DEC reminds New Yorkers about April 1 start of spring trout fishing season

April 1 marks start of harvest season and end of catch-and-release-only season for trout

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Press Release

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos reminded New Yorkers of the April 1 start of the trout fishing season, a spring tradition bolstered by DEC's extensive stocking program and New York’s world-renowned wild trout fisheries. DEC's spring trout stocking, which began in March and runs through early June, will include more than 1.9 million trout being stocked in waters statewide, enhancing the diversity of excellent fishing opportunities available to anglers in New York state.

“The mild winter afforded New Yorkers some trout fishing opportunities during the catch-and-release season,” Seggos said. “However, April 1, the traditional opening day of inland trout fishing season, brings the excitement to another level as spring arrives and the state’s streams and ponds are stocked to provide additional opportunities for anglers.”

April 1 marks the opening of the harvest season after year-round fishing was greenlit on most streams in 2021, with the implementation of an Oct. 16 to March 31 "artificial lures only, catch-and-release" season.

DEC trout stocking began in March and will include the placement of 1,909,450 catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in streams and ponds across the state by early June. “Stocked-extended” streams, listed in the inland trout streams regulations section of the freshwater fishing regulations guide, will receive fish every other week for two months to enhance season-long opportunities for angler success. Most streams will also receive a seeding of larger stocked trout. Spring trout stocking lists, including the week of stocking for trout streams, can be found at DEC's website.

Stocking information, along with fishing regulations, maps, and access details, is available in “The Tackle Box” feature of the DEC HuntFishNY smartphone app. Other features include driving directions to state boat launch sites, and an offline feature that allows a user to access information when cell coverage isn't available.

Visit the DEC website for more information on the HuntFishNY app and “Tackle Box” feature. Anglers can view trout stream reaches, color-coded by management category, and fishing access associated with those reaches on the DECinfo Locator.

Links to the trout stream fishing map and a user guide, as well as fishing regulations and planned stockings listed by county, are available on the DEC website.

A digital version of the 2024 guide is available to download on the DEC website. Hard copies are available wherever sporting licenses are sold.