New York regulations
Walleye Regulations in New York 2026
New York walleye 2026 open seasons vary by 84 management regions. Statewide rules apply for 15″ min. Pick your region in the rule table below. Sourced from DEC.
Rules (240)
All Finger LakesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
All Fresh WatersIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 5
Ashokan ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Black LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Boyd Corners ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Butterfield LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Canadarago LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Cayuta LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Cazenovia LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Clear LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Clyde River / Erie Canal (Seneca/Wayne Counties)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
Clyde River From The Confluence With Seneca River Upstream To Lock 26 On The Erie CanalIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Cross LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Delaware River & Wes (Ny/Pa Border Water)
- Season closes
- Mar 14
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
East Branch ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Eaton Brook ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Erie Canal From The Confluence With Seneca River Upstream To Lock 26 On The Erie CanalIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Fort PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Grass LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Greenwood Lake (New York/New Jersey Border Water)
- Season opens
- May 1
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Harris LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Horseshoe LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Hyde LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Indian River From Black Lake Upstream To The Falls In RossieIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Indian River From The Confluence With The Oswegatchie River Upstream To Black LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Jamesville ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Kiwassa LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake Champlain And Tributaries To The First Impassible Barrier (New York/Vermont Border Water)
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake Erie And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, And Their TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake PleasantIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake Pleasant TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lake RonkonkomaIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Little Wolf PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Lower Niagara River And TributariesOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Mohawk River From The Confluence With The Hudson River Upstream To The Rte. 32 BridgeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Otselic River From Whitney Point Reservoir Upstream To The Cortland County Rte. 169 Bridge At Landers CornersIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Pleasant Lake (Town Of Macomb)In season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Putnam PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Rio ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Sacandaga LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Sacandaga Lake OutletIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Sacandaga Lake TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Seneca River From Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef – Onondaga County) Upstream To Seneca LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Seneca River From Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef) Upstream To Seneca LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Seneca River From The Confluence With Oneida River Upstream To Plainville Road (Hamlet Of Jacks Reef) Oswego Countyredfield ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Sixtown PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Skaneateles LakeOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Min size
- 12"
St. Regis Falls ImpoundmentIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Swinging Bridge Reservoir Ulster County Alder LakeIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Titicus ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Upper Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Waterport ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Waterport Reservoir (Livingston/Orleans Counties)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
White PondIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Whitney Point ReservoirIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Other New York fish regulations
Other regulated species in New York with current rule pages — same DEC source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)528 rules
- Lake Trout238 rules
- Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Pink)61 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)60 rules
- Northern Pike54 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)44 rules
- Stripers (Striped Bass)29 rules
- Yellow Perch16 rules
- Tog (Tautog / Blackfish)9 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)7 rules
- Channel Catfish5 rules
- Redfish (Red Drum)4 rules
- Black Sea Bass4 rules
- Bluefish4 rules
- Fluke (Summer Flounder)3 rules
- Scup (Porgy)2 rules
- Weakfish2 rules
- Largemouth Bass2 rules
- Smallmouth Bass2 rules
Frequently asked questions
When is Walleye season in New York?
Walleye season in New York runs from May 1 to Mar 15 per DEC.
What is the size limit for Walleye in New York?
Minimum size for Walleye in New York is 18 inches in All Finger Lakes, per DEC. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Walleye in New York?
Daily bag limit for Walleye in New York is 3 fish/day in All Finger Lakes, per DEC.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/newyork/fishing/region-6-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/newyork/fishing/region-5-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/newyork/fishing/region-7-regulations
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with DEC before keeping a catch.