Oswegatchie River fishing

Oswegatchie River fishing is stocked with Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Lake Sturgeon on a river section. Also recorded: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Chinook Salmon, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Yellow Perch, and 9 more. It is stocked about 5 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Northern Pike, dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, Rock Bass, and Black Crappie, and dawn and dusk for Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, and Largemouth Bass.

Oswegatchie River
Photo: Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Last stocked
September 2025
Lake Sturgeon
Plants on record
75
Since 2011
Species stocked
3 (+15 also recorded)
Average size
8.6 in
Elevation
245 ft

Fish at Oswegatchie River

3 stocked · 15 confirmed present

Brook Trout Stocked · 32 plants · last May 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked May 2025 · avg 7.5 in · 32 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brook Trout species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 32 plants · last May 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked May 2025 · avg 11 in · 32 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide
Lake Sturgeon Stocked · 11 plants · last September 2025

Last stocked September 2025 · avg 4.2 in · 11 plants

Lake Sturgeon species guide

Brook trout exist as the primary sport-fish for the entire length of Middle Branch Oswegatchie. Chubs & bullheads are also present in its waters. Brook trout are the main sport-fish. Shiners, sunfish, suckers, chubs, minnows, bullheads and other fish may also be found in its waters. Important fish species include smallmouth bass, northern pike, musky, channel catfish, walleyes, red-finned mullet, and common carp. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

How Oswegatchie River is stocked

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

St. Lawrence River (0.6 mi) and Black Lake (11.4 mi) were stocked more recently. St. Lawrence River is also stocked with Lake Sturgeon and Black Lake is also stocked with Lake Sturgeon.

Fish stocked in 2011

5,350

Fish stocked in 2012

5,530

Fish stocked in 2013

5,230

Fish stocked in 2014

30,829

Fish stocked in 2015

18,200

Fish stocked in 2016

5,470

Fish stocked in 2017

5,900

Fish stocked in 2018

6,600

Fish stocked in 2019

7,640

Fish stocked in 2020

6,050

Fish stocked in 2021

13,490

Fish stocked in 2022

5,430

Fish stocked in 2023

1,930

Fish stocked in 2024

910

Fish stocked in 2025

4,540

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 2025Lake Sturgeon1,5000.3 inreport
May 2025Brook Trout4209 inreport
May 2025Brown Trout2,3609.15 inreport
May 2025Brown Trout26013.8 inreport
May 2024Brook Trout5909 inreport
May 2024Brown Trout2909 inreport
May 2024Brown Trout3014 inreport
October 2023Lake Sturgeon1,0005.9 inreport
May 2023Brook Trout5909 inreport
May 2023Brown Trout1509.5 inreport
May 2023Brown Trout2014 inreport
May 2023Brown Trout1509.5 inreport
May 2023Brown Trout2014 inreport
October 2022Lake Sturgeon1,3406.5 inreport
May 2022Brook Trout8309 inreport
May 2022Brown Trout33013.5 inreport
May 2022Brown Trout1,4709.5 inreport
May 2022Brook Trout1,4609 inreport
October 2021Lake Sturgeon1,4000.4 inreport
September 2021Lake Sturgeon8,0000.3 inreport
June 2021Brown Trout33013 inreport
May 2021Brook Trout8308.5 inreport
May 2021Brook Trout2,9308.5 inreport
October 2020Lake Sturgeon1,0007 inreport
March 2020Brook Trout1,0008 inreport
March 2020Brown Trout34013 inreport
March 2020Brown Trout1,9108 inreport
March 2020Brook Trout1,8008 inreport
October 2019Lake Sturgeon2,0007 inreport
May 2019Brown Trout34013 inreport
April 2019Brook Trout1,0008 inreport
April 2019Brown Trout2,3008 inreport
April 2019Brook Trout2,0008 inreport
October 2018Lake Sturgeon1,0007 inreport
May 2018Brook Trout1,0008 inreport
May 2018Brown Trout34013 inreport
May 2018Brown Trout2,2608 inreport
March 2018Brook Trout2,0008 inreport
May 2017Brook Trout1,0008 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout34013 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout2,5608.1 inreport
April 2017Brook Trout2,0008 inreport
October 2016Lake Sturgeon500–report
May 2016Brown Trout34013 inreport
May 2016Brown Trout2,2408.1 inreport
April 2016Brook Trout8008 inreport
March 2016Brook Trout1,5908 inreport
August 2015Brook Trout3,0003.7 inreport
June 2015Brook Trout5,0002.4 inreport
June 2015Brook Trout5,0002.4 inreport
June 2015Brown Trout2,2307.9 inreport
May 2015Brook Trout8809 inreport
May 2015Brown Trout34013.4 inreport
April 2015Brook Trout1,7509.3 inreport
October 2014Lake Sturgeon2,0005 inreport
September 2014Lake Sturgeon3,2502.5 inreport
June 2014Brook Trout10,0002.1 inreport
June 2014Brook Trout10,0002.1 inreport
May 2014Brook Trout1,0009.1 inreport
May 2014Brown Trout26013.7 inreport
May 2014Brown Trout859.2 inreport
May 2014Brown Trout2,2348.3 inreport
April 2014Brook Trout2,0008.5 inreport
May 2013Brown Trout34013.3 inreport
May 2013Brown Trout1,8908.9 inreport
April 2013Brook Trout1,0008 inreport
April 2013Brook Trout2,0008 inreport
May 2012Brown Trout34013 inreport
May 2012Brown Trout2,3108.1 inreport
April 2012Brook Trout9608.1 inreport
March 2012Brook Trout1,9208.2 inreport
May 2011Brook Trout9408.7 inreport
May 2011Brown Trout34013.2 inreport
May 2011Brown Trout2,2008.5 inreport
April 2011Brook Trout1,8708.7 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Ogdensburg
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
Float tube friendly
Yes
ADA accessible
No
Facilities
camping

