New fishing rules take effect just prior to trout season

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Copyright 2021 Mid-Hudson News.

ALBANY – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced new freshwater fishing regulations that go into effect on April 1, 2022.  According to DEC officials, the bulk of these changes are being implemented to expand fishing opportunities and make fishing as easy and enjoyable as possible.

  • New statewide regulation for rainbow trout, brown trout, and splake in lakes and ponds. The season will now be open year-round, with a five-fish daily limit, any size, with a “no more than two longer than 12 inches” harvest rule.
  • Statewide Atlantic salmon regulations will now allow for a year-round open season.
  • Ice fishing is permitted on all waters in New York unless specifically prohibited with the exception of Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties where previous rules remain.
  • New specific dates replaced floating dates for statewide season openers to include:
    • May 1 – Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel and Tiger Muskellunge.
    • June 1 – 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
    • June 15 – Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
  • A five-fish daily walleye limit in Oneida Lake.
  • A new regulation to limit the growth of the walleye population in Skaneateles Lake. No daily possession limit; 12-inch minimum size limit, open year-round.
  • The statewide sunfish daily harvest limit has been reduced from 50 to 25 fish; and
  • The statewide minimum size limit for crappie has been increased from nine inches to ten inches.

The DEC adopted more conservative harvest regulations for sunfish to protect populations from overharvest and increase the minimum size limit for crappie to 10 inches.  A full list of the changes can be found by clicking here.




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