The section of the upper Genesee River from the state line to the dam in Belmont can be characterized as a wide, fast-flowing, gravel- and silt-bottomed stream. It has good insect hatches, most notably between Wellsville and Belmont. Flowing along a nearly level valley bottom, the grade is low, especially between the state line and Wellsville. This section of the river has long stretches of well-vegetated banks (but limited tree canopy), numerous deep pools, and large, woody debris jams. (The map pin is located at the Jack Bridge Road DEC parking area in Stannards.) 

Fishing

This section of the river is renowned for its high-quality trout fishing, but the fishery is sustained entirely by the stocking of brown trout and rainbow trout. In the past, the river likely was capable of supporting a wild trout fishery, but impacts resulting from poor land use practices, including logging but especially farming, have made the river and some of its upper tributaries incapable of supporting trout reproduction. But the river's water is cool enough to support year-round fishing for stocked trout. 

Two impacts are negatively affecting the river’s ability to support a wild trout population. The first is summertime heating of the water due to the loss of tree cover along some sections of the river and its tributaries. This is not a true cold-water river. It's cold in the winter, of course, but during most summers, even the uppermost section of the river in New York is best described as a cool-water stream. Second, and probably more important, is the sediment load on the bottom of the river due to poor land use practices along the tributaries. 

The principal fishable tributaries of the Genesee River upstream of Belmont include, from south to north: Cryder Creek, Ford Brook, Chenunda Creek, Dyke Creek, and Vandermark Creek. These streams and other smaller tributaries, including those in Pennsylvania, potentially contribute both stocked and wild brown trout and a few wild brook trout to the upper Genesee River. Very infrequently, a wild rainbow trout is caught in the upper Genesee River. DEC trout population surveys indicate that a resident wild rainbow trout population is not present in the New York portion of the river or its tributaries (except for Rush Creek upstream of Rushford Lake), so these wild fish must originate in Pennsylvania. 

Though many of the river's tributaries support populations of wild trout, there is no natural reproduction of trout in any of the New York portion of the Genesee River itself. Trout populations in the river are maintained by a substantial stocking program carried out by the DEC. In March, April, and May, brown trout and rainbow trout are stocked in the 19-mile-long stretch of river between the state line and the dam in Belmont (excluding the "no-kill" section). Angler Diary Program results show that catch rates remain high throughout the summer months and into the fall, indicating a significant survival rate of stocked trout in the river. For more information on catch rates for Genesee River trout, see the Genesee River Angler Diary Program Report for 2020 under Links. Also view the YouTube video Upper Genesee River Fishing under Links.

The Genesee River also regularly receives excess breeder stock in the fall (browns and rainbows only), which can noticeably improve the quality of the fishing here in the spring. Breeders are generally stocked only between the state line and Wellsville, but over time some of these large trout move down toward Belmont, and some travel much further. 

Scott Cornett, the fishery biologist responsible for the trout section of the Genesee River, has purposely called for not stocking any brook trout in the Genesee, including excess breeders, due to the presence of wild brook trout in many of the river’s high-quality tributaries. This decision is based on the fact that stocked brook trout, which tend to be larger than their wild counterparts, often swim up tributaries and compete with the wild brookies for food and quality habitat, both of which are in limited supply. Any small brook trout caught in the river, which happens very infrequently, has dropped down from one of the river's high-quality tributaries.

While it’s possible that the Randolph Fish Hatchery, the facility that provides the excess breeder stock for the Genesee, inadvertently includes a few brook trout in with the excess breeders stocked in the river, it is more likely that any exceptionally large brook trout caught in the river is from Pennsylvania. Until recently, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (Commission) and one or more of the co-op hatcheries stocked the upper branches of the Genesee with brookies. Fortunately, the Commission now has a policy to not stock brook trout in any watershed that supports a population of wild brook trout, and they are no longer providing brook trout to any of the co-op hatcheries. They stopped the stocking to prevent potential genetic impacts on the wild fish populations, eliminate competition with wild fish for food and habitat, and especially to slow the spread of gill lice, which is a significant problem in hatchery brook trout.

The Genesee River upstream of Belmont is primarily a trout fishery, but there is also the very good possibility of catching black bass, primarily smallmouth. While most of the bass caught here are small, averaging about 9 inches, it's not uncommon for someone to land a smallmouth tipping the scales at 1.5 to 2 or more pounds. These feisty fish are a lot of fun to catch on ultra-light tackle, especially a light-weight fly rod. Largemouth bass are also present, though at much lower numbers than smallmouth bass. They are found in the warmer, weedier fringes of the river, such as the side channels immediately upstream of the dam in Belmont. Statewide fishing regulations apply to bass fishing in this section of the river. Bass catch rates for diarists targeting bass were exceptional, and a good portion of the catch were large fish.

