Unadilla River Fishing
Stocked trout water in Herkimer County, Otsego County and Chenango County.
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The Unadilla River: length, course and access
Through Herkimer County, Otsego County and Chenango County runs the Unadilla River, a river on state hydrography. From the mapped point, New Berlin sits about 1 mile off.
About 0.9 miles of trout water sit in 1 trout reach. Reach by reach, DEC releases about 270 trout. Roughly 58.3 acres of DEC Public Fishing Rights line its banks. USGS keeps 1 active gauge on it. Paddlers use 4 launches.
NYS Hydrography flowlines, DEC trout stream and Public Fishing Rights layers, Census places, retrieved October 24, 2026.
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DEC files each Unadilla River reach under a category (Stocked (1)).
| Category | Where | Miles | Harvest rule | Stocking | Trout stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocked | From the Norfolk Southen and Western Railroad Crossing upstream to the upstream end of the Winfield Memorial Park | 0.87 | Trout, April 1 – October 15, Daily Limit – 5 with no more than 2 longer than 12" | 1st week in April | 270 |
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.
DEC trout stream management reaches (dil_water_activities layers), retrieved October 24, 2026. New York rivers.
Posted angler access, Unadilla River
Anglers may fish from the easement strips on the Unadilla River; other uses of the land stay with the owner.
DEC Public Fishing Rights layer, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Fish found in the Unadilla River
DEC sources tie these fish to the Unadilla River; others likely live there.
DEC Recommended Fishing Rivers and Streams, trout reaches, stocking lists and state records, retrieved October 24, 2026.
River gauges on the Unadilla River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Unadilla River At Rockdale Ny | 593 cfs, 4.99 ft gage height | Nov 13 2:30 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 5:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS instantaneous values, provisional; Unadilla River at Rockdale NY.
Putting a boat or kayak in on the Unadilla River
- Public Launch on Unadilla River near New Berlinhand launch, parking: 10 car and 0 car-trailer spaces, Chenango County
- Public Launch on Unadilla River near Gilbertsville (north)hand launch, parking: 10 car and 0 car-trailer spaces, Chenango County
- Public Launch on Unadilla River near Gilbertsville (south)hand launch, parking: 4 spaces (dec park field), Otsego County
- Public Launch on Unadilla River near Guilfordhand launch, parking: 10 car and 0 car-trailer spaces, Chenango County
DEC launch, angler parking and fishing site layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 24, 2026.
Sizes and bag limits on the Unadilla River
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout in inland trout streams (Apr 1 to Oct 15) | 5, no more than 2 longer than 12" | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| Trout in inland trout streams (Oct 16 to Mar 31) | No harvest; Catch and release only | Oct 16 – Mar 31 |
| Brown and rainbow trout, splake in lakes and ponds | 5, no more than 2 longer than 12" | All year |
| Brook trout in lakes and ponds | 5 | Apr 1 – Oct 15 |
| 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 limits govern the Unadilla River unless a reach rule applies.
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations (statewide table effective April 1, 2026), retrieved October 24, 2026, figures checked against the DEC pages October 25, 2026. All New York limits.
The Unadilla River stocking record
From 2023 through 2026, DEC logged 10 releases in the Unadilla River.
| Year | Species | Type | Entries | Fish | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Brown Trout | planned spring 2026 | 2 | 270 | 12 -15 inches, 9 – 10 inches |
| 2025 | Brown Trout | stocked | 4 | 520 | 14.3 in, 7 in |
| 2024 | Brown Trout | stocked | 2 | 250 | 13.7 in, 8.2 in |
| 2023 | Brown Trout | stocked | 2 | 1,440 | 13.1 in, 8.9 in |
DEC Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and DEC Current Season Spring Trout Stocking, 2026 (data.ny.gov), retrieved October 24, 2026.
Nearby to the Unadilla River, by distance
More lakes a short drive from the Unadilla River
- Chenango Lake, Chenango County7 miles
- Gilbert Lake10 miles
- Guilford Lake18 miles
- Goodyear Lake18 miles
Tackle sellers serving the Unadilla River
- Mayhood's Sporting Goods Inc.sporting goods store, Norwich, 15 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 5006 State Highway 23 Suite 1csporting goods store, Oneonta, 19 miles
- JC Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Richfield Springs, 22 miles
- Eaton Reservoir Boat Launchmarina, Madison, 25 miles
A day with a guide on the Unadilla River
- Adirondack River Outfitters, Ifishing guide, Adirondack, Old Forge
- C.P.'s Guiding Servicefishing guide, Richfield Springs
- Fort Noble, Inc.fishing guide, Cold Brook
- White Dog Trail Co.fishing guide, Ilion
Home bases for trips to the Unadilla River
- Sherburne10 miles
- Norwich12 miles
- Oneonta17 miles
- Hamilton18 miles
Rivers that pair well with the Unadilla River
- Mill Brook Reservoir3 miles
- Wharton Creek4 miles
- Butternut Creek, Otsego County12 miles
- Otego Creek13 miles
the Unadilla River across county lines
- Herkimer County
- Otsego County
- Chenango County
Piscifun kit that suits the Unadilla River water
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A field guide in photos for Unadilla River
Photo: Tommy Andriollo, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
What fishing the Unadilla River involves
Which county is the Unadilla River in?
Its channel winds across Herkimer County, Otsego County and Chenango County.
Is the Unadilla River good trout water?
It has stocked trout reaches, about 270 trout by reach.
How much water is the Unadilla River carrying?
The 1 USGS gauge appear above.
Which access sites serve the Unadilla River?
Start with Public Launch on Unadilla River near Guilford, one of 4 launches.
Is any reach of the Unadilla River catch and release?
The statewide table governs it.
Is a separate trout stamp required on the Unadilla River?
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.
Is there a bait store near the Unadilla River?
Mayhood's Sporting Goods Inc. (15 miles) is the pick.
Which fish does the Unadilla River hold, per DEC?
DEC records mention smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, chain pickerel and walleye.
Where can I bunk for a few days on the Unadilla River?
New Berlin sits roughly 1 mile off.
How often is the Unadilla River stocked?
Yes, 10 entries through 2026.
Does the Unadilla River have Public Fishing Rights?
DEC holds about 58.3 acres of Public Fishing Rights in 5 parcels along it, with 0 angler parking areas.
Plan a stream day along the Unadilla River
Read the flow band and DEC rows, then go.