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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced ice fishing creel surveys will be conducted for a second year on the New York waters of Lake Champlain from January through March 2022.

The ice fishing survey is part of a larger, two-year effort to survey both ice and open water anglers. Data gathered during these surveys will serve as a baseline to help DEC Fisheries biologists better understand angler use and expectations, while also informing management actions on Lake Champlain.

The 2022 ice fishing survey will take place at four access points: Plattsburgh Boat Launch on Cumberland Bay; Willsboro Bay Boat Launch; Bulwagga Bay Campground; and South Bay Boat Launch. Anglers coming off the ice will be asked to participate by sharing information about their day of fishing and providing DEC creel clerks the opportunity to collect biological data on their catch. Data to be collected includes target species, number caught, and size.

Participation in the program is voluntary but encouraged, as the data collected will help DEC develop Lake Champlain management practices that benefit anglers and the fishery. As an incentive to participate, anglers will be entered into a drawing for several ice fishing gear prizes, including a jet sled, jigging rod, rechargeable aerator, and an insulated bait bucket.

A copy of the Lake Champlain Ice Fishing Creel Survey plan can be found on DEC’s website. A summary of 2021 survey results will be available in early 2022.

Anglers are reminded to always follow best practices for ice safety.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced the release of a proposal to clarify and simplify sportfishing regulations based on public feedback and DEC fisheries manager reviews of rules associated with the management of the State’s fisheries. The proposed rulemaking also includes a limited number of waterbody-specific regulation changes to support improved management of these waters.

Highlights of the proposal include:

• New rules for trout management in ponded waters, which consolidates 143 waterbody and 33 county-wide special regulations (PDF) into a new statewide regulation that permits anglers to harvest five fish per day, only two of which can be greater than 12 inches in length. The proposal seeks to better align regulations with intended outcomes. Most inland ponds and lakes stocked with brown trout and rainbow trout are managed for put-and-take or put-grow-and-take fisheries. Waters managed for these species and purpose are proposed to be open all year, while brook trout ponds, which are largely managed for self-sustaining wild populations, will be closed to fishing between Oct. 16 and March 31. This rule will increase the longevity of stocked brook trout that are highly vulnerable to ice fishing.
• Removing the statewide closed season restriction on lake trout and Atlantic salmon. Keeping the season open year-round consolidates 24 lake trout and 33 Atlantic salmon waterbody-specific regulations (PDF) into statewide regulations consistent with current management practices, as over the years a greater number of these waters have been open all year under special regulations. In addition, six outdated lake trout and five unnecessary Atlantic salmon special regulations are proposed to be eliminated.
• Allowing ice fishing unless specifically prohibited in New York, except for Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties, where the existing “ice fishing is prohibited unless specifically permitted in waters inhabited by trout” regulation will still apply. Trout fishing in ponds is currently allowed in most other waters, so allowing it statewide with the nine-county exception will reduce the number of special regulations needed overall.
• Providing consistency in opening and closing fishing season dates for sportfish. DEC currently uses a mixed approach for season dates. Some seasons begin on a specific date, while others start on a designated Saturday. Based on results of an angler poll conducted earlier this year, DEC is proposing that all sportfish seasons begin and end on specific dates. Notable changes to statewide opening dates are:
  • May 1 for walleye, northern pike, pickerel, and tiger muskellunge;
  • June 1 for muskellunge; June 15 for black bass; and
  • Aligning special regulations with new season dates for these species.
• Eliminating the current three-fish-per-day daily walleye limit in Oneida Lake and reverting to the statewide five-fish-per-day limit due to the abundant adult walleye population (PDF).
• Correcting a previous rule change omission by changing the daily limit for steelhead on the Lower Niagara River from three to two fish per day.
• Establishing a no-limit, all-year season and 12-inch-minimum length restriction for walleye on Skaneateles Lake to suppress this introduced species, which has the potential to negatively impact the lake’s high-quality trout and salmon fishery.
• Banning snatching and spearing in select waters.

The full text and a summary of the proposed regulatory changes are available on DEC’s website. DEC is interested in anglers’ viewpoints and encourages public feedback on these proposals. Comments should be submitted via e-mail to regulations.fish@dec.ny.gov  with the subject line “Fishing Regulations Proposal Comments” or via mail to the Inland Fisheries Section, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753. Comments will be accepted through Feb. 6, 2022.

Updated 11/26/21

DEC Releases Final Recreation Management Plan for Flatrock Mountain Conservation Easement

(11/26) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released the Recreation Management Plan (RMP) for the Flatrock Mountain Conservation Easement. The Flatrock Mountain Conservation Easement encompasses approximately 511 acres southwest of Old Forge in the town of Webb. This property is primarily accessed from State Route 28 and Minnehaha Road.

DEC and the property owner, the Northeastern Loggers’ Association, collaborated on the RMP for the conservation easement, which will increase opportunities for recreation in Herkimer County, including:

• A new nearly one-mile-long multiple use hiking, mountain biking, and skiing recreational trail;
• A new 0.7-mile-long snowmobile trail also open to hiking and mountain biking;
• Designation of an existing logging road and snowmobile trail for ATV use by people with mobility impairments who have a Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities permit;
• Construction of two accessible parking spaces and a new informational kiosk; and
• Construction of a three-car parking lot at the trailhead for one of the new trails off Minnehaha Road.

