Swinging Bridge Reservoir Fishing
A 885-acre New York reservoir in Sullivan County.
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Swinging Bridge Reservoir in brief
NYS Hydrography outlines give Swinging Bridge Reservoir about 885 acres of open water in Sullivan County. Ownership on the DEC lake list reads Private. Stock up in Smallwood, roughly 3 miles away. DEC groups it under Lower Hudson Valley.
DEC names smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie and walleye among its fish. Boaters can use 1 mapped launch. DEC calls the launch trailer improved. Ice status: ice fishing permitted. From 2020, DEC logged stockings in 3 years.
NYS Hydrography (NHD) outline, DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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Each chip for Swinging Bridge Reservoir traces back to the DEC lake list, a state record or a DEC stocking entry.
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds species column, DEC stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
DEC launches at Swinging Bridge Reservoir
- Public Launch on Swinging Bridge Reservoirhard surface ramp, parking: 30 spaces (dec park field); managed by Eagle Creek Renewable Energy
DEC and local launches near Swinging Bridge Reservoir
- Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area on Cliff LakeCliff Lake, 2 miles south
- Public Launch on Toronto ReservoirToronto Reservoir, 4 miles northwest
- Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area on Mongaup Falls ReservoirMongaup Falls Reservoir, 4 miles south
- Public Launch on White LakeWhite Lake, 5 miles northwest
- Lake Superior State ParkLake Superior, 5 miles northwest
- Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area on Rio Reservoir near EldredRio Reservoir, 7 miles south
DEC boat launch and fishing access layers, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Carrying fish home from Swinging Bridge 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 |
Unless a special listing below says otherwise, Swinging Bridge Reservoir follows the statewide freshwater rules.
Swinging Bridge Reservoir exceptions to statewide limits
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season | Listed under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 3; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 | Sullivan 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.
Hatchery fish released at Swinging Bridge Reservoir
Swinging Bridge Reservoir shows up 1 times in DEC stocking files from 2024 to 2024, mostly walleye.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | stocked | 1 | 18,000 | 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.
Swinging Bridge Reservoir versus the lakes close by
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | DEC species | Stocked 2023-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swinging Bridge Reservoir | 885 | 1 | 7 | yes | |
| Mongaup Falls Reservoir | 5 miles south | 106 | 1 | 0 | yes |
| White Lake, Sullivan County | 5 miles northwest | 289 | 1 | 6 | |
| Rio Reservoir | 8 miles south | 422 | 2 | 9 | yes |
| Morningside Lake | 12 miles northeast | 130 | 0 | 1 | |
| Loch Sheldrake | 13 miles northeast | 67 | 1 | 0 | yes |
NYS Hydrography, DEC launch layers, DEC lake list and stocking lists, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Places bordering Swinging Bridge Reservoir
Lakes to combine with a Swinging Bridge Reservoir trip
- Mongaup Falls Reservoir5 miles south
- White Lake, Sullivan County5 miles northwest
- Rio Reservoir8 miles south
- Morningside Lake12 miles northeast
- Loch Sheldrake13 miles northeast
Where to grab bait before Swinging Bridge Reservoir
- Rock Hill Trading Postsporting goods store, Rock Hill, 10 miles
- Lake Huntington Waterway Accessmarina, Sullivan, 12 miles
- Tom's Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Narrowsburg, 14 miles
- Trading Post Deli Inc.sporting goods store, Port Jervis, 16 miles
- Baxter Housebait and tackle shop, Sullivan, 23 miles
- Beaverkill Anglerbait and tackle shop, Roscoe, 23 miles
DEC-licensed guides for Swinging Bridge Reservoir
- Catskill Mtn. Guide Servicefishing guide, Catskill, Roscoe
Places to sleep within reach of Swinging Bridge Reservoir
- Monticello6 miles
- Liberty13 miles
- Wurtsboro16 miles
County guides sharing Swinging Bridge Reservoir
- Sullivan Countycounty seat Monticello
Reels and pliers from Piscifun for Swinging Bridge Reservoir trips
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Camera views of lakes and streams around Swinging Bridge Reservoir
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swinging Bridge Reservoir in a handful of answers
Under which DEC region does Swinging Bridge Reservoir fall?
Sullivan County, DEC Lower Hudson Valley, about 3 miles from Smallwood.
How large does Swinging Bridge Reservoir measure?
Roughly 885 acres.
Is a public launch mapped beside Swinging Bridge Reservoir?
DEC data show 1 mapped launch, such as Public Launch on Swinging Bridge Reservoir.
Which species appear on the DEC list for Swinging Bridge Reservoir?
The DEC roster names smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie, walleye and common carp.
Which daily limits apply at Swinging Bridge Reservoir?
Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Jun 15 to Nov 30): 5; minimum 12"; Jun 15 – Nov 30. DEC also lists county rules naming it, shown above.
May an out-of-towner wet a line at Swinging Bridge 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.
Is Swinging Bridge Reservoir on the DEC stocking lists?
Yes: 1 entries from 2024 to 2024, mostly walleye.
Is there a bait store near Swinging Bridge Reservoir?
Rock Hill Trading Post is roughly 10 miles away.
Can I ice fish Swinging Bridge Reservoir?
Ice status on file: Ice Fishing Permitted.
Pencil in a day on Swinging Bridge Reservoir
Read the limits above, then choose a launch.