Fishing · Lake Huntington, NY
Fishing at Lake Huntington
Bass, perch, pickerel and panfish — and if you’re lucky, a walleye.
Ask anyone who has wet a line here lately: the last few seasons on Lake Huntington have been amazing. Our lake is a public water with a state boat launch, a healthy mix of warm-water fish, and some genuinely big ones if you put in the time.
Let them go, so they can grow.
Every bass in Lake Huntington started as a flicker in the shallows. Some of them have been growing here for years. When you catch one, you’re holding a little of the lake’s history — and a little of its future.
We ask every angler to practice catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, take your photo quickly, and let it swim home. The fish you return today is the one your kids — and theirs — will hook someday.
Catch the moment. Release the fish. Keep the lake.
New York already requires it for bass from December 1 to June 14: catch-and-release only, artificial lures only.
What’s biting
Species in the lake today-
Illustration: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain) Largemouth bass
The lake’s headline fish. DEC’s shoreline survey found high catch rates of both large and small bass and concluded that bass angling “should be quite good.” Expect plenty of bass and the occasional big one.
NY rules Keep: June 15 – Nov 30 · 12" min · 5/day. Dec 1 – June 14: catch-and-release only, artificial lures only.
NYS DEC 2006 survey; 2018 lake study
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Illustration: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain) Smallmouth bass
First introduced in 1929, missing from surveys for decades, then back — by 2018 they appeared to have a healthy population of larger fish.
NY rules Keep: June 15 – Nov 30 · 12" min · 5/day. Dec 1 – June 14: catch-and-release only, artificial lures only.
2018 lake study
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Illustration: Sherman F. Denton, NY Forest, Fish and Game Commission report, 1903 (public domain). Via University of Washington Freshwater and Marine Image Bank Rock bass
Listed among the lake’s cool-water species in the 2018 lake study, and a regular catch for members today.
NY rules See DEC statewide regulations.
2018 lake study; local knowledge
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Illustration: First Annual Report of the Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and Forests of the State of New York, 1896 (public domain). Via University of Washington Freshwater and Marine Image Bank Chain pickerel
A toothy ambush predator, and one of the species DEC lists for Lake Huntington.
NY rules May 1 – Mar 15 · 15" min · 5/day.
NYS DEC Lake Huntington page
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Illustration: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain) Yellow perch
The 2018 lake study describes a robust population of fast-growing perch that reach large sizes, with several “memorable” fish in recent surveys.
NY rules All year · any size · 50/day.
2018 lake study
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Illustration: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain) Pumpkinseed & sunfish
Lots of quality-size panfish. The 2018 lake study calls the mix of small bass, the occasional big one, and plenty of panfish “ideal” for the casual angler.
NY rules All year · any size · 25/day.
2018 lake study
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Illustration: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain) Catfish
Catfish are part of the catch here too.
NY rules See DEC statewide regulations.
Local knowledge
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Illustration: Timothy Knepp, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (public domain) Walleye Rare
Yes, they’re here — but few and far between. Walleye aren’t native; private groups have stocked them occasionally, and DEC says they survive well and grow relatively large (2018 survey fish averaged about 21 inches). DEC’s tip: Krocodile spoons and worm harnesses.
NY rules May 1 – Mar 15 · 15" min · 5/day.
Local knowledge; NYS DEC; 2018 lake study
Brown trout were stocked by DEC every spring through 2018 but not since, and there are no trout in the lake now. In summer the deep water has no cold, oxygenated refuge where trout could survive.
Where the fish are in summer
Lake Huntington stratifies in summer, and the deep water runs out of oxygen. DEC found the lake without oxygen below about 5 meters (16 ft) through the summer of 2015, and our 2025 testing found oxygen dropping to zero below about 12 feet. Fish need oxygen, so in the warm months they live in the upper, oxygenated water above that line.
Boat access
NYS DEC hard-surface (concrete) boat launch on the west shore — on Narrowsburg Road (Route 52), just north of Lake Huntington Road, Town of Cochecton.
- Ramp
- Hard surface; most trailered boats can float on and off
- Parking
- 5 cars and trailers
- Restrictions
- DEC lists none for this launch (no electric-only rule)
- Managed by
- NYS DEC
Launch rules
- Clean, Drain, Dry is state law. Remove plants and animals from boat, trailer and gear; drain bilges, livewells, bait wells and ballast; then dry (about 5 days) or rinse with hot water before launching. How to
- The ramp and the water within 100 feet are for launching, retrieving and fishing only.
