The 2017 trout and salmon fishing season is now open in St. Lawrence County.

Anglers can visit DEC’s website to view this spring’s planned trout stockings in 314 lakes and ponds and 2,850 miles of streams across New York State.

Department of Environmental Conservation staff and partners have been monitoring New York’s waterbodies and estimate that ample rain and snowfall during the winter months helped to fill depleted lakes and reservoirs and restored favorable stream flows for large parts of the state that were affected by drought during the fall of 2016.

The best early season angling opportunities for trout are typically in lakes and ponds, with some of the best fishing found immediately after ice thaws. Long Island, where anglers can enjoy a year-round trout season, provides good early season trout fishing with warmer water temperatures and most waters receiving at least a portion of their annual stocking allocations prior to April 1.

Early-season fishing conditions on Upstate trout streams will improve as snow melts and temperatures rise. Anglers will have the best success using bait and lures such as spinners that can be fished slow and deep. Fishing will improve markedly once water temperatures move into the 60s later in the spring.

DEC operates 12 fish hatcheries in New York and plans to stock more than 2.2 million catchable-size brook, brown and rainbow trout in 314 lakes and ponds and roughly 2,850 miles of streams across the state, which over the course of the spring will include 1.6 million brown trout, 426,300 rainbow trout, and 160,200 brook trout. That’s in addition to the stocking of nearly 2 million yearling lake trout, steelhead, landlocked salmon, splake, Chinook salmon, and coho salmon that will grow over the years to become catchable size fish.

DEC’s stocking program traditionally starts in late March and early April with the stocking of catchable-size trout in the lower Hudson Valley, Long Island, and western New York. Stocking then proceeds, as weather and stream conditions permit, to the Catskills, Adirondacks and other portions of the state. Given this year’s mid-March snowstorm, some delays in the stocking schedule can be expected in the state’s hardest hit areas. Anglers are encouraged to contact the regional DEC office where they intend to fish for up-to-date stocking information.

Early season trout fishing recommendations by DEC staff in each region can be found in the 2017 Coldwater Fishing Forecast at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/63598.html. The DEC website also includes a map of recommended fishing locations at www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/42978.html and specific locations on streams where DEC has purchased fishing easements at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9924.html. For a wealth of helpful information on suggested fishing locations and tips for beginning anglers, people are encouraged to visit the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/fishing.html.

Anyone 16 years of age and older that wants to fish in New York must have a State fishing license. Anglers can purchase and print a license for immediate use on their home computer at www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html. Anglers can also purchase a license by phone by calling 1-866-933-2257, or from the numerous license issuing agents across the state.

Those purchasing by phone will receive a confirmation number that can be used as proof of purchase until receiving their license by mail. Fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. DEC also encourages those purchasing a license to purchase a Habitat/Access Stamp to help fund important access and habitat projects. For more information on the Habitat/Access Stamp Program go to www.dec.ny.gov/permits/47452.html .

Anglers interested in purchasing a lifetime fishing license should consider a New York State Adventure license which is incorporated on their New York driver’s license and provides a free fishing themed license plate. Additional information can be found at: www.licensecenter.ny.gov/.