Top 10 Fishing Spots in Dutchess County

Are you an outdoor enthusiast in need of a new fishing spot? Well you’ve come to the right place!  Dutchess County is the perfect place to drift a fly or cast your bait or lure. But before you go, don’t forget to obtain your fishing license…it’s a New York State requirement for anyone 16-years of age or older. More information on obtaining a fishing license can be found here. 

Morgan Lake

Located in Poughkeepsie near Dutchess Community College, Morgan Lake is a 19-acre urban fishery and park which boasts a fishing pier and an abundance of trout stocked by local sportsmen’s groups. You may fish off the pier but there are no boats allowed on this lake. You can find Morgan Lake along Creek Road, just south of the college and adjacent to the College Hill Golf Course.  Morgan Lake is also a trail head for the Dutchess County Rail Trail, a perfect location for a post-fishing walk or bike ride. More info: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/60890.html

Sprout Creek

Running through the towns of Lagrange and East Fishkill, among others, Sprout Creek is a public fishing stream with brown trout and brook trout present.  The DEC stocks this creek with 6,000 brown trout annually and there is also some contribution to the fishery by wild brown trout. All this makes this creek a lot of fun to fish!  Bring your hiking shoes because you can walk for miles along this stream. Easy access from Robinson Lane Park, located on Robinson Lane in Wappingers Falls.  You can find more information about this great creek at http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/pfrsproutck.pdf.

Stissing Pond

Located on Lake Road, off Route 82/So. Main Street in Pine Plains, this pond is a known spot to catch largemouth bass using live bait or your favorite soft baits. The pond is 70 acres and is accessible by small rowboat, canoe or kayak. The boat launch is located on the east shore and has enough parking for 5 cars. Stissing Pond has good weedlines and drop-offs, giving anglers the opportunity to apply a variety of their favorite techniques to catch fish. More info: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/60924.html

Sylvan Lake

Located in the Town of Beekman, this is a prime fishing spot for the avid angler. This lake has been known to produce trout exceeding 8 pounds and some bragging sized  largemouth bass, along with a variety of other species The DEC stocks this lake with 1,700 brown trout annually. Sylvan Lake is accessible by boat, but no gas motors are permitted. Access can be had via the Sylvan Lake Beach Park at 18 McDonnell Lane, Hopewell Junction, or the DEC’s Public Car Top Boat Launch site on Sylvan Lake Road on the east shore of the lake. No trailered boats are allowed from the public launch. More info: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/60854.html     

Ten Mile River

Running along Route 22 in the Towns of Dover and Amenia, Wassaic and Webatuck Creeks and the Ten Mile River, are Public Fishing Streams. They all are quality coldwater streams that contain wild brown trout.  The Ten Mile River is stocked annually with 9,000 brown trout. Wasaic Creek has limited access. These are amazing fishing areas located in the eastern part of Dutchess County near the Connecticut border. Don’t be afraid to stay the whole day and fish till you can’t anymore! More info: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/pfrtenmilewassaic.pdf

Wappinger Creek

Wappinger Creek is the largest stream in Dutchess County, running 41.7 miles from Thompson Pond in Pine Plains to the Hudson River in New Hamburg. This creek is stocked with 12,000 brown trout and 2,000 rainbow trout each year. This is a good creek for the beginner angler. This DEC map shows the public fishing rights maps for the length of the creek.  In addition, there are several easily accessible spots located within town parks which are along the creek:  Reese Park (along Creek Road) in the village of Wappingers has a public canoe/kayak launch; Greenvale Park in the Town of Poughkeepsie (2260 New Hackensack Road) has easy creek access; the Pleasant Valley Recreation Center (1554 Main Street) has a canoe/kayak access ramp.

Wappingers Lake

Wappingers Lake, located in the Town & Village of Wappingers Falls, is a shallow impoundment of the Wappingers Creek. This 75 acre lake has a good amount of vegetation and provides opportunities for largemouth bass and chain pickerel. The best time to fish here is early morning along the edges of the lake. Bait and tackle are available nearby, as are boat rentals.  A small boat launch is available on the south shore off of Spring St in the village of Wappingers. More info: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/60950.html

Rudd Pond

Rudd Pond is located in the northeast part of Dutchess County just 2 miles north of Millerton on County Route 62. It has easy access, an abundance of largemouth bass and chain pickerel and is surrounded by state park land.  This area is part of the larger Taconic State Park at Rudd Pond Area and camping and hiking is also available - https://parks.ny.gov/parks/141/details.aspx.  This is a perfect place to enjoy a weekend or overnight outdoor getaway!  More info: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/60937.html

Hudson River

The Hudson River is the premier fishing spot in the Hudson Valley. This majestic river runs from New York City to Albany and beyond.  Some of the most popular Dutchess County access points include Riverfront Park in Beacon, Waryas Park in the city of Poughkeepsie, Quiet Cove  (just north of Marist College on Rt 9) in Poughkeepsie, Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park in Staatsburgh and Tivoli Bays in Red Hook.  Largemouth bass, perch, catfish and sunfish are all present here, as are herring shad and striped bass, seasonally. The Hudson’s striped bass fishery is considered world class, producing fish of more than 50 pounds during the spring spawning run.  

Orvis Sandanona Fly Fishing School

Millbrook is home to one of the famous Orvis Fly Fishing Schools. First-class guides and instructors at Orvis Sandanona make your fly fishing trip an experience of a lifetime. Enjoy classic New England trout waters from April through November. Their private casting ponds and trout stream are the perfect settings to brush up on your technique with one of the expert instructors. Learn the fundamentals, from how to choose gear to how to read Hudson Valley waters. Corporate and private groups are welcomed. Learn more here.