Butternut Creek, located in Onondaga County, begins near Apulia Station, flows through Jamesville Reservoir, and then combines with Chittenago Creek at Minoa. Both wild and stocked brown trout, stocked brook trout and the occasional wild brook trout can be found in this small to medium sized stream.
Public Access
There are 8.1 miles of Public Fishing Rights (PFRs) along the stream and seven official PFR parking areas.
Parking Areas
- Dodge Road From Lafayette take Route 20 east approximately .5 miles to Dodge Road. Continue .75 miles on Dodge Road to parking area.
- Apulia Road From Dodge Road parking area go back west and take right onto Apulia Road. Head north .65 miles to parking area access road on right.
- Colton Road From Apulia Road parking area continue north on Apulia Road for 1 mile. Take right onto Colton Road.
- Cascade Road From Lafayette take Route 20 east 1.5 miles to Apulia Road. Take Apulia Road south .75 miles and take left onto Cascade Road.
- Clark Hollow Road 1 From Cascade Road parking area continue east on Cascade Road. Take right onto Clark Hollow Road, 1.15 miles to parking area.
- Clark Hollow Road 2 From Clark Hollow Road 1 continue south for .8 miles to parking area.
- Route 20 From LaFayette take Route 20 east approximately 2 miles to parking area.
DECinfo Locator - Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map (Decinfo Locator is best viewed on a desktop computer).
Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide ("How to" instructions for using the fishing map on Decinfo Locator.)
Fish Species
Brown trout, brook trout, and white sucker.
General Fishing Information
The upper section of stream is small and brushed line. Most of the fishing pressure takes place during spring and early-summer, shortly after the trout are stocked. The section of Butternut Creek from its mouth (where it combines with Chittenango Creek) to Route 20 is open to trout fishing year-round.
When fishing during the cold water periods of winter and early-spring , concentrate on the deeper holes, fish slowly and keep baits near bottom. Sometimes fishing during the midday period after things have had a chance to warm up a little also helps.
Regulations
Inland Trout Stream Fishing Regulations Apply.
Fisheries Management
The Stock-Extended reach from Kinne Road upstream to Jamesville Reservoir is stocked annually by Onondaga County's Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery (CBFH) with around 2,160 brown trout (9-14") and 500 brook trout (9"). The Stocked-Extended reach from Jamesville Reservoir upstream to Route 80 is also stocked by CBFH with 5,840 brown trout (9-14") and 1,000 brook trout (9").