No article on trout fishing in the upper Genesee River would be complete without mentioning the Greater Wellsville Trout Derby, which is held each April by the Wellsville Lions Club. The derby is headquartered at Island Park on the banks of the Genesee River. Up to $25,000.00 in prize money can be won by contestants who compete to catch tagged fish. For more information on this popular event, see Wellsville Lions Club Projects under Links. 

The following articles deal with the varied aspects of fishing the trout section of the Genesee River. The first article was written by Walt Franklin, a noted outdoorsman, writer, photographer, and member of the Upper Genesee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. (Click on Rivertop Rambles under Links to visit Walt's blog, see many beautiful photos, and learn about his many books.)

The second, a legacy article from years past, expands on the tied flies that are popular on this river. It was written by veteran members of the Western New York Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a great organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing our trout waters (see WNY Trout Unlimited under Links).  

The Genesee Fly-Fisher

by Walt Franklin

The Genesee River springs to life in northern Potter County, Pennsylvania. The three branches of its headwater converge near the village of Genesee on the boundary shared with New York State. Although each branch offers good fishing for both wild and hatchery trout, my focus here is on the river from the state line north to just below the dam at Belmont, in Allegany County.

Yes, the Genesee is an atypical, northward flowing river, dropping through New York's popular Letchworth State Park to empty out eventually in Lake Ontario at Rochester. From the state line down to Belmont, the river is renowned as a cold-water fishery, with brown and rainbow trout as the primary angling targets. Warmer water from the Belmont dam to the northern limits of Allegany County and beyond features an opportunity to catch such species as smallmouth bass and carp.

Twenty miles of cold water on the upper Genesee offer an appealing mix of river types for the fly-fisher, canoeist, and kayaker. There the Genny (as the river is affectionately known to many) has substantial water with plenty of room to cast an artificial fly. Shaded riffles alternate with deep pools over gravel beds or silty bottoms. Much of this stretch is easily accessible and contains public fishing rights. The insect hatches, if not spectacular, seem consistent through the warmer seasons and inspire the use of mayfly, stonefly and caddis patterns. The lack of natural trout reproduction, due to factors such as thermal pollution and erosion, is counterbalanced by significant plantings of hatchery trout, occasional wild fish from the tributaries, and holdovers in the cooler sections that provide good fishing opportunities throughout the year.

Due to the viral epidemic of 2020-2021, the distribution of stocked trout in the Genesee left something to be desired by anglers who prefer to fish with "social distance" in the more remote and less accessible sections of the river. Although the DEC stocked about 26 thousand trout (a mix of browns and rainbows) between the state line and the Belmont dam in 2021, many of the fish seemed clustered at the bridge locations and did not have good dispersal. Hopefully by the time you read this, the trout distribution will have normalized again.

Every Genesee angler has a favorite location or two. For fly-fishing, I prefer the short stretch from the state line to the Hawks Road pull-off. Additionally, I find that the downstream no-kill water contains some excellent pools and shaded riffles for trout. The WAG Trail (a former rail bed converted to a well-groomed hiking/birding path) parallels the river and provides good access.

Island Park in Wellsville is a popular fishing site and also features handicap access. Downstream in the town of Amity, a small park situated on County Road 31A (just west of the Dollar General on Route 19) has an excellent approach. Also, at the Transit Bridge on Route 16 near Angelica, the Genesee River Wilds group maintains a parking area for recreationists, including smallmouth bass fishermen. Although I rarely cast for bronze-backs while the upstream water temperature remains favorable for trout, I did well fishing near Angelica on a recent summer morning. Wet-wading with a 6-weight fly rod, I discovered that the bass could not resist a Black Ghost streamer stripped in slowly through the base of major riffles.

For those who seek wild trout and the challenges of tributary angling, nearly a dozen feeder streams with brook and brown trout are worth investigating, especially after the Genny's mainstem temperature approaches the 70-degree mark in late spring or early summer. My favorite larger tribs along this section of the river include Cryder Creek, Fulmer Valley Brook, and Dyke Creek. Much further downriver, the inspirational Wiscoy Creek empties into the Genny.

I recently thought back to a frequently visited pool on the no-kill water, a site that I've referred to as the Oven, thanks to the trout activity that often seemed to turn the place on with heated fishing. I had previously avoided the location because I knew that it was popular and readily accessible. One day in late April, I was pressed for time, however, and decided to work the long, deep pool since no one else was on it.

Mayflies imitated by the famous Hendrickson pattern were emerging from the Oven and taking wing that early afternoon. I quickly tied a size 14 dry fly to my leader tippet and began to cast, targeting the river’s surface just above a rising trout. I launched into a catch-and-release frenzy with numerous browns and rainbows where the big pool quickened into a placid glide. More significantly, I began an interest in the pool and studied the Oven and its hatches throughout the following season. I returned to it repeatedly and, to my surprise, seldom encountered another fisherman at the site.

