Esopus Creek

Esopus Creek fishing

Fishing at Esopus Creek is on a river section, stocked with Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and Rainbow Trout. It is stocked about 5.1 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and Brook Trout and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout.

Last stocked

May 1, 2020

Plants on record

51

Since 2011

Species recorded

1

Average size

9.8 in

Elevation

-1 ft

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Saugerties
Shore access
Yes

DEC documents public fishing access to the Upper Esopus Creek (Big Indian to Ashokan Reservoir, well upstream of this point) via Forest Preserve, NYC DEP, and Public Fishing Rights parcels; see DEC's Trout Stream Fishing Map for parking. NYC DEP land needs a separate permit.

Sources: water_type , access , shore_notes , nearest_town , speciesFound , photos , fishing_notes , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How Esopus Creek is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of April. In 2020 it was April 1, 2020, about when it usually is.

Plattekill Creek (4.5 mi), Roeliff Jansen Kill (8.4 mi), Catskill Creek (10.3 mi), and Rondout Creek (10.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Plattekill Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout, Roeliff Jansen Kill is also stocked with Brown Trout, Catskill Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout, and Rondout Creek is also stocked with Brown Trout.

Fish at Esopus Creek

Fishing Esopus Creek is most likely to be for Brown Trout. All 51 plants on record are Brown Trout.

Brown Trout 51 plants
Plants
51 of 51
Last stocked
May 1, 2020
Average length
9.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Fishing Esopus Creek

Esopus Creek, located in Ulster County, is a 65.4-mile-long tributary of the Hudson River. The Ashokan Reservoir divides the creek into an upper stretch, which is mostly a wild mountain stream, and a lower stretch that becomes more estuarine. The Upper Esopus is considered one of the most productive wild trout streams in the Catskills, with fly fishermen visiting in great numbers. Below the reservoir, the Lower Esopus is managed as a warmwater fishery, and its estuary at Saugerties is a popular bass fishery.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org , dec.ny.gov

What to watch for

Invasive species are beginning to enter the upper creek.

Fish stocked per year

  • 19,3902011
  • 20,2302012
  • 17,4502013
  • 19,6902014
  • 19,5902015
  • 19,7102016
  • 18,9502017
  • 19,8902018
  • 20,2102019
  • 19,1402020

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 51 plants Showing 51 plants

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 1, 2020 Brown Trout 1,840 9.1 in report
May 1, 2020 Brown Trout 5,740 9.1 in report
May 1, 2020 Brown Trout 2,030 8.9 in report
April 1, 2020 Brown Trout 1,840 9.1 in report
April 1, 2020 Brown Trout 1,950 13.1 in report
April 1, 2020 Brown Trout 5,740 9.1 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 2,220 9.1 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 6,910 9.1 in report
April 1, 2019 Brown Trout 2,220 9.1 in report
April 1, 2019 Brown Trout 1,950 13.8 in report
April 1, 2019 Brown Trout 6,910 9.1 in report
May 1, 2018 Brown Trout 2,180 9.1 in report
May 1, 2018 Brown Trout 6,790 9.1 in report
April 1, 2018 Brown Trout 2,180 9 in report
April 1, 2018 Brown Trout 1,950 13.1 in report
April 1, 2018 Brown Trout 6,790 9.1 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 2,060 9.1 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 6,440 8.7 in report
April 1, 2017 Brown Trout 2,060 8.8 in report
April 1, 2017 Brown Trout 1,950 13.2 in report
April 1, 2017 Brown Trout 6,440 8.8 in report
May 1, 2016 Brown Trout 2,160 9 in report
May 1, 2016 Brown Trout 6,720 9 in report
April 1, 2016 Brown Trout 2,160 8.9 in report
April 1, 2016 Brown Trout 1,950 14.1 in report
April 1, 2016 Brown Trout 6,720 8.9 in report
May 1, 2015 Brown Trout 2,140 8.9 in report
May 1, 2015 Brown Trout 6,680 8.9 in report
April 1, 2015 Brown Trout 2,140 8.3 in report
April 1, 2015 Brown Trout 1,950 14.3 in report
April 1, 2015 Brown Trout 6,680 8.3 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 2,160 9 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 6,710 9 in report
April 1, 2014 Brown Trout 2,160 8.5 in report
April 1, 2014 Brown Trout 1,950 13.9 in report
April 1, 2014 Brown Trout 6,710 8.5 in report
May 1, 2013 Brown Trout 2,080 8.8 in report
May 1, 2013 Brown Trout 5,670 8.8 in report
April 1, 2013 Brown Trout 2,080 8.7 in report
April 1, 2013 Brown Trout 1,950 14.1 in report
April 1, 2013 Brown Trout 5,670 8.7 in report
May 1, 2012 Brown Trout 2,220 9.3 in report
May 1, 2012 Brown Trout 6,920 9.3 in report
April 1, 2012 Brown Trout 2,220 8.6 in report
April 1, 2012 Brown Trout 1,950 13.4 in report
April 1, 2012 Brown Trout 6,920 8.6 in report
May 1, 2011 Brown Trout 2,120 8.7 in report
May 1, 2011 Brown Trout 6,600 8.7 in report
April 1, 2011 Brown Trout 2,120 8.7 in report
April 1, 2011 Brown Trout 1,950 14.5 in report
April 1, 2011 Brown Trout 6,600 8.7 in report
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Species found here

Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.

  • Brook Trout : Native; best fishing between Winnisook Lake and Lost Clove Road on the Upper Esopus (source)
  • Rainbow Trout : Predominant species throughout the Wild Quality section, averaging 8-12 inches (source)

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes