Freshwater Fishing and Boating Newsletter

This Month's Topics

• State of Lake Ontario Public Meeting Changes
• Joining Forces to Combat Acid Precipitation
• Adoption of 2020 Great Lakes Fishing Regulations
• Plastic Bag Ban in Effect

Spring "State of Lake Ontario" Public Meetings Moved to Fall

Since the mid-1990s the DEC has held public annual State of Lake Ontario (SOLO) meetings in Oswego, Monroe and Niagara counties in the spring to inform the public of the results of fisheries assessment/research programs conducted during the previous year’s field season. In 2016 DEC began conducting meetings each fall to present and receive feedback on results of the lake-wide preyfish survey conducted in April/May. To be more efficient, DEC will now combine the content of those meetings into a single venue that will be held in the fall. While results from some fisheries assessment programs will not be completely available at the time of these meetings, DEC will continue to convey additional information through updates and annual reports posted on the DEC’s Lake Ontario Unit web page and this newsletter.

Benz Pond Liming

DEC staff, along with students from Paul Smith’s College, applied pulverized lime to Benz Pond located in the Madawaska Flow-Quebec Brook Primitive Area. The pond is located in a primitive area so snow mobiles could not be used to transport the lime. So, DEC staff along with the college staff and students only had one other option- move it the old-fashioned way. Using sleds and much “people power,” 760 50 lb. bags of lime were transported in one day. That’s 19 tons! The lime will help to lessen the effect of acid precipitation on the pond by bringing the pH to a more neutral value.

DEC Adopts 2020 Great Lakes Fishing Regulations

DEC adopted several fishing regulation amendments for New York's Great Lakes. These changes are designed to safeguard and expand certain fish populations while enhancing anglers' continued enjoyment of these world-class fisheries. Most of these regulations are a direct result of DEC's work with anglers during the past several years to identify desired outcomes for Lake Ontario sportfishery management.

The regulation amendments are effective immediately and include:

• Increasing fishing opportunity by opening the Lake Ontario/Lower Niagara River lake trout season on December 1 (formerly opened on January 1). The season will be closed from October 1 through November 30, and is now consistent with Province of Ontario regulations;
• Reducing the daily creel limit for rainbow trout/steelhead on the open waters of Lake Ontario (excluding the Lower Niagara River) to two fish per day to provide consistency with Province of Ontario regulations and help increase survival of steelhead, especially during periods of reduced fishing success for other species;
• Decreasing the brown trout daily creel limit on Lake Ontario tributaries (excluding the Lower Niagara River) to one fish/day to maintain high quality brown trout fishing opportunities from fall through the spring;
• Increasing the minimum size limit for rainbow trout/steelhead to 25 inches to prolong high quality rainbow trout/steelhead fishing opportunities through the winter months on Lake Ontario tributaries (excluding the Lower Niagara River). The rainbow trout/steelhead minimum size limit for the open waters of Lake Ontario and the Lower Niagara River remains at 21 inches; and
• Eliminating unnecessary angling regulations on Spooner Creek and tributaries (Erie County) and the North Branch Clear Creek and tributaries (Erie County) from Taylor Hollow Road upstream to the outflow of Clear Lake by allowing fishing year-round.

You can find details on the amended fishing regulations on DEC's website. Direct all questions regarding these regulations to: fwfishlo@dec.ny.gov or Steve LaPan, Great Lakes Fisheries section head, at: New York State DEC, P.O. Box 292, Cape Vincent, NY 13618.

Don't Forget Your Reusable Bags

A new bag waste reduction law is now in effect in New York State. As a consumer, you can help and #BYOBagNY - Bring Your Own Bag. Keep reusable bags in your car, commuting bag or purse so you always have them handy. If you store them near the door or coat closet, you'll be more likely to remember them on the way out. Remember that every time you use a reusable bag, you are doing your part to prevent litter and waste. Using reusable bags makes sense and is the right thing to do. You can also remind your family, friends, and neighbors to bring their reusable bags whenever they shop.

The Bag Waste Reduction Law applies to more than just grocery stores. Whether you're going to the grocery store, clothes shopping, or to a home improvement store, make sure to bring your reusable bags.

For more information, visit DEC's website.