Trout Fishing Season Opened April 1, 2021 in New York State. and this provides new inland trout stream regulations that also take effect April 1 and a new interactive trout stream fishing map.
In the future, every stream stocked receives some 12 inches or larger trout. The DEC is drawing a distinct line between wild and stocked trout management, and beginning in 2021, habitat improvement serves as DEC’s primary tool for creating and retaining self-sustaining populations of wild trout.
The new regulations are as follows:
- Harvest Season – April 1 – October 15 (All categories)
- Wild and stocked streams – daily limit is five trout, with no more than two over 12″
- Wild-quality and stocked-extended – daily limit is three trout, with no more than one over 12″
- Wild-premier – daily limit is one trout of any size
- Catch and release season: October 16 – March 31; artificial lures only (all inland trout streams); some exceptions apply.
For a full listing of categorized streams, visit DEC’s website (PDF).
New Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map
Through a new interactive map on DECinfo Locator, anglers can access information on stocking, fishing access, season dates and regulations. All Wild-Quality, Wild-Premier, Stocked, and Stocked-Extended reaches are mapped, and Wild categorized reaches will be mapped later this year.
New for 2021, DEC streamlined its annual fishing regulations guide
FISHING TOURNAMENTS
