Otselic River fishing

Otselic River fishing is stocked with Brown Trout on a river section. Also recorded: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Walleye, and 5 more. It is stocked about 8.7 times a year since 2011, most often in March and April. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch, dawn and dusk for Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass, and dawn, dusk, and night for Rock Bass and Walleye.

Otselic River
Photo: Elli, CC0
Last stocked
March 2025
Brown Trout
Plants on record
131
Since 2011
Species stocked
1 (+11 also recorded)
Average size
9.9 in
Elevation
944 ft

Fish at Otselic River

1 stocked · 11 confirmed present

Brown Trout Stocked · 131 plants · last March 2025 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked March 2025 · avg 9.9 in · 131 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide

The Otselic River meanders 54 miles into Broome County, eventually flowing through the Whitney Point Reservoir. There are 22 miles of Public Fishing Rights along this large-sized, mostly open river. The Otselic is stocked annually with brown trout, and both stocked and wild brown trout, as well as wild brook trout, are present in the river. Smallmouth bass and walleye can also be found in the lower section of the river. (dec.ny.gov, accessed October 5, 2026)(experiencecortland.com, accessed October 5, 2026)

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

How Otselic River is stocked

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

No plants recorded in 2016.

Fish stocked in 2011

16,290

Fish stocked in 2012

16,940

Fish stocked in 2013

15,490

Fish stocked in 2014

16,500

Fish stocked in 2015

15,060

Fish stocked in 2017

14,420

Fish stocked in 2018

16,420

Fish stocked in 2019

17,480

Fish stocked in 2020

29,780

Fish stocked in 2021

5,660

Fish stocked in 2022

9,000

Fish stocked in 2023

9,000

Fish stocked in 2024

8,570

Fish stocked in 2025

8,950

Stocking history

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
March 2025Brown Trout67014.3 inreport
March 2025Brown Trout6,3009.4 inreport
March 2025Brown Trout19014.3 inreport
March 2025Brown Trout1,7009.4 inreport
March 2025Brown Trout1014.3 inreport
March 2025Brown Trout809.4 inreport
March 2024Brown Trout6,0009.2 inreport
March 2024Brown Trout67013.6 inreport
March 2024Brown Trout19013.6 inreport
March 2024Brown Trout1,6209.2 inreport
March 2024Brown Trout1013.6 inreport
March 2024Brown Trout809.2 inreport
March 2023Brown Trout3,0005.2 inreport
March 2023Brown Trout3,0006.8 inreport
March 2023Brown Trout64013.1 inreport
March 2023Brown Trout1,0606.8 inreport
March 2023Brown Trout24013.1 inreport
March 2023Brown Trout1,0605.2 inreport
March 2022Brown Trout64013.5 inreport
March 2022Brown Trout3,0006.5 inreport
March 2022Brown Trout3,0005 inreport
March 2022Brown Trout24013.5 inreport
March 2022Brown Trout1,0606.5 inreport
March 2022Brown Trout1,0605 inreport
May 2021Brown Trout4013.5 inreport
May 2021Brown Trout3709 inreport
April 2021Brown Trout4013.5 inreport
April 2021Brown Trout3708.8 inreport
April 2021Brown Trout4014 inreport
April 2021Brown Trout3709 inreport
April 2021Brown Trout24013 inreport
April 2021Brown Trout2,1208.8 inreport
March 2021Brown Trout1,4908.8 inreport
March 2021Brown Trout3708.8 inreport
March 2021Brown Trout4013.4 inreport
March 2021Brown Trout17013.4 inreport
November 2020Brown Trout4,4006.7 inreport
November 2020Brown Trout4,3006.7 inreport
November 2020Brown Trout4,3006.7 inreport
May 2020Brown Trout25013.4 inreport
May 2020Brown Trout1,8008.8 inreport
May 2020Brown Trout15013.4 inreport
May 2020Brown Trout4008.7 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout1,13013.4 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout2,0609 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout5,9609 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout24013.1 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout3308.4 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout1,4708.4 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout56013.4 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout4409 inreport
April 2020Brown Trout1,9909 inreport
June 2019Brown Trout80013.2 inreport
May 2019Brown Trout2,4808 inreport
May 2019Brown Trout4008 inreport
May 2019Brown Trout5308 inreport
April 2019Brown Trout1,13011.7 inreport
April 2019Brown Trout7,1807.9 inreport
April 2019Brown Trout24011.7 inreport
April 2019Brown Trout1,7707.9 inreport
April 2019Brown Trout56011.7 inreport
April 2019Brown Trout2,3907.9 inreport
May 2018Brown Trout2,4408 inreport
May 2018Brown Trout3908 inreport
May 2018Brown Trout5208 inreport
April 2018Brown Trout1,13011.9 inreport
April 2018Brown Trout7,0507.9 inreport
April 2018Brown Trout24011.9 inreport
April 2018Brown Trout1,7407.9 inreport
