West Branch Oswegatchie River fishing

Fishing at West Branch Oswegatchie River is on a river section, stocked with Brook Trout and Brown Trout. It is stocked about 3.8 times a year since 2011, most often in April and May. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

May 1, 2024

Plants on record

53

Since 2011

Species recorded

2

Average size

8.6 in

Elevation

609 ft

Access and facts

Water type
river section

Sources: water_type , fishing_notes , watch_outs

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How West Branch Oswegatchie River is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of May. In 2024 it was May 1, 2024, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2016.

Sylvia Lake (5.2 mi), Green Pond (10 mi), and Lake Bonaparte (10.8 mi) were stocked more recently. Green Pond is also stocked with Brook Trout and Lake Bonaparte is also stocked with Brown Trout.

Fish at West Branch Oswegatchie River

Fishing West Branch Oswegatchie River is most likely to be for Brook Trout. Brook Trout accounts for 42 of 53 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout.

Brook Trout 42 plants
Plants
42 of 53
Last stocked
May 1, 2024
Average length
8.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brook Trout guide.

Brown Trout 11 plants
Plants
11 of 53
Last stocked
June 1, 2022
Average length
9.1 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Brown Trout guide.

Fishing West Branch Oswegatchie River

The West Branch Oswegatchie River offers public fishing, with brook trout as the main sport-fish. Other species such as shiners, sunfish, suckers, chubs, minnows, and bullheads may also be found in its slower-moving waters. Public deeded fishing rights remain available, even with new landowners in some locations.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

What to watch for

The still waters of the West Branch Oswegatchie River are separated by hard-to-traverse rapids and/or waterfalls. Additionally, its small and narrow feeder streams are generally not favorable to canoeists due to fallen logs and overhanging alders.

Fish stocked per year

  • 2,4602011
  • 2,5302012
  • 2,4802013
  • 2,5902014
  • 2,3502015
  • 2,5602017
  • 2,6002018
  • 2,6102019
  • 2,0402020
  • 1,6002021
  • 1,6402022
  • 1,9302023
  • 1,8502024

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 53 plants Showing 53 plants

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 1, 2024 Brook Trout 1,270 10 in report
May 1, 2024 Brook Trout 580 10 in report
May 1, 2023 Brook Trout 1,350 0.7 in report
May 1, 2023 Brook Trout 580 0.7 in report
June 1, 2022 Brown Trout 110 13.5 in report
May 1, 2022 Brook Trout 950 8.5 in report
May 1, 2022 Brook Trout 580 8.5 in report
May 1, 2021 Brook Trout 950 9 in report
May 1, 2021 Brown Trout 70 13.5 in report
May 1, 2021 Brook Trout 580 9 in report
May 1, 2020 Brook Trout 800 7.9 in report
May 1, 2020 Brook Trout 650 7.9 in report
April 1, 2020 Brown Trout 590 7.5 in report
May 1, 2019 Brown Trout 710 7.7 in report
May 1, 2019 Brook Trout 800 7.8 in report
May 1, 2019 Brook Trout 200 7.8 in report
May 1, 2019 Brook Trout 650 7.8 in report
May 1, 2019 Brook Trout 250 7.5 in report
May 1, 2018 Brown Trout 700 8 in report
May 1, 2018 Brook Trout 800 8.3 in report
May 1, 2018 Brook Trout 650 8.3 in report
May 1, 2018 Brook Trout 250 8.3 in report
May 1, 2018 Brook Trout 200 8.3 in report
May 1, 2017 Brown Trout 660 9 in report
May 1, 2017 Brook Trout 800 9 in report
May 1, 2017 Brook Trout 650 9 in report
May 1, 2017 Brook Trout 250 9 in report
May 1, 2017 Brook Trout 200 9 in report
May 1, 2015 Brown Trout 680 7.9 in report
May 1, 2015 Brook Trout 700 9.1 in report
May 1, 2015 Brook Trout 570 9.1 in report
May 1, 2015 Brook Trout 220 9.1 in report
May 1, 2015 Brook Trout 180 9.1 in report
May 1, 2014 Brown Trout 690 8.1 in report
May 1, 2014 Brook Trout 800 9.6 in report
May 1, 2014 Brook Trout 250 9.6 in report
May 1, 2014 Brook Trout 200 9.6 in report
May 1, 2014 Brook Trout 650 9.6 in report
May 1, 2013 Brown Trout 580 8.2 in report
May 1, 2013 Brook Trout 800 9.3 in report
May 1, 2013 Brook Trout 250 9.3 in report
May 1, 2013 Brook Trout 200 9.3 in report
May 1, 2013 Brook Trout 650 9.3 in report
April 1, 2012 Brown Trout 710 8.2 in report
April 1, 2012 Brook Trout 770 8.8 in report
April 1, 2012 Brook Trout 620 8.8 in report
April 1, 2012 Brook Trout 240 8.8 in report
April 1, 2012 Brook Trout 190 8.8 in report
May 1, 2011 Brown Trout 680 8.5 in report
May 1, 2011 Brook Trout 750 9.4 in report
May 1, 2011 Brook Trout 610 9.4 in report
May 1, 2011 Brook Trout 230 9.4 in report
May 1, 2011 Brook Trout 190 9.4 in report
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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