FISHING AT WEST POINT


Purchase your fishing permit here on WestPoint.iSportsman.Net. An individual looking to purchase a fishing permit must first create an iSportsman account which must then be approved by a West Point iSportsman administrator. Finally, as a new user, the individual must complete the mandatory safety brief (an annual requirement). Once the user has created an account and completed the mandatory safety brief, the user may purchase a permit on iSportsman via credit card. In-person permit sales at West Point have been discontinued. 

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

West Point controls and vets prospective users in order to prevent interference with the military mission, to ensure safety and sustainability, and to prevent an overexploitation of natural resources. As such, West Point only permits users to fish who meet specific criteria to qualifty under one of a number of different eligible customer types. For information on customer types and definitions, new users should see the New Users page HERE. prior to creating an account. 

 

ACCESS

 

1. REGISTER YOUR ACCOUNT - New users registers a new account HERE and awaits an administrator to vet and approve it. Approval of the new account gives the user a Background validation, which for most users will expire after a few years and require reapproval.

2. REVIEW SAFETY BRIEF - Once an account has been approved a user will be notified by e-mail. The user thens log on to his/her account and completes a mandatory safety brief (an annual requirement) giving the user a Safety Brief validation, good for one year.

3. PURCHASE YOUR PERMIT - A user in good standing with both a Background  and Safety Brief validation may purchase a permit if that user does not already have an active copy of. Users attempting to buy fishing permits should select correct permit. (see below)

 

 

PERMITS

 

1. ANNUAL FISHING PERMIT:  one year fishing permit for West Point good for 365 days from date of purchase.  With this permit, the permitee may fish only. 

2. ANNUAL SPORTSMAN PERMIT​: one year hunting/fishing permit for West Point good for 365 days from date of purchase.  With this permit, permitees may hunt big game, small game, upland bird, and waterfowl as well as fish.

3. MONTHLY HUNT/FISH PERMIT​one month hunting/fishing permit for West Point good for 30 days from date of purchase. With this permit, permitees may hunt big game, small game, upland bird, and waterfowl as well as fish.

4. WEEKLY HUNT/FISH PERMIT​one week hunting/fishing permit for West Point good for 7 days from date of purchase. With this permit, permitees may hunt big game, small game, upland bird, and waterfowl as well as fish.

5. DAILY HUNT/FISH PERMIT​one day hunting/fishing permit for West Point good only on the date of purchase. With this permit, permitees may hunt big game, small game, upland bird, and waterfowl as well as fish.

NOTE: All permitees must have proper New York licenses and harvest tags. All federal, state, and local West Point regulations regarding season dates, bag limits, harvest report, and all other restrictions apply. 

See USMA Regulation 215-5 and annual Hunting Season Notice for local West Point rules and regulations. See NYSDEC website for state rules and regulations.

 

GUESTS & WALKERS

   

GUEST ANGLERS

  

GUEST - a guest is an individual in good standing that can accompany a sponsor and participate in the same activity as the sponsor. A guest angler must have a valid NYS fishing license and the sponsor must have both a valid NYS fishing license, West Point permit, and West Point guest pass. Guests must be checked in/out with sponsor remain in the same fishing area as sponsor.

Authorized hunters in good standing may sponsor a guest to accompany and participate in the same activity via the purchase of a guest pass. West Point offers two guest passes

1. ANNUAL GUEST PASS:  one year guest pass for West Point good for 365 days from date of purchase. With this permit, a permitee may participate in same hunting or fishing activity as sponsor. 

2. DAILY GUEST PASS​: one day guest pass  for West Point good for only on the date of purchase.  With this permit, a permitee may participate in same hunting or fishing activity as sponsor. 

A guest pass is issued to guest sponsor (permitee), not the guest. A sponsor can bring two guests or one guest and one walker. Guests may not bring their own guests or walkers.

A guest pass is considered invalid if the primary fishing permit of the guest sponsor expires. Guest passes will be considered valid again if sponsor purchases new permit.

 

NON-FISHING WALKERS

  

WALKER -  is an unarmed, unpermitted individual in good standing that can accompany a sponsor and does not participate in the same activity as the sponsor. A walker may not fish. Walkers do not need NYS licenses nor does a walker's sponsor need to have a guest pass. Walkers must be checked in/out with sponsor and must remain within five meters of the sponsor at all times.

A sponsored permitee may bring, at most, one walker while hunting. If a sponsor has a valid guest pass he may also bring at most one guest in addition to the walker.

 

GENERAL PUBLIC FISHING

 

Fishing at West Point is closed to the General Public.

General Public users may neither purchase fishing permits nor fish alone at West Point. 

 

Users that do not fit in to any of the other eleven Customer Types available at West Point, may qualify to hunt big game under restricted conditions at West Point as General Public hunters. Howeverm General Public users may not hunt small game, waterfowl, upland birds, nor trap, fish, or collect firewood on their own at West Point. See Customer Type definitions on New User Page HERE for more information.

