A few thoughts on DEC NY’s 2026 trout stocking

I looked at the trout stocking pages on the DEC’s site for the first time today for Westchester and Putnam counties:

Spring 2026 Trout Stocking for Westchester County – NYSDEC

The following listing reflects the anticipated number of yearling and older trout to be stocked into listed Westchester County waters during spring 2026.

dec.ny.gov

Spring 2026 Trout Stocking for Putnam County – NYSDEC

The following listing reflects the anticipated number of yearling and older trout to be stocked into listed Putnam County waters during spring 2026.

dec.ny.gov

I prefer wild fish, but there are only a few streams in this region with wild populations, so the state stocks the others.

Two things stick out to me:

They didn’t stock the regular Cross River going through Ward Pound Ridge this year, just the reservoir. They usually stock up by Kimberley Bridge, making that a popular pool to catch fish. There’s often multiple people up by the bridge jockeying for a spot. Without stocked fish, that pool will be a lot skinnier this year. I have caught non-stocked brook trout and fallfish in that pool (the state only stocked brown trout there the last few years), so you can still catch fish there, but this year it is probably going to be more productive to fish the lower sections of the river through the woods. This section is not stocked by DEC, but it is the spot where the TIC trout releases are done, so it is likely that fish you catch there are survivors that have grown up. Perhaps the state thinks that the TIC releases are enough for Cross River? There is the possibility of wild fish down there, too. Let’s hope that the lack of stocking might help the brook trout populations in the stream grow and reproduce. I caught a nice little brook trout on a dry fly in there this afternoon.

DEC also didn’t stock Boyd’s Corner this year. There are typically a few wild fish and stocked holdovers in there, if you can find them. I like to hit this stream late summer when the terrestrials are out, but I might go earlier this year because it will be nice not to have the hordes of spin casters there targeting stocked fish. The stocked spots are always busy in April, and I prefer solitude.

I’m intrigued by the rainbow trout below the Croton dam, in the east branch, and in the Titicus River. Last year the Titicus was so low it wasn’t worth fishing. With plenty of rain this spring it might be worth visiting in May. Below the Croton dam is good in June, because the NYC DEP has to release cold water through the end of June, when everywhere else is starting to heat up.