Pepacton Reservoir Fishing
A 5,727-acre New York reservoir in Delaware County.
Pick for brown troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Denver Gingerich, CC BY-SA 2.0
Pepacton Reservoir: size, place and access
Pepacton Reservoir is a reservoir of about 5,727 acres, its outline lying in Delaware County. Head to Downsville, some 5 miles away, for food and fuel. It falls in DEC Region Capital Region and Northern Catskills.
Fish on the DEC list here: brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, common carp and channel catfish. DEC stocking lists show releases in 14 separate years since 2011.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
For the brown trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Fish DEC has found in Pepacton Reservoir
DEC sources tie these fish to Pepacton Reservoir; more species surely swim there.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Launches on Pepacton Reservoir
DEC maps no launch site right on Pepacton Reservoir; try one of those listed next.
More boat launches near Pepacton Reservoir
- Public Launch on Delaware River (West Branch) near DelhiDelaware River (West Branch), 8 miles northwest
- Bear Spring Mountain Campground & Day Use AreaLaunt Pond, 9 miles west
- Little Pond Campground & Day Use AreaLittle Pond, 9 miles southeast
- Delaware Wild Forest LaunchBig Pond, 10 miles southeast
- Willowemoc Wild Forest LaunchWaneta Lake, 10 miles southeast
- Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management AreaRuss Gray Pond, 10 miles west
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Gauge height at Pepacton Reservoir
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Pepacton Reservoir Near Lewbeach Ny | 1,259.82 ft lake elevation | Oct 25 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 25, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Seasons and creel rules at Pepacton 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 Pepacton Reservoir wherever a county rule below does not replace them.
Where Pepacton Reservoir departs from statewide rules
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season | Listed under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout | 2, no more than 1 longer than 21"; minimum 15" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 | Delaware 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.
What DEC puts in Pepacton Reservoir
DEC stocked Pepacton Reservoir 4 times in 2023 to 2026; brown trout top the count.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Brown Trout | planned spring 2026 | 1 | 4,500 | 8 inches |
| 2025 | Brown Trout | stocked | 1 | 4,460 | 7.5 in |
| 2024 | Brown Trout | stocked | 1 | 4,550 | 8.4 in |
| 2023 | Brown Trout | stocked | 1 | 4,250 | 9.1 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.
Comparing Pepacton Reservoir with nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepacton Reservoir | 5,727 | 0 | 6 | yes | |
| Huggins Lake | 7 miles southeast | 20 | 0 | 1 | |
| Launt Pond | 9 miles west | 13 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| Little Pond | 9 miles southeast | 18 | 1 | 4 | yes |
| Big Pond, Delaware County | 10 miles east | 54 | 1 | 7 | yes |
| Alder Lake | 12 miles east | 45 | 1 | 0 |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
A few miles from Pepacton Reservoir
New York lakes in the Pepacton Reservoir area
- Huggins Lake7 miles southeast
- Launt Pond9 miles west
- Little Pond9 miles southeast
- Big Pond, Delaware County10 miles east
- Alder Lake12 miles east
Shops worth a stop en route to Pepacton Reservoir
- Al's Sport Shopsporting goods store, Downsville, 4 miles
- Trout Town Fliesbait and tackle shop, Sullivan, 11 miles
- Beaverkill Anglerbait and tackle shop, Roscoe, 11 miles
- Baxter Housebait and tackle shop, Sullivan, 11 miles
- Northhill Outdoorssporting goods store, Margaretville, 14 miles
- Pepacton Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Delaware, 15 miles
Fishing guides who work Pepacton Reservoir
- Pepacton Guide Servicefishing guide, Arkville
- River of Life Guide Servicefishing guide, Deposit
- The Catskill Anglerfishing guide, Catskill, Roscoe
- Tight Lines Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, East Branch
Towns handy for Pepacton Reservoir trips
- Delhi12 miles
- Walton13 miles
- Liberty22 miles
Counties along Pepacton Reservoir
- Delaware Countycounty seat Delhi
Piscifun picks for fishing Pepacton Reservoir
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Shores, kills and lakes by Pepacton Reservoir, pictured
Photo: Vonsky87, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page , my Commons user talk page , or my English Wikipedia user talk page ; I'll know about it a lot faster), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Quincylvania, CC0 1.0
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pepacton Reservoir, asked and answered for Empire State anglers
Which New York county is Pepacton Reservoir in?
Find it in Delaware County, DEC Capital Region and Northern Catskills, about 5 miles from Downsville.
How wide a footprint does Pepacton Reservoir have?
5,727 acres, give or take.
Which launch site sits closest to Pepacton Reservoir?
The launch layers list none.
Does Pepacton Reservoir hold bass or trout?
DEC files list brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, common carp and channel catfish.
Which DEC rules cover Pepacton Reservoir?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30. Special rules for it appear in the DEC region listing.
What is the out-of-state fee for angling at Pepacton Reservoir?
Trout and salmon need no stamp in New York; the DEC freshwater license ($25.00 resident, $50.00 nonresident, $5.00 for residents 70 and older) covers them.
Does DEC stock Pepacton Reservoir?
4 rows on the DEC lists, 2023 to 2026.
Which listed tackle counter is nearest Pepacton Reservoir?
Al's Sport Shop sits about 4 miles from the water.
What is Pepacton Reservoir reading on its gauge now?
Check the level band: USGS.
Hitch up and haul the boat to Pepacton Reservoir
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