Jamesville Reservoir Fishing
A 217-acre New York reservoir in Onondaga County.
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A first visit to Jamesville Reservoir
Measured from its NHD outline, Jamesville Reservoir covers roughly 217 acres of Onondaga County. About 4 miles separates the water from Nedrow. Fisheries staff for Central New York look after it.
The DEC species column lists tiger muskellunge and walleye. The access data show 1 mapped launch. The DEC lists record 15 stocking years since 2011.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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This fish list for Jamesville Reservoir draws on DEC listings and stocking files, not a netting survey.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Launch ramps serving Jamesville Reservoir
- Public Launch on Jamesville Reservoirhand launch, parking: 10 spaces (dec park field); managed by DEC
Ramps in the neighborhood of Jamesville Reservoir
- Helen McNitt State ParkCazenovia Lake, 10 miles east
- Public Launch on Cazenovia LakeCazenovia Lake, 11 miles east
- Lakeside Park on Cazenovia LakeCazenovia Lake, 11 miles east
- Onondaga Lake ParkOnondaga Lake, 11 miles northwest
- Morgan Hill State Forest LaunchSpruce Pond, 12 miles south
- Laborador Hollow Unique AreaLabrador Pond, 13 miles south
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
The take-home rules for Jamesville Reservoir
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Lake trout | 3; minimum 21" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30) | 5; minimum 12" | Jun 15 – Nov 30 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Dec 1 to Jun 14) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Dec 1 – Jun 14 |
| Muskellunge | 1; minimum 40" | Jun 1 – Nov 30 |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1; minimum 30" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Northern pike | 5; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Chain pickerel | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Walleye | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Black and white crappie | 25; minimum 10" | All year |
| Yellow perch | 50 | All year |
| Sunfish | 25 | All year |
| American eel | 25; minimum 9" | All year |
Statewide seasons and sizes set the baseline at Jamesville Reservoir.
Local rules for Jamesville Reservoir
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season | Listed under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 3; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 | Onondaga County |
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations (statewide table effective April 1, 2026); county special regulations from the DEC region pages; retrieved October 24, 2026, figures checked against the DEC pages October 25, 2026.
Latest stocking years at Jamesville Reservoir
From 2023 through 2025, DEC logged 5 releases into Jamesville Reservoir, with walleye the main fish.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 6,600 | 1.4 in |
| 2024 | Tiger Muskellunge | stocked | 1 | 850 | 8.5 in |
| 2023 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 6,600 | 1.3 in |
| 2023 | Tiger Muskellunge | stocked | 2 | 1,700 | 9.2 in, 9.9 in |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and DEC Current Season Spring Trout Stocking, 2026 (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 24, 2026. New York stocking.
Jamesville Reservoir and the lakes that ring it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamesville Reservoir | 217 | 1 | 2 | yes | |
| Cazenovia Lake | 10 miles east | 1,166 | 3 | 0 | |
| Onondaga Lake | 11 miles northwest | 2,976 | 1 | 8 | |
| Labrador Pond | 13 miles south | 102 | 1 | 0 | |
| Otisco Lake | 13 miles southwest | 2,266 | 1 | 9 | yes |
| DeRuyter Reservoir | 14 miles southeast | 554 | 0 | 7 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby to Jamesville Reservoir, by distance
More lakes a short drive from Jamesville Reservoir
- Cazenovia Lake10 miles east
- Onondaga Lake11 miles northwest
- Labrador Pond13 miles south
- Otisco Lake13 miles southwest
- DeRuyter Reservoir14 miles southeast
Tackle sellers serving Jamesville Reservoir
- Anglers Assn. of Onondagabait and tackle shop, Syracuse, 5 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 3469 Erie Blvd. Eastsporting goods store, Dewitt, 5 miles
- Troutfitterbait and tackle shop, Syracuse, 6 miles
- Butter-Nut Sport Shop Inc.sporting goods store, Minoa, 8 miles
- Onondaga Lake Park Marinamarina, Onondaga, 11 miles
- Mickey's Bait And Tacklebait and tackle shop, Onondaga, 12 miles
Home bases for trips to Jamesville Reservoir
- De Witt4 miles
- Manlius5 miles
- Fayetteville5 miles
Jamesville Reservoir across county lines
- Onondaga Countycounty seat Syracuse
Piscifun kit that suits Jamesville Reservoir water
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The fish of Jamesville Reservoir, pictured one by one
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
What gets asked about Jamesville Reservoir
How far is Jamesville Reservoir from the nearest New York town?
It lies in Onondaga County, DEC Central New York, about 4 miles from Nedrow.
What acreage is Jamesville Reservoir?
Close to 217 acres by state hydrography.
Where do I put a boat in at Jamesville Reservoir?
Start at Public Launch on Jamesville Reservoir, one of 1 mapped launch.
What might bend the rod at Jamesville Reservoir?
Records show tiger muskellunge and walleye.
Which minimum sizes does DEC set at Jamesville Reservoir?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30. County special regulations name it as well; see the table above.
Does Jamesville Reservoir need a trout stamp?
Anglers 16 and older need a DEC freshwater fishing license: $25.00 a year for residents, $50.00 for nonresidents, $5.00 for residents 70 and older, with 1-day and 7-day options.
How often is Jamesville Reservoir stocked?
DEC lists 5 stockings, the latest in 2025.
Where is bait sold on the drive to Jamesville Reservoir?
Nearest on our list: Anglers Assn. of Onondaga, 5 miles.
Put Jamesville Reservoir on the New York trip list
Get the DEC license squared away online first.