Trout (DEC)

Spring trout fishing season begins Saturday in New York State.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation stocks nearly 1.9 million trout in waters statewide, beginning in March and lasting until early June.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Since DEC updated regulations in 2021 to allow a catch-and-release season in the fall and winter months, anglers have the opportunity to fish for inland trout year-round. Even so, April 1 has a special meaning for anglers in New York as the date signifies the start of a season full of promising fishing opportunities.”
April 1 marks the opening of the harvest season after year-round fishing was greenlit on most streams in 2021, with the implementation of an October 16 to March 31 “artificial lures only, catch-and-release’ season.

Last year, the DEC added a new feature to its official HuntFishNY app called The Tackle Box. Fishing regulations, boating access, and stocking information are all available in a map-based interface from the convenience of a smart phone. Other features include driving directions to state boat launch sites and an offline feature that allows a user to access information when cell coverage isn’t available.

The HuntFishNY app, which includes the Tackle Box, is free of charge and available through the App store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) for anyone to download on their tablet or smart phone.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation said April 1 marks the end of catch-and-release-only and the start of harvest season.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said spring trout stocking began in March and runs through early June, and includes more than 1.8 million trout stocked in waters statewide.

“Fishing in New York State is a highly anticipated, world-class experience that brings seasoned and amateur anglers to our waters in every corner of the State every spring,” Commissioner Seggos said. “DEC’s extensive fish stocking efforts throughout the State are certain to complement our existing healthy fisheries and make the upcoming harvest season a success.”

Trout stocking is in full swing with 1,872,105 catchable brown, rainbow, and brook trout stocked in ponds and streams across the State this spring. Stocked-Extended streams will receive fish every other week for two months to enhance season-long opportunities for angler success. Most streams will also receive a seeding of larger stocked trout.

The link for where trout stocking is taking place in Chautauqua County can be found here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/23333.html

New freshwater fishing regulations will also take effect on April 1 following a public comment period on the draft proposals earlier this year.

The new guidelines make the rainbow, brown trout, and splake in lakes and ponds season open year-round, with a five-fish daily limit, any size, with a “no more than two longer than 12 inches” harvest rule;

Ice fishing is permitted on all waters in New York unless specifically prohibited

New specific dates replaced floating dates for statewide season openers to include:
May 1 for Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel and Tiger Muskellunge;
June 1 for Muskellunge. Note that in 2022, DEC will allow for the fishing of muskellunge beginning the last Saturday in May to accommodate previously planned fishing trips; and
And June 15 for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.

Other new guidelines including reducing the daily harvest limit on sunfish from 50 to 25 fish; and increasing the minimum size limit for crappie from nine inches to 10 inches.

There’s a wide range of stocked and wild trout streams that anglers can go to in both Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. All of the streams that have been stocked by the Department of Environmental Conservation in Chautauqua County have been supplied with Brown Trout.

• VIEW LIST OF STOCKED WATERWAYS IN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
• VIEW STOCKED WATERWAYS IN CATTARAUGUS COUNTY

These listings reflect the anticipated distribution of yearling and older trout for the spring fishing season. Actual numbers and stocking times may vary depending on fish availability and weather conditions. Spring trout stocking begins in March and runs through early June.

Before heading out for opening day, make sure you have your license. Anyone 16 years of age and older who desires to fish in New York must have a New York State fishing license. Anglers can purchase their license and print them for immediate use on their home computer at www.licensecenter.ny.gov/.

According to the Governor’s office, New York boasts 7,500 lakes and ponds and 70,000 miles of rivers and streams for resident and visiting anglers to enjoy. The state is home to an estimated 1.9 million total anglers, while 297,000 non-resident anglers come to New York to fish, according to a study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. New York’s sport fishing industry generates an estimated $1.96 billion in economic activity annually, supporting nearly 17,000 jobs.

Early season trout fishing recommendations by the Department of Environmental Conservation can be found in the 2015 Coldwater Fishing Forecast at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/63598.html.