Near the Ogdensburg mouth, Eel Weir State Park has a hard-surface ramp (55 cars), shore fishing and camping, and Heuvelton has a municipal ramp (30 cars). Far upstream, DEC hand launches sit at Edwards, Antwerp and Inlet in the Five Ponds Wilderness.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before you go.

About Oswegatchie River

The Middle Branch Oswegatchie River mostly consists of shallow and fast-moving waters. The Branch's far-upstream sections consist of small and narrow feeder streams, which are generally not favorable to canoeists due to fallen logs and overhanging alders. A two-mile section from southern Cranberry Lake to Inlet is unnavigable. (en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

Photo of Oswegatchie River
Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearest lakes

St. Lawrence River 0.6 mi last stocked October 2025 Black Lake 11.4 mi last stocked October 2025 Van Rensselaer Creek 25.2 mi last stocked April 2021 Trout Lake 25.6 mi last stocked April 2021 Plumb Brook 25.8 mi last stocked May 2025

Common questions

What fish are at Oswegatchie River?

Fishing Oswegatchie River is as likely for Brook Trout and Brown Trout. Each accounts for 32 of 75 plants on record. Brook Trout was last stocked May 2025, averaging 7.5 in. Brown Trout was last stocked May 2025, averaging 11 in. Lake Sturgeon was last stocked September 2025, averaging 4.2 in. Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Chinook Salmon, and Northern Pike, plus 11 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Oswegatchie River stocked?

Last stocked September 2025. It is stocked about 5 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May.

How big are the fish stocked at Oswegatchie River?

Stocked fish average 8.6 in. Brook Trout average 7.5 in. Brown Trout average 11 in. Lake Sturgeon average 4.2 in.

How do you get on Oswegatchie River?

Shore fishing is available, there is a boat ramp, it is float tube friendly, and it is not ADA accessible. The nearest town is Ogdensburg. Facilities include camping. Near the Ogdensburg mouth, Eel Weir State Park has a hard-surface ramp (55 cars), shore fishing and camping, and Heuvelton has a municipal ramp (30 cars). Far upstream, DEC hand launches sit at Edwards, Antwerp and Inlet in the Five Ponds Wilderness.

Which lakes near Oswegatchie River were stocked more recently?

St. Lawrence River (0.6 mi) and Black Lake (11.4 mi) were stocked more recently. St. Lawrence River is also stocked with Lake Sturgeon and Black Lake is also stocked with Lake Sturgeon.

Sources (6) +