Rio Reservoir Fishing
A 422-acre New York reservoir in Sullivan County and Orange County.
Pick for brown troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Rondout Reservoir: 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
A first visit to Rio Reservoir
Measured from its NHD outline, Rio Reservoir covers roughly 422 acres of Sullivan County and Orange County. The DEC record gives DEC as owner. About 6 miles separates the water from Eldred. Fisheries staff for Lower Hudson Valley look after it.
The DEC species column lists brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and black crappie. The access data show 2 mapped launches. Launch type, per DEC: trailer improved. The DEC lists record 11 stocking years since 2012.
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 Species DEC records at Rio Reservoir
This fish list for Rio 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 Rio Reservoir
- Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area on Rio Reservoir near Eldredhard surface ramp, parking: 10 spaces (dec park field); managed by DEC
- Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area on Rio Reservoir near Sparrow Bushhand launch, 15 car-and-trailer spaces; managed by DEC
Ramps in the neighborhood of Rio Reservoir
- Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area on Mongaup Falls ReservoirMongaup Falls Reservoir, 4 miles north
- Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area on Delaware RiverDelaware River, 5 miles south
- Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area on Cliff LakeCliff Lake, 6 miles north
- Public Launch on Delaware River near Sparrow BushDelaware River, 7 miles south
- Public Launch on Swinging Bridge ReservoirSwinging Bridge Reservoir, 7 miles north
- Public Launch on Delaware River near Barryville (east)Delaware River, 8 miles west
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
The take-home rules for Rio 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 Rio Reservoir.
Local rules for Rio Reservoir
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season | Listed under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 3; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 | Orange 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 Rio Reservoir
From 2023 through 2024, DEC logged 2 releases into Rio Reservoir, with walleye the main fish.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 8,700 | 1.6 in |
| 2023 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 10,000 | 1.5 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.
Rio Reservoir and the lakes that ring it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Reservoir | 422 | 2 | 9 | yes | |
| Mongaup Falls Reservoir | 3 miles north | 106 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| Swinging Bridge Reservoir | 8 miles north | 885 | 1 | 7 | yes |
| White Lake, Sullivan County | 13 miles north | 289 | 1 | 6 | |
| Morningside Lake | 18 miles north | 130 | 0 | 1 | |
| Loch Sheldrake | 19 miles north | 67 | 1 | 0 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby to Rio Reservoir, by distance
More lakes a short drive from Rio Reservoir
- Mongaup Falls Reservoir3 miles north
- Swinging Bridge Reservoir8 miles north
- White Lake, Sullivan County13 miles north
- Morningside Lake18 miles north
- Loch Sheldrake19 miles north
Tackle sellers serving Rio Reservoir
- Trading Post Deli Inc.sporting goods store, Port Jervis, 9 miles
- Rock Hill Trading Postsporting goods store, Rock Hill, 12 miles
- Tom's Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Narrowsburg, 17 miles
- Lake Huntington Waterway Accessmarina, Sullivan, 17 miles
A day with a guide on Rio Reservoir
- Damian Colavito Guide Servicefishing guide, Monroe
- Catskill Mtn. Guide Servicefishing guide, Catskill, Roscoe
Home bases for trips to Rio Reservoir
- Port Jervis9 miles
- Monticello11 miles
- Wurtsboro15 miles
Rio Reservoir across county lines
- Sullivan Countycounty seat Monticello
- Orange Countycounty seat Goshen
Piscifun kit that suits Rio Reservoir water
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
The fish of Rio Reservoir, pictured one by one
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: hug_78, CC BY 2.0
What gets asked about Rio Reservoir
How far is Rio Reservoir from the nearest New York town?
It lies in Sullivan County and Orange County, DEC Lower Hudson Valley, about 6 miles from Eldred.
What acreage is Rio Reservoir?
Close to 422 acres by state hydrography.
Where do I put a boat in at Rio Reservoir?
Start at Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area on Rio Reservoir near Sparrow Bush, one of 2 mapped launches.
What might bend the rod at Rio Reservoir?
Records show brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie and chain pickerel.
Which minimum sizes does DEC set at Rio 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 Rio Reservoir need a trout stamp?
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.
How often is Rio Reservoir stocked?
DEC lists 2 stockings, the latest in 2024.
Where is bait sold on the drive to Rio Reservoir?
Nearest on our list: Trading Post Deli Inc., 9 miles.
Put Rio Reservoir on the New York trip list
Get the DEC license squared away online first.