Lemon Creek Boat Launch

Lemon Creek Boat Launch is a public carry-in (hand-launch) site on Lemon Creek in Richmond County, New York.

It is owned and managed by DEC.

This is a carry-in access designed for canoes, kayaks and other hand-launched small craft rather than trailered powerboats.

Lemon Creek Boat Launch is a hand-carry / car-top access.

The site is managed by DEC.

Lemon Creek is open to public fishing, boating and paddling across from the Great Lakes to the Adirondacks. Anglers here target smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, trout and panfish.

The Great Lakes, Finger Lakes and rivers hold trout, salmon and steelhead.

As moving water, it fishes by current — target seams, eddies, holes, bends and woody cover rather than open flats.

Lemon Creek Boat Launch is a public access point to Lemon Creek for hand-carried craft.

This launch sits on Lemon Creek; look for other public access points, marinas and shoreline fishing spots along the same water, and check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the full list of access sites nearby.

River current, woody snags, shifting sandbars and changing water levels are the main hazards. Respect the current, scout unfamiliar stretches, give way to any commercial traffic, and never anchor from the stern in a strong flow.

Carry U.S. Coast Guard–required safety gear, wear your life jacket, file a float plan for longer trips, and remember that spring and fall water is cold enough to cause hypothermia quickly.

A New York fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older. Follow the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's seasons, size and creel limits, which vary by water and species.

Clean, Drain and Dry: remove all aquatic plants and animals, drain every compartment, and never move live fish or bait between waters — this is how invasive species like zebra mussels and invasive carp spread.

Observe posted launch rules, no-wake and idle zones near the ramp, and any local watercraft controls.

This is a hand-launch site — bring a cart for longer carries and pack light. It is ideal for kayaks, canoes and small car-top boats rather than big trailered rigs.

Arrive early on summer weekends for parking, and have a plan for wind direction before you launch on open water.