The Chemung River and its tributaries offer a wide variety of fishing opportunities. Most of the water in our local rivers is classified as a warm water fishery. The predominant fish species found here are black bass, walleye, bullhead, catfish, and many kinds of panfish like sunfish and perch. Carp and suckers are also found here, and once in a while an angler will hook a muskellunge or pickerel.

The upper stretches of some of the tributaries where cooler water is found are classified as trout streams. The Cohocton River, for example, is a trout stream from around the town of Bath all the way up to its headwaters around Atlanta, NY. The New York State Department of Conservation stocks large numbers of brown and rainbow trout in the Cohocton and other tributaries, mainly in April and June, but fishing is allowed in many of these streams year round.

We at River Friends would like to enlist the local fishermen to fully explore the fishing in the Chemung River watershed. If you have pictures of fish you have caught in our river system, please send some to us so we can post them on our website. You don’t have to tell us your secret fishing spot, just generally where the fish was caught along with your name if you are in the picture. Please identify the fish and tell us which of the main tributaries (Tioga, Cowanesque, Canisteo, Cohocton, or Chemung) it was caught in. If you want to add a fish story, please do.

You can email your photos to us at director@chemungriverfriends.org, share a photo with us on our Facebook page, or mail us a photo. We are hoping to use the data we get from fishermen to help us more fully understand the variety of fish in our watershed.

Joey Kish Memorial Fund

The Joseph "Joey" Kish Memorial Fund was established in 2023 with donations from Brianna Cavaluzzi and friends to provide one-time funding for any youth to receive river-oriented fishing equipment that have limited access to such equipment due to financial constraints. Those who wish to apply for a grant must be a current resident of Chemung County between the ages of 5 - 15, able to demonstrate a hardship that has affected their ability to access river-oriented fishing equipment and a passion for fishing. Parents or guardians are encouraged to assist youth applicants in submitting a letter stating their passion for fishing and deciding what equipment they need. Each recipient can receive up to $100 worth of fishing equipment, including (but not limited to): fishing rods, lures, line, bait buckets, nets, gloves, and a fishing license for the caregiver who will accompany the youth.

To apply for a Joey Kish Memorial Fund grant, please fill out this form and mail it to director@chemungriverfriends.org or bring it to our office.

Joey Kish loved the outdoors and spent much of his free time camping, fishing, snowboarding, and going to concerts. He was a great friend and wonderful son and brother. He passed away unexpectedly on June 8, 2022, and it was his friends' wish that his legacy of compassion, adventure, and giving continue through this fund.