Walleye in New York
walleye under the 2026 DEC rules.
- 5; minimum 15"limit
- 18 lb 2 ozrecord
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a New York water: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
The New York outline for walleye
The Empire State treats walleye as a freshwater species, regulated in 9 rule tables. For statewide, DEC lists 5; minimum 15″ and a season of may 1 – mar 15.
The heaviest one on the DEC record list weighed 18 lb 2 oz and came from St. Lawrence River in 2018. It appears on 93 New York water pages on this site. The 2025 stocking list totals 234,257,220 fish over 31 rows.
DEC’s beginner guide gives the usual size as 14-25 in./ grow to 34 in. Walleye have a shiny lining on the inside of their eyes, helping them to seek prey at night.
Size note and fact from the DEC I FISH NY beginner guide (I FISH NY Beginners' Guide to Freshwater Fishing, Chapter 1 Fishes of New York (DEC, 2016)).
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| Rule table | Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide inland waters | Statewide | 5; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Lake Erie | Lake Erie | 6; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Upper Niagara River | Upper Niagara River and tributaries | 6; minimum 15" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Lower Niagara River | Lower Niagara River and tributaries | 1; minimum 18" | Jan 1 – Mar 15 |
| Lower Niagara River | Lower Niagara River and tributaries | 3; minimum 18" | May 1 – Dec 31 |
| Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River | 3; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Delaware River | Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River | 3; minimum 18" | First Saturday in May – Mar 14 |
| Lake Champlain | Lake Champlain and tributaries to the first impassable barrier | 3; minimum 18" | First Saturday in May – Mar 15 |
| Greenwood Lake | Greenwood Lake | 3; minimum 18" | May 1 – last day of February |
| Finger Lakes | All Finger Lakes | 3; minimum 18" | May 1 – Mar 15 |
| Finger Lakes | Skaneateles Lake | No daily limit; minimum 12" | All year |
2026 DEC freshwater fishing regulations web pages (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation), read October 24, 2026; figures checked twice on October 25, 2026.
The New York record walleye
| Entry | Weight | Angler | Water | County | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 18 lb 2 oz | Brian Hartman | St. Lawrence River | St. Lawrence | May 5, 2018 |
DEC state record fish table, DEC Current NY State Record Fish table, as of December 10, 2025; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Largest walleye stockings by water
| Year | Fish stocked |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 207,959,253 |
| 2024 | 198,226,360 |
| 2025 | 234,257,220 |
data.ny.gov Fish Stocking Lists (Actual), 2023 to 2025, and the planned spring 2026 trout list; retrieved October 24, 2026.
Upstate and downstate water for walleye
Ponds and lakes holding walleye
- Oneida Lake51,324 acres
- Great Sacandaga Lake24,910 acres
- Chautauqua Lake13,304 acres
- Allegheny Reservoir12,222 acres
- Black Lake7,856 acres
- Owasco Lake6,752 acres
- Otsego Lake4,171 acres
- Saratoga Lake3,772 acres
- Conesus Lake3,206 acres
- Carry Falls Reservoir3,074 acres
- Onondaga Lake2,976 acres
- Salmon River Reservoir2,900 acres
- Delta Reservoir2,378 acres
- Otisco Lake2,266 acres
- Hemlock Lake2,074 acres
- Cross Lake1,999 acres
- Canadarago Lake1,936 acres
- Greenwood Lake1,850 acres
- Honeoye Lake1,796 acres
- Tomhannock Reservoir1,709 acres
- Sacandaga Lake1,608 acres
- Lake Pleasant1,476 acres
- Schoharie Reservoir1,159 acres
- Whitney Point Lake1,150 acres
Creeks and rivers holding walleye
- Mohawk RiverOneida County
- Hudson RiverSaratoga County
- Susquehanna RiverOtsego County
- Black RiverHerkimer County
- Chenango RiverMadison County
- Delaware RiverDelaware County
- Genesee RiverLivingston County
- Oswegatchie RiverHerkimer County
- Seneca RiverCayuga County
- West Branch Delaware RiverSchoharie County
- Chemung RiverChemung County
- Oswego RiverOswego County
- Tioughnioga RiverCortland County
- Allegheny RiverCattaraugus County
- Grass RiverSt. Lawrence County
- Schoharie Creek, Schoharie CountySchoharie County
- Unadilla RiverHerkimer County
- Indian River, Lewis CountyLewis County
DEC Recommended Fishing Lakes and Rivers lists, DEC trout reaches, stocking lists and state records; largest waters first.
More New York fish filed beside walleye
- Largemouth Bassfreshwater
- Smallmouth Bassfreshwater
- Rock Bassfreshwater
- White Bassfreshwater
- Saugerfreshwater
- Northern Pikefreshwater
- Chain Pickerelfreshwater
- Muskellungefreshwater
- Tiger Muskellungefreshwater
- Yellow Perchfreshwater
- Black Crappiefreshwater
- White Crappiefreshwater
The water near Walleye through a lens
Photo: Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: dans362, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick replies on New York Walleye
What size must a New York walleye be to keep?
5; minimum 15" under statewide, season may 1 – mar 15; other tables set their own figures.
Who holds the New York walleye record?
18 lb 2 oz from St. Lawrence River, caught by Brian Hartman (May 5, 2018).
Which pages here mention walleye?
93 water pages here list it, starting with Oneida Lake, Great Sacandaga Lake and Chautauqua Lake.
Is walleye on the DEC stocking lists?
Yes; the lists carry 98 rows, most fish going to Oneida Lake.
How does DEC classify walleye?
Freshwater on the DEC list.
Can I fish for walleye all year in New York?
May 1 – Mar 15 under statewide.
What will a license to chase walleye set me back?
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.
When were the walleye rules checked?
From the 2026 DEC regulation pages and the state record table, read October 24, 2026 and checked again October 25, 2026.