Places to Fish
Fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities in New York State. One of the things that makes fishing so popular is the amount of areas which people can go to fish. On this page you'll find links to listings of fishing spots around the state. There is also information on each fishing spot such as physical features, species stocked, species occurring naturally, special regulations, and public access.
2009 Recommendations for Walleye, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel and Bass
Walleye
The walleye, the largest member of the perch family, is one of New York's most highly sought after and valued sportfish. It has the capacity to reach a considerable size, presents a challenging fishing experience to anglers, and offers exceptional quality at the table. Historically, walleyes in New York likely inhabited waters only in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, and Allegheny River watersheds. Today, primarily due to stocking and other DEC management efforts, walleyes are found in over 140 waters from all of the major watersheds of the State. Each year DEC hatcheries produce approximately 200 million fry, 350,000 spring fingerlings and 180,000 fall fingerlings to support its walleye management and restoration efforts.
Walleye in Lake Erie and Oneida Lake
Lake Erie and Oneida Lake have long been recognized as New York's premier walleye fisheries. Lake Erie is considered the top walleye destination in western New York. An abundant 2003 year class still constitutes a major portion of the fishery and many of these fish now exceed 24 inches in length. Because of this, anglers should have good opportunities to catch trophy size walleye from Buffalo to Barcelona. The walleye population in Oneida Lake has been monitored for over 50 years and has experienced significant fluctuations over that period of time. The current population has expanded and stabilized from relatively low levels in the mid to late 1990's. For further information on ongoing monitoring programs in these waters go to DEC's Freshwater Fisheries Research webpage.
Walleye on Long Island
New York boasts many other highly productive walleye waters throughout the State. On Long Island two excellent walleye fisheries have been established in Lake Ronkonkoma and Fort Pond as a result of a successful DEC stocking program. Anglers fishing these two lakes are encouraged to become angler diary cooperators. Angler cooperators keep track of their catches in diaries provided by DEC and this information is analyzed to assess the current status of the fisheries in these waters. Diaries are returned to the anglers along with a summary report, after the data has been analyzed. Interested anglers should contact the Region 1 office at (631) 444-0280.
Walleye in Southeastern New York
In Southeastern New York, dam repair on Swinging Bridge Reservoir in Sullivan County is complete and walleye fishing there should be worth the trip. Walleye can also be found in East Branch, Bog Brook, Diverting, and Boyd Corners reservoirs in Putnam County. All four of these waters are New York City water supply reservoirs and require a free New York City Public Access Permit (see link to the right).
Walleye in Otsego County
In Otsego County, Canadarago and Otsego lakes are good bets for walleye. Canadarago Lake supports a high quality, self-sustaining walleye fishery. The recent introduction of alewives to the lake is of concern, but these effective predators on young walleye have not yet had an impact on the fishery. DEC will continue to closely monitor this situation. In Otsego Lake, a high quality walleye population has been established thanks to a successful stocking program. Netting surveys in 2007 and 2008 found that adult walleye are abundant, and most of these fish are legal size. DEC is currently conducting a tagging study to determine walleye harvest rates. Tag returns from 2008 indicate that harvest rates are currently very low. Anglers keeping any tagged walleye are asked to return the tag to the Region 4 office.
Walleye in Northern and Central New York
DEC Regions 5, 6, and 7 (northern and central New York) contain about 80 percent of the state's walleye waters. These Regions support some of the most productive walleye fisheries in the state, including Tupper Lake, Union Falls Flow, Saratoga Lake, Great Sacandaga Lake, Delta Lake, Whitney Point Reservoir, and Otisco Lake. Otisco Lake's walleye population is on the rise again following several years of excellent survival of stocked walleye fingerlings. Some of these stocked walleye should reach legal length (18-inch minimum size on Otisco Lake) during the 2009 fishing season. In western New York, (DEC regions 8 and 9), anglers will find good walleye fishing in Chautauqua Lake, Silver Lake, Cuba Lake, Rushford Lake, Conesus Lake, and Honeoye Lake. Better know for its trout and salmon fishery, Lake Ontario also provides good walleye fishing in its eastern basin, particularly Henderson Harbor, Black River, and Chaumont and Mud bays. Good walleye populations can also be found in Irondequoit Bay, Sodus Bay, Braddocks Bay, Oswego Harbor, North Sandy Pond and Port Bay.
