After a winter that never wanted to end, we fi nally have arrived at the start of New York’s annual freshwater fishing season.
This Thursday, you will witness what is generally called the annual rite of spring, fishermen just wanting to be fishermen even if there is little hope of catching a fish.
Trout, lake trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon and kokanee salmon seasons all begin that day throughout the state, but the best early-season fishing usually can be found on Long Island, the lower Hudson Valley and western New York, which tend to warm up earlier than other sections of the state.
Most rivers and streams outside of Long Island, the lower Hudson Valley and western New York are typically cold and swollen with runoff in early April — making early-season fishing very difficult.
The relatively wet and cool summer we experienced last year was excellent for trout survival, report the Department of Environmental Conservation fisheries folks, and you will catch quite a few fish that survived the summer and winter months once the waters warm and stream flows become more manageable.
The DEC’s stocking of catchable-size trout generally starts in late March and early April in the lower Hudson Valley, Long Island, and western New York, and then proceeds to the Catskills and Adirondacks.
For a complete list of waters to be stocked with trout this spring, go to DEC’s Web site at dec.ny.gov. Licenses are available there, by calling 1-86-NY-DECALS, or by purchasing one from the 1,500 license issuing agents located throughout the state such as town and county clerks and some major discount, tackle and sporting goods stores.
An important reminder is to disinfect your fishing equipment, including waders and boots, before entering a new body of water. This is the only way to prevent the spread of potentially damaging didymo, zebra mussels, VHS and whirling disease.
