By Mike Lynch
Anglers may want to do a little homework before hitting trout waterways this season, as the stream regulations received a major overhaul.
The new regulations go into effect today, the open day of trout fishing season. They include a new classification system and harvest limits for streams, in addition to a winter catch-and-release season.
“I know it’s going to be confusing this year,” said Steve Hurst, chief of the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s bureau of fisheries in a zoom conference call Monday. “We’ve had the same trout stream regulations for 30 years.”
He did say in the long run the regulations should be simpler to understand than the previous system, which he said was too complex.
Years in the making
The new rules were part of the state’s new trout stream management plan, which was developed over the last several years. That process to create that plan included 16 public meetings with anglers in 2017.
“We found out from folks that it’s not all about catch rate,” Hurst said. “In fact, it’s not about harvest. Most people are throwing their catch back.”
One of the big changes in these regulations is that trout streams are broken down into two categories that include three types of wild trout streams and two types of stocked ones.
The wild trout steams will not be stocked with DEC hatchery trout. These types of streams will be managed to protect wild trout, including native brook trout populations, and to meet the goals of anglers seeking a wild trout experience.
The wild trout stream category has three designations: wild, which allows for anglers to harvest five trout per day with no more than two over 12 inches long; wild-quality, which has a catch limit of three per day with no more than one over 12 inches long; and wild-premier, which limits harvest to one trout of any size.
Rivers in the stocked category are now either stocked or stock-extended. Stocked streams are those waterways that are considered to have significant habitant problems that don’t allow them to sustain wild trout populations. They are stocked once per year and have limits of five fish per day, with no more than two over 12 inches in length.
Stock-extended streams support some wild trout but not an abundant trout population. These streams have a catch limit of three trout and no more than one over 12 inches. The West Branch of the Ausable is an example of this type of waterway
Uncategorized streams have the default state regulations of five trout, with no more than two over 12 inches.
Anglers looking for information about specific streams can now do so using the state’s new interactive stream map developed for anglers.
These regulations are in effect from April 1 to October 15.
Winter season
Another big change this year is that anglers can continue fishing through the winter on streams, a no-no on most streams in the past. The new catch-and-release trout season on streams will run from October 16 to March 31. Anglers fishing during these dates must used artificial lures and release all fish immediately.
The winter stream fishing season will likely wind up drawing more anglers in warmer parts of the state than the Adirondacks. Winters in the Adirondack interior often lasts into late March or April, making stream fishing extremely difficult. Fall anglers may find some opportunities.
Rich Kovaks, a fishing guide from Wanakena, said the winter stream fishing season could attract some die-hard anglers, noting that winters are not nearly as cold or snowy as they were 40 years ago.
“The real fishing enthusiast is going to take advantage of staying out on the water a little earlier or getting out a little later,” he said.
Wilmington fishing guide Rachel Finn said she was glad to see the state was revising the plan and doing more to protect wild trout from stocked population, but she had concerns about the winter fishing season on streams.
“I’m a little on the fence about that,” Finn said. “It could possibly hurt wild trout populations. That’s when they spawn.”
Native brook trout spawn in October.
While the new regulations go into effect today to coincide the start of the trout-fishing season, in many parts of the Adirondacks, trout season doesn’t really start for a few weeks. A snowstorm was forecasted for today in the northern Adirondacks, and ice is still present on many pond and lakes. In streams, water temperatures are still too cold for fish to be active.
The pond fishing season generally starts after ice out and stream fishing heats up around then. Prime spring fishing conditions generally take place between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in many parts of the Adirondacks for streams and rivers.
Not figuring out how to make use of the interactive stream map !! Click on symbols tells me nothing don’t know if streams I fish are considered wild or otherwise! Fishing and outdoor activity are the only thing that keeps me in this state! So now to be over taxed over regulated and terrible weather conditions most of the time!! Visited Tennessee better fishing,better weather and less restrictive and to top it off less taxes overall just better and New York State politicians can’t figure on why people are leaving NY in record numbers. Not rocket science to figure this out.
This another of many stories of a place to do some trout fishing that is still unknown as to what state this is , over and over some place is written about but if your not a local to the river or lake or town mentioned you have no idea where this place is…again !
Only a politician would figure this is a simplification of trout fishing regulations what a bunch of a holes
I have a lifetime license and I don’t receive any literature from DEC. I think every lifetime holder should be sent a syllabus this year due to the new regulations. It is not easy for everyone to get access to the internet. I would not have know about the new regulations if I did not see it on the news. Thank you!
Interestingly, there seems to be only one wild-quality categorized water in the entire Adirondack Park (True Brook) and that one has a fish species (Brown Trout) which is not even indigenous to the Adirondacks. All the other wild-quality or wild-premier locations are all outside the park. I am sure there are others in the park but most likely are all on private land. Although the state has done a lot of work to protect trout and salmon in the Adirondack Park, it hasn’t been enough. The state needs to stop protecting the non indigenous fish in the park. It is ridiculous that there are fishing seasons, catch limits, and no catch and release (e.g Hamilton County) for species such as Large and Smallmouth Bass. $$$$ dictates though
It would be very nice to identify the state that this is in.
New York State
Near as I can tell , the map does nothing. No matter,I will get info from the DEA . I catch and release only,anyway,since there is so much pollution. In my 60+yrs fishing ,I mostly know where I will go. Once again,the politicians show how little they know or care about their state or constituents .
New York!
Go the the DECInfo Locator website “https://gisservices.dec.ny.gov/gis/dil/” and then on the legend on the left, click the Outdoor Activity Tab. On the bottom, click Water Related Activities Tab. Check the Inland Trout Stream Reaches. Now the categories will show on the map
The lady fishing guide said she was “on the fence” regarding catch and release after October 15 because this is when some trout species (or char) spawn. I think it’s a bad idea to allow trout fishing after October 15.
We trout fish year round in the 2nd driest state in the union. Doesn’t hurt a thing. Trout do not spawn in winter. This guide needs to learn what she is talking about or not say anything.
Trout spawn in spring and salmon spawn in the fall.
Yes Mr. Visconti—-I am with you currently looking at houses in North Carolina. New York is taxing the people out big time. Now retired I can’t live here with the property taxes I pay out here on Long island
We have been fishing for rainbow trout forever due there spawning season and they have managed to survive quite nicely
.I fish for steelhead in stream that has not been stocked in over 15 years and they still come back every year.Mother nature not DEC.I think the browns will survive catch and release.
Hey Rog brown trout spawn in fall!!!!
Even years ago, my dad always said that he thought he should bring his attorney with him when he went trout fishing in NYS because the regulations were so convoluted. Maybe now, more than ever, a sideline career for a semi retired lawyer.