Changes to freshwater fishing regulations that take effect Oct. 1 include deleting a catch-and-release requirement for trout in the Jordan River from Carry Falls upstream, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

New regulations that pertain to trout and salmon include deleting the catch-and-release trout regulation for Jordan River from Carry Falls Reservoir in Colton upstream to the Franklin County line.

In neighboring counties, the new rules call for the opening of Lake Kushaqua and Rollins Pond in Franklin County to ice fishing for lake trout; and the opening of Blue Mountain Lake, Eagle Lake, Forked Lake, Gilman Lake, South Pond and Utowana Lake in Hamilton County to ice fishing for landlocked salmon and reducing the daily limit for lake trout in these waters from three per day to two per day.

Changes to regulations that pertain to ice fishing and baitfish include allowing ice fishing on specific waters currently deemed trout waters in St. Lawrence, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, and Oneida counties.

Regulations that pertain to gear and angling methods will now more clearly specify that attempting to take fish by snagging is prohibited.

Assistant DEC Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathy Moser said that “input received from anglers and other stakeholders during the public comment period earlier this year resulted in some suggestions becoming incorporated in the final changes announced today.”

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.

The complete list of freshwater sportfish regulation changes can be viewed under ‘Recently Adopted Regulations (Previous Twelve Months)’ on DEC’s website at www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/propregulations.html.