Exploring the Western NY Wilds By Bob Confer
Allegany County is home to nearly 60,000 acres of public land. It has a picturesque mix of forests and farmland and boasts more than a dozen streams, rivers, and lakes that are stocked with trout on an annual basis or have been stocked in past years. Add to the mix countless other smaller and unnamed brooks which support populations of native brook trout or transients from the larger bodies of water and you have yourself a very remarkable trout fishery.
Allegany County’s largest watershed – and a premier fishery — is the Genesee River, which cuts right through the center of the county. It is a remarkable river that starts in the mountains of Pennsylvania and works its way to Lake Ontario. The Allegany County section of the Genesee offers a varied fishery for even the most finicky of trout anglers thanks to its wide-ranging physical makeup: over its length it sports rapids, long stretches of riffles, slow-moving meanders, and countless deep pools. By traveling even just a half-mile upstream or downstream you can find yourself on what would seem to be an entirely different body of water. And, with 18 miles of public fishing rights available, there is more than enough access available to find a stretch you can call your own.
The Genesee supports a large population of trout with brown trout being the predominant species followed by rainbows and a smattering of wild brookies. This fishery is mostly maintained by extensive stocking by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). More than 25,000 trout are planned for stocking in 2026. A few major feeders – like Dyke Creek – also receive transplants, which in total account for hundreds more trout that could easily enter the waterway.
The seasonal trout angling regulations on most of the Genesee follow the April 1 to October 15 standard during which you are allowed to keep 3 fish (only one longer than 12”) and use lures or bait. Outside of that time frame, anglers must practice catch-and-release with artificial lures only.
The exception to the above is a very special 2.5 mile stretch that travels downstream from the Route 19 bridge in Shongo to a spot about 1 mile south of the Route 29 bridge near York’s Corners. This section is under catch-and-release, artificial-only regulations all year long. This unique management philosophy has created a very intriguing fishery in this stretch filled with deep pools and colder water. The locals speak of trophy fish galore in this stretch and the DEC and fishing clubs tout this area as being comparable to the remarkable trout fisheries of the western United States. For trout purists this no-kill zone ranks as one of the Empire State’s premier destinations.
The DEC’s management of the Genny has led to nothing but positive memories for my family. My kids have had exceptional luck there, landing many a fish, some returned to the water and others taken to the frying pan. A few years ago, I caught an absolute giant of a rainbow trout for an inland trout stream, one that exceeded 7 pounds in weight and was likely one of the excess breeders from the hatchery that the DEC occasionally releases for anglers. It was one of my fish-of-a-lifetime. It’s definitely a river in which newbies and experienced anglers alike can succeed
The trout fishing on the Genesee River is such an integral part of the Allegany County experience — and economy — that it is widely promoted in tourism circles. For example, the Wellsville Lions Club runs the popular Greater Wellsville Trout Derby every April. This event brings in participants from not only Western New York, but from the entire United States and Canada. On any given year, the derby might attract more 1,200 people. This is a family-oriented event with all anglers sharing good times and competing for tagged trout and their associated prize money. This year’s derby will take place April 25th and 26th. For more information visit wellsvillelionsclub.com/annual-trout-derby/
If you are looking to visit Allegany County to relish this splendid fishery or any other of the fine natural resources, you will find the Allegany Office of Tourism and Culture to be most helpful. They can provide you a detailed travel guide and their personable staff can direct you to camping areas and angling hotspots, as well as creature comforts. Find them online at wnywilds.com
Make it a point to hit the water in Allegany County this year. You won’t be disappointed and, as a matter of fact, you are guaranteed to be pleasantly surprised.
Exploring the Western New York Wilds is a nature series by Bob Confer who has spent decades studying all that is wild and wonderful, from the hilltops of Alma to the Niagara County flatlands. You can contact him anytime, Bob@ConferPlastics.com