Walleye in New York's Large Rivers
For anglers interested in fishing rivers, walleyes are also thriving in a number of large river systems including the Allegheny, Oswego, Chemung, Susquehanna, Chenango, Tioughnioga, Unadilla, Oswegatchie, the Hudson downstream of the Troy Dam, and the Mohawk. Two lower Hudson River tributaries in Ulster County - the Wallkill River and Rondout Creek - have been included in recent DEC stocking efforts and angler reports indicate the successful establishment of walleye fisheries in these waters. The Delaware River is considered a productive walleye fishery, particularly the 50-mile section between Callicoon and Port Jervis. To the north, the St. Lawrence River supports a high quality walleye fishery. Western NY anglers will do well to seek out the lower Niagara River, which commonly produces large walleyes and receives relatively little pressure from walleye anglers.
Experimental Walleye Stocking Program
In 2009 DEC will implement a 5-year experimental walleye stocking program in 9 lakes throughout the northern, central and western regions of the State. These waters include Loon Lake in Region 5, Black Lake, Red Lake, and Payne Lake in Region 6, Otisco Lake in Region 7, and Redhouse Lake, and Upper, Middle and Lower Cassadaga Lakes in Region 9. These waters were chosen for stocking because natural reproduction of walleye is limited, or lacking altogether, or the lake requires an introduction of walleye in order to establish a population. Fish for this experimental program will be raised at the Oneida Hatchery and will be comprised of about 250,000 tank-raised, early stage (50 days old and about 1.5 inches long) fingerlings. These fish constitute a new category of hatchery raised fingerlings and the success of these stockings will be closely monitored by Regional Fisheries staffs on an annual basis for the next 5-7 years.
Anglers are reminded that the general statewide regulation for walleye is a 15-inch minimum length and a daily limit of 5 fish. However, many waters have special regulations where length and daily limits vary, so be sure the check the Fishing Regulations Guide.
Northern Pike
New York has developed a well-deserved reputation as a priority destination for trophy pike anglers. High quality pike waters include many of the larger Adirondack lakes such as Tupper Lake, Schroon Lake, Lake George, the Saranac Lake Chain, Cranberry Lake, First through Fourth Lakes (Fulton Chain), Long Lake, Upper Chateaugay and the St. Regis Chain of Lakes. Great Sacandaga Lake regularly provides a trophy pike fishery for anglers with a number of 20 lb+ fish having been caught in recent years. To the north, the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario embayments, and the Indian River Chain of Lakes provide quality fishing. Further south, good pike fishing can be found in Saratoga Lake and Round Lake in Saratoga County. Also northern pike abundance in the lower Mohawk River has increased from rare to common over the last two decades. They are most abundant in the 9.5 mile reach between Crescent Dam and Lock 7. Many of these fish are between 25 and 35 inches long with some 40-plus inch fish present.
Numerous pike fishing opportunities also exist in western New York, including the Upper Niagara River, Silver Lake, Quaker Lake, Findley Lake, Cuba Lake, Allegheny River, Olean Creek, Conewago Creek and Tonawanda Creek. In central New York, anglers should try Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco and Consesus lakes.
Tiger Muskellunge
DEC has been raising and stocking tiger muskellunge, a sterile, yet fast-growing cross between northern pike and muskellunge, since 1967. Approximately 75,000 9 inch long tiger muskies are annually raised at the DEC South Otselic Hatchery. These fish are used to stock 44 waters throughout the state and 30 of these are in Regions 6 and 7. Otisco Lake, in Region 7, is perhaps the State's best tiger muskellunge fishery. Numerous tigers over 15 pounds having been caught through the ice this past winter, including a potential world ice fishing record fish that weighed in at 27 pounds 5 ounces. Several other waters in Region 7 also provide excellent fishing opportunities, including Lake Como, the Lower Chenango River, and the Susquehanna River downstream of Binghamton. In the Lower Chenango and Susquehana Rivers the muskellunge season also opens on May 2 (the general Statewide muskullenge opener is the 3rd Saturday in June) to avoid confusion for anglers trying to distinguish between the two species. In Region 6, First through Fourth Lakes (Fulton Chain), Horseshoe Lake and Hyde Lake are good bets. Also, an often overlooked tiger musky fishery is found in the Mohawk River/Barge Canal from Rome downstream to Lock 16. In the eastern half of the state, good tiger musky waters include Middle Branch Reservoir, Greenwood Lake, Cossayuna Lake, Lake Durant, Lake Lauderdale, Lincoln Pond and the lower Mohawk River between the Crescent Dam and Lock 8. To the west, Conesus Lake, Lime Lake and Findley Lake provide quality fisheries.