 

CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT

 

As of 2019, anglers acessing certain water bodies must check-in when going out to fish and come back when checking out of fishing. See the table below to find out if angler must check-in/check-out when looking to fish.

 

LAKES & PONDS

 

Do I Need to Check In to Fish Here?

Is this Area a Training Area or a Non-Training Area?

 

Do I Need to Check In to Fish Here?

Is this Area a Training Area or a Non-Training Area?

Beaver Pond

Yes

Training Area

Long Pond

No

Non-Training Area

Brooks Hollow

Yes

Training Area

Lusk Reservoir

No

Non Training Area

Bull Pond

No

Non-Training Area

Mine Lake

Yes

Training Area

Cragston Lakes

No

Non-Training Area

Popolopen Lake

Yes

Training Area

Cranberry Pond

Yes

Training Area

Round Pond

No

Non-Training Area

Lake Frederick

No

Non-Training Area

Stilwell Lake

Yes

Training Area

Lake Georgina

Yes

Training Area

Weyants Pond

Yes

Training Area

Long Pond

No

Non-Training Area

Wilkins Pond

No

Non-Training Area

 

RIVERS & STREAMS

 

Do I Need to Check In To Fish Here?

Is this Area a Training Area or Non Training Area?

Highland Brook

Yes

Training Area - Z1

Hudson River

No

Non-Training Area

Mineral Springs Brook

Yes

Training Area - L

Popolopen Brook (upstream)

Yes

Non-Training Area

Popolopen Brook (downstream)

Yes

Non-Training Area

Queensboro Brook

  Yes

Training Area - CS

Trout Brook

Yes

Training Area - L

 

FOR ALL FISHING AT REQUIRED LOCATIONS

  

* All anglers and their guests and walkers doing any fishing related activities from walking, scouting to the actual fishing must check in and check out on iSportsman at required locations.

 

Check-In at Non-Required Locations: It is possible for users to check-in even at non-required locations and this is encouraged. Checking in allows Natural Resource Branch to better understand area usage and lets users report harvest. Understanding usage and harvest better allows Natural Resources to manage the fishing program for the sake of anglers and natural resources alike. 

 

 TYPES OF FISHING AVAILABLE

 

Anglers can pursue a wide variety of fish on the West Point Military Reservation. 

 

 FISH SPECIES AND FISHING AREAS

 

 

LMB

SMB

TRO

SUN

CAT 

PIC

CRA

BUL

PER

WAL

TIG

Bull Pond

LMB

---

TRO

SUN

---

---

---

BUL

---

---

---

Beaver Pond

LMB

---

---

SUN

---

PIC

---

---

---

---

---

Round  Pond

LMB

---

TRO

SUN

CAT

PIC

CRA

 BUL

YEL

---

---

Lusk Reservoir

LMB

---

TRO

SUN

---

PIC

---

---

---

---

---

Highland Brook

---

---

TRO

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Cragston Lakes

LMB

---

---

---

---

---

CRA

---

---

---

---

Lake Georgina

LMB

---

---

SUN

---

---

---

BUL

---

---

---

Lake Frederick

LMB

---

---

SUN

CAT

---

---

BUL

PER

---

---

Mine Lake

LMB

---

---

SUN

CAT

PIC

---

BUL

PER

---

---

Popolopen Lake

LMB

SMB

---

SUN

CAT

PIC

CRA

BUL

PER

WAL

TIG

Weyants Pond

LMB

---

---

SUN

---

---

CRA

BUL

PER

---

---

Wilkins Pond

LMB

---

---

SUN

---

---

---

BUL

---

---

---

Stilwell Lake

LMB

SMB

---

SUN

---

PIC

CRA

BUL

PER

WAL

TIG

Cranberry Pond

LMB

---

---

SUN

---

---

CRA

BUL

PER

---

---

Queensboro Brook

---

---

TRO

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Mineral Springs Brook

---

---

TRO

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

 

 

Key
LMB Largemouth Bass CRA Black Crappie
SMB Smallmouth Bass BUL Bullhead species
TRO Trout species* PER Yellow Perch
SUN Sunfish species* WAL Walleye (formerly stocked)
CAT Channel Catfish TIG Tiger Muskellunge (stocked)
PIC Chain Pickerel    

 

 BOAT & MOTOR USAGE

 

Boats may be used in all West Point waters with the following restrictions:

Power-Boats: Powerboats (internal combustion engines) may be used only on Stilwell and Popolopen Lakes. Daily powerboat permits are available at the Round Pond Recreation Area office.

Non-Power Boats: Non-power boats, including boats powered by electric motors, may be used in all waters except Lusk Reservoir where ONLY boats using oars and paddles are allowed.

PFD/Life Vests: All boaters must have a U.S. Coast-Guard approved personal flotation device for each passenger. If Outdoor Recreation boats are stationed at the pond, it is noted. Boat passes are available at the Round Pond Recreation Office.

For information on and pricing of boat and equipment rentals please contact MWR Outdoor Recreation at (845) 938-2503. ​

 

 LOCATION AND ACCESS

 

Availability​ - As a miltary installation, mission related activities and safety take precedence at West Point. Areas are often closed due training, range fire, and inclement weather/road conditions. To see areas status today/tomorrow, see Areas HERE or Interactive Map HERE.  

