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Lakes and Ponds

 

Balsam Pond
Pharsalia, NY
Principal species of fish: Norlunge, Large-mouth bass, panfish, and Chain pickerel. Access: Public access is guaranteed along all or part of the water. Trailer launch. Suitability of watercraft: small motorboats, canoes kayaks. Comments: 153 acres, shallow brush pond.  Directions:  Approximately 4 miles from McDonough. From the hamlet take County Route 7 to Beckwith Road. Turn right on Beckwith to Balsam-Tyler Road. Turn left on Balsam-Tyler to pond.

Bowman Lake
McDonough. NY
Principal species of fish: Rainbow trout, Small-mouth bass. Access: Public access is guaranteed along all or part of the water. Suitability of watercraft: Boat rentals only. Comments: 34 acres, located at Bowman State Park. Directions: From McDonough take State Highway 220 east to E. McDonough. Just past hamlet bear left at "Y" where Rte. 220 makes a sharp right curve. Follow signs to State Park.

Long Pond
Town of Smithville, NY
Principal species of fish: Norlunge, Chain pickerel, Large-mouth bass and panfish. Access: Public access is guaranteed along all or part of the water. Suitability for watercraft: Small motorboats, canoes, kayaks. Trailer launch: town of Smithville Flats, off State Route 41. Comments: 15 acres, excellent fishing for largemouth bass and crappies. Opportunities for bird watching, hiking, hunting, boating, snowmobiling, picnicking, camping, and horseback riding. Primative camping: Ten secluded campsites located around pond with fireplace, parking pad and access to a community latrine. Day use area, with parking and picnic tables is located adjacent to the dam. Directions: From McDonough, take County Route 5 west to Willet to State Route 41 East. Camping and fishing access is just off the highway. From areas around McDonough, take State Route 41 east from Cincinnatus, or West from Greene.

Old "Y" Camp Pond
Pharsalia, NY
Principal species of fish: Northern pike, Large-mouth bass, panfish. Access: Public access is guaranteed along all or part of the water. Suitability of watercraft: Canoes, kayaks. Hand launch. Comments: 18 acres, located in North Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area.

Round Pond
Smithville Flats, NY
Principal species of fish: Chain pickerel, panfish. Access: public access is guaranteed along all or part of the water. Suitability for watercraft: Canoes, kayaks. Comments: 26 acres on State Forest Land 1 mile west of Smithville Flats. Directions: Approximately 10 miles from McDonough. From hamlet take State Route 220 west to Smithville. Rte. 220 turns into State Route 41 South. Turn right on Round Pond Road.

Whaley Pond
McDonough, NY
Principal species of fish: Bass, Pickerel. Access: public access is guaranteed along all or part of the water. Suitability for watercraft: Canoes, kayaks. Comments: on state land next to Bowman Lake. Some primitive camping allowed. Directions: From McDonough take State Route 220 east to E. McDonough. Turn left on Tice Road to Sherman Road. Bear left on Sherman to first left turn. Turn left onto DEC Whaley Pond Road. Follow road to driveway to pond.

 

Rivers and Streams                              top

 

Bowman Creek
McDonough, NY
Principal species of fish: Bass, Trout. Access: water access or access is privately owned and partially posted. Suitability for watercraft: None. Comments: Small, forested, swift moving stream.
Flows out of Bowman Lake. Directions: Take State Route 220 east to E. McDonough. Turn right onto Bowman Road. Creek runs along road out of Bowman State Park.

Geneganslet Creek
McDonough, Smithville, NY
Principal species of fish: Bass, Trout, Small-mouth bass. Access: Public access along State Route 220 and Creek Rd. (off 220 in McDonough). Suitability for watercraft: none. Comments: Medium to small sized, mostly tree-lined stream (excellent fly fishing). Directions: Principle creek flowing through hamlet of McDonough and long Creek Road to State Route 220 towards Smithville. Approximately 1 mile from hamlet on State Route 220 east, turn right onto Creek Road. Access is approximately 2 miles on left. Continue down Creek road to Rte. 220 approximately 5 miles to public access at Art Lake Road, left off Rte. 220.

Ludlow Creek
McDonough, NY
Principal species of fish: Bass, Trout. Access: water or access is privately owned although not presently posted. Suitability for watercraft: none. Comments: small, brush-lined stream flowing out of Lake Ludlow. Directions: From hamlet of McDonough take State Route 220 east to Chestnut Road. Turn right on Chestnut to Hammerle Road. Turn right on Hammerly to Tucker Road. Ludlow Creek cross Tucker Road at two points and follows Ludlow Road from Lake Ludlow to Tucker Rd. Ludlow Rd. is located on the right off Tucker.

Otselic River
Otselic, Pitcher, Taylor, Cincinnatus, Willet, Upper Lisle, NY
Principal species of fish: Bass, Trout. Access: Public access at various points along river. Two public access points in Town of Willet. Comments: Large mostly open stream flowing from Otselic along State Route 26 to Willet. Crossing 41 at Willet and continuing on along Rte. 26 to Whitney Point Reservoir in Upper Lisle. Suitability for watercraft: varies depending on where accessed. Two launches at Town of Willet, on Landers Corner Road, approximately 1/2 mile west of Route 26, hand launch, parking for 7 cars. NYS Rte. 41, Hamlet of Willet, hand launch, parking for 8 cars. Directions: Approximately 10 miles from McDonough. Take County Route 5 west from hamlet to German. Through German to sharp right curve turns into Cortland County Route 2 (Ridge Road/German Rd). Follow steep down hill to State Route 41 into Town of Willet.

Chenango River
Greene, Oxford, Norwich, NY
Principal species of fish: Walleyes, Northern pike, Chain pickerel, Large-mouth bass Small-mouth bass,  and panfish. Access: Water or access is privately owned, although not presently posted. Suitability for Watercraft: Canoes, kayaks. Comments: Tee lined, excellent float trip fishing. Hand launch: at North Norwich on State Route 12 and north of Oxford on Rte. 12 at Lyon Brooke Road bridge. Directions: From McDonough take State Route 220 east to Oxford. As you descend the hill, Rte. 220 bears left into Oxford village. Continue on Rte. 220 to intersection of State Route 12. Chenango River follows Rte. 12. Going north toward Norwich or south toward Greene.