Chain Pickerel
Chain pickerel are also very popular with a dedicated group of anglers seeking these toothy predators that typically inhabit shallow, weedy waters. Many of the best chain pickerel waters are in the southeastern section of the state (Regions 1 and 3). On Long Island, the Peconic River provides some of the finest chain pickerel fishing in the state. In Region 3 some good choices are Swinging Bridge Reservoir, Lake Superior and the Harriman Park Lakes. Other New York pickerel hotspots include Lake George, Brant Lake, Saratoga Lake and Lake Champlain in Region 5 and Black River in Region 6. In Region 7, the south end of Skaneateles Lake, the north end of Cayuga Lake, Madison Reservoir, Oneida Lake, and Tully Lake offer outstanding fishing for quality size pickerel. The Oneida Lake pickerel population appears to have increased significantly in recent years as aquatic weed beds have expanded. Good pickerel fishing in Region 8 can be found at Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake.
Black Bass
Year-round black bass angling opportunities now exist for most waters in the State. The general Statewide regulations permit catch-and-release of black bass from Dec. 1 through the Friday preceding the third Saturday in June (June 19 in 2009), with the regular, harvest permitted, season from June 20 until November 30. Anglers should be aware that there are many exceptions to the general regulations including catch and release only in Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, and Nassau counties. Also, there is no catch and release season in Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties. Other exceptions include Lake Champlain where the catch and release season runs until the second Saturday in June and on Oneida Lake, where the catch and release season runs from the first Saturday in May through the Friday preceding the third Saturday in June. Other lake-specific exceptions exist, particularly in Suffolk County, so anglers should check their Fishing Regulations Guide before hitting the water.
Black bass anglers are also reminded that a special black bass season has been in place for a number of years on Lake Erie to allow anglers to take advantage of the great fishing available for smallmouth bass during the early spring. From May 2 to the regular opener of the statewide black bass season on June 20, anglers may take one bass a minimum of 20 inches in length per day in Lake Erie and its tributaries. The use of natural baits is permitted during Lake Erie's early bass season. During the month of May, smallmouth bass fishing is very good in Lake Erie tributaries and harbors. From late May until the regular season opener in June, open lake fishing is great near reef and rocky structure in 15-20 feet of water. Bass in the two-to-five-pound range are abundant, with even larger fish not uncommon.
More about Places to Fish:
- Adirondack/Lake Champlain Fishing - Maps and fishing information for the Adirondack Region and Lake Champlain of New York State.
- Long Island/New York City Fishing - Freshwater Fishing on Long Island
- Southeastern New York Fishing - Information on fishing locations in the Hudson Valley and Catskills region of New York
- East-Central New York Fishing - Fishing opportunities in East-Central New York (Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie Counties).
- North Central New York Fishing - Fishing opportunities in North Central New York (Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, and St. Lawrence Counties).
- Central New York Fishing - Information on fishing locations in central New York
- West Central New York Fishing - Fishing opportunities in West Central New York (Chemung, Genessee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates Counties).
- Western New York Fishing - Fisheries information from western New York.
- Statewide Fishing Opportunities - New York statewide fishing opportunities.
- Finger Lakes Fishing - Information on fishing in the Finger Lakes.
- Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River Fishing - Fishing opportunities in the New York portions of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.
- Public Fishing Rights - DEC works with private landowners to ensure access to fishing waters. Currently there are more than 1,280 miles of public fishing rights (PFR) easements on more than 350 streams across the state.
- Public Fishing Rights Maps - Maps for Public Fishing Rights on selected waters in the state (DEC Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9).
- Lake Contour Maps - Contour maps of selected lakes in New York State; arranged by county.
