Schoharie Reservoir Fishing
A 1,159-acre New York reservoir in Schoharie County, Delaware County and Greene County.
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Schoharie Reservoir, summed up
State hydrography maps Schoharie Reservoir at close to 1,159 acres within Schoharie County, Delaware County and Greene County. Prattsville is the closest Census place, under a mile from the lake. The DEC region covering it is Capital Region and Northern Catskills.
DEC records brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and black crappie in it. DEC has stocked it in 9 years from 2011 on.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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Tap a chip to open the New York page for that fish caught at Schoharie Reservoir.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Boat launch sites for Schoharie Reservoir
Without a mapped launch on Schoharie Reservoir, use one from the list that follows.
Trailer-friendly launches near Schoharie Reservoir
- Mine Kill State ParkLower Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir, 6 miles north
- Public Launch on Upper Blenheim-Gilboa ReservoirUpper Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir, 6 miles north
- Public Launch on Schoharie Creek near North BlenheimSchoharie Creek, 10 miles north
- Public Launch on Blazer and Travis PondsBlazer and Travis Ponds, 10 miles northwest
- Franklinton Vlaie Wildlife Management AreaFranklinton Vlaie Pond, 13 miles northeast
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Level gauge for Schoharie Reservoir
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Schoharie Reservoir Near Grand Gorge Ny | 1,119.99 ft lake elevation | Oct 26 9:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 26, 2026 9:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
DEC creel limits for Schoharie 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 |
DEC statewide seasons hold on Schoharie Reservoir except where a special regulation names the water.
Water-specific rules at Schoharie Reservoir
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season | Listed under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice fishing | see DEC rules | open all year | Schoharie 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.
Stocked fish going into Schoharie Reservoir
1 DEC stocking rows for Schoharie Reservoir, 2024 to 2024, are dominated by walleye.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 22,900 | 1.6 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.
Nearby lakes measured against Schoharie Reservoir
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schoharie Reservoir | 1,159 | 0 | 9 | yes | |
| Colgate Lake | 18 miles southeast | 29 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| Basic Creek Reservoir | 23 miles east | 245 | 0 | 7 | yes |
| Alder Lake | 25 miles southwest | 45 | 1 | 0 | |
| Big Pond, Delaware County | 26 miles southwest | 54 | 1 | 7 | yes |
| Little Pond | 27 miles southwest | 18 | 1 | 4 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Short hops from Schoharie Reservoir
Still water to try after Schoharie Reservoir
- Colgate Lake18 miles southeast
- Basic Creek Reservoir23 miles east
- Alder Lake25 miles southwest
- Big Pond, Delaware County26 miles southwest
- Little Pond27 miles southwest
Stores that outfit Schoharie Reservoir trips
- Joe's Sports Center Inc.sporting goods store, Grand Gorge, 5 miles
- Ray's Sport Shopsporting goods store, Fleischmanns, 15 miles
- Pepacton Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Delaware, 18 miles
- Northhill Outdoorssporting goods store, Margaretville, 18 miles
- Catskill Outfitterssporting goods store, Phoenicia, 22 miles
Guide businesses listing Schoharie 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
- Balsam Mechanical Inc.fishing guide, Hunter
- Catskill Mountain Wildfishing guide, Catskill
Villages and towns to stay in near Schoharie Reservoir
- Stamford10 miles
- Middleburgh17 miles
- Cobleskill22 miles
The county guides for Schoharie Reservoir
- Schoharie Countycounty seat Schoharie
- Delaware Countycounty seat Delhi
- Greene Countycounty seat Catskill
Piscifun reels matched to Schoharie Reservoir
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The water near Schoharie Reservoir through a lens
Photo: Denver Gingerich, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: 420Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Quincylvania, CC0 1.0
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick replies on Schoharie Reservoir
Up which corner of New York would I drive for Schoharie Reservoir?
Look in Schoharie County, Delaware County and Greene County, DEC Capital Region and Northern Catskills, under a mile from Prattsville.
Across how many acres does Schoharie Reservoir stretch?
State maps give about 1,159 acres.
How many launch sites touch Schoharie Reservoir?
None is mapped on it; the nearby list above has the closest.
What is on the fish list for Schoharie Reservoir?
brown trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie and chain pickerel, by DEC records.
How many bass does DEC let me keep at Schoharie Reservoir?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30. Check the special regulation rows above too.
What does a DEC license cost for Schoharie 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.
What has DEC released into Schoharie Reservoir?
Stocked 1 times between 2024 and 2024.
Where do anglers at Schoharie Reservoir get worms?
Joe's Sports Center Inc., 5 miles away, is closest.
Does Schoharie Reservoir have a water level reading?
The level band above shows USGS.
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