Mohawk Dam
Place to Fish

Mohawk River/Barge Canal

Lock on Mohawk River

From its origin at the confluence of the West Branch Mohawk River and East Branch Mohawk River in north-central Oneida County, the Mohawk River flows eastward for 149 miles until it enters the Hudson River in Cohoes, NY. It is the longest tributary of the Hudson River. East of Rome, NY, the river and adjoining Erie (Barge) Canal has five permanent dams, nine seasonal/moveable dams, and five active hydropower plants. This section is a highly modified, complex system that provides a diverse warmwater fishery.

Fish Species

Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, tiger muskellunge, yellow perch, black crappie, pumpkinseed, bluegill, rock bass, brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp

Fishing

Person fishing in front of small falls

The main river/canal supports a popular and productive warmwater fishery for smallmouth bass and walleye due in large part to sufficient recreational boating and shore access for anglers, close proximity to several urban areas, and an abundance of forage fish, including blueback herring. Other popular target species include largemouth bass, northern pike, channel catfish, tiger muskie, and various panfish such as yellow perch and black crappie. Tiger muskie are currently the only fish stocked by DEC in the (upper) river/canal, yet some stocked trout venture in/out of the Mohawk from tributary streams in the colder months. Overall, the river/canal supports self-sustaining populations of most resident fishes, but populations are often segregated among the different lock pools, especially for those undergoing major seasonal drawdowns. Fishing on the river/canal tends to be best downstream of the locks. Anglers should look for current breaks where sportfish are likely to be feeding. Live bait and a variety of artificial baits such as swimbaits, shallow running crankbaits, spinners and jerkbaits work well. 

Regulations

Most of the Mohawk River/Barge Canal is managed under statewide fishing regulations. 
Special fishing regulations apply to small sections in Region 4 and Region 6. 

Access

  • Loudon Road – on the southeast side of Route 9 bridge. 10 cars.
  • Town of Colonie Park. 10 cars and trailers, 20 cars

For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Albany County page.

  • Lock 6 State Canal Park. 50 cars and trailers
  • Crescent Park. 8 cars.
  • Dunsbach Ferry. 5 cars.
  • Mohawk Landing Nature Preserve. 10 cars, 2 cars with trailers.

For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Saratoga County page.

  • Freemans Bridge. 13 cars with trailers, 8 cars.
  • Lock 7 Park. 12 cars with trailers.
  • Lions Park. 20 cars.
  • Aqueduct Park. 5 cars with trailers, 15 cars.
  • Mohawk Hudson Bikeway. 8 cars.
  • Rotterdam Kiwanis Park. 10 cars with trailers, 40 cars.
  • Lock 9 State Canal Park. 9 cars.
  • Gateway Landing Park. 20 cars.

For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Schenectady County page.

  • Quist Road. 20 cars and trailers
  • Lock 10. 2 cars and trailers, 6 cars
  • Port Jackson Boat Launch. 15 cars, 5 cars with trailers
  • Florida Hand launch. 20 cars
  • Canajoharie Hard surface launch. 20 cars and trailers.
  • Fort Plain Unimproved trailer launch    20 cars.
  • Fort Plain Hand launch 5 cars.
  • Nelliston Hard surface launch    10 cars and trailers.
  • Mohawk Hand launch    10 cars, 5 cars with trailers.
  • St. Johnsville Municipal Marina. 5 cars.

For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Montgomery County page.

  • Frankfort Marina. 15 cars and trailers, 15 cars.
  • Herkimer Hand launch 40 cars.
  • Herkimer Hand launch. 5 cars.
  • Little Falls Hard surface launch. 20 cars and trailers.
  • Little Falls Rotary Park. 25 cars.
  • Mohawk Hand launch. 20 cars.
  • Ilion Marina. 20 cars, 6 cars with trailers.

For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Herkimer County page.

  • Rome Hard surface launch. 30 cars and trailers.
  • Bellamy Harbor Park. 10 cars.
  • City of Rome Ramp. 10 cars with trailers, 20 cars.
  • Utica Hand launch. 5 cars.
  • Lock 20 State Canal Park. 10 cars.
  • Oriskany Flats Wildlife Management Area. 10 cars.

For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Oneida County page.
 

Mohawk River

Find an Access Site

Use a DEC mapping tool to view and find boating access sites along the Mohawk River/Barge Canal:

DECInfo Locator Map: ( select the “Boat Launch Sites” layer; best used on desktop or tablet device)

HuntFishNY App: (select the “Tackle Box” feature)

Fisheries Management

The Mohawk River is currently being stocked with tiger muskellunge in the Oneida and Herkimer County sections. Other sportfish species are self-sustaining. Boat electrofishing surveys have recently been conducted by DEC in the lower impounded sections of the river to document the status of the sportfish populations in these pools (see reports below). 

2024 Mohawk River Online Angler Survey

In 2024, the DEC Bureau of Fisheries conducted an online survey of Mohawk River/Erie Canal anglers to gain knowledge on their views, preferences, and use of the fishery. The information obtained through this survey was used in developing the open water creel survey (below) and will be used to help inform fisheries management strategies for the river/canal. For more details and survey results, view the Mohawk River Online Angler Survey Report (2024) (PDF)

2024 Open Water Angler Creel Survey

The Bureau of Fisheries completed an angler (creel) survey on the Mohawk River extending from Rome to Waterford from May-October, 2024. Staff conducted just over 2,000 interviews from more than 3,500 anglers at 42 fishing access sites. The most targeted sportfish was smallmouth bass. Walleye, carp, northern pike, channel catfish and freshwater drum were also popular targets. Data from the survey are currently being analyzed, and a summary report should be finalized and available by summer 2025.   

Fish Survey Reports/Plans

Crescent Lake (H-240) Black Bass Survey (2018) (PDF)
 

Contact for this Page

DFW, Bureau of Fisheries
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

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