April 2018Brown Trout56011.9 inreport
April 2018Brown Trout2,3507.9 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout28013 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout2,3109 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout12013 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout3709 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout28013 inreport
May 2017Brown Trout5009 inreport
April 2017Brown Trout6,6808 inreport
April 2017Brown Trout1,6508 inreport
April 2017Brown Trout2,2308 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout38012.8 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout75012.4 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout2,4008 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout2,1508 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout4,7807.9 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout6012.8 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout18012.4 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout4208 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout3908 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout8007.9 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout18012.8 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout37012.4 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout4008 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout8008 inreport
April 2015Brown Trout1,0007.9 inreport
May 2014Brown Trout2,4108.2 inreport
May 2014Brown Trout3908.2 inreport
May 2014Brown Trout5208.2 inreport
April 2014Brown Trout1,13013.1 inreport
April 2014Brown Trout24013.1 inreport
April 2014Brown Trout56013.1 inreport
March 2014Brown Trout7,1207.6 inreport
March 2014Brown Trout1,7607.6 inreport
March 2014Brown Trout2,3707.6 inreport
May 2013Brown Trout2,3208.3 inreport
May 2013Brown Trout3308.2 inreport
May 2013Brown Trout5008.3 inreport
April 2013Brown Trout1,13011.9 inreport
April 2013Brown Trout24011.9 inreport
April 2013Brown Trout56011.9 inreport
March 2013Brown Trout6,7208.3 inreport
March 2013Brown Trout1,4507.8 inreport
March 2013Brown Trout2,2408.3 inreport
May 2012Brown Trout2,4808.3 inreport
May 2012Brown Trout4008.4 inreport
May 2012Brown Trout5308.3 inreport
April 2012Brown Trout1,23013.1 inreport
April 2012Brown Trout30013.1 inreport
April 2012Brown Trout66013.1 inreport
March 2012Brown Trout7,1808.3 inreport
March 2012Brown Trout1,7707.9 inreport
March 2012Brown Trout2,3908.3 inreport
May 2011Brown Trout2,3708.5 inreport
May 2011Brown Trout3808.5 inreport
May 2011Brown Trout5108.5 inreport
April 2011Brown Trout1,23013.1 inreport
April 2011Brown Trout6,8609.1 inreport
April 2011Brown Trout30013.1 inreport
April 2011Brown Trout1,6908.7 inreport
April 2011Brown Trout66013.1 inreport
April 2011Brown Trout2,2909.1 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
river section
Nearest town
Whitney Point
Shore access
Yes

This point is the river's mouth at Whitney Point, below the Army Corps' Whitney Point Dam, where it joins the Tioughnioga. Upstream, DEC lists 22 miles of public fishing rights with eight parking areas, mostly off Route 26, plus two hand launches in Willet.

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 Otselic River

The habitat conditions of both reaches of the Otselic River, upstream and downstream of Whitney Point Lake, were found to be of suboptimal quality. (pubs.usgs.gov, accessed October 5, 2026)

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

Photo of Otselic River
Elli, CC0

Nearest lakes

Dudley Creek 2.6 mi last stocked March 2025 Merrill Creek 5 mi last stocked April 2019 Greenwood Lake 7.1 mi last stocked April 2025 East Branch Nanticoke Creek 8.7 mi last stocked March 2025 Long Pond 8.7 mi last stocked August 2023

Common questions

What fish are at Otselic River?

Fishing Otselic River usually means Brown Trout. All 131 plants on record are Brown Trout. Brown Trout was last stocked March 2025, averaging 9.9 in. Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass, plus 7 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Otselic River stocked?

Last stocked March 2025. It is stocked about 8.7 times a year since 2011, most often in March and April. No plants recorded in 2016.

How big are the fish stocked at Otselic River?

Brown Trout stocked at Otselic River average 9.9 in.

How do you get on Otselic River?

Shore fishing is available. The nearest town is Whitney Point. This point is the river's mouth at Whitney Point, below the Army Corps' Whitney Point Dam, where it joins the Tioughnioga. Upstream, DEC lists 22 miles of public fishing rights with eight parking areas, mostly off Route 26, plus two hand launches in Willet.

Which lakes near Otselic River were stocked more recently?

Greenwood Lake (7.1 mi) was stocked more recently.

Sources (6) +