DIY Fly Fishing GuideDestinations map

Fly Fishing in New York

50 featured rivers, lakes and streams in New York, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

Ausable River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Adirondack gem with excellent wild brown and brook trout fishing. Beautiful mountain scenery.
Beaver Kill (Adirondacks) (Brook Trout)
Not to be confused with the Catskill Beaverkill. Adirondack stream with brook trout.
Beaverkill River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
The birthplace of American fly fishing. Historic water with excellent hatches and wild trout.
Black River (Smallmouth Bass, Brown Trout)
Jefferson County river with smallmouth bass and some trout. Scenic Adirondack foothills fishing.
Boquet River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon)
Eastern Adirondack stream with wild brown and brook trout. Scenic fishing near Lake Champlain.
Catharine Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Seneca Lake tributary famous for spring rainbow runs. Popular Finger Lakes fishery.
Cattaraugus Creek (Steelhead, Brown Trout)
Western NY steelhead fishery. Lake Erie tributary with excellent fall and spring runs.
Cayuga Inlet (Brown Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Rainbow Trout)
Finger Lakes tributary with brown trout and salmon. Fall runs from Cayuga Lake.
Cedar River (Brook Trout)
Central Adirondack stream with wild brook trout. Remote wilderness fishing.
Chateaugay River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Northern NY stream near Canadian border. Brook trout and some brown trout.
Chazy River (Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
Lake Champlain tributary with brown trout and bass. Northern NY fishing opportunity.
Cold Brook (Finger Lakes) (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Keuka Lake tributary with wild brown trout. Scenic Finger Lakes fishing.
Cold River (Brook Trout)
Remote Adirondack wilderness stream with native brook trout. True backcountry fishing.
Croton River System (Brown Trout)
Westchester County streams with wild brown trout. Surprising fishing near NYC.
Delaware River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
The West Branch and Main Stem offer world-class wild trout fishing. Famous hatches and large browns.
East Branch Ausable River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Adirondack freestone joining the West Branch. Wild brook and brown trout.
East Branch Delaware River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Excellent tailwater fishing below Pepacton Reservoir. Wild rainbow and brown trout.
East Canada Creek (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Herkimer County stream with wild brown trout. Less pressured alternative to West Canada.
Eighteen Mile Creek (Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Brown Trout)
Lake Ontario tributary with steelhead and salmon. Popular western NY fishery.
Esopus Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
A Catskills tailwater below the Schoharie Reservoir. Excellent rainbow trout fishing.
Fishkill Creek (Brown Trout)
Dutchess County stream with wild brown trout. Recovering fishery with good potential.
Genesee River (Upper) (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Above Letchworth Gorge with wild brown trout. Scenic canyon fishing.
Grass River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
St. Lawrence County stream with wild brook trout. Less pressured northern Adirondack fishing.
Indian River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Jefferson County stream with wild brook trout. Remote Adirondack foothills fishing.
Kinderhook Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Columbia County stream with wild brown trout. Good fishing in scenic Hudson Valley.
Little Ausable River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Lake Champlain tributary near Plattsburgh. Wild brown and brook trout.
Mettawee River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Eastern NY stream flowing to Lake Champlain. Wild brown trout in rural setting.
Mongaup River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Sullivan County tailwater with wild brown trout. Good dry fly fishing below dams.
Moose River (Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
Adirondack river system with brook trout and smallmouth bass. Multiple branches to explore.
Muscoot River (Brown Trout)
Westchester County stream with wild brown trout. Technical fishing close to NYC.
Neversink River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Historic Catskills stream with wild brown and brook trout. Technical fishing in beautiful pools.
Oak Orchard Creek (Steelhead, Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon)
Lake Ontario tributary famous for steelhead and brown trout. Excellent spring and fall runs.
Oatka Creek (Brown Trout)
Genesee Valley stream with wild brown trout. Good fishing in agricultural country.
Opalescent River (Brook Trout)
High Peaks wilderness stream below Mt. Marcy. Native brook trout in pristine water.
Oswegatchie River (Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass)
Northwestern Adirondack river with brook trout. Remote wilderness fishing experience.
Oswego River (Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout)
Major Lake Ontario tributary with salmon and steelhead. Good urban fishing opportunity.
Raquette River (Smallmouth Bass, Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Adirondack river with smallmouth bass and trout. Multiple stretches with varied fishing.
Roeliff Jansen Kill (Brown Trout)
Columbia County stream with wild brown trout. Scenic Hudson Valley fishing.
Rondout Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Ulster County Catskill stream with wild brown trout. Scenic gorge fishing.
Sacandaga River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Southern Adirondack stream with wild trout. Good public access throughout.
Salmon River (Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout)
Famous for its fall salmon and steelhead runs. Pacific salmon stocked in Lake Ontario tributaries.
Saranac River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon)
Adirondack river system with excellent brown trout. Multiple branches with diverse fishing.
Schoharie Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Catskill region stream with wild brown and rainbow trout. Historic fly fishing water.
St. Regis River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Northern Adirondack stream with wild brook trout. Scenic wilderness fishing near Canada border.
Upper Hudson River (Brook Trout, Brown Trout)
Adirondack headwaters with brook trout and some brown trout. Scenic mountain fishing.
Wappinger Creek (Brown Trout)
Dutchess County stream with wild brown trout. Good access in mid-Hudson Valley.
West Branch Ausable River (Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Premier Adirondack freestone with wild brown and brook trout. Excellent hatches in scenic gorge.
West Canada Creek (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Southern Adirondack stream with wild brown trout. Excellent hatches and scenic gorge fishing.
Willowemoc Creek (Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Another historic Catskills stream. Tributary of the Beaverkill with excellent dry fly fishing.
Wiscoy Creek (Brown Trout)
Western NY spring creek with wild brown trout. Technical fishing near Letchworth Park.

Fly Fishing in New York

Fly Fishing in Other States