Freshwater Fishing, Fisheries Management, and Fishing Access News
In this issue:
We’re happy to announce that our fleet of fish stocking trucks and tanks are being upgraded with safety, durability, biosecurity, and sustainability guiding our path. Working with an experienced transport tank company, we’ve converted to an aluminum tank system while retaining the existing design and dimensions. By doing so, we expect the tanks and aluminum truck bodies to last us a whole lot longer and be more easily sanitized. The aluminum tanks are heavily insulated, further ensuring that the last and arguably most-important half-day in the production cycle will be easier on the fish and the drivers. Our fish culturists will also see benefits from the trucks including quick-release aerators (so they can be swapped out in seconds), conveniently located aerator controls and widened walk racks around the tanks for improved comfort and safety.
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Hatchery staff from Caledonia, Randolph, and Adirondack fish hatcheries have been getting in the holiday spirit – decking out their stocking trucks and joining in on local holiday parades!
This past year was another busy one for Fisheries staff across the state. Check out the list below for some highlights and noteworthy items from the past year here in the Bureau of Fisheries. 2025 already looks to be a very productive year!
1. Habitat Improvement Projects
Sales from Habitat and Access Stamps fund various projects related to habitat conservation and improved outdoor recreational opportunities. The following stream restoration projects were completed this past year.
Chittenango Creek, Sullivan, Madison County
In partnership with Madison County, Trout Unlimited and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) wood and stone structures were used to stabilize an eroding stream bank, narrow the stream channel, and increase brown trout habitat in a section of stream accessible by a public fishing rights easement.
Mongaup Creek, Livingston Manor, Sullivan County
In partnership with USFWS and Trout Unlimited an old wooden pool digger structure with instream grade control were replaced improving habitat connectivity. Work on the parking lot has also improved angler access to the creek.
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Saranac River, Plattsburgh, Clinton County
In partnership with USFWS, Trout Unlimited, and Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, erosion control to limit sedimentation by stabilizing the stream channel and stream bank to enhance spawning habitat for Atlantic salmon, while improving public safety at this popular fishing and boating access site on SUNY Plattsburgh property.
Wiscoy Creek, Pike, Wyoming County
In partnership with Trout Unlimited, wood and stone structures were used to stabilize eroding banks, reduce sedimentation, and enhance brown trout habitat in a Wild Premier section of stream accessible by a public fishing rights easement. (Before (top) and after (bottom) pictures are shown to the right).
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2. Black Bass Tournament Permit and Reporting System
Regulations were adopted to implement a black bass (largemouth bass and smallmouth bass) tournament permit and reporting system to better understand the scope and scale of tournaments throughout New York State. The system will also provide up to date information to the public on tournament locations and schedules, which will not only benefit tournament organizers, but also anglers planning their fishing trips. Black bass tournament permits are only required for fishing tournaments where black bass are the targeted species, and the tournament has 10 or more participants. Having this system in place will help to ensure we retain the incredible bass fishing opportunities across the state for all anglers.
3. Three New State Records
Through the New York State Angler Achievement Awards Program, three new state records were established in 2024, including both black bass species.
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Longnose Gar – 15 lbs. 14oz. caught by Chuck Zimmerman from Butterfield Lake, Jefferson County on June 21, 2024.
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Largemouth Bass – 12 lbs. 6 oz. caught by James Britenbaugh from Cayuga Lake, Cayuga County on July 11, 2024.
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Smallmouth Bass – 9lbs. caught by Dante Piraino from the St. Lawrence River, St. Lawrence County on September 22, 2024.
4. Restoring Lake Whitefish in Otsego Lake
In partnership with SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Oneonta, DEC built and installed three artificial reefs on the bottom of Otsego Lake to provide clean spawning habitat for lake whitefish, a native coldwater fish species that were once abundant in the lake. DEC will monitor the reefs in hopes they are used by spawning adult lake whitefish over the winter months. The reefs may also attract spawning lake trout and cisco, which require similar spawning habitats. This project is expected to run for the next to 10 years where more reefs will be installed around Otsego Lake in historic and current lake whitefish spawning areas
5. Delaware River Fishing Access Improvements
Two access sites on the famed Delaware River were completed in 2024. Located on Ferry Street in Sullivan County in the Town of Fremont, the Long Eddy Fishing Access Site features parking for up to 7 trailered vehicles and 6 cars. A public boat launch for non-motorized boats is located at the end of Ferry Street just beyond the parking area. Located off NY Route 268, the Cadosia site offers parking for 4 cars and a hand launch for kayaks and canoes to explore the Delaware River tailwaters and its premier wild trout fishery.
The Delaware River is a diverse fishery with opportunities to catch brown trout, rainbow trout, walleye, muskellunge, and certain migratory marine species.
