ALBANY -The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced changes to freshwater fishing regulations that will be in effect starting Oct. 1, 2012.
The new regulations are a result of a two-year process which included DEC assessment and evaluation of biological and ecological data, discussions with anglers, and a formal public review and comment period. Some of the adopted changes apply to all waters in New York, while many others apply only to specific waters. Highlights of the final changes pertaining to the Capital Region include:
Regulation changes that pertain to walleye:
The new regulations are a result of a two-year process which included DEC assessment and evaluation of biological and ecological data, discussions with anglers, and a formal public review and comment period. Some of the adopted changes apply to all waters in New York, while many others apply only to specific waters. Highlights of the final changes pertaining to the Capital Region include:
Regulation changes that pertain to walleye:
- Prohibit fishing in the following stream sections from March 16 until the first Saturday in May (opening day for walleye) to protect spawning walleye: Lake Pleasant outlet to the mouth of the Kunjamuk River (Hamilton County); and Little Sandy Creek (Oswego County) from the intersection of the channelized area next to Koster Drive downstream of the State Route 3 bridge to the lower boundary of the public fishing rights section located upstream of the State Route 3 bridge.
- Delete the 12-inch size and three fish per day limit for kokanee salmon in Glass Lake (Rensselaer County).
- Open Blue Mountain Lake, Eagle Lake, Forked Lake, Gilman Lake, South Pond and Utowana Lake (Hamilton County) to ice fishing for landlocked salmon and reduce the daily limit for lake trout in these waters from three per day to two per day.
- Delete the special trout regulation for Palmer Lake (Saratoga County) to match the statewide regulation.
- Provide for ice fishing at privately managed water in Hamilton County (Salmon Pond).
- More clearly specify that attempting to take fish by snagging is prohibited.