The Fishing Line - April 7th Issue

Freshwater Fishing, Fisheries Management, and Fishing Access News

In This Issue:

• Spring = Panfish Fishing?
• Life Jacket Reminder
• Angler Achievement Awards Program - 2022 Recap
• DEC Fisheries Staff Spotlight - Adam Kosnick

Spring = Panfish Fishing?

When it comes to fishing in the early Spring, trout are usually the main act, but it can also be a good time of year to target panfish species such as yellow perch, brown bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. Yellow perch can be caught shortly after ice out on small minnows fished in 5-10 feet of water. As the water warms, brown bullhead start moving into the shallows. Fishing can be particularly good near stream mouths or bays with stained or muddy waters. Since they’re nocturnal, fishing after dark with night crawlers is usually effective. As the water warms even more, crappie will start moving in to spawn in shallower water. Try fishing around woody structures like fallen trees. Small minnows or jigs fished under floats (bobbers) are often productive. Bluegills and pumpkinseed (sunfish) are the next to move shallow and can be found around new weed growth or woody structure. Small jigs tipped with a piece of worm or spikes work well.

More Tips

• It's important to have the proper setup when fishing for panfish. An ultralight rod with
  4 lb. test line helps feel the bite. Try using small panfish jigs, such as a soft plastic tube-style bait on a 1/16 or 1/32 oz. jig head. It's a great choice when targeting bluegill, perch, or crappie.
• Using a double hook rig will allow you to try different baits, like a worm on one, a minnow on the other, or two different color jigs, etc. Bonus – you may catch two fish at one time.
• If it’s an option, fishing from a kayak often makes it easier to access places crappie and sunfish are located, rather than from shore or a larger boat.

More Information:

Fishing for Panfish 
Fishing for Crappie 

Life Jacket Reminder

Everyone aboard boats less than 21 feet in length, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks, must wear a life jacket while underway between November 1st and May 1st. Dressing in layers is also recommended to avoid hypothermia.

For more information on boating safety and navigation laws, visit the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website.

2022 Angler Achievement Awards Recap

Over 150 entries were received for the 2022 Angler Achievement Awards Program. As with previous years, the majority of applications were entered in the Catch and Release Category compared to the Annual Award (kept) Category, suggesting that most anglers opt to release the large fish they catch.

Highlights from last year:

• Black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) made up over half of the entries received.
• Two state records were established:
  • Bailey Williams (Watertown, NY) caught a 35 lb. 12 oz. channel catfish from the Black River, Jefferson County on May 8, 2022.
  • Thomas Russell Jr. (Albion, NY) reeled in an 8 lb. 6 oz. smallmouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Seneca County on June 15, 2022.

Want to see some big fish? Check out a compilation of some of last year's winners on our YouTube channel.

More Information:

Program Rules
Current Freshwater Fishing Records

DEC Fisheries Staff Spotlight - Adam Kosnick, Fish & Wildlife Technician 2

I’m a Fish and Wildlife Technician 2 in DEC Region 5. I graduated from SUNY Morrisville in 2004 with an associate degree in Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. Immediately after college, I started working at a large private indoor tilapia farm. In 2005 I left to work at the Warren County Fish Hatchery. A few years later I started at DEC as a seasonal Fish and Wildlife Technician 1 in Region 5 at the Ray Brook Office. In 2012 I accepted a position as a Fish Culturist 1 at DEC’s Adirondack Fish Hatchery. In 2015 I transferred back to Ray Brook where I’ve been a Fish and Wildlife Technician 2 ever since.

I work with a great group of people and cover an area roughly the size of Vermont. I’ve got the best job going and without a doubt, work in the best region in NY (no offense to the rest of this beautiful state). I get into the field frequently. A significant amount of time is spent doing very remote survey work for brook trout management. Job activities include everything from gillnetting and electrofishing to building fish barrier dams, performing pond reclamations, doing sea lamprey control on Lake Champlain, and conducting wild brook trout and round whitefish egg takes. It’s something different every day. I’ve been the authority (lead) on over 200 fisheries surveys and involved in many, many others. Region 5 fisheries unique aquatic diversity makes it that much more rewarding to work in.

Outside of work, I spend my time with my wife and dog. I try to recreate outdoors as much as possible - there’s always something to do in the North Country.