Brewery and Fishing Lovers: Upstate New York Has Your Name on It

Walleye Fishing in Chautauqua County.

Plan an Angling Weekend in Western NY: Craft Beer, World Class Fishing & More

A craft beer and a fishing pole are all you need for the ultimate weekend getaway in the Chautauqua Lake Erie Region of Western NY. World Class fishing is available on all five area lakes and waterways. Cast your line for the chance to reel in the elusive Muskie as well as Walleye, Large and Small Mouth Bass, perch, and panfish on Chautauqua Lake and Lake Erie. During spring and fall, wade through the tributary streams of Lake Erie for Steelhead season. Bring your own boat and utilize public boat launches, rent a boat from a local marina or charter a fishing expedition for your group. Unwind after a day on the water with a craft beverage from a local brewery or distillery including the original location of Southern Tier Brewing Company. Dine at local restaurants for the chance to try other locally made brews available on tap. Learn more about all the things to do and see in the Chautauqua Lake Erie region on our website and start planning your visit today!

Keuka Lake. Image by Jason Barnette.

Hooked on Steuben

Beyond its world-class wine, renowned art, award-winning craft brews and exceptional food scene, Steuben County, NY’s stunning landscape and outdoor experiences have visitors returning year after year. And that’s been true for a very long time. Whether you love hiking wilderness footpaths through the woods, chasing waterfalls in small towns off the beaten path, or soaking up the calmness and quietude of the countryside, this little slice of paradise has appeal.

Since the mid-1800s, fishing enthusiasts from New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and myriad smaller towns scattered throughout the northeast have been finding their way to Keuka Lake (the most unusual of the Finger Lakes) with its eye-catching bluff stretching some seven-hundred feet above the water, a bold and striking promontory where the lake ventures off to the north in two distinct branches: one to the east, the other to west. Back in the 19th Century, as steamboats carried guests to lakeside resorts and table grapes on the first leg of their journey to the coast, trout boats and rowboats dotted the pristine water as folks from near and far lapped up the serene beauty of the place, while relishing the opportunity for sport.

While today you’ll only find models of the historic steamboats on display at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum in Hammondsport, you’ll still find fishing enthusiasts of all sorts making their way to Steuben County to fish. Cast from a dock, get out on a kayak for some peaceful angling, or arrange for a more full-fledged fishing excursion with a guided outing. There are a number of ways to make the most of Keuka Lake, which is home to landlocked salmon, brown trout, lake trout, northern pike, rainbow trout, and smallmouth bass.

Cohocton River Trout. Image by Summit to Stream Adventures.

And with four rivers, over one-hundred streams, and an assortment of smaller lakes, Steuben offers a variety of waterways (featuring wild brook trout, wild and stocked brown trout, muskellunge, walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass) that match up well with most fishing preferences including fly fishing. Combine the variety of fishing opportunities with the best traits of small-town life—the laid-back pace, the tranquility—with the great food, libations, and other exceptional experiences and it’s no wonder over 70% of people who visit Steuben each year are return visitors.

Grab your tackle box. Lace up your poles. Come Explore Steuben!

“Keuka is considered to be the best fishery in the region . . .” — Kyra Bean, Life in the Finger Lakes Magazine

Catch of the day in New York’s Sullivan Catskills

Did you know that American dry fly fishing was born just 90 miles from Manhattan in New York’s Sullivan Catskills? Theodore Gordon is considered the Father of American Dry Fly Fishing, having discovered and developed new ways and fly patterns to attract trout during the late 19th century.

If you want to catch Brown, Rainbow, or Brook Trout, you’ll find the waters here perfect for casting year-round; remember that fishing from October 16 to March 31 is catch and release only with artificial lures.

You can cast about with your fly rod in the world-famous waters of the Beaverkill and Delaware Rivers, or the Willowemoc Creek. Anglers come from around the world to wade in these waters. Tour guides are plentiful, and there’s a fine selection of small shops in Livingston Manor and Roscoe for gear and flies.

Bait fishing is also a popular pastime in a boat or from the shorelines. You’d better plan for a lengthy stay. There are 146 lakes in the Sullivan Catskills. Now, while there may not be as many species of fish, fishing enthusiasts can also reel in Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Lake Trout, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Black Crappie. Some popular bait fishing spots include Sackett Lake, Mongaup River, Swinging Bridge Reservoir, White Lake, Toronto, Rio, and Neversink Reservoirs.

