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For the smallmouth bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 $159.99
Kensico Reservoir 22 mi
Photo: Vincent de Lagabbe, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Mount Vernon 35 mi
Photo: RoySmith, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Long Island Sound 43 mi
Photo: Russ, CC BY 2.0 
Bronx County 40 mi
Photo: GK tramrunner RU, CC BY-SA 4.0
New York lakes and reservoirs
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Middle Branch Reservoir Fishing
A 440-acre New York reservoir in Putnam County.
Pick for smallmouth bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo, nearby stand in for Middle Branch Reservoir: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Putnam County
Middle Branch Reservoir: size, place and access
Middle Branch Reservoir is a reservoir of about 440 acres, its outline lying in Putnam County. Head to Brewster Heights, under a mile away, for food and fuel. It falls in DEC Region Lower Hudson Valley.
Fish on the DEC list here: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie and common carp. Its ice entry reads ice fishing permitted.
440acres
0launches
4species on file
1counties
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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Fish DEC has found in Middle Branch Reservoir
DEC sources tie these fish to Middle Branch Reservoir; more species surely swim there.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Access
Launches on Middle Branch Reservoir
DEC maps no launch site right on Middle Branch Reservoir; try one of those listed next.
More boat launches near Middle Branch Reservoir
- California Hill State Forest LaunchWaywayanda Lake, 8 miles west
- Clarence Fahnestock State Park on Stillwater PondStillwater Pond, 9 miles west
- Clarence Fahnestock State Park on Canopus LakeCanopus Lake, 10 miles west
- Franklin D. Roosevelt State ParkMohansic Lake, 12 miles southwest
- Public Launch on Sylvan LakeSylvan Lake, 15 miles north
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Limits
Seasons and creel rules at Middle Branch 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 DEC limits govern Middle Branch Reservoir wherever a county rule below does not replace them.
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.
Compare
Comparing Middle Branch Reservoir with nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Branch Reservoir | 440 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Croton Falls Reservoir near Carmel, Putnam County, 92 acres | 1 mile southwest | 92 | 0 | 0 | yes |
| Lake Gilead | 2 miles west | 124 | 0 | 5 | yes |
| Croton Falls Reservoir near Brewster, Putnam County | 2 miles south | 280 | 0 | 0 | yes |
| Lake Gleneida | 2 miles northwest | 178 | 0 | 5 | yes |
| Croton Falls Reservoir near Carmel, Putnam County, 603 acres | 3 miles southwest | 603 | 0 | 6 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby
A few miles from Middle Branch Reservoir
New York lakes in the Middle Branch Reservoir area
- Croton Falls Reservoir near Carmel, Putnam County, 92 acres1 mile southwest
- Lake Gilead2 miles west
- Croton Falls Reservoir near Brewster, Putnam County2 miles south
- Lake Gleneida2 miles northwest
- Croton Falls Reservoir near Carmel, Putnam County, 603 acres3 miles southwest
Shops worth a stop en route to Middle Branch Reservoir
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 650 Lee Blvdsporting goods store, Yorktown Heights, 10 miles
- Lets Go Fishing Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Peekskill, 16 miles
- Peekskill Fishing Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Peekskill, 17 miles
- Charles Point Marinamarina, Westchester, 18 miles
- Croton Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Croton-on-Hudson, 19 miles
- Viking Boat Yardmarina, Westchester, 20 miles
Towns handy for Middle Branch Reservoir trips
- Brewster1 mile
- Carmel2 miles
- Lake Carmel4 miles
Counties along Middle Branch Reservoir
- Putnam Countycounty seat Carmel Hamlet
Piscifun
Piscifun picks for fishing Middle Branch Reservoir
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Photographs
Shores, kills and lakes by Middle Branch Reservoir, pictured
Photo: Vincent de Lagabbe, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: RoySmith, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Russ, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: GK tramrunner RU, CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers
Middle Branch Reservoir, asked and answered for Empire State anglers
Which New York county is Middle Branch Reservoir in?
Find it in Putnam County, DEC Lower Hudson Valley, under a mile from Brewster Heights.
How wide a footprint does Middle Branch Reservoir have?
440 acres, give or take.
Which launch site sits closest to Middle Branch Reservoir?
The launch layers list none.
Does Middle Branch Reservoir hold bass or trout?
DEC files list smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie and common carp.
Which DEC rules cover Middle Branch Reservoir?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30.
What is the out-of-state fee for angling at Middle Branch Reservoir?
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.
Does DEC stock Middle Branch Reservoir?
DEC lists no recent stocking here.
Which listed tackle counter is nearest Middle Branch Reservoir?
Dick's Sporting Goods sits about 10 miles from the water.
Does DEC permit ice fishing at Middle Branch Reservoir?
DEC notes Ice Fishing Permitted.
Hitch up and haul the boat to Middle Branch Reservoir
Every New York fee and season sits on one page.