Free Fishing Clinics

Free Sport Fishing Events are family fishing clinics where participants can fish for free; no freshwater fishing license or enrollment in the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry is required. In addition to fishing, participants can learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics and aquatic ecology. In addition to the Free Sport Fishing Events, June 29-30, 2013, is Free Fishing Weekend in NY. During Free Fishing Weekend, anyone can fish the fresh or marine waters of NY and no license is required!

Designated New York Free Fishing Events for 2013
Region/County	Name of Event	Location	Date/rain date	Time	Contact	Contact Phone
4 Albany	Free Fishing Event	Six Mile Waterworks, Albany	April 1, 2013	10 AM - 2 PM	Joelle Ernst, NYSDEC	518-402-8891
1 Suffolk	Belmont Lake Spring Fishing Festival (Accessible)	Belmont Lake State Park, Babylon, NY ($8 parking fee)	April 13, 2013	10 AM - 4 PM	Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC	631-444-0283
2 Kings	Celebrate Earth Day	Audubon Center at Prospect Park Lake, Brooklyn	April 21, 2012	1 PM - 4 PM	Melissa Cohen, NYSDEC	718-482-4022
3 Dutchess	Fishing the River at Norrie Point	Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg	April 27, 2013	1 PM - 4 PM	Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC	845-256-2204
3 Dutchess	Free Family Fishing Day	Town of LaGrange, LaGrange Park Pond	May 4, 2013	9 AM - 3 PM	Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC and Kevin Haight	845-256-2204 914-474-7740
2 Bronx	Bronx River Flotilla	Concrete Park, Bronx	May 11, 2013	1 PM - 4 PM	Melissa Cohen, NYSDEC	718-482-4022
3 Dutchess	Fishing the River at Norrie Point	Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg	May 11, 2013	1 PM - 4 PM	Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC	845-256-2204
7 Broome	Kid's Fishing Day	Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks	May 11, 2013	9:00 AM - 1:00 PM	Kurt Nelson, Trout Unlimited, Al Hazzard Chapter	607-372-6330
3 Orange	Free Family Fishing Day	Chadwick Lake, Town of Newburgh	May 18, 2013	9 AM - 1 PM	Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC	845-256-2204
6 Jefferson	Fort Drum Family Fishing Day	Remington Pond, Fort Drum	May 18, 2013	11:45 AM - 4:00 PM	Raymond Rainbolt, Fort Drum	315-772-9636
7 Chenango	5th Annual Fishing Heritage Day	NYSDEC South Otselic Fish Hatchery, South Otselic	May 18, 2013	Two Sessions: 9 am -11:30 am, 12:30 pm - 3 pm	Calvin Hite	315-653-7490 ovfish.org
3 Westchester	Free Family Fishing Day	Rockefeller State Park, Swan Lake	May 19, 2013	9:30 AM - 2 PM	Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC and Tony Prokopowicz	845-256-2204 914-253-4867
9 Wyoming	Free Learn to Catch a Fish Family Picnic	Letchworth State Park Trout Pond, Trailside Lodge	May 25, 2013	11 AM - 4 PM	Letchworth State Park	585-493-3600
7 Onondaga	Family Fishing Day at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery (Accessible)	Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, Route 321, Elbridge, NY	June 1, 2013	9:30 am - 1:30 pm	Althea Heider, NYSDEC or Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery	607-753-3095 ext.213 or 315-689-9367
4 Schenectady	Free Fishing Clinic at Schenectady's Central Park	Iroquois Lake, Central Park, Schenectady, NY	June 1, 2013	10:00 am - 2:00 pm	Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC	518-402-8891
3 Ulster	Family Fun and Fishing Day	Kenneth Wilson State Park, Wilson Lake, Mt. Tremper	June 8, 2013	10:30 AM - 1:30 PM	Ryan Coulter, NYSDEC and Gretchen Rae	845-256-2204 845-688-3047 ex. 0
9 Erie	Tifft Nature Preserve Family Fishing Day (Accessible)	Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrman Blvd., Buffalo, NY	June 8, 2013	9:30 AM - 1 PM	Michael Todd, NYSDEC	716-851-7010
9 Erie	DEC/Erie Federation Youth Fishing Clinic (Accessible)	Chestnut Ridge Park Lake, Orchard Park, NY	June 22, 2013	9:30 AM - 1 PM	Michael Todd, NYSDEC	716-851-7010
8 Monroe	Free Fishing Day at Hamlin Beach State Park	Hamlin Beach State Park- Area-1, Shelter-1- Fishing Pier (Lake Ontario)	June 23, 2013	9 AM - 1 PM	Joshua Payette, OPRHP	585-964-2462
4 Rensselaer	Free Family Sportfishing Clinic	Grafton Lakes State Park, Long Pond	June 29, 2013	11 AM - 1 PM	Joelle Ernst, NYSDEC or Liz Wagner, OPRHP	518-402-8891 or 518-279-1155
1 Suffolk	Fishing Clinic (Pre-Registration Required)	Brookhaven Town Beach, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY	July 10, 2013	6 PM - sunset	Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC	631-444-0283
2 New York	City of Water Day	Governor's Island	July 20, 2013	11 AM - 4 PM	Melissa Cohen, NYSDEC	718-482-4022
1 Nassau	Family Fishing Clinic (Pre-Registration Required)	Hempstead Lake State Park, Hempstead, NY	August 3, 2013	10 AM - 2 PM	Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC	631-444-0283
1 Suffolk	Children's Saltwater Fishing Clinic (Pre-Registration Required)	West Meadow Beach, Stony Brook, NY	August 24, 2013	2 PM - 4:30 PM	Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC	631-444-0283
1 Suffolk	Saltwater Family Fishing Clinic (Pre-Registration Required)	Corey Beach, Blue Point, NY	August 28, 2013	5:30 PM - sunset	Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC	631-444-0283
1 Nassau	Fall Family Fishing Festival	Hempstead Lake State Park, Hempstead, NY	October 19, 2013	10 AM - 4 PM	Ann Ezelius, NYSDEC	631-444-0283