An 8- or 9-foot fly rod matched with a 4- or 5-weight line works nicely for Genesee River trout. Over the years I've found that fishing with streamers such as an Olive Woolly Bugger or Black Ghost in sizes 8-10 is effective, especially early and late in the season. In May, the March Brown, Adams, and Rusty Spinner (#12) are invaluable surface imitations. In June, the various caddis patterns (pupa and dry) seem essential, as are mayfly patterns such as the Light Cahill and the Slate Drake in sizes 12-14. For July and August, if cooler water temps prevail, I load up on small caddis dries, on mayflies such as the Cream Variant Spinner (#12) for late evening, and the Trico Spinner (#22) for early in the day. The Black Ant and beetle imitations can be useful at almost any hour. When autumn rolls around, I make sure to have a few Brown Caddis (#14) and Blue-winged Olive (#18) on hand. Overall, I feel confident in saying that nymphs and wet flies will connect as well as dry flies through the season, if not better.

In 35 years of fishing the Genesee, I've accumulated many fine memories of river scenes with solitude or with angling partners and displays of wildlife. I encourage the use of barbless hooks and a gentle release of fish wherever they are caught. An attitude of respect for all river life and for property owners will go a long way for all of us. If you haven't yet begun your own collection of Genesee memories, consider starting them soon. This watershed is a treasure year around.

Flies for the Genesee River

by Warren Hammond and Leo Baldwin

From April 1 to June 1, good dry flies to use include the following: the size 12 Quill Gordon, size 14 Dark Hendrickson, and size 12 March Brown. From June through July, there is a 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. hatch of mayflies, which can be matched with size 12 and 14 Yellow Mayflies and size 14 and 16 Light Cahill dry flies. Also from May through July, the size 12 and 14 Renegade and Royal Coachman are good attractor flies for both browns and rainbows. A size 14 to 18 Adams dry fly works well through the season. In late August into October, small (size 20) black ants and tiny tricos (size 20 to 26) work well. An Isonychia hatch sometimes occurs in late September, and a size 12 Grey Drake or Grey Comparadun will work during this period. For the browns, a good wet fly is an orange-bodied, grizzly-hackled wooly worm tied on a size 10 or 12 3XL hook.

Paddling

Recreational use of the Genesee River, for both fishing and paddling, has exploded over the past several decades, and formal access to the river has increased to meet the demand, including in the most upstream section. But it should be noted that paddling the upper section of this river, especially from the state line to the north side of Wellsville, is not for the inexperienced and can be downright dangerous! Numerous strainers are present in this section of the river, and high, fast-moving water occurs in the spring and following heavy summer rains. In addition, five low-head dams are located in Wellsville from just upstream of Weidrick Road to a third of a mile upstream of the Genesee River Wilds kayak access at Riverwalk Plaza (No. 8 under Access). Low-head dams can be VERY DANGEROUS if water levels are even just moderately high and should be avoided. Click on Drowning Machine: The Dangers of Low Head Dams under Links for an informative video that explains why these seemingly innocuous structures are so dangerous.

If you are looking for a safe, leisurely paddle, consider the section of the river downstream of the access at Riverwalk Plaza. To view water conditions in this section of the river, see USGS Stream Gage under Links.

Much of the dramatic increase in public access to the Genesee River in recent years is due to the work of the organization known as Genesee River Wilds, Inc. This not-for-profit organization's stated mission is to restore, protect, and enjoy the upper Genesee River by combining conservation, recreation, and business, and they have been very successful in achieving their goals. Many of the access sites along the river now available to the public are the result of their vision and efforts. See Links for additional information on this great organization.

Birding

As with almost every juxtaposition of land and a large body of water, the corridor of the Genesee River is rich in birds, both in numbers and variety. Species commonly seen on or along the river include raptors such as Bald eagles, Red-tailed hawks, Osprey, and Merlins; Hairy, Downy, and Pileated woodpeckers; waterfowl such as Canada geese, Tundra swans, and various species of mergansers; shorebirds such as Great blue and Green herons, various species of sandpipers, and killdeer; and huge numbers of songbirds. See eBird under Links for lists of birds recently observed at various locations along the river. For a complete list of birds seen at a specific location, click on Bird List under Overview in the upper left corner.    

Hiking

Although the Genesee River is a waterway, hiking is intimately associated with its use between the state line and Wellsville. This is thanks to the proximity of a beautiful trail that runs along an old railroad grade for 8.7 miles, often right along the river. For additional information, see WAG Trail.

For additional information on the Genesee River, see below.

Introduction

Belmont Dam to Portageville

Portageville to Mount Morris

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Links to associated resources (Genesee River Wildlife Management Area, Genesee River - Mount Morris to Rochester, and Genesee River - Rochester to Lake Ontario) will be added soon.