General Angling Regulations
General DEC Fishing Information & Licenses
New York State Fishing License Information

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Proud Tournament Champions
Some Proud Winners of the Children-Only
Roe's Pond Fishing Tournament, Witherbee, NY

Your Child's First Fish?

New York State has a program that encourages children to enjoy fishing. For more information, see My First Fish on the DEC website.

DEC Region 5 Hunting and Fishing Hotlines:
Ray Brook (518) 891-5413
Warrensburg (518) 623-3682

Freshwater Fishing in New York State
SPECIES
OPEN SEASON
MIN. LENGTH
DAILY LIMIT
Trout (brook, brown & rainbow & hybrids of these species; & splake)
April 1 - October 15
any size
5
Lake trout
21"
3
Landlocked salmon
15"
3
Kokanee
any size
10
Largemouth & smallmouth bass
3rd Sat in June - Nov 30
12"
5
Muskellunge
30"
1
Northern pike
1st Sat in May - Mar 15
18"
5
Pickerel
15"
5
Tiger muskellunge
30"
1
Walleye
15"
5
Crappie
all year
9"
25
Atlantic, shortnose, lake sturgeon
Closed
Possession prohibited
Whitefish
all year
any size
5
Yellow perch*
any size
50
Sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed & redbreast)*
any size
50
American eel: All waters except Hudson River
6"
any number
American eel: Hudson River from the Battery to Troy and all tribs. upstream to the first barrier.
Eels 6-14" may be possessed in any number for bait. No eels greater than 14" may be possessed. No eels may be possessed for food.
All other species
all year
any size
any number
* All Essex County waters (except Lake George) Yellow perch & Sunfish, All year, Any size, Any number.
Special Regulations
Lake Champlain including all tributaries up-stream to the first barrier impassable by fish:*
Species
Open Season
Min. Length
Daily Limit
Trout
All year
12"
3
Lake trout
15"
3
Landlocked salmon
15"
2
Largemouth & smallmouth bass
2nd Sat June-Nov 30
10"
5
Walleye
1st Sat May- Mar 15
18"
5
Sauger
any size
any number
Muskellunge
All year
30"
1
Northern pike
20"
5
Pickerel
any size
10
Crappie
9"
25
Yellow perch & sunfish (Lake Champlain except Cumberland Bay**)
All year
any size
any number
Yellow perch & sunfish (Cumberland Bay**)
All year
any size
50
Bullhead, catfish, carp, cisco, rock bass, smelt, suckers, whitefish and all other fish not listed in table
All year
any size
any number
Lake sturgeon and mooneye
Possession Prohibited

* Contact Region 5 DEC Regional Office at Ray Brook for barrier locations
** Lake Champlain except Cumberland Bay (the bay is those waters of the lake north & west of a line extending from Cumberland Head Lighthouse to the northern tip of Crab Island, then westerly to the southerly of the two piers at the Oil Terminal known locally as Copeland Oil Terminal.

Additional Tributary Regulations:
Stream Section Regulations
Saranac River from Catherine St. bridge upstream to Imperial Dam; Ausable River from marked boundary 800 feet west of downstream most Rte. 9 bridge, upstream 2.3 miles to the mouth of Ausable Chasm Angling from boats prohibited
Saranac River from Catherine St. bridge upstream to Imperial Dam; Ausable River from marked boundary 800 ft. West of the downstream most Rte. 9 bridge upstream to Rainbow Falls; Bouquet River and tributaries to first barrier from mouth upstream to Wadham Falls. Note additional closed sections below.

From June 15 through December 31:

  • max hook gap 1/2"
  • fishing prohibited from ½ hr after sunset to ½ hr before sunrise
  • fishing permitted with unweighted artificial flies or unweighted natural baits only. Exception: on Saranac River floating lures with one free-swinging hook are also permitted
  • no supplement weight such as metal leaders, sinkers, split shot, twist-ons or swivels may be attached to line, leader or hook
North Branch Bouquet River & tributaries to first barrier; Mill Brook (in Port Henry) from mouth to falls west of Rte. 22 Fishing prohibited from October 15 through December 31 to protect spawning salmon
Bouquet River from marked boundary below Willsboro Dam upstream to Rte. 22 in Willsboro Fishing prohibited to protect migrating landlocked salmon
Chazy River from Rte. 9B at Coopersville upstream to Perrys Mills Dam Fishing prohibited Mar 16 till opening of walleye season in May to protect spawning walleye
Scomotion Creek from mouth upstream to Pardy Rd. Snatching & blind snatching burbot allowed Dec 1 through March 31
For ice fishing regulations, click here.

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