Schoharie Reservoir is a reservoir in New York, near Schoharie County.
Walleye give Schoharie Reservoir a different focus from many neighboring Catskills trout waters. The reservoir is about four miles long, with relatively little aquatic vegetation, so bottom changes deserve more attention than searching for endless weed beds.
It is also part of the Catskill water-supply system. Water from Schoharie travels through the Shandaken Tunnel and Esopus Creek toward Ashokan, connecting this fishing destination to a much larger working watershed.
Choose a break you can follow in your permitted fishing boat. A jig tipped with a crawler or an allowed minnow presentation can investigate that change in depth. Use sufficient weight to keep track of the bottom, but lift periodically so the bait is not simply being dragged through debris.
The drift should be short enough to repeat. If a bite comes halfway through, return to that section and compare the next pass. Keeping the route consistent helps you learn whether depth, bottom type or boat movement is making the difference.
| Water | Schoharie Reservoir |
|---|---|
| State | New York |
| County | Schoharie |
| Surface area | 1,150 acres |
| Maximum depth | 120 feet |
A minnow-style crankbait lets you search a different part of the water column. Work it where its running depth makes sense instead of casting a shallow-diving lure over deep fish and expecting it to reach them. Check the lure’s action and clear any material caught on its hooks.
For smallmouth, try a compact soft plastic along suitable rocky shore. Pause as the lure moves down a slope, and notice whether fish respond close to the bank or after it drops farther out. That observation gives the next cast a purpose.
You do not need to alternate species every few minutes. If you brought the equipment and conditions suit it, spend enough time on the walleye plan to learn the drift before switching to a shoreline bass session.
Arrange the New York City watershed access permit before visiting. A fishing boat also needs the required steam cleaning, registration and boat tag. Approved angling boats are subject to reservoir-specific seasons; recreational boating information should not be substituted for the rules governing a fishing trip.
Ice fishing is prohibited on Schoharie Reservoir. For open water, confirm that the planned access area is available and that weather leaves you a manageable return. A modest rowboat route can become much harder when wind builds across it.
The reservoir’s depth reaches roughly 120 feet, but most first-trip decisions are simpler than that number suggests: choose a reachable section, fish a useful contour with control, and keep track of where the first signs of activity occur. Learning one stretch is a better foundation than spending the day rowing between guesses.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.
Source dates describe the evidence, not a live catch forecast. Check the managing authority before planning access or keeping fish.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.
The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.
Source checked:
This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.