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DEC Announces Start of Trout Fishing Season on April
1st
Published: March 27, 2026 at
07:00 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS DEC
DEC Announces Start of Trout Fishing Season on April
1
Rich Angling Opportunities for New Yorkers to ‘Get
Offline, Get Outside’
New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton
today announced the April 1 start of the spring trout fishing season, which
provides excellent angling opportunities for wild and stocked trout.
"New York’s
season opener is a welcome sign of spring for trout anglers,” Commissioner
Lefton said. “I encourage anglers to introduce someone new to
recreational fishing this year and enjoy Getting Offline and Getting
Outside to experience some of the greatest freshwater fishing opportunities
in the nation."
Spring Trout
Stocking
DEC trout
stocking is in full swing with more than 1.7 million catchable-size brook,
brown, and rainbow trout stocked in waters across the state from mid-March
through early June.
Drought
conditions at Catskill Fish Hatchery during the late summer and autumn of
2025 reduced the water supply to a level that inhibited brown trout growth.
Therefore, on average, yearling trout from this facility will be shorter
than the 9-inch target size at stocking. Growth rates can be expected to
recover at Catskill Fish Hatchery with normal rainfall.
Stocked-Extended streams,
specified in the Inland
Trout Streams Regulations section of the Freshwater Fishing
Regulations Guide, will receive fish every other week for two months to
provide season-long opportunities for angler success. Most stream stockings
include larger trout (12 inches or more) as 10% of the total number. Spring trout stocking
lists, including the scheduled week of stocking for trout streams, can
be found on DEC's website.
Trout Stream
Fishing Opportunities
The popular Trout
Stream Fishing Map on DECinfo Locator allows anglers to view
trout stream reaches, color-coded by management category, as well as
fishing access associated with those reaches. Links to the Trout Stream
Fishing Map and a User Guide are available on DEC's website.
Anglers can also
use their smart phones to find trout fishing opportunities around the state
by accessing the Tackle Box feature in DEC’s HuntFishNY app. The
Tackle Box provides one-stop-shopping for information on access sites,
stocking, regulations and more. Information on how to
download the app can be found on DEC’s website. Anglers are
encouraged to check out these valuable resources when planning their next
fishing trip.
Recreational
fishing supports Governor Hochul's “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative promoting
physical and mental health by encouraging New York’s children and families
to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and
enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. One of the ways teens and
youth can find ideas to get offline is through DEC’s Get Offline, Get Outside Challenge, which offers
50 fun and interesting activities for youth to complete by the age of 19.
To help make
fishing more affordable and help inspire the next generation of anglers,
DEC has also partnered with libraries across the state to provide a Fishing
Rod Lending Program. While borrowing a book, library patrons can sign out a
fishing rod. This program offers an opportunity for people to try fishing
before deciding to purchase their own gear. For more information and a list
of the more than 80 participating libraries, visit DEC’s website.
Safe Fish
Consumption
The New York
State Department of Health (DOH) provides advice to anglers about what fish
are safe to eat and how often. Visit DOH’s website to search by waterbody location.
2026 Freshwater
Fishing Regulations Guide and Buying a License
A digital
version of the new guide is available to download on the DEC
website. Hard copies of the guide are available wherever sporting licenses
are sold. For locations visit the DEC
website.
Renewing or
buying a fishing license for the first time is easier than
ever. Anglers can call, go online, or visit their nearest license issuing
agent. When purchasing a license, anglers can also consider purchasing
a Habitat & Access Stamp for
just $5. This small donation directly supports habitat restoration projects
and recreational access to New York’s public lands.
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