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FISHING

Schuyler County is known for its abundance natural resources and rural atmosphere.  Of its 329 square miles, more than one third is dedicated public land for outdoor recreation. The Finger Lakes region offers some of the best fishing in New York State!

Fishing Licenses
For up-to-date information on the hottest spots to fish on our lakes and to obtain a fishing license, contact Seneca Marine in Watkins Glen at (607) 535-6690.  For NYS fishing license information, click here for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation or call (585) 226-2466.

Fishing Guide Services
Local guide service is available for your fishing adventure on our streams, lakes and ponds for Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout or Brook Trout.

Seneca Lake
For up-to-date information on the hottest spots to fish on Seneca Lake and to obtain a fishing license, contact Seneca Marine in Watkins Glen at (607) 535-6690.  Species Guide:  largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, pickerel, landlocked salmon, brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, smelt, pan fish, carp. Click here for boat launch sites on Seneca Lake. Click here for a Seneca Lake contour map.  

Catharine Creek The number of fish species in Catharine Creek is listed at 29. Any local fisherman will quickly vouch for the richness of the waters in and adjacent to the marsh. Catharine Creek is famous for its run of rainbow trout in the spring and hosts thousands of anglers annually. 11 miles of public fishing rights between Montour Falls & Horseheads. Wild rainbow trout April through mid-June. April 1 is opening day of NYS Trout Season. 

Queen Catharine Marsh
The Barge Canal through the 890-acre marsh is used extensively by fishermen and boaters and many people dock their boats at the various marinas along the canal. Camping is not allowed in the Marsh. The Marsh is managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Waneta & Lamoka Lakes
The area consists of 165 acres of marsh and open water that provides habitat for waterfowl, furbearers, songbirds, fish, and wetland-dependent wildlife. The area is easily accessed from County Road 23, approximately twelve miles west of Watkins Glen. A parking area and boat launch is provided for the convenience of area visitors, which also provides access to the two lakes where excellent fishing opportunities exist. For up-to-date information on the hottest spots to fish on Waneta & Lamoka Lakes, contact All Outdoors, Route 230, Town of Wayne. (607) 292-3714. Species Guide - Waneta:  Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, muskilunge, pan fish, carp. Species Guide - Lamoka:  Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pickerel, muskilunge, pan fish, carp. 

Click here for boat launch sites on Waneta & Lamoka Lakes. 
Click here for a Waneta Lake contour map.
Click here for a Lamoka Lake contour map.

Cayuta Lake
For up-to-date information on the hottest spots to fish on Cayuta Lake, contact Seneca Marine in Watkins Glen at (607) 535-6690. 

Click here for boat launch sites on Cayuta Lake.
Click here for a Cayuta Lake contour map.

Cayuta Creek
Cayuta Creek contains brown trout, some wild, but mostly stocked fish. Each year the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) stocks over 12,000 brown trout including a large number of two-year-old fish in Cayuta Creek.

Finger Lakes National Forest
The opening of fishing season in the spring, as well as summer days, are popular for fishing in the forest's ponds and streams.  Ballard, Foster, and Potomac Ponds are stocked annually with rainbow and brook trout in cooperation with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Many ponds on the forest contain a healthy population of largemouth bass.  Other warm water fish that can be caught in several of the ponds include: brown bullhead, yellow perch, and sunfish. Streams offer seasonal angling opportunities for rainbow and brown trout. This is a very popular fishery with local anglers and their families, especially for the forest's annual Youth Fishing Derby.

Accessibility -
Ballard Pond is now handicap accessible.

Arnot Forest
The Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, located in Schuyler County, is open to the public and the following activities are permitted during hours of operation: Fishing allowed (restricted in some areas). Camping is not permitted. For more information:  www.dnr.cornell.edu/arnot

Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area
Connecticut Hill is open to the public all year around and offers a wide variety of outdoor pursuits including fishing. Connecticut Hill is the largest Wildlife Management Area in New York State, totaling 11,045 acres. It's located 16 miles southwest of Ithaca and 1 mile northeast of Alpine, astride the Tompkins-Schuyler County lines. State Route 13 provides access to the eastern side of the area. Since Connecticut Hill is a Wildlife Management Area, activities not generally compatible with wildlife are prohibited. A few of the prohibited activities include off road vehicular travel (such as snowmobiles, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles), swimming, and boating with motors.  For more on fishing in the Finger Lakes Region, go to http://www.ilovenyfishing.com/New_York_State_Links.asp


