been successful catching trout using worms and artificial baits.

Hudson River

The striper season is upon us. Water temperatures in the main river are around 54 degrees. There have been reports of stripers in the 40 pound range now being caught. Anglers are having most success catching the smaller males but you always need to be prepared with the right tackle to catch that fish of a lifetime. There have been reports of people catching good numbers of fish from the George Washington Bridge all the way up to the Troy Dam. The key sometimes is just keep moving till you find them. These fish tend to move in schools, so when you locate them the action can be non-stop. Popular techniques include trolling/casting lures (bucktail jigs and jerkbaits) and using bait (bloodworms and herring). Reports of using both cut and live herring for bait seem to be working equally well.

Regulations for the 08 Striped Bass Season have not changed.

Stocked Trout Waters

Listed below are trout waters that have been stocked prior to May 9th.

Orange County

Askoti Lake, Blue Lake, Island Pond, Moodna Creek, Neversink River, Ramapo River, Ringwood River, Round Pond, Rutgers Creek, Shawangunk Kill, Shingle Kill, Skanatati Lake, Sterling Forest Lake, Walton Lake, Woodbury Creek, Wawayanda Creek

Rockland County

Hessian Lake, Mahwah River, Minisceongo Creek, Pascack Creek, Ramapo River, Sparkill Creek, Stony Brook, Tiorati Brook

Dutchess County

Crum Elbow Creek, Fishkill Creek, Jackson Creek, Iron Mine Pond, Mill Pond Brook, Roeliff Jansen Kill, Sawkill, Sprout Creek, Swamp River, Sylvan Lake, Ten Mile River, Upton Lake, Wappingers Creek, Webatuck Creek, Whaley Lake Brook

Putnam County

Croton Falls Reservoir, Croton River East Branch, Croton River West Branch, Diverting Reservoir, Foundry Brook, Lake Gilead, Lake Gleneida, Peekskill Hollow Brook, Shrub Oak Brook, Pelton Pond, Stillwater Pond, West Branch Reservoir

Westchester County

Amawalk Inlet, Amawalk Outlet, Amawalk Reservoir, Glenwood Lake, Cross River Reservoir Outlet, Cross River Reservoir, Croton River, Kensico Reservoir, Mianus River, New Rochelle Reservoir #3, Peekskill Hollow Brook, Pocantico River, Sawmill River, Stone Hill River, Titicus River, Titicus Reservoir, Waccabuc River

Sullivan County

Beaver Brook, Beaver Kill, Callicoon Creek East Branch, Callicoon Creek North Branch, Callicoon Creek, Chestnut Creek, Fir Brook, Halfway Brook, Little Beaverkill, Loch Sheldrake, Mongaup Falls Reservoir, Mongaup River, Neversink River, Sandburg Creek, Ten Mile River East Branch, Ten Mile River, Willowemoc Creek

Ulster County

Ashokan Reservoir, Beer Kill, Beer Kill West Branch, Black Creek, Esopus Creek, Holiday Creek, Lucas Kill, Mill Brook, Plattekill Creek, Rochester Creek, Rondout Creek, Sandburg Creek, Sawkill Creek, Verkeeder Kill, Vernooy Kill, Woodland Valley Stream,Yager Stream

To request a stocking map for the counties in Region 3, please call or email us (845-256-3161; fwfish3@gw.dec.state.ny.us)

To apply for a NYC DEP Watershed Access Permit use the link located on the right column under Offsite Links.

If you need more fishing information or would like to contribute to the fishing report / post a picture of your catch, please call or email Ryan Coulter (845-256-2204; racoulte@gw.dec.state.ny.us)

The Fishing Hotline can also be heard at 845-256-3101