6. Angler Achievement Awards Program Overhaul
DEC’s Angler Achievement Awards Program acknowledges angling accomplishments while promoting the fantastic fishing opportunities the state’s waters provide. The program was revamped in 2024 with the goal to expand participation and encourage anglers to enter multiple eligible catches throughout the year. New program features included a broader list of eligible fish species to choose from, a Youth Angler Award Category, species-specific stickers awarded for qualifying catches and an online (mobile-friendly) entry form. In the first year we’ve seen an astounding over 300% increase in participation compared to the average of previous years – a very promising sign that we’re reaching more members of the angling community!
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7. Round Whitefish Restoration
Round whitefish, a once abundant native fish species to the Adirondack region experienced a major decline in the 1900s and 2000s due to acid rain and the introduction of invasive species. Through a restoration program funded in part with USFWS’s State Wildlife Grant Program they’re being raised at DEC’s Adirondack Fish Hatchery and have been stocked in 26 ponds within their historic range since 2004. As of today, we have documented sustained natural production in an additional seven ponds, doubling the number of populations. We eagerly await results from another eight ponds that will be resampled in 2027 and 2028. The current level of success has led Bureau of Fisheries staff to recommend changing their status from “endangered” to “threatened” in New York.
8. Outstanding Fishing on New York's Great Lakes
It was another banner year for fishing on our Great Lakes. Catch rates on Lake Ontario for Chinook salmon were near record, with above average catches of Brown trout (by 32%), Atlantic (by 16%) and Coho salmon (by 33%). Lake-wide seasonal catch rates for Chinook salmon have been among the highest observed in six of the last seven years and more than double the long-term average of the 39-year survey. Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch fishing quality was at near record levels boasting the 3rd and 4th highest catch rates in the 37-year survey. Smallmouth bass angling quality was above average, with most anglers focusing their efforts around Buffalo.
Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey Summary Report 2024 (PDF)
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9. Lake Whitefish and Cisco Habitat Restoration on Chaumont Bay
Lake whitefish and cisco are native to Lake Ontario, but their populations are far below historic levels and spawning is mostly restricted to the eastern basin of the lake. A spawning habitat restoration project was recently completed in Chaumont Bay using suction dredging to clean fine sediment and mussel shells from rocky habitat that is used by Lake Whitefish and Cisco for spawning. This is the second spawning habitat restoration project completed in Chaumont Bay since 2021 and is the first use of suction dredging to clean spawning habitat in Lake Ontario.
10. Allegheny River Shows Promising Signs for Sauger Restoration
In 2014, DEC initiated a restoration stocking program to determine if a self-sustaining sauger population could be established in the Allegheny River, New York. From 2014 – 2023, over 700,00 sauger were stocked in the Allegheny Reservoir and River. Subsequent surveys by DEC Region 9 Fisheries and the Seneca Nation Fish and Wildlife Department documented a well-established stocked sauger population in the reservoir, resulting in a discontinuation of stocking after 2023 to assess if natural reproduction was occurring. A 2024 fall electrofishing survey on the Allegheny Reservoir revealed continuing signs of success, indicating the highest overall abundance on record, and most notably, the first naturally reproduced (wild) year class of sauger. The robust adult sauger population coupled with documentation of successful spawning and reproduction are encouraging signs for the future of sauger recovery in the Allegheny River.
Sauger Management in NYS.
Location: Towns of Thompson, Bethel, Forestburgh, and Lumberland within Sullivan County
Size: 889 Acres, 19 miles of shoreline, 6.4 miles long, and 0.25 miles wide (average)
Average Depth: 38 feet
Maximum Depth: 120 feet
Primary Sportfish: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Chain Pickerel, Rock Bass, White Perch, and Yellow Perch
The Fishery: Managed as a warm water fishery, walleye and black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) are the primary sportfish species in Swinging Bridge Reservoir. The walleye population is considered healthy, with anglers reporting catches ranging from 5-10 lbs. As such, a special fishing regulation is present for walleye: May 1 through March 15, Minimum Length-18”, Daily Limit-3. Black bass have extensive habitat throughout the system. However, the catch rate is below the statewide mean.
Access: A public boat launch provided by Eagle Creek Renewable Energy LLC is located on the eastern shore off Starlight Rd. Ice fishing is permitted.
Current Management/Research: Biennial fall electrofishing surveys are conducted coinciding with the spring stocking of 18,000 pond fingerling walleye. Since the biennial experimental stocking began in 2020, fall survey catch rates have increased. Young of year walleye recruitment appears to be increasing with each stocking effort. A spring centrarchid survey was conducted in 2024 targeting black bass and various panfish. A full survey summary is expected by early 2025.
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