- Boats, trailers and vehicles can’t be left more than 24 hours; only vehicles used to launch may park.
- No camping or littering; fires only in designated areas.
The lake at a glance
- Elevation
- 1,207 ft
- NYS DEC
- Shoreline
- 1.6 miles
- NYS DEC
- Surface area
- 72–100 acres
- DEC figures vary by survey (71.9, 81.5, 100)
- Deepest water
- 35–49 ft
- DEC figures vary by survey
- Location
- Town of Cochecton, Sullivan County
- NYS DEC
- Regulations
- NY statewide — no special rules
- NYS DEC
Licenses & regulations
Lake Huntington follows New York’s statewide regulations — it has no special rules (it isn’t on DEC’s Region 3 special regulations list). Season, size and daily limits for each species are on the cards above (2026 rules, effective April 1, 2026).
- License: anyone 16 or older needs a New York freshwater fishing license. Under 16 fish free. Resident annual $25 (ages 70+: $5); nonresident annual $50; 1-day and 7-day licenses are also available. Buy or renew
- Free Fishing Days: DEC sets several each year when no license is needed (all other rules still apply).
- Lines: up to 3 lines in open water, and you must stay with them.
- Catch-and-release isn’t allowed for a species during its closed season (bass are the exception, with the Dec 1 – June 14 catch-and-release season).
- Don’t discard fish carcasses or parts in the water within 100 feet of shore.
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is allowed, and DEC lists Lake Huntington among Sullivan County’s popular ice-fishing waters.
- DEC’s rule of thumb: at least 3–4 inches of solid ice. Check it as you go, and fish with a buddy.
- Up to 7 lines through the ice (any combination of tip-ups and rods), each with no more than 5 lures or baits and 15 hook points.
- Shanties must show the owner’s name and address in 3-inch letters and be off the ice by March 15.
Eating your catch
The NYS Department of Health has no lake-specific advisory for Lake Huntington, so its statewide advice applies. The “sensitive” group is anyone who could become pregnant (under 50) and children under 15.
| Fish | Everyone else | Sensitive group |
|---|---|---|
| Sunfish/pumpkinseed, bluegill, yellow perch under 10" | Up to 4 meals/month | Up to 4 meals/month |
| Largemouth bass under 15", chain pickerel under 20", walleye under 19", yellow perch over 10" | Up to 4 meals/month | Up to 1 meal/month |
| Largemouth bass over 15", chain pickerel over 20" | Up to 1 meal/month | Up to 1 meal/month |
| Smallmouth bass over 15", walleye over 19" | Up to 1 meal/month | Don’t eat |
During an algal bloom
Don’t fish, swim or wade in areas with a bloom, and don’t eat fish caught there. Keep dogs out of discolored water; rinse people and pets with clean water after any contact. DOH guidance · Report a bloom to DEC · tell us at lhnylakeassociation@gmail.com
Share your catch
Landed something worth bragging about? Send a photo (released, we hope) to lhnylakeassociation@gmail.com.
Sources
- NYS DEC — Lake Huntington
- NYS DEC — Sullivan County boat launches
- NYS DEC — Lake Huntington contour map (PDF)
- NYS DEC — 2015 Lake Classification & Inventory summary (PDF)
- NYS DEC — CSLAP 2025 lake report
- State of the lake & interim management plan (SUNY Oneonta, 2018)
- LHLA Testing Assessment (2025)
- NY Open Data — DEC fish stocking records
- NYS DEC — Statewide seasons, sizes & limits (effective April 1, 2026)
- NYS DEC — Region 3 special regulations
- NYS DEC — General fishing regulations
- NYS DEC — Fishing licenses
- NYS DEC — Ice fishing
- NYS DEC — Clean, Drain, Dry
- NYS DOH — Statewide fish advisories
- NYS DOH — Harmful blue-green algae blooms
- NYS DEC — Harmful algal blooms (report a bloom)
Fish illustrations: Duane Raver and Timothy Knepp, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Sherman F. Denton (NY Forest, Fish and Game Commission, 1903); NY Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and Forests (1896). All public domain; historic plates via the University of Washington Freshwater and Marine Image Bank. Regulations change — always check DEC before you go.