The Otselic River begins in Madison County, languidly flowing 54 miles into Chenango, Cortland, and Broome Counties. The Otselic River meanders through the bucolic countryside of Cortland County's Cincinnatus and Willet, where it eventually flows through the Whitney Point Reservoir before its confluence with the Tioughnioga River.
WHAT TO EXPECT
There are two official launch/ public fishing sites on the Otselic River in Cortland County, both located in Willet. The Otselic is stocked annually with around 8,115 one-year-old brown trout (9") and 875 two-year-old brown trout (14") each spring. Both stocked and wild brown trout, as well as wild brook trout, are present in the river. Smallmouth bass and walleye can also be found in the lower section of the river below Cincinatus. The most suitable trout habitat in the river is between Otselic and Cincinatus. There are no amenities on the premises, so be sure to practice Leave No Trace principles. The DEC asks that you properly disinfect your boat before and after to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. DEC Procedures To Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species.
LAUNCH
There are two public launches with parking located in Willet, (42.471459°N, 75.920125°W) and (42.422642°N, 75.948742°W). Both are dirt lot pull-offs; the first is at the intersection of Route 221 and Route 26, and the latter is at Landers Corner near Doty Rd. Both are hand launches.