Waterbody · New York
Niagara River Fishing Regulations 2026
Niagara River fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are steelhead, salmon, walleye. 369 current rules across 17 species from DEC.
Rules (369)
DEC regulates 369 rules across 17 species at this water.
Walleye
Upper Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Lower Niagara River And TributariesOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
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"
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"
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"
Chinook Salmon
Upper Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
in any combination
Lower Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
(Trout & Salmon) in any combination, not to include more than 1 Atlantic Salmon, 2 rainbow trout (steelhead), or 2 Lake Trout
Lake Erie And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
in any combination
Lake OntarioOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and 1 Brown Trout in the tributaries
Lake Ontario TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and 1 Brown Trout in the tributaries
Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, And Their TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 15"
All year 3 in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) Minimum Length 15"
St. Lawrence RiverOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and 1 Brown Trout in the tributaries
Coho Salmon
Upper Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
in any combination
Lower Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
(Trout & Salmon) in any combination, not to include more than 1 Atlantic Salmon, 2 rainbow trout (steelhead), or 2 Lake Trout
Lake Erie And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 12"
All year Daily Limit 3 in any combination Minimum Length 12"
Lake OntarioOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and 1 Brown Trout in the tributaries
Lake Ontario TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and 1 Brown Trout in the tributaries
Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, And Their Tributaries
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Min size
- 15"
All year Daily Limit 3 in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout Minimum Length 15"
St. Lawrence RiverOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and 1 Brown Trout in the tributaries
Brown Trout
Upper Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
in any combination
Lower Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
(Trout & Salmon) in any combination, not to include more than 1 Atlantic Salmon, 2 rainbow trout (steelhead), or 2 Lake Trout
Rainbow Trout
Upper Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
in any combination
Lower Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Min size
- 21"
(Trout & Salmon) in any combination, not to include more than 1 Atlantic Salmon, 2 rainbow trout (steelhead), or 2 Lake Trout
Lake Trout
Upper Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
Lower Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- Dec 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
Tiger Muskellunge
Lower Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- Jun 15
- Season closes
- Dec 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 54"
Upper Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- Jun 15
- Season closes
- Dec 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 54"
Northern Pike
Lower Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 22"
Upper Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Mar 15
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 22"
Muskellunge
Upper Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- Jun 15
- Season closes
- Dec 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 54"
Lower Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- Jun 15
- Season closes
- Dec 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 54"
Atlantic Salmon
Lower Niagara River And TributariesOpen year-round
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Min size
- 25"
Niagara River And Tributaries
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 25"
All year not to include more than 1 Atlantic Salmon Minimum Length 25"
Salmon
Chautauqua Creek From The Bridge On South Gale St. Upstream 1.3 Miles To The Upper Village Of Westfield Water Intake DamCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Artificial Only
Catch and Release only
Eighteenmile Creek (Erie County) Main Branch Of The Creek (Excluding South Branch) Contained Within Eighteenmile Creek County ParkCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Artificial Only
Catch and Release only
Eighteenmile CreeksCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Artificial Lures Only
Catch and Release only for trout and salmon in creek sections described below Only Artificial lures can be used in Catch and Release sections
Brook Trout
Upper Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- Oct 15
Lower Niagara River And TributariesIn season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- Oct 15
Plus 5 more species. See the New York pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Niagara River?
DEC regulates fishing on Niagara River.
What species can I target on Niagara River?
Niagara River is best known for steelhead, salmon, walleye. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize DEC's published content. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.