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Trout Fishing on Long Island
While most upstate waters are still iced over or swollen with spring melt on April 1, Long Island waters are ice free and open for fishing. In fact, the trout season is open year-round on most Long Island waters. DEC starts stocking trout in mid-March and stocks over 30,000 brown trout and rainbow trout into ponds and streams in the spring and fall. Waters worth checking include Kahlers Pond, Upper Yaphank Lake, West Lake, Argyle Lake and Belmont Lake in Suffolk County and the Massapequa Reservoir and Upper Twin Pond in Nassau County.
For wild trout, the Carmans River in Southaven County Park is the best bet, with 30% of captured trout being native brook trout. Just remember, stream brook trout are catch and release only on Long Island. To introduce the whole family to trout fishing, visit the Spring Family Fishing Festival at Belmont Lake State Park on Saturday, April 11 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This is a Free Fishing Clinic, so no fishing license is needed. The Long Island Trout Stocking List is available from DEC's Region 1 Office. Call 631-444-0281 or e-mail us.
For freshwater anglers, please be aware that DEC adopted new freshwater fishing regulations on April 1 of this year. New or modified regulations pertain to sportfish species, baitfish and other non-game fish as well as to gear and angling methods. Many of the proposed changes resulted from DEC's focus on consolidating regulations where possible and eliminating special regulations that are no longer warranted and have become outdated. The current Freshwater Fishing Regulations are also available on DEC's free mobile app for Smartphones.
Watchable Wildlife: Utica Marsh Wildlife Management Area
Oneida County
Utica Marsh, a unique urban greenway, has a mixture of cattail wetlands, open water pools, and shrub habitat that harbors a variety of animals. More than 160 species of birds have been recorded here, including: great blue herons, least bittern, mallards, Virginia rail, red-winged blackbirds and bald eagles. Painted and snapping turtles emerge from hibernation in the spring, looking for places to lay their eggs in soft soil along the trails.
While hunting is not allowed on the area, you may encounter white-tailed deer, muskrats, wild turkey, raccoons, mink and wood ducks as you walk along the nature trails. There is a viewing platform for observing portions of the marsh. The NYS Canalway Trail System, a network of nearly 300 miles of multiple-use trails, passes through the area. Parking areas for the marsh are located 1-2 miles from the WMA itself. Call DEC's Utica Office at 315-793-2557 for directions.
Introduce a Youngster to Hunting at Allegheny Reservoir WMA
Allegany County
Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend is a wonderful time to share NYS's great hunting traditions with the next generation. This special two-day hunt is held prior to the regular turkey hunting season (May 1). This year it will be the weekend of April 25 and 26.
Allegheny Reservoir Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Cattaraugus County is a great place for turkey hunting. This beautiful area's more than 1,000 acres of woods and meadows are specially managed to encourage wildlife, including wild turkey. A parking lot on the south side of Bone Run Road offers vehicle access. Junior hunters, ages 12-15, must be accompanied by an experienced adult hunter and carry a junior hunting license. See the Allegheny Reservoir WMA and Youth Hunt for Wild Turkey webpages for more information.
Hike of the Month: Pelham Bay Park
New York City's biggest park is also the most ecologically diverse park in the region. Nearly 3,000 acres encompass forest, marshland, meadows and rocky coastline. Visitors enjoy miles of hiking trails punctuated by lookouts, as well as Orchard Beach and a breathtaking 13-mile saltwater shoreline that hugs Long Island Sound. On a spring evening hike, you may hear the nasal call of the male American woodcock or catch a glimpse of its acrobatic courtship flight. Urban park rangers provide public tours throughout the year.
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