After a day of angling, you’ll want to wet your whistle on the Good Taste Craft Beverage Trail, where award-winning breweries are all around. Pull up a stool and tell the brew masters your fish story over a “Trout Town Amber American Ale” from the Roscoe Beer Company. Nearby in Livingston Manor, try a “Flood Watch IPA” from the Catskill Brewery or an Opiate Sun from Upward Brewing Company, where you can hike Beer Mountain. Watch the sunset by the railroad tracks in Callicoon while you sip on a “Callicoon Brown Cow Porter” from the Callicoon Brewing Company. If you’ve fished the day away on the Neversink Reservoir, swing over to The Russian Mule Brewery in Claryville and try the Belgian Strong Ale. Fishing at Toronto Reservoir? Head to the tap room at Shrewd Fox Brewery. Try the Kutya/Resolve Buckwheat Farmhouse Ale. The newest breweries on the trail are Bridge and Tunnel Brewery and 17 West Brewery, both in Liberty. 17 West was awarded a People’s Choice Award at the Tap NY Craft Beer Festival in May. Bridge and Tunnel is a community gathering spot and the second location of this family-run brewery featuring various styles. Try the Ol Gilmartin Mik and Oatmeal Stout, TAP NY’s gold medal winner.

Go cast about, lift a glass, and drink responsibly in New York’s Sullivan Catskills. To plan your trip, visit SullivanCatskills.com.

The Best in Brews and Things to Do

Central New York is America’s Craft Brew Destination and it has the producers and places to prove it. With deep roots in hop history, a new class of creative brewers is leading the way in establishing the region’s distinction as Brew Central.

Meier’s Creek Brewing Co.

We’re talking about places like Cooperstown’s Brewery Ommegang, host to the country’s finest Belgian-style brews and a summer entertainment destination with both intimate performances and massive concerts. Looking for a slower, more laid-back pace? Check out Meier’s Creek Brewing Co.’s prolific array of releases in a countryside setting outside small-town Cazenovia perfect for outdoor relaxation. Beer Tree Brew Co. has fast become a premier producer of awesome ales and many other styles. They’ve got three locations ranging from farm brewery to factory to rooftop patio, all in the Binghamton area.

Feeling more adventurous? Head off the beaten path out into the rolling hills of Central New York to discover places like Wayward Lane Brewing in Schoharie, where bees feed their recipes. Woodland Farm Brewery offers many unique barrel-aged brews outside Utica. Or make a Main Street stop at Bullthistle Brewing Co. in Sherburne, where the excellent beer and good vibes are always flowing.

The Beer Boom in Rockland County

Experience Rockland County New York’s craft beer boom! The area’s breweries, cideries and taprooms feature a wide variety of thirst-quenching craft beers—each one boasting its own unique flavors. Stop by Industrial Arts Brewing Company in Garnerville and enjoy its signature pale ales, lagers and pilsner—all within a sprawling pre-Civil War Industrial Complex. Relax and enjoy at Gentle Giant Brewing Company and Defiant Brewing Company in Pearl River, both featuring craft beer, slow-smoked barbecue, great music, and tours.  

Visit Two Ladders Brewing in West Nyack—one of Rockland’s newest craft breweries, which offers perfectly crafted IPAs, ales and stouts. Check out Bricktown Bierhaus—Stony Point Brewing Company’s new taproom featuring a Munich-style outdoor biergarten with ample space to enjoy a pint and classic German-inspired cuisine.  

Hard cider enthusiasts can visit Red Barn Cidery—Rockland’s newest cidery located at Dr. Davies Farm in Congers, where they’ll enjoy an assortment of crisp and delicious hard ciders pressed from Dr. Davies’ own apples. This family-friendly outdoor establishment features cider, beer, wine and spirits, as well as on-site food trucks and live music. 

From frosty pilsners and flavorful Irish reds to dark lagers and crisp hard ciders, Rockland is the Hudson Valley’s craft beverage paradise!

 Blog post sponsored by the New York State Tourism Industry Authority and partners.