Printer-friendlyIce Fishing in Region 6
A Regional Natural Resource Highlight
During northern New York's cold winter months, it is not uncommon to see ice fisherman with their tip-ups and ice shanties dotting the region's many frozen lakes and rivers. A person doesn't have to travel very far in the region to find a place to ice fish and many folks will come in from afar to avail themselves of the ice fishing opportunities. From small ponds, some rivers and the barge canal, to shallow bays on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, the variety of fish species and locations can keep the most avid of ice fisherman busy all winter.
In a typical North Country winter the ice fishing season is a long one. Often ice conditions permit December fishing and in most years the season continues well beyond the end of northern pike and walleye season on March 15th. Of utmost importance to the ice angler is condition of the ice. When deciding if ice is safe, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Always test the ice before setting forth. It is also a good idea to talk to the local people about areas that traditionally have thin ice conditions due to springs or moving water, i.e. the mouth of a tributary.
The mainