Western New York
Public Fishing Rights Maps
Public Fishing Rights (PFR's) are permanent easements purchased by the NYSDEC from willing landowners, giving anglers the right to fish and walk along the bank (usually a 33' strip on one or both banks of the stream). For more information on PFR and legally permissible activities on those easements, please see our Public Fishing Rights page.
Most PFR easements are on trout streams. While keeping and eating the fish you catch is part of the fishing experience, many people choose to release their catch. If you release the fish you catch, please review our Catching and Releasing Trout page for tips on reducing the mortality of released trout. Want to know how much that fish you released weighed? Our Use a Ruler to Weigh Your Fish page will help you estimate the weight of your catch.
Below are links to pdf files of the generalized location maps that are intended to aid anglers in finding PFR segments and are not survey quality. Width of displayed PFR is displayed wider than reality to make it more visible on the maps. Please look for official PFR signs to ensure that you are in the right location and have legal access to the stream bank.
Prevent the Spread of didymo! - Didymo is an invasive algae that can negatively impact trout populations. It has been found in several of New York's trout streams and could spread to other waters without proper precautions. Wading anglers are a primary means of spreading didymo. For more information on didymo and how you can avoid spreading it, please see the "Didymo Alert" link to the right!
Felt Sole Considerations
DEC encourages anglers to consider alternatives to felt-soled waders such as rubber studded boots. Felt-soles, due to their ability to absorb didymo cells and to stay damp for prolonged periods of time, are a major vector in spreading didymo and require special treatment (prolonged soaking in disinfectant).
Allegany County
| Location (Link to PFR Map) |
Species | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
California Hollow Brook (PDF) |
Brown trout | California Hollow Brook flows through southern Allegany County and eventually joins Honeoye Creek, just over the Pennsylvania border. There are 1.3 miles of public fishing rights easements on this stream. Each spring, California Hollow Brook is stocked by the DEC with 800 yearling brown trout. Fish are stocked from the DEC angler parking area on County Route 33, upstream 3 miles. The creek also contains a modest wild brown trout population. |
|
Cryder Creek (PDF) |
Brown trout Brook trout |
Cryder Creek begins in Steuben County and flows through the Village of Whitesville in southeastern Allegany County and eventually joins the Genesee River, just over the Pennsylvania border. There are 5.8 miles of public fishing rights easements on this stream. The upper reaches of Cryder Creek, especially the portion in Steuben County, are supported entirely by wild brown trout and brook trout. The upper section in Steuben County is also known as Marsh Creek. |
|
Genesee River (PDF) |
Brown trout Rainbow trout |
Beginning in Pennsylvania, the Genesee River flows northerly entering New York in Allegany County. For over 40 miles it flows through the county, passing through the Villages of Wellsville and Belmont. There is plenty of access with nearly 18 miles of public fishing rights easements, including a 2.5 mile section near Shongo, where only catch and release fishing is permitted. There are accessible fishing platforms located on the river in the Village of Wellsville at Island Park and at the Belmont Dam. The Genesee River is a popular trout destination which is stocked extensively from the Belmont Dam upstream to the Pennsylvania border. |
| Brown trout | Little Genesee Creek flows through the Village of Bolivar in southern Allegany County and eventually joins Oswayo Creek in Pennsylvania. Root Creek joins Little Genesee Creek near Bolivar. There are 3.5 miles of public fishing rights easements on these streams. There are two angler parking areas on Little Genesee Creek, one on Sanford Hollow Road and the other at the end of Liberty Street in Bolivar. Each spring, Little Genesee Creek is stocked by the DEC with brown trout. The creek is stocked from the Pennsylvania state line upstream 11 miles to the Village of Richburg. The stream has a small population of wild brown trout. Root Creek is also stocked each spring brown trout, from the creek mouth upstream 3.5 miles. Root Creek also holds some wild brown trout. |
Cattaraugus County
| Location (Link to PFR Map) |
Species | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Beaver Meadow Creek (PDF) |
