Trout and salmon fishing season starts on April 1
DEC will stock 33,670 brown trout in Carlton at Lake Ontario
The trout and salmon fishing season in New York State opens on Monday, April 1.
The Department of Environmental Conservation also will be stocking 2.33 million catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in 311 lakes and ponds and roughly 2,845 miles of streams across the state.
That includes 33,670 brown trout, about 8 to 9 inches long, in Carlton at Lake Ontario.
Spring stockings will include 1.74 million brown trout, 433,855 rainbow trout and 157,200 brook trout. Approximately 97,000 two-year-old brown trout 13 to 14 inches in length are included in the brown trout total.
Stocking supports the state’s growing sportfishing industry, which generates an estimated $1.8 billion in economic activity each year.
“New York is home to world-class trout and salmon fishing in virtually every corner of the state,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “Heading out on opening day is a cherished tradition for generations of families, and I encourage New Yorkers and visitors alike to get outside and enjoy all the great fishing that our waters have to offer.”
As winter gives way to spring, stream anglers should be prepared to adapt fishing plans and tactics to variable temperatures and flows. In cold weather, bait and lures that can be fished slow and deep often prove effective in rousing sluggish trout. As water temperatures rise, anglers can shift to more active styles of fishing such as dry fly fishing.
“Excitement is building across the state as anglers prepare their gear for one of the most anticipated fishing days on the calendar,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Temperatures are beginning to rise and conditions should improve throughout April and May, as trout and salmon feed more actively on their natural foods. I encourage angling veterans and novices alike to get out there and enjoy New York’s excellent angling opportunities.”
