Seasons

• Trout season opens beginning of April and closes the end of September.
• Small and Large Mouth Bass Season begins at the end of June ending on November 30th.
• Walleye, Northern Pike and Pickerel are in season from the beginning of May through mid-March.
• Panfish, Yellow Perch, Bullhead, Crappie are in season all year.

atskill ponds offer excellent fishing in breathtakingly pristine settings. There are trout, bass, pickerel and panfish (including yellow perch, sunfish, bullhead, and, occasionally crappie) to be had.

Where to Go, Play, Stay & Eat Nearby! Places to Stay Nearby Places to Eat Nearby Places to Shop Nearby Recreation Nearby Historic Sites Nearby Arts Nearby 5 Miles Around 10 Miles Around 15 Miles Around 20 Miles Around 25 Miles Around

Catskill ponds fall into three general types: coldwater ponds with trout, two-story ponds with trout and warmwater species; and warmwater ponds.

Coldwater Ponds

The real gems of the Catskills are the clean, cold ponds, which provide the opportunity to catch trout. These ponds are generally located on State Forest Preserve or State Reforestation areas in undeveloped surroundings and provide a "near wilderness" experience. Early in the season, trout forage just beneath the surface and may be caught on worms, small spinning lures or streamer flies. As summer progresses and the water warms, trout seek out cooler springs, tributary inlets and deeper water where a well placed spinning lure or wet fly will often bring results. But remember trout prefer cold (55-68F) water so concentrate your efforts accordingly.

Two-Story Ponds

Many larger ponds, lakes and reservoirs in the Catskills provide a two-story fishery with bass, pickerel and panfish inhabiting the warmer upper story while brown or rainbow trout inhabit the cooler lower story, 15-40 feet below the surface. The exact depth of the lower story will vary, depending upon the specific lake and the time of year, so it pays to have a remote-reading thermometer to find the exact depth of the cooler layer. Trout in lakes tend not to associate with structure (such as weedbeds and rock piles) as do bass and pickerel. Rather, they tend to range throughout the warm water column seeking prey. Trout in these two-story lakes rarely reproduce naturally, so stocking is necessary.

Warmwater Ponds

Other ponds and lakes in the Catskills do not have the cold, well-oxygenated layer necessary for trout survival in summer. Largemouth or small-mouth bass, chain pickerel and panfish (various species of sunfish, yellow perch, bullheads and crappie) typically inhabit these warmwater lakes. Largemouth bass and chain pickerel in warmwater lakes tend to inhabit weedy areas near shore or where there is some sort of cover. These are also popular spots for panfish. Small-mouth bass prefer rockier areas. In the heat of summer, small-mouth bass seek the deeper areas by day, coming inshore in the evening to feed on smaller fish in the shallows. Fishing a surface plug can often bring fast action as night begins to fall.

Some Lakes and Ponds

While there are numerous lakes and ponds in the Catskills, the lakes and ponds mentioned here are definitely known to be open to the public.

Ice fishing (in the winter that is) is generally prohibited in waters inhabited by trout; so many famous Catskill waters can not be fished during the winter. However, many warmwater and two-story lakes offer enjoyable ice fishing for walleye, pickerel or panfish.

Alder Lake

Alder Lake is down by the corner of Ulster County where it meets the borders of Delaware and Sullivan Counties. Take Route 64, in the northward direction. You should probably check with the nice people in Margaretville for exact directions. Alder Lake is a two-story Pond with Rainbow trout, Large and small mouth bass, Chain pickerel and Panfish. Ice Fishing is permitted. Region 3)

Big Pond

Big Pond is near Alder Lake only it's on the Delaware County side of the border. Take Route 64 northward and turn east on the town road that parallels Barkaboom Stream. Again, it would be wise to check with the folk in Margaretville about the exact location. Big Pond is a two-story pond and has Rainbow trout; large and small mouthed bass, Chain pickerel and panfish. Ice Fishing is permitted. Region 4)

Little Pond

Little Pond lies just southwest of Big Pond. It seems that you take the town road that is just south of the road to Big Pond. I'd ask around for directions, if I were you. Little Pond is also a two-story pond. Little Pond has Small mouthed bass, Brown trout, Rainbow trout and panfish. Ice fishing is also allowed. Region 4)

Echo Lake

Echo Lake is near Phoenicia. Take Route 28 to Route 212, Echo Lake is near the end of Route 212. Ask some of the really nice people in Phoenicia exactly how to get there. Echo is a Coldwater Lake with Brook trout. Ice fishing is permitted. (Region 4)

Pine Hill Lake

Pine Hill Lake is right off Route 28 outside of the tiny village of Pine Hill. Pine Hill Lake is a cold place so the trout are there! Brook, Brown and Rainbow, all three! Because this is a special place for trout, ice fishing is not permitted. (Region 3)

Colgate Lake

Colgate Lake is up in Greene County. Going from Phoenicia, take Route 214 to Route 23A, heading toward Tannersville. Look for Route 23C, and follow that to County Route 78. Colgate Lake should be at the end of Route 78-- better check, though, with someone in Phoenicia. This is a coldwater lake and there are Brook trout and Brown trout here. There is no ice fishing. (Region 4)

North-South Lake

North-South Lake is also in Greene County. Coming from Phoenicia, take Route 214 to Route 23A. Or you can take Route 42 from Shandaken to Route 23A. Go through Tannersville and somewhere around Haines Falls you'll see signs for Route 18. Make the right and North South Lake is right there. North/South Lake is a famous place, artists used to paint it a lot, and it's also in a State Campground. North-South Lake is a warmwater lake with Large and small-mouthed bass and Panfish. Ice fishing is permitted. Region 4)

Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir

Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir is in Schoharie County. From Margaretville, take Route 30 north through Grand Gorge then drive on for about 5 miles. There's a big sign, so you can't miss it. There's a boat launch there, so if you have a boat, this is a good place to go. The reservoir is a warmwater lake with Small-mouthed bass and Panfish. Ice Fishing is not permitted. (Region 4)

DEC offices

Region 3
21 South Putt Corners Road
New Paltz, NY 12561
(914) 256-3161

Region 4
Route 10
Stamford, NY 12167
(607) 652-7366

The Reservoirs

The City of New York owns the two reservoirs in our neighborhood, the Ashokan and the Schoharie. These reservoirs supply our big neighbor with some of its water. You could say they are the life source of that metropolis. The City of New York is very serious about protecting these waters (and who wouldn't be?) and so has special regulations about fishing on them. A special fishing license is required. This license is free.

In order to get this license, you must appear in person, with a valid New York State fishing license at one of the following New York City Department of Environmental Protection offices:

• Box 94, Rte. 42, off Rte.55, Grahamsville, NY    914-985-7749
• Box D, Route 30, Downsville, NY    607-363-7009
• Belden Road, Carmel, NY    914-232-1300
• 1250 Broadway, 8th Floor, NY, NY    212-643-2215

Brown trout is stocked in these waters. Both reservoirs are wonderful places.

The Department of Environmental Protection will give you a regulation book that we recommend you follow carefully.

Return to Fishing Article

Return to Outdoor Life Article