It’s been one of the coldest snowiest year in recent memory for the Catskill Mountains. Most small freestones are all sewn up from ice and snow drifts. Anchor ice has gripped some sections of streams and rivers. The tailwaters have unfrozen sections, resulting in increased fishing pressure since regulation changes two years ago. I don’t mind the state getting rid of the official fishing season. I also don’t mind getting out a few times each winter. But actively targeting trout all winter in my eyes will be part of the long term downfall for the river system. In a society relying on technological dopamine from likes and views, it will further propel us into a stocked fishery. (see meeting below) Don’t forget, this is only the second full year of 365 fishing. We are only halfway through ONE brown trout lifecycle. Time will tell.
Reservoir Levels
After last years NYC tunnel project cancelation it appears it will be pushed back to 2025. Due to the drought we were in dangerous low conditions at the end of the fall. However with the snow pack and levels of the reservoirs returning it appears we have enough snow pack to replenish the water released in 2024. We will keep an eye and report back.
New Boat Added
New boat added to the fleet for 2025. Arriving earlier this month is a 2025 Clackacraft Headhunter II. This boat will fit right in between the 2 man 12 foot Hyde and the 16 foot 3 man Hyde already on the water. Guide Chris is also adding a boat to his arsenal. Hopefully we will have pictures coming this week. Rumor is Noah built it. Here is the new vessel below.
DEC Partners with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to Present New Trout Management Plan Within Delaware River Tailwater
February 25 at 6:00pm the meeting will be online and accessible to watch. Please click the link below to register and sign up for the meeting.
New York and its partners stocked 952,118 yearling and larger trout into 332 Stocked and 62 Stocked-Extended reaches in 2022 in accordance with the Trout Stream Management Plan (NYSDEC 2020). Many of these fish are stocked in waters that flow through private land. Many of these stocking policies originated during a time when landowners were more permissive about allowing anglers to fish on their land and under the assumption of open access based on informal “handshake agreements” with Bureau staff. These stockings have continued despite changes in land ownership, or lands became subdivided. Historically, the Bureau of Fisheries protocol was to discontinue stocking at a location where public access is prohibited by means of a written notice, typically a “Posted” sign. However, the Bureau has lacked standards to confirm that unposted property, or properties adjacent to stocking points are unbiasedly accessible to anglers. Given this uncertainty, the Bureau cannot currently identify privately held lands that allow fishing access and cannot assess if stocking policies are commensurate with truly publicly accessible stream miles. An accounting of true public access along Stocked and Stocked-Extended reaches is needed to ensure that hatchery trout are being stocked into stream reaches that provide a benefit to the angling public. Furthermore, having clearly identified accessible reaches will better serve both landowners and the angling public by reducing occurrences of trespass on stream reaches where anglers are not welcome.
NYS DEC