Brown trout | Beaver Meadow Creek flows through north-central Cattaraugus County, eventually joining Great Valley Creek in the Village of Ashford on Route 242. There are 3.8 miles of public fishing rights easements on this stream. Each spring, Beaver Meadow Creek is stocked by the DEC with yearling brown trout. Trout are stocked from Kruse Road, upstream 2 miles. The stream also contains a few wild brown trout. |
| Brown trout Rainbow trout |
From its mouth at Lake Erie upstream 34 miles to the Springville Dam, Cattaraugus Creek supports an outstanding run of Lake Erie steelhead. The Cattaraugus is a large stream, averaging over 100 feet wide and varying from slow water near Lake Erie to boulder filled rapids in the scenic Zoar Valley area. Each year from October through April, thousands of steelhead ascend the stream to spawn. In addition to steelhead, a fair number of brown trout also run the stream in fall. Virtually all of the lower 14 miles of Cattaraugus Creek are located on the Seneca Nation of Indians Reservation. Anglers wishing to fish on the Reservation must purchase a license from the Seneca Nation; however anglers do not need a New York State license on Seneca Nation lands. Over seven miles of the Cattaraugus main stream and South Branch flow through public land on the DEC Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area. In addition, there are 3.8 miles of public fishing rights easements, all on the Cattaraugus County bank, above and below Hammond Hill Road. Anglers can also fish a short section just below the Springville Dam on the Erie County side of the stream. Very limited public access to the creek can be found at the mouth in Irving. | |
|
Clear Creek (Arcade) (PDF) |
Brown trout Rainbow trout |
Originating in the town of Freedom in northeast Cattaraugus County, Clear Creek flows northwest into Wyoming County and joins Cattaraugus Creek in the Village of Arcade. There are 5.5 miles of public fishing rights easements on this stream. Clear Creek has healthy reproducing populations of wild brown and rainbow trout. The creek has not been stocked with trout since 1992. |
|
Elton Creek (PDF) |
Brown trout Rainbow trout |
Originating in the town of Centerville in northwestern Allegany County, Elton Creek flows northwesterly through the Villages of Elton and Delevan before joining Cattaraugus Creek in northeast Cattaraugus County. There are a total of 5.4 miles of public fishing rights easements on this stream. Elton Creek has a reproducing population of wild brown and rainbow trout. In addition to the wild trout population, over six miles of the creek are stocked annually with brown trout. Elton Creek is stocked from the mouth upstream to Route 16 and from Farmersville Station to Route 98 (not shown on map). |
|
Ischua Creek (PDF) |
Brown trout Brook trout |
Ischua Creek begins near the Village of Machias in eastern Cattaraugus County, then flows southerly for over 20 miles, eventually joining with Oil Creek at Maplehurst. Over 17 miles of Ischua Creek are stocked with brown trout. The section in and upstream of Franklinville contains some wild brown trout. There are a total of 17.2 miles of public fishing rights easements on Ischua Creek. A 2.2 mile catch and release section is located near Franklinville. With this regulation, the DEC hopes to produce higher catch rates for anglers and provide year-round trout fishing opportunities. |
| Brown trout Brook trout Rainbow trout |
Lime Lake Outlet originates from Lime Lake in the northeast Cattaraugus County town of Machias. It flows north to join Elton Creek in the Village of Delevan. McKinstry Creek is an important tributary of Lime Lake Outlet. There are 4.4 miles of public fishing rights easements on Lime Lake Outlet and 4.2 miles on McKinstry Creek. Lime Lake Outlet and McKinstry Creeks are wild trout streams which have not been stocked with trout in several years. These streams have excellent, reproducing populations of wild brown trout and wild rainbow trout. Some wild brook trout are found in the upper section of McKinstry Creek. | |
| Brown trout | Little Conewango Creek flows through the Village of Randolph and joins Conewango Creek in western Cattaraugus County. There are 8.0 miles of public fishing rights easements on Little Conewango Creek. Nearby Randolph State Fish Hatchery stocks Little Conewango Creek with brown trout each spring. The stream also has a small population of wild brown trout. Elm Creek drains into Little Conewango Creek just upstream of Randolph. There are 0.4 miles of public fishing rights easements on Elm Creek, with an additional 0.5 miles of public access in Randolph Village Park. Elm Creek is not stocked with trout, however it supports an excellent population of wild brown trout. | |
|
Mansfield Creek, Goodell Creek & |
Brown trout Rainbow trout |
