Syracuse.com - DEC seeks comment on new fishing regulations that could take effect Oct. 1

[HuntingNY-News]

Among the changes, allowing bass fishing year-round on Oneida Lake and increasing the minimum size for muskies in Otisco Lake from 30 to 36 inches.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation announced this week it was seeking public input on a number of proposed changes to the state’s freshwater fishing regulations. If approved, the changes would take effect Oct. 1.

“New York provides some of the best fishing in the nation and every two years DEC modifies existing freshwater sportfishing regulations and proposes new regulations to help ensure this remains the case,” said Kathleen Moser, assistant commissioner for natural resources for the DEC.

The full text of the draft regulations as well as instructions for submitting comments can be found on the DEC’s website.

DEC will accept public comments on the proposals through April 2. Among the proposed changes:

šEliminating the special closed season for bass fishing on Oneida Lake (Dec. 1 to the Friday before the first Saturday in May, which is the walleye opener) and implementing statewide regulations (apart from the regular bass season, catch-and-release rules the remainder of the year) to create additional fishing opportunities and expand statewide consistency, “as continuance of this special closed season is not warranted.”

šImplementing a 40-inch size limit for muskellunge and tiger muskellunge in the Chenango, Tioughnioga, Tioga and Susquehanna rivers and a 36-inch size limit at Otisco Lake to increase the trophy potential of these species in these waters. The current minimum size is 30 inches.

šImplementing a 12-inch minimum size for brown trout in Otisco Lake.

šChanging the minimum size limit for rainbow trout in Skaneateles Lake and Owasco Lake from nine inches to 15 inches. This would create consistency with the other Finger Lakes as most of these lakes have environmental conditions that support excellent growth of trout and would provide angling opportunities for large fish.

šReducing the limit of rainbow trout from five to one in the Western Finger Lakes and three to one in the tributaries to provide further protection for this species. Western Finger Lakes include Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua, Canadice and Hemlock Lakes.

šRemoving the restriction of no more than three lake trout as part of the five-trout limit in the Western Finger Lakes to foster harvest opportunities and reduce competition with other trout species and impacts on the forage base.

šProhibiting fishing in several stream sections (including Little Sandy Creek in Oswego County) from March 16 until the first Saturday in May (opening day for walleye) to protect spawning walleye.

Draft regulations that pertain to gear and angling methods include:

šFor the Salmon River, allowing “a bead chain” to be attached to floating lures, which still must only have one hook. The distance between a floating lure and hook point may not exceed three-and-a-half inches when a bead chain configuration is used. This was determined to be an effective angling method and was not considered a snagging device.

šAlso for the Salmon River, implementing a “no weight” restriction (i.e., only floating line and unweighted leaders and flies allowed) from May 1-15 for the Lower Fly Area and from May 1-Aug. 31 for the Upper Fly Area to provide further protection to vulnerable fish.

Comments on the proposals can be sent via e-mail to [email protected], or mailed to Shaun Keeler, New York State DEC, Bureau of Fisheries, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753. Hard copies of the full text can be requested from Keeler at the same addresses.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog