Our local Hunter area lakes offer wonderful family fishing. Lakes include Colgate Lake, North Lake, Rip Van Winkle Lake, and CD Lane Lake. The Schoharie Stream & its tributaries are noted for their wild brown trout.

The Esopus River contains one of the best wild rainbow trout populations in the northeast, it runs cold and clean, the legacy of the high Catskill peaks from which it rises. Esopus contains brook, brown and rainbow trout, but rainbows are easily the most abundant.

In the Catskills, stocking is delayed until later in April to allow flows to recede and water temperatures to rise. In these streams, which include such nationally renowned waters as the Beaver Kill, Willowemoc, Neversink and Esopus, wild trout and hatchery-holdovers from previous years provide the opportunity for good early season fishing.
Fishing Resources

• "Good Fishing in the Catskills" - A great resource for fisherman & is available from the Adventurous Traveler Bookstore.
• Judd Weisberg - A professional fishing guide and an expert on the Schoharie/Esopus/Beaverkill and the Delaware River and branches.
  Address: P.O. Box 177, Route 42, Lexington, NY 12452.
  Phone: 518-989-6583
• NY State Fishing rules and regulations - Licenses Are Required to Fish! Everyone must have a valid fishing license in their possession while fishing, except persons under 16 years of age.

Fishing Licenses

A fishing license is required on the entire length of all Hudson River tributaries south of the Troy Dam to the Tappan Zee Bridge even if the tributary is subject to tidal flow. When fishing on licensed fishing preserves. Local licenses available at:

• Rip Van Winkle Outfitters
  Address: Main Street, Route 23A, Tannersville
  
• Orvis Expedition Center
  Address:  Hunter Mountain, Main Lodge, Hunter
  Phone: 518 263 4666
  
• Town of Hunter Town Hall - Monday-Friday only
  Address: Haines Falls.
  Phone: 518-589-6150