Mill Dam to Montauk Springs
MDC lists the section from Mill Dam upstream to Montauk Springs as the flies-only zone.
TRIP PLAN
Know the water.
Then pack the tackle.
Best targets: Rainbow trout · Brown trout
When: March–October park season; winter catch-and-release; Current River below park
WHY GO
Montauk State Park
Montauk gives you a trout park plus high-quality Current River trout water downstream.
Trip type: Overnight
Targets: Rainbow trout · Brown trout
2026 MONTAUK NOTES
Pick a zone before
you pick a lure.
Official MDC information checked October 3, 2026
Montauk's spring branch is divided into three fishing zones. The useful difference is not just scenery: one section is flies only, one allows artificial and natural bait, and the catch-and-release area is flies only with no fish possession.
Broader presentation choices
The spring branch below the CCC Spillway and the reach from Mill Pool Dam downstream to the lower park boundary allow artificial and natural baits.
Montauk Lake + upper branch
Montauk Lake, its overflow area, and the short spring-branch section above the CCC Spillway are catch-and-release, flies only, with no possession of fish.
2026 OUTLOOK
Daily rainbow stocking through October.
MDC's 2026 prospect report calls for daily rainbow-trout stocking from March 1 through October 31. The regular trout-park daily limit is four trout, and brown trout have a 15-inch minimum length in the park.
Because today is in the October season window, the park is still in its regular trout season. Fishing hours vary by month, so check the current park schedule before the drive.
IF YOU WANT A DIFFERENT TRIP
The Current River below the park is not the same fishery.
MDC manages the nine-mile reach from the park boundary to Cedargrove Access for large brown trout, with special tackle and harvest rules. That reach can be a better fit for an angler looking for a lower-density, trophy-oriented day instead of the stocked trout-park experience.
Trip decision: trout park for a structured stocked-water day; upper Current River for a more technical river trip.
Primary sources
STARTER SETUPS
Pack for the target.
Not every fish.
Park trout
4–6 lb line with the legal presentation for the zone you're fishing.
Blue Ribbon below park
Artificial lures or flies only
Artificial lures or flies only; soft plastic and natural/scented baits are prohibited on that reach.
Mobility
A compact wading setup makes more sense below the park than hauling a large tackle box.
CURRENT NOTES
Rules that matter.
- Montauk has three fishing zones with different lure/bait restrictions.
- Current MDC regulations list a four-trout daily limit during the regular season and a 15-inch minimum on brown trout.
- The nine-mile Current River reach below the park to Cedar Grove is a Blue Ribbon Trout Area with artificial-lure/fly-only rules and an 18-inch trout minimum.
- Porous-soled waders are prohibited.
OFFICIAL SOURCE
Verify before the drive.
Conditions and regulations change. Use the official agency source before a long trip.
Official fishing information