Visit the DEC website for information about the Flatrock Mountain Conservation Easement, nearby DEC-managed lands, and the RMP.

Utica Marsh WMA

(11/19) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released a draft Access and Public Use Plan (APUP) for the Utica Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The draft plan is available for public comment until Dec. 22, 2021.

Utica Marsh WMA contains 193 acres of primarily wetlands in eastern Oneida County north of the city of Utica. In conjunction with WMA regulations, APUPs serve as overarching guidance for providing access to wildlife lands and determining public use activities appropriate for each area.

This draft APUP complements the existing Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for Utica Marsh WMA and addresses management objectives for wildlife-dependent recreation, access features, and facility maintenance. Together, the APUP and HMP form a comprehensive management plan for the WMA. These plans guide management for wildlife and public access over a 10-year time period, after which DEC will assess conditions and needs and update the plans as needed.

The public is invited to provide comments on the draft APUP for 30 days beginning Nov. 22 and ending Dec. 22, 2021. Comments can be sent to NYSDEC Bureau of Wildlife, Region 6, 225 North Main Street, Herkimer, NY, 13350 or by email information.r6@dec.ny.gov with the subject line – Utica Marsh WMA draft APUP.

Black River and Deer River Fishing Access Site,

(11/19) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the completion of the Black River at Deer River Fishing Access Site, a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant fishing access site in the town of Denmark, Lewis County.

“This newly constructed Black River at Deer River Fishing Access Site provides anglers with access to a 10-mile stretch of the Black River between Castorland and Carthage. Anglers will also have easy access to the Deer River,” said Randall C. Young, Regional Director, Region 6.

Improvements at the Black River at Deer River Fishing Access Site include a gravel parking area with ADA-compliant accessible parking spaces and an accessible single-lane gravel boat launch near the confluence of the Deer and Black rivers. The parking lot includes one standard space and a space for vehicles with trailers. An additional three-vehicle parking area near the joining of the rivers can be used for launching car-top vessels. The site also features an additional 10-parking spaces for vehicles with trailers.

Development of this site provides anglers with access to public fishing on 0.35 miles of the south bank of the Deer River and approximately 0.66 miles on the north bank of the Black River. Popular gamefish species found in this section of the Black River include Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, and Chain Pickerel.

The $75,000 project cost was funded by Marks Farms Natural Resources Damages settlement funds stemming from an enforcement action after a manure spill in the river in 2005.

Drawdown of Indian River to Begin Nov. 15

(11/12) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that Central Rivers Power, licensee of the Theresa Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 4486), is overseeing a gradual drawdown of the Indian River to allow for replacement of a hydraulically operated 17.5-foot-high spillway gate.The drawdown will take place over several days to allow for the protection of aquatic life and will last approximately four months.

Streams only, not ponds

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today reminded anglers that the State’s new catch-and-release trout stream season begins on Oct. 16, expanding recreational opportunities. The new catch-and-release trout stream season is a product of DEC’s Statewide Trout Stream Management Plan, developed to improve and modernize the State’s management of its trout stream fishing resources. The new season, which runs from Oct. 1 – March 31, requires anglers to use only artificial lures and immediately release trout they catch. The catch-and-release season applies to trout streams only. Fishing for trout in lakes and ponds is prohibited after Oct. 15, unless these waters are managed under a special regulation that allows for angling. Anglers should consult DEC’s regulations guide for regulations associated with lakes and ponds that harbor trout before fishing.

This time period was traditionally closed to trout stream fishing as a precautionary measure during the reproductive period for wild trout. DEC biologists concluded that fishing during the spawning season will not result in negative fishery impacts. To provide due diligence, DEC will conduct an Angler Use and Wild Trout Young-of-Year Recruitment Study to gauge angling pressure and young-of-year trout abundance on a statewide sample of 19 wild trout stream reaches from 2021-2024. DEC biologists will use the results of the study to evaluate the new regulation and guide future management. Anglers are reminded to use best practices when releasing fish to ensure trout are returned to the stream immediately and unharmed. Visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9223.html for more information on catching and releasing fish. 

Anglers venturing to inland trout streams this fall should check out the DEC’s Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map on the DECinfo Locator. The map provides anglers with a one-stop-shop for information about stocking, fishing access, season dates, and regulations. DEC encourages anglers to use this resource before hitting the water, so they are aware of all the trout stream fishing opportunities available to them both locally and afar.

For more information on freshwater fishing in New York waters, go to DEC’s Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide at https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html. Anglers interested in receiving information about fishing and fisheries management in New York can subscribe to the Fishing Line Newsletter at https://www.dec.ny.gov/public/65855.html.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the temporary closure of a section of Gooley Club Road in Indian Lake to allow for the safe removal of the old Gooley Club House. The road is scheduled to reopen by the end of September.

The closure will begin after the rafting put-in, allowing whitewater rafting to continue on this popular stretch of the Indian River. Motorists traveling on the open section of road are advised to be prepared for possible encounters with large work vehicles. For more information, visit the Adirondack Backcountry Information webpage.