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1,063-acre reservoir near Carmel. The lake tops out around 101 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
The chart traces 8.5 miles of shoreline here. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.5) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 18% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 2.2 mi with a 1.1-mi widest point. Putnam County claims this one. Lake Gilead sits 2 mi north — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring rainbow trout on Croton Falls Reservoir hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 40 ft. Put Middle Branch Croton River inflow first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 27 ft that grades prime for summer. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Middle Branch Croton River inflow (27 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Middle Branch Croton River inflow (27 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
When the water first warms, smallmouth bass slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 11 ft that scores prime in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Break off the point (84 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for largemouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (11 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (84 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: yellow perch in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a feeding flat in the 5 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (26 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (97 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow feeding flat (26 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Spring common carp on Croton Falls Reservoir hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. They move out to 3 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 30 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a feeding flat near 5 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (5 ft) | |
| Winter | 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (97 ft) |
The chart marks 9 structure features on Croton Falls Reservoir; the deepest is Deep basin at about 97 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026* | Brown Trout | 2,250 | ~8" |
| April 2025* | Brown Trout | 2,230 | ~7.1" |
| April 2024* | Brown Trout | 2,270 | ~8.4" |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: NYSDEC fish-stocking lists, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New York waters are set by the New York DEC — and special regulations can apply to Croton Falls Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New York fishing regulations →
Croton Falls Reservoir is about 101 ft (31 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, common carp on Croton Falls Reservoir.
Middle Branch Croton River inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 27 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per NYSDEC fish-stocking lists records, Croton Falls Reservoir was most recently stocked May 2026 with 2,250 brown trout. The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Croton Falls Reservoir is regulated by the New York DEC. Check the official New York regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Lake Gilead 2 mi · Diverting Reservoir 2 mi · Middle Branch Reservoir 3 mi · Lake Gleneida 3 mi · Mahopac Lake 4 mi · Titicus Reservoir 4 mi · Kirk Lake 4 mi · West Branch Reservoir 4 mi · Muscoot Reservoir 5 mi · East Branch Reservoir 5 mi · Bog Brook Reservoir 5 mi · Amawalk Reservoir 6 mi
See how Croton Falls Reservoir stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in New York · best smallmouth bass lakes in New York · best rainbow trout lakes in New York · best yellow perch lakes in New York
More water nearby: Putnam County fishing maps (12 charts). Browse all New York fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.