Mansfield Creek originates in the town of Ellicottville in north central Cattaraugus County. It flows westerly and joins the South Branch of Cattaraugus Creek. There are 6.3 miles of public fishing rights easements on Mansfield Creek. Each spring, the lower 2.5 miles of Mansfield Creek are stocked with brown trout. Above the stocked section, the stream has a healthy population of wild brown trout. Wild rainbow trout were introduced to the stream and are successfully reproducing. Goodell Creek, a major tributary of Mansfield Creek, provides fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout. Spring Run, a small tributary of Mansfield Creek holds some wild brown trout. The South Branch of Cattaraugus Creek is stocked each spring with brown trout from East Otto upstream 4.5 miles. There are 1.7 miles of public fishing rights easements on S. Branch Cattaraugus Creek, 1.0 miles on Goodell Creek and 0.5 miles on Spring Run. |
Chautauqua County
| Location (Link to PFR Map) |
Species | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Cassadaga Creek (PDF) |
Brown trout | Originating from the Cassadaga Lakes, Cassadaga Creek flows southerly through north-central Chautauqua County. There are 5.4 miles of public fishing rights easements on this stream. Each spring, the DEC stocks 4 miles of stream with brown trout from Waterman Road, upstream to Luce Road. There are also opportunities to catch warmwater species, with northern pike, muskellunge and smallmouth bass found in the stream. |
|
Canadaway Creek (PDF) |
Brown trout Rainbow trout |
Canadaway Creek, located near Dunkirk and Fredonia in Chautauqua County, supports an excellent Lake Erie steelhead run from the creek mouth upstream to Laona Falls, a total of over 6 miles of stream. Steelhead can be found in the creek from mid-October into early May. There are 0.6 miles of public access on the DEC fishing access site off Route 5 and 0.2 miles of additional public fishing rights easements. The upper section of Canadaway Creek offers inland brown trout fishing opportunities. Near the Hamlet of Griswold, there are 1.6 miles of public fishing access within DEC Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The section within the WMA is stocked with brown trout each spring. |
|
Chautauqua Creek (PDF) |
Brown trout Rainbow trout |
Chautauqua Creek flows northerly for over 15 miles before entering Lake Erie near Westfield. Each October through April, the creek offers one of the top Lake Erie steelhead runs in western New York. The lower section has long been a steelhead hot spot. Completed in 2012, a fish passage project at the Westfield Water Works Dam now provides steelhead access to an additional 10 miles of stream, winding through a deep, forested gorge. The lowest section of creek also receives runs of Lake Erie brown trout in fall and smallmouth bass in spring. There are a total of 8.5 miles of public fishing rights easements on Chautauqua Creek. A 1.3 mile catch and release only, artificial lures only section is located directly below the Westfield Water Works Dam. |
|
Clear Creek (Ellington) (PDF) |
Brown trout | Originating in the town of Charlotte in eastern Chautauqua County, Clear Creek flows southeasterly through the Village of Ellington and joins Conewango Creek in Cattaraugus County. There are 10.4 miles of public fishing rights easements and three angler parking areas on this stream. Since 2006, Clear Creek has been managed as a wild trout fishery and no hatchery trout have been stocked. Clear Creek has a healthy, reproducing population of wild brown trout from the creek mouth, upstream to the Cockaigne Ski Area. |
|
Goose Creek (PDF) |
Brown trout Brook trout |
Goose Creek flows through the Village of Ashville in southern Chautauqua County, eventually emptying into the southern basin of Chautauqua Lake. There are 5.5 miles of public fishing rights easements on this stream. Each spring, the DEC stocks 9.5 miles of stream from the Village of Ashville upstream to Wall Street near North Harmony State Forest. Goose Creek is stocked annually brown trout and brook trout. The stream also has a small population of wild brown trout, mostly in the middle section of stream. |
Erie County
| Location (Link to PFR Map) |
Species | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Cattaraugus Creek, |
Brown trout Rainbow trout |
Cattaraugus Creek originates at Java Lake in southwestern Wyoming County and flows westerly, becoming the border between Cattaraugus and Erie Counties. There are 13.8 miles of public fishing rights easements on this stream. Each spring, more than 18 miles of Cattaraugus Creek (from East Arcade downstream to the Town Line Road Bridge) are stocked with brown trout. In addition, the stream has healthy populations of wild brown and rainbow trout. Though not stocked, Hosmer Brook has excellent wild brown and rainbow trout populations. Spring Brook, a small Cattaraugus Creek tributary in Wyoming County also has wild brown and rainbow trout, as well as some wild brook trout. Hosmer Brook has 1.6 miles of public fishing rights easements and Spring Brook has 0.8 miles. |
