It’s a fishing day

Esopus Creek fishing conditions · New York

Now until tomorrow 6 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 80.

Log a trip here
Right now: 77 for rainbow trout, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 774 pm
  2. 80
  3. 80
  4. 807 pm
  5. 77
  6. 77
  7. 7710 pm
  8. 77
  9. 77Sun
  10. 801 am
  11. 80
  12. 80
  13. 804 am
  14. 80
  15. 80
  16. 807 am
  17. 80
  18. 80
  19. 8010 am
  20. 80
  21. 80
  22. 801 pm
  23. 80
  24. 80
  25. 804 pm
  26. 80
  27. 72
  28. 727 pm
  29. 72
  30. 72
  31. 7210 pm
  32. 72
  33. 72Mon
  34. 721 am
  35. 72
  36. 72
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
9 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:44 pm

Sky
Chance Rain Showers

30% chance of rain

Air
49°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are New York regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

80Worth the tripNow until tomorrow 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Rainbow trout is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Catch and release only today. Ashokan Reservoir up to Lost Clove Creek: 3 trout a day, no more than 1 longer than 12", Apr 1–Oct 15; catch and release with artificial lures Oct 16–Mar 31.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Esopus Creek (wild quality)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

80Worth the tripNow until tomorrow 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Brown trout is showing up in this week's state fishing report for the area. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Catch and release only today. Ashokan Reservoir up to Lost Clove Creek: 3 trout a day, no more than 1 longer than 12", Apr 1–Oct 15; catch and release with artificial lures Oct 16–Mar 31.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Esopus Creek (wild quality)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.83 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:44 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:38 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:10 pm–4:10 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:50 pm–11:50 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

New York DEC report, undated

Names brown trout, rainbow trout, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at New York DEC

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A Catskills freestone fed by the Shandaken Tunnel (which carries Schoharie Reservoir water) near Phoenicia — strong wild and stocked rainbow trout (and browns) in fast, boulder-strewn water within reach of the Hudson Valley. A historic and accessible trout stream.

New York: this wild-quality reach allows 3 trout a day, only 1 over 12", Apr 1–Oct 15, and is catch and release with artificial lures the rest of the year. Flows surge with portal releases.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Beaverkill River34 mi · New YorkBest tonight 11 pm to Monday 4 am
80Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Esopus Creek?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Esopus Creek you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Esopus Creek?

Esopus Creek is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Esopus Creek?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Esopus Creek against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Esopus Creek have?

Esopus Creek has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. New York: this wild-quality reach allows 3 trout a day, only 1 over 12", Apr 1–Oct 15, and is catch and release with artificial lures the rest of the year. Flows surge with portal releases.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Esopus Creek?

state agency regulations apply at Esopus Creek. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Esopus Creek tidal water?

No. Esopus Creek is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.