HUNTING

Hunting is among the most popular forms of wildlife recreation in New York State. Nearly 700,000 New Yorkers and over 50,000 nonresidents hunt in the Empire State. New York offers many exciting opportunities to hunt a large variety of wildlife, including big game, small game, game birds and furbearers. Schuyler County abounds with deer and other game to the delight of hunters.  Wild game include white tail deer, ruffed grouse, rabbit & wild turkey - to name a few.  Hunters can enjoy a stay at a local game preserve and take part in a guided hunt, or make use of our many acres of public land.

Hunting Licenses
In Schuyler County (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Region 8) many state lands are open for hunting and trapping during the appropriate seasons. A license is required to hunt. Contact the NYS DEC Regional Office at (585) 226-2466, or click here for hunting seasons and licensing information. Wildlife staff can provide information about wildlife management areas (WMAs) and Cooperative Hunting Areas.  Forestry staff and NYS Forest Rangers can provide details on state forest lands and the forest preserve. In some instances, written permission or permits are required to use state areas. These are available from NYS DEC Regional Offices during normal business hours.  

Hunting Guide Services If a guided hunt is more your taste, a local game preserve may be just right for your expedition or if you enjoy bow hunting a seasoned guide is just the way to explore the beautiful public and private lands of Schuyler County during the fall foliage season. 

Finger Lakes National Forest
The Finger Lakes National Forest - New York State's only national forest - set along the scenic ridges between Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake - offers unlimited recreation opportunities any season of the year. > Autumn is very popular for hunting in the woods and brush lands of the forest.  Small and big game hunting. No special hunting permits required. Arnot Forest The Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, located in Schuyler County, is open to the public and the following activities are permitted during hours of operation: Small game and deer hunting on an annual fee basis. Camping is not permitted. For more information:  www.dnr.cornell.edu/arnot

Queen Catharine Marsh
Recreational opportunity abounds on the Marsh, including hunting, fishing, and trapping.  Hunting opportunity exists for such popular species as ducks, raccoon, rabbits, pheasant and deer, while trappers may pursue the numerous muskrats as well as other fur-bearers. Camping is not allowed in the Marsh. The Marsh is managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Waneta-Lamoka Lakes Wildlife Management Area
The Waneta-Lamoka Wildlife Management Area is located in the Town of Tyrone in Schuyler County. As its name implies, this tract of land lies between Waneta and Lamoka Lakes, two of New York's smaller Finger Lakes. The area is administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Fish and Wildlife to provide habitat for native and migratory wildlife and to provide for compatible public recreational uses of these natural resources. The area consists of 165 acres of marsh and open water that provides habitat for waterfowl, furbearers, songbirds, fish, and wetland-dependent wildlife. The area is easily accessed from County Road 23, approximately seven miles east of Hammondsport. A parking area and boat launch is provided for the convenience of area visitors, which also provides access to the two lakes where excellent fishing opportunities exist. The popular Sugar Hill State Forest and Watkins Glen State Park are located nearby. Permitted uses include hunting, and trapping, fishing. Camping, offroad vehicles, swimming, placement of permanent blinds, removal of vegetation, and littering, are prohibited. Please respect the rights of the neighbors and other users while visiting the area.

Sugar Hill
The Sugar Hill, Cinnamon Lake, Goundry Hill, and Coon Hollow State Forests cover almost 12,000 acres west of Watkins Glen in Schuyler County. Hunting opportunities vary with the habitat. Possibilities include waterfowl, big game and small game. The Sugar Hill State Reforestation Area operates under the New York State  Department of Environmental Conservation.  For more information contact the Forest Ranger at (607) 292-6822.

Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area
Connecticut Hill is open to the public all year around and offers a wide variety of outdoor pursuits including hunting and trapping. Connecticut Hill is the largest Wildlife Management Area in New York State, totaling 11,045 acres. It's located 16 miles southwest of Ithaca and 1 mile northeast of Alpine, astride the Tompkins-Schuyler County lines. State Route 13 provides access to the eastern side of the area. Since Connecticut Hill is a Wildlife Management Area, activities not generally compatible with wildlife are prohibited. A few of the prohibited activities include off road vehicular travel (such as snowmobiles, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles), swimming, and boating with motors.