| Brown trout Rainbow trout Smallmouth bass |
Eighteen Mile Creek and its South Branch, located near Hamburg in Erie County, support an outstanding run of Lake Erie steelhead. Together these streams provide over 13 miles of angling opportunity. Steelhead can be found in the stream from mid-October into early May. There are 1.4 miles of public fishing rights easements on Eighteen Mile Creek. In addition, over two and a half miles of the main stream and the South Branch are open to the public in the Eighteen Mile Creek County Park, owned by Erie County. The lower section of the creek offers good smallmouth bass angling opportunity in spring and summer. |
Niagara County
| Location (Link to PFR Map) |
Species | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Keg Creek (PDF) |
Rainbow trout | Keg Creek is a small Lake Ontario tributary in northern Niagara County which enters the lake about 1.5 miles east of Olcott. This fishery is very dependant on stream flow. When conditions are ideal, fish can run up to 3 miles inland. Fishing is generally best between Route 18 and the lake. The spring steelhead run is the most consistent due to snow melt and spring rains. There can be decent runs of salmon and brown trout in the fall when stream flows are high. However, during dry periods the creek experiences low flow and/or impaction by a gravel bar at the mouth. There are only 0.1 miles of public fishing rights easements on the creek. |
| Brown trout Rainbow trout |
Twelve Mile Creek and its East Branch flow through northern Niagara County to their mouths at Lake Ontario, near the village of Wilson. From fall through spring, the creeks receive good runs of steelhead and brown trout from Lake Ontario with some stray Chinook and Coho Salmon mixed in. Good trout and salmon runs are highly dependant on stream flow. There are 6.1 miles of public fishing rights easements on these streams. Additionally, access to both streams is available in Wilson-Tuscarora State Park. The town of Wilson provides a boat launching ramp on Twelve Mile Creek, and there is public access to the Wilson Public Pier at the mouth of Tuscarora Bay. The streams also provide anglers with opportunities to catch warmwater species such as northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead and yellow perch. |
Wyoming County
| Location (Link to PFR Map) |
Species | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Cattaraugus Creek, |
Brown trout Rainbow trout |
Cattaraugus Creek originates at Java Lake in southwestern Wyoming County and flows westerly, becoming the border between Cattaraugus and Erie Counties. There are 13.8 miles of public fishing rights easements on this stream. Each spring, more than 18 miles of Cattaraugus Creek (from East Arcade downstream to the Town Line Road Bridge) are stocked with brown trout. In addition, the stream has healthy populations of wild brown and rainbow trout. Though not stocked, Hosmer Brook has excellent wild brown and rainbow trout populations. Spring Brook, a small Cattaraugus Creek tributary in Wyoming County also has wild brown and rainbow trout, as well as some wild brook trout. Hosmer Brook has 1.6 miles of public fishing rights easements and Spring Brook has 0.8 miles. |
|
East Koy Creek |
Brown trout | East Koy Creek begins in central Wyoming County and flows southerly into Allegany County, passing through the Villages of Hermitage, Gainesville and Lamont. There are 13 miles of public fishing rights easements on the creek. Each spring, the DEC stocks over 13 miles of stream with brown trout from the Wyoming/Allegany County line upstream to the Village of Hermitage. Anglers can also catch wild brown trout which are found in the stream and occasionally a wild brook trout is caught. |
|
Wiscoy Creek, |
Brown trout Brook trout |
Wiscoy Creek begins in south-central Wyoming County and flows southeasterly over 15 miles into Allegany County, passing through the Villages of Bliss and Pike. Trout Brook and North Branch Wiscoy Creek are two high quality tributaries of Wiscoy Creek. Combined, there are 14.3 miles of public fishing rights easements on these three streams. Together, Wiscoy Creek, its North Branch and Trout Brook form one of the most productive watersheds for wild brown trout in New York State. Some wild brook trout are found in Trout Brook. An occasional wild brook trout is caught in Wiscoy Creek as well. |
