N.Y.C. Reservoir Fishing Information

Some of the finest fresh water trout, bass, and panfish fishing is available in the 21 New York City reservoir ( 15 locations in Westchester and Putnam county and 6 in the Catskills).  All you need to fish these reservoirs and connecting rivers is a New York State freshwater fishing license and a valid N.Y.C. public access permit.

The license can be obtained at your local town’s clerk’s office or at some of the larger sporting goods stores. A 5 year N.Y.C. access permit is available at no charge and can be obtained online at N.Y.C. website www.nyc.gov/watershed .

If you want to fish the reservoirs from a boat you are required to have an aluminum boat (minimum length of 11’6) and it must remain in a designated reservoir mooring area. It must be initially brought to a D.E.P. boat permit office for inspection, cleaning, and registration. There is no charge for a two (2) year renewable permit. Stewart Marine sells, gets the boats permitted, and delivers most of the boats on local reservoirs.  The majority of the boats on the N.Y.C. reservoirs originated from Stewart Marine.

The Mahopac DEP office is now open for the 2011 season.  They are open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday only - 8am- 3pm.  If you want to place a boat on the Westchester Putnam reservoirs, you must call the DEP at 914-232-1309 and schedule a boat inspection appointment.  At this time no additional boats are allowed on Lake Glenida, Lake Gilead or Middlebranch Reservoir in Putnam County.; Cross River and Kensico in Westchester are also closed for new boats but you can get on a waiting list for these reservoirs which will be open for a limited number of new boats later in the spring or early summer.  The other 10 Westchester and Putnam County Reservoirs are open for new boats. 

Historically, in the spring, it usually takes one to three weeks to make an appointment, get your boat inspected, cleaned and put on a reservoir.  This is due to the fact that the DEP only processes 36 boats per week in their three day schedule.

The DEP will close for the winter season.  If you want to put a boat on a NYC Reservoir, you must do it by Oct 14th or be forced to wait until after April 1st.

All of the Westchester and Putnam county reservoirs can now be fished from a boat all year long providing there is no ice. 

I presently have 12-14 New, Reconditioned and Used Semi-V available for sale on a first come basis on the following reservoirs:

    Cross River Reservoir - Areas 10,11 & 13

    Muscoot Reservoir - Areas 4, 7 and 9

    Sodom Reservoir - Area 1

    Lake Gilead - Area 1

    Croton Falls Reservoir - Area 20

    Titicus Reservoir - Areas 11 & 13

    Amawalk Reservoir - Area 4

These boats are currently permitted in my name and I am able to sell and transfer these boats immediately without having to go to the DEP for the usual permitting, cleaning and delivery delays.  By purchasing one of these boats you will be able to immediately use the boat and will not have to go through the permitting process.  Call Jack Stewart on 845-277-3143.

I presently have a inventory of both new and reconditioned used 12-14’ reservoir boats.  I will bring the boat to the DEP for permitting and cleaning then deliver to the reservoir at no charge.  Please call Jack Stewart on 845-277-3143.

Any boat ordered after the DEP closes on October 15the will be stored at no charge over the winter and will be delivered after April 1, 2012 when the DEP reopens for the season.  Historically, most of the used boats I have in stock are sold during the November through March period and I have very few used boat inventory in stock until the summer months.  Act now; don't wait until next year if your are in the market for a good used reservoir rowboat.  Please call Jack Stewart on 845-277-3143.