I enjoy fishing but I don't do it as often as I should. I really like ice fishing and look forward to the Almost Annual Crappie Derby in Whitney Point and hopefully one of these years, we'll be able to get back on the ice at Dorchester Park.

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One of my fondest memories as a child was going to my grandparent's farm and fishing in the pond. I liked to fish for "Sunnies" because they were easy to catch. You couldn't really eat them but the cats REALLY loved them.

The reason that I'm mentioning this is that the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is proposing some changes in New York for the state's fisheries. One of the changes will have to do with the opening and closing of the fishing season.

In the past, the DEC had different approaches for fishing season dates with some beginning on a certain date while other species would start on a particular Saturday. After conducting a survey, they concluded that all sportfish seasons should begin (and end) on hard dates.

New Fishing Season Opening Dates In New York

Northern Pike, Pickerel, Tiger Muskellunge, and Walleye will begin on May 1.

Muskellunge on June 1.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass beginning on June 15.

Trout Fishing Proposals For New York State

One of the changes that are being proposed by the DEC for trout management includes a new regulation that lets the fishermen get five fish per day but only two of them can be longer than 12" in length. The idea behind this is to align the regulations with their intended outcome.

Brook Trout Ponds Changes In New York

Another change has to do with brook trout ponds, as they will now be closed to fishing from October 16 to March 31. To check out other freshwater fishing proposals, go here.

You are encouraged to comment on the new proposals made by the DEC but you only have until February 6, 2022.

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