- An Angler's Guide
to the West Point Military Reservation
- Prepared by: Natural Resources Branch, Fish & Wildlife Biologist,
DPW
The 16,000 acre West Point Military Reservation has several
lakes, ponds, and streams available for recreational fishing. USMA Regulation 215-5
governs fishing and boating on the reservation. Special fishing regulations unique to West
Point and more stringent than NYS Fish and Wildlife Law are included in the regulation.
All fish management at West Point is conducted by the Natural Resources Branch, DPW,
938-3857. All anglers 16 years and older must have a N.Y. State fishing license AND
a USMA fishing permit to fish in West Point waters.
USMA Regulations 215-5 Click
here
- NEW YORK STATE FISHING LICENSES
- D.E.C. has approved authorization for
Community Recreation to sell NYS
- Fishing Licenses for the first time ever at
West Point. They can be purchased RD/ITR, Bldg 695 & Round Pond, Bldg
1348 at $19 per season for New York State residents. All applicable NYS policies, fees and
eligibility apply.
- Nonresident licenses are $40 per season or $25 for a
seven-day pass.
- Bring your driver's license. For more information call
938-2503/3860.
[
VIEW LARGER ]
| USMA PERMIT FEES |
| RANK |
FISH |
HUNT |
BOTH |
| Cadets/E1-E4 |
$10 |
$10 |
$12 |
| E1-E5/Civilians |
$12 |
$12 |
$20 |
| Age 65 & Over |
6 |
6 |
$10 |
| Sum. Task Force |
$10 |
-- |
-- |
| Juniors, ages 12-15 |
-- |
$3 |
-- |
USMA FISHING PERMITS are available at the
Community Recreation Division Administrative Office, Bldg. 695 (Mon-Fri, 0800-1600, call
845-938-2401), or at the Round Pond recreation office. Bring your N.Y. State fishing
license and military or civilian ID proving USMA eligibility. USMA fishing and hunting
permit fees are charged according to rank or age (see accompanying chart)
GUIDE WATER SIZE/DEPTH: Most of the
depth
maps were produced in 1974 by the Natural Resources Branch. A sounding line was
used to determine depths along several transects at each area. A sonar unit was used in
1989 to update some maps. The contours on the maps are approximations and indicate depths
at capacity. Consequently, depths will be different at lower water levels, but contour
profiles will not change. Physical characteristics include the surface
area in acres and the maximum and average depths measured in feet.
- BOAT & MOTOR USAGE:
Boats may be used in
all West Point waters with the following restrictions: powerboats (internal combustion
engines) may be used only on Stilwell and Popolopen lakes. Daily powerboat permits are
available at the Round Pond Recreation Office. Nonpower boats (includes boats powered by
electric motors) may be used in all waters except Lusk Reservoir where ONLY boats using
oars and paddles may be used. All boaters must have a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal
flotation device for each passenger. If Community Recreation Division boats are stationed at the pond, it
is noted. Boat passes are available at the Round Pond Recreation Office or the RD
Admin
Office, Bldg. 695. The following codes indicate what motors can be used on boats - N-no
motors allowed; E-electric motors permitted; GP- gasoline-powered motors permitted; a
Daily Powerboat Permit must be obtained from the Round Pond Recreation office.
-
- LOCATION/ACCESS: The location of each area
is described in relation to the USMA training map and major roadways. Access to some areas
is restricted due to locked gates. The guide notes the areas and access gate numbers.
Depending on the area and the training schedule, gate keys may be signed out on a daily
basis from the Range Control Office, DOPS, on Route 293. You will save yourself time and
inconvenience if you check the Training Schedule in the Post Bulletin and call the Range
Control Office (938-3930/4317) before driving out for a gate key. Access for 2WD
passenger-type privately owned vehicles (POVs) is described 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.
-
- STOCKING: The species, size, and year of
stocking since 1980 are noted. In general the fish are not stocked if the species cannot
naturally reproduce in West Point's lakes, ponds, or streams. If all habitat variables,
except reproductive variables, exist in an area, the species may be stocked if prescribed
in the USMA Fisheries Management Plan and funds and fish are available. Catch and
release of all sportfish is encouraged to increase the number of large fish caught per
trip and the catch rate (fish caught per hour).
-
- FISHING USE: Fishing use was determined from
boat tickets, creel surveys, and visual observations.
-
- REPORTING REQUIREMENTS: USMA Reg. 215-5
requires that all anglers fishing West Point waters must report any fish they KEEP to the
Natural Resources Branch, Fish & Wildlife Biologist. There are several ways to report
your catch.
- Call the Natural Resources Branch, seven days a week, 24 hours per day at (845)
938-3857.
- Anglers fishing from RD boats should report their catch on the boat ticket they were
issued or on the sign-out sheet (depending on which system is in place at the time).
- Angler Report Boxes are located on most West Point waters so that anglers fishing from
shore, from their own boats, or ice-fishing have a method of reporting their catch in the
field. Inside each box are several report forms and a pencil to record the information.
Locations of these boxes are indicated on the maps. If a
particular body of water does not have a reporting box present, an angler can always fill
out a report form from any other Angler Report Box.
- The report can be e-mailed to Jim Beemer,
Fish & Wildlife Biologist.
- The Angler Diary Program allows anglers to record their catches (keepers and releases)
throughout the season, and turn in the diary at the end of the season. Call (845) 938-3857
or e-mail Jim Beemer
for more information
on this program.
- MWR
facilities are for eligible personnel only.
Active duty and retired military personnel, Air National Guard and Reserve
personnel, family members of the above, DoD and retired civilian employees, and cadets are
eligible to use MWR facilities. Proper identification may be requested by staff.