Gates & Keys -​ Access to some areas may be restricted due to locked gates e.g. Cranberry Pond, adjacent to areas downrange of artillery, is often closed. Range Control has discontinued its policy of lending keys to hunters/anglers. Locked gates will remain locked.

Roads -​ for 2WD passenger-type privately owned vehicles is described variably by road as excellent, good, fair, and poor. In most cases pickup trucks and 4WD vehicles with high ground clearance should have little difficulty in reaching the areas during dry road conditions.

Stilwell Lake Shore Fishing Prohibited - Shore fishing from Stilwell Lake is not permitted due to potential interference with training and downrange artillery firing. All access to Lake Stilwell is therefore through the MWR maintained boat launch only.

Hudson River Fishing: Shore fishing in the Hudson River from West Point or Constitution Island is allowed and requires a West Point fishing permit. Fishing from watercraft is considered fishing off West Point and is free of this requirement. 

 

 STOCKING

 

Fish are not stocked in a water body at West Poiny if species cannot naturally reproduce in that body. If all habitat variables, exist, a species may be stocked as prescribed in the West Point Fisheries Management Plan and as funds and fish are available.

TROUT - Brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout are annually stocked in March & April in Bull Pond, Round Pond, Lusk Reservoir, Highland Brook, Popolopen and Queensboro Brook.

TIGER MUSKY & WALLEYE - Hybrid Tiger Muskellunge (sterile Muskellunge x Northern Pike hybrid) are annually stocked in Popolopen Lake where walleye were previously stocked. Tiger Musky and occasionally walleye caught in both Popolopen Lake and Stilwell Lake. 

GRASS CARP - Sterile Grass carp have also been stocked in several water bodies over the years for the purposes of invasive aquatic weed control and should be immediately released if caught. 

* Catch & release of all sportfish is encouraged to increase the number of large fish caught per trip and catch rate (fish caught per hour). Catch & release is mandated for all tiger musky, walleye, and grass carp at West Point and all trout caught in Mineral Springs, Trout Brooks.

UNAUTHORIZED STOCKING/PLANTING IS PROHIBITED: No individual shall stock, move, or release fish (incl bait) or wildlife, incl eggs without permission at West Point. Unauthorized release of fish and game is against federal, state, and local regulations. 

 

RULES & REGULATIONS 

 

GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS FOR ALL FISHING ACTIVITIES

 

 

SAFETY

    

 

FISHING MAPS, CHARTS AND AREA REGULATIONS

 

 

OTHER GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS

 

 

 

APPLIES TO ALL FISHING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

HARVEST/TAKE REPORT

 

​USMA Regulation 215-5 does not have mandatory requirements for reporting fish catch. However anglers are encouraged to voluntarily report on iSportsman.

Understanding usage and harvest better allows Natural Resources to manage the fishing program for the sake of anglers and natural resources alike. 

Check In/out To Report​: To report harvest, users must check in to area and report their harvest upon check out. For fishing areas in training areas, check-in/out is required, anyway.

Fish Of Particular Interest: Natural Resources Branch is particularly interested in catch of trout, catfish and any catch in hybrid tiger muskellunge, grass carp, or walleye.

Other Issues Of Interest: Please report unusual conditions/indications of disease in any caught fish or habitats or tagged fish to Natural Resources via phone call/email. 

In the past, Angler Diary Program existed allowing anglers to record their catches over the season and then turn in this at season's end. This program was discontinued. 

 

 NEW YORK STATE FISHING LICENSES

 

All anglers must have a New York fishing license and a West Point fishing permit to fish at West Point. West Point discontinued the in-person sale of NYS fishing licenses over five years ago.

Anglers looking to purchase NYS Fishing License may do so online via the NYSDECAL System HERE, via telephone at 1 (845) 866-933-2257, at local town offices or sporting goods retailers.

To purchase a license, you need a previous license issued by any state or Canadian province if recognized by New York State or proof of completion of a Hunter Education Safety course from any state.

Military personnel stationed in New York qualify for resident licenses. A New York driver's license or a copy of your assignment orders will satisfy the proof of residency requirement. Cadets from other states as full-time students also qualify for New York resident licenses.

Please note: NYS fishing licenses purchased online are instantly valid, hunting licenses/tags purchased online or by phone, require a wait of up to 14 business days to receive your licenses/tags by mail before going hunting. To get licenses/tags instantly, purchase them in person.

 

NOTE REGARDING ALL INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE: All hunting, trapping, and fishing on West Point must be in accordance with New York State regulations and West Point regulations as stated in USMA Regulation 215-5. All information posted here is meant to supplement New York State regulations as set by the NYSDEC and West Point Regulations as stated in USMA Regulation 215-5. No information posted here should be interpreted as authorizing individuals to otherwise violate New York State regulations or West Point regulations as stated In USMA Regulation 215-5. If any clarification is necessary, please contact the Natural Resource Branch Office.