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State DEC lists 20 major St. Lawrence County ice fishing locations, warns of dangers

Posted 1/7/12

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is warning ice anglers about the dangers in ice fishing and informing them of recent changes to the Environmental Conservation Law. In waters where …

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State DEC lists 20 major St. Lawrence County ice fishing locations, warns of dangers

Posted

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is warning ice anglers about the dangers in ice fishing and informing them of recent changes to the Environmental Conservation Law.

In waters where ice fishing is permitted, anglers will be allowed to use up to three lines and five tip-ups except as noted in special regulations for specific waters. Previously, ice anglers could only use two lines with five tip-ups.

DEC wants anglers to check for sufficient ice thickness before venturing onto the ice.

A minimum of three to four inches of solid ice is usually safe for anglers on foot. However, ice thickness varies on every body of water and anglers should be particularly wary of areas of moving water and around boat docks and boat houses where bubblers may be installed to reduce ice buildup.

DEC cautions that the presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice should not be taken as evidence of safe ice conditions. Individuals are strongly encouraged to check ice conditions for themselves and avoid situations that appear to present even a remote risk.

In addition to the St. Lawrence River, here are some areas of 10 acres or larger open to ice fishing, and species anglers might expect to see:

• Morristown, Black Lake, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, walleye; public

• Parishville, Blake Falls Res., walleye, yellow perch; public

• Colton, Carry Falls Res., walleye, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge; public

• Hermon, Cedar Lake, yellow perch; private

• Fine, Greenfield Pond, yellow perch; private

• Macomb, Hickory Lake, yellow perch, northern pike; private

• Colton, Higley Falls Res., walleye, northern pike, yellow perch; public

• Piercefield, Horseshoe Lake, tiger muskellunge, walleye; public

• Edwards, Huckleberry, yellow perch; public

• Norwood, Norwood Res., walleye, yellow perch, black crappie; public

• Hopkinton, Lake Ozonia, trout, landlocked salmon; public

• Piercefield, Piercefield Flow, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch; public

• Macomb, Pleasant Lake, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch; public

• Parishville, Rainbow Falls Res., walleye, yellow perch; public

• Colton, S. Colton Reservoir, walleye, yellow perch; public

• Colton, Stark Falls Res., walleye, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge; public

• Fine, Star Lake, trout, lake trout; public

• Parishville, Sterling Pond, walleye; private

• Hermon, Trout Lake, trout, lake trout, walleye; private

• Rossie, Yellow Lake, northern pike, yellow perch; private

Anglers should obtain permission from owners in private areas.

The use of fish for bait is very popular when ice fishing, and bait fish may be used in most but not all waters that are open to ice fishing. See the DEC page at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/71546.html for special regulations for St. Lawrence County waters.

DEC wants anglers to follow the bait fish regulations to prevent the spread of harmful fish diseases and invasive species by using only certified disease-free bait fish purchased at a local tackle store or personally collected bait fish for use in the same waterbody in which they were caught.

According to a recent DEC survey, ice fishing participation has doubled over the past 10 years., according to DEC Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathy Moser.

For more information on ice fishing, ice safety, and places to ice fish, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7733.html. New York’s freshwater fishing regulations can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html.