A big change to the New York trout-fishing regulations

In the most recent fishing regulations, the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation made a big change. Weather permitting, you can enjoy this change between now and April 1, the traditional opening of the statewide trout season.

In the past, DEC, which sets fishing regulations, established the statewide season beginning on April 1 and ending in either September or October. According to Pat Festa, my friend and retired New York State fisheries biologist, at one time the season closed earlier — on Sept. 1.

Then, Pat advised, the season was lengthened, first to Sept. 15, then to Sept. 30, and finally to Oct. 15.

In addition to changes to the statewide season over the years, DEC began setting special regulations for specific streams. For example, it set regulations allowing catch-and-release year ’round on some Catskill streams, extended the season on the Kinderhook, and allowed year ’round fishing on a segment of the Battenkill, in Washington County.

In the latest changes to the regulations, from April 1 to Oct. 15, anglers may fish for trout using all allowable methods and may keep fish — unless special regulations say otherwise.

From Oct. 16 to March 31, anglers may pursue trout, but must release any fish caught and may only use artificial lures. As with the rest of the state regulations, this general regulation may be superseded by regulations applied to specific streams.

With this change, New York joins other states, such as Colorado and Massachusetts, in having, in effect, a year ’round trout-fishing season. John Gierach once told me that Colorado has had a year ’round season since the 1960s.

He went on to say, “The state thought: If those maniacs want to get out in February, let them!”

For more information on these regulatory changes, please visit the following place on the DEC website: https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/123901.html. This part of the website has a link to the DEC fisheries research, which supported making the change and the DEC plan for evaluating how the change affects trout fisheries.

Although these regulations open many more trout fishing opportunities, an angler’s luck still depends on weather and water conditions. On several St. Patrick’s Days, I fished on catch-and-release waters. On one stream, I hooked and landed a 17-inch brown trout. Another year, I caught a 10- or 11-inch brown trout on the Battenkill. In other years, angling on special regulation waters ended fishless.

If your schedule, water levels, and the weather allow you to fish this year before April 1 — or after — I hope you have a fun and safe beginning to your fishing season!