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New York’s freshwater fishing seasons opened April 1 with the start of trout and salmon seasons. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has some tips and reminders for anglers in every region.
DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis, a longtime trout angler, said, “DEC’s Bureau of Fisheries works hard to provide trout fishing opportunities that meet the needs and desires of New York’s anglers, whether it be in a wilderness brook or a stocked water close to an urban center. Fishing is better than it ever has been in New York State.”
Trout, lake trout, landlocked atlantic salmon and kokanee salmon seasons all began on April 1 and will last until Oct. 15, except where special regulations exist. Early season anglers can improve their success by fishing deep and slow, and by using natural baits such as worms and minnows where permitted. Fly-fishing purists should consider using weighted nymphs and large, flashy streamers, possibly coupled with a sink-tip line. Once the water temperatures rise to around 50 degrees, dry-fly fishing prospects improve. Pond fishing is often best immediately after the winter ice melts.
As most Adirondack and Catskill ponds are likely to remain frozen in early April, anglers should scout out areas beforehand. Prime areas to fish are those that warm the earliest, including tributary mouths and near surface and shallow shoreline areas.
Early season anglers are reminded to be extra cautious as high flows, ice and deep snow can make accessing and wading streams particularly hazardous. It should also be noted that ice fishing is prohibited in trout waters except as noted in the DEC Fishing Regulations Guide.
DEC’s fish stocking efforts for catchable-size trout began in late March in the lower Hudson Valley, Long Island, and western New York, followed later by stocking in the Catskills and Adirondacks. This year, DEC plans to stock 2.3 million catchable-size brook, brown, and rainbow trout in almost 300 lakes and ponds and roughly 3,100 miles of streams across the state. Spring stockings will include 1.7 million brown trout, 415,000 rainbow trout and 143,000 brook trout. DEC will again include 2-year-old brown trout in the spring stocking program averaging 12-13 inches in length, with some as large as 15 inches. Approximately 96,000 of these larger fish will be stocked in lakes and streams throughout the state.
More than 2.1 million yearling lake trout, steelhead, landlocked salmon, splake and coho salmon will be also be stocked by DEC this spring to provide exciting angling opportunities over the next several years. For those who prefer a quieter, more remote setting, an estimated 350,000 brook trout fingerlings will be stocked in 342 lakes and ponds this fall, providing unique angling opportunities for future years. A complete list of waters planned to be stocked with trout this spring is posted to www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30465.html.
In addition to stocked waters, New York State has thousands of miles of wild trout streams that provide excellent fishing opportunities. Regional fisheries offices, which are listed in DEC’s Fishing Regulations Guide, can offer specific details about these streams.
Anglers are reminded to check the 2006-08 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide before their trip. Fishing licenses can be purchased on-line at www.dec.ny.gov/permits or by calling 1-86-NY-DECALS. Fishing licenses can also be purchased from various sporting license outlets located throughout the state, such as town and county clerks, some major discount stores, and many tackle and sporting goods stores.
Anglers are reminded that a serious fish disease known as Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) has been detected in New York. As a result, restrictions on the use of baitfish and transportation of live fish have been enacted. With some specific exceptions, all live baitfish sold for use on New York State waters must be certified to be free of VHS and a number of other potentially serious fish diseases. This restriction does not apply to commercially packaged and preserved dead baitfish such as salted minnows. Personal collection and use of baitfish is permitted, but live baitfish may only be used on the water from which they were collected and may not be transported off the body of water. For more information on VHS and the actions the DEC has taken to prevent its spread, go to the DEC Web site.
Adirondacks
Northeastern NEW YORK
(DEC Region 5)
Adirondack trout streams did not develop as much ice this winter as they have in certain recent winters, but there is plenty of snow in the mountains. A relatively mild thaw should clear the ice, but expect high stream flows early, until the snow pack is reduced.
Remote ponds in the Adirondacks are rarely ice-free until mid-April or later. That pattern is likely to hold this year. Once waters are ice-free and temperatures rise, surface trolling for salmon and lake trout is a good bet on the larger lakes. Brook trout pond fishing is good from ice-out through May.
Best bets for early season angling in the southern part of the region are the Batten Kill, Kayaderosseras and Mettawee rivers.
Catch-and-release regulations were enacted on the Batten Kill in 2004 from the Eagleville covered bridge to the Vermont state line. Year-round trout fishing is permitted in the catch and release section (artificial lures only). The lower two miles of the new catch and release section will be stocked with two-year-old brown trout some time in May.
Many regional streams and rivers will be stocked in April and May. However, due to ice conditions very few streams are stocked prior to opening day. If possible, yearling brook trout will be stocked in the Chateaugay River in Franklin County before the season begins. Rainbow trout may also be stocked in the Saranac River within the Village of Saranac Lake prior to April 1.
Hundreds of smaller streams contain wild brook and brown trout. Try fishing deep pools and riffle areas with live bait where it is allowed. Fish slowly, especially if the water is cold, high, and swift. Contact the regional fisheries office for a brochure listing many of the wild trout streams in Region 5.
Anglers are reminded that in many Adirondack ponds, the use of fish as bait is prohibited. For a list of these waters check the
“Special Regulations by County” section in the Fishing Regulations Guide, or contact the DEC’s Region 5 Fisheries Office in Ray Brook at (518) 897-1333.
Western Adirondacks North Central New York (DEC Region 6)
The April 1 opening of trout season expands the region’s trout fishing beyond Lake Ontario and a select set of large lakes to the rest of the region’s great variety of large and small streams, ponds and lakes. Region 6 includes the Western Adirondacks, Tug Hill, and the large Black, Mohawk and St. Lawrence River valleys. The region’s wide diversity of water types provide habitat for everything from small headwater brook trout to large deepwater lake trout. The majority of the Region 6 area experienced severe drought conditions during the summer and early fall of 2007, especially the Tug Hill Region. Many of the wild trout streams dried to pools. As a result, these streams are not expected to recover for several years.
Peaked Mountain Lake, located in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, was limed in February 2008 and should offer improved brook trout fishing. Liming is an important management tool utilized by DEC Fisheries Biologists to neutralize ponds affected by acid rain. The intended result produces increased growth rates of stocked brook trout. Adjacent to Peaked Mountain Lake, Evergreen and Hidden lakes should also offer decent brook trout fishing. Anglers will encounter DEC staff conducting creel surveys on the ponds of the Massawepie easement. Data collected during these surveys is extremely valuable in the DEC’s effort to provide quality fishing. J
