Rondout Reservoir fishing

Fishing at Rondout Reservoir is on a reservoir, stocked with Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Chain Pickerel. It is stocked about 1.1 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and Yellow Perch, dawn for Lake Trout, and dawn and dusk for Smallmouth Bass.

Last stocked

May 1, 2025

Plants on record

Since 2011

Species recorded

Average size

8.3 in

Elevation

835 ft

Access and facts

Water type: reservoir
Boat ramp: No

Part of NYC's water supply network, 75 miles northwest of the city in the Catskills, split between the towns of Wawarsing (Ulster County) and Neversink (Sullivan County); a NYC DEP permit is required.

Sources: water_type , shore_notes , access , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How Rondout Reservoir is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of May. In 2025 it was May 1, 2025, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2017 and 2022.

Fish at Rondout Reservoir

Fishing Rondout Reservoir is most likely to be for Brown Trout. Brown Trout accounts for 16 of 17 plants on record, ahead of Lake Trout.

Brown Trout 16 plants

Plants: 16 of 17
Last stocked: May 1, 2025
Average length: 8.4 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Lake Trout 1 plant

Plants: 1 of 17
Last stocked: June 1, 2011
Average length: 6 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Lake Trout guide.

Fishing Rondout Reservoir

Rondout Reservoir is known for its trout, like most Catskill fishing areas. In 1998, the city's Department of Environmental Protection issued an advisory warning against eating more than one reservoir-caught smallmouth bass per month.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

Access to Rondout Reservoir is tightly restricted, with security increased since September 11, 2001. The area is regularly patrolled by uniformed DEP police. An advisory warns against eating more than one reservoir-caught smallmouth bass per month due to confirmed mercury levels.

Fish stocked per year

7,1302011
4,7002012
3,8502013
4,5702014
4,5402015
9,1402016
4,6102018
4,7002019
23,9002020
10,2302021
4,5102023
4,8202024
4,7302025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 17 plants Showing 17 plants

All species Brown Trout Lake Trout

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date	Species	Quantity	Avg. length	Source
May 1, 2025	Brown Trout	4,730	7.5 in	report
May 1, 2024	Brown Trout	4,820	8.8 in	report
May 1, 2023	Brown Trout	4,510	8.9 in	report
November 1, 2021	Brown Trout	5,300	7.3 in	report
May 1, 2021	Brown Trout	4,930	9 in	report
May 1, 2020	Brown Trout	20,000	3.2 in	report
April 1, 2020	Brown Trout	3,900	9.1 in	report
May 1, 2019	Brown Trout	4,700	9 in	report
May 1, 2018	Brown Trout	4,610	9.4 in	report
December 1, 2016	Brown Trout	4,570	–	report
May 1, 2016	Brown Trout	4,570	9.1 in	report
May 1, 2015	Brown Trout	4,540	8.8 in	report
May 1, 2014	Brown Trout	4,570	9 in	report
May 1, 2013	Brown Trout	3,850	9.2 in	report
May 1, 2012	Brown Trout	4,700	9.2 in	report
June 1, 2011	Lake Trout	2,660	6 in	report
May 1, 2011	Brown Trout	4,470	8.9 in	report

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Species found here

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

Smallmouth Bass : Listed among the species present by NY DEC's Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds dataset. (source)
Yellow Perch : Listed among the species present by NY DEC's Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds dataset. (source)
Chain Pickerel : Listed among the species present by NY DEC's Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds dataset. (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.