The Unadilla River stretches roughly 70 miles from Millers Mill (Herkimer County) to Sidney (Delaware County) where it flows into the Susquehanna River. The Unadilla River acts as a boundary between Madison and Chenango counties on the west and Otsego County on the east. For most of its length, the river is tree-lined, made up of long deep pools, and is excellent canoeing water.
Public Access Sites
Otsego County
Batterson Road off NYS Route 8, 2.64 miles south of Mt. Upton. Hand launch. Parking for 8 cars.
For more information on this launch including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Otsego County page.
Chenango County
Two miles north of South New Berlin, off NYS Route 8. Hand launch. Parking for 8 cars.
In the Hamlet of South New Berlin, adjacent to the Route 23 bridge crossing. Hand launch. Parking for 10 cars.
For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the Boat Launch Sites for Chenango County page.
Trout Stocked Section
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, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, rock bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill, brown bullhead, common carp, golden shiner, fall fish, and white sucker.
General Fishing Information
The upper river is a good brown trout fishery. From New Berlin downstream it becomes a warm water fishery with walleye, smallmouth bass and carp becoming more dominant.
Smallmouth bass are abundant in the river and can be caught by fishing the head or tail end of pools. Drifting bait such as crayfish, worms and shiners or casting lures such as tube baits, stickbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits are good methods for catching the bass. Fishing these same baits around fallen trees or other current breaks is also productive. Smallmouth bass can be caught any time during the open season but fishing for them is often best from late-June to October.
Walleye can be caught by fishing in the pools with a jig tipped with a worm or minnow. Stickbaits and deep diving crankbaits also work well for the walleye. The walleye fishing tends to be more productive during May to late-June and again from September to December. Common carp are plentiful in the river and can be fun to catch on corn or dough balls. They grow large and fight hard.
For current fishing information visit the Central New York Fishing Hotline online or by calling (607) 753-1551.
Regulations
Statewide Fishing Regulations Apply.
Fisheries Management
The Stocked reach From Herkimer/Otsego County Line upstream to Route 51 in Chepatchet Pond is stocked annually with approximately 1,300 year-old (9") and 140 two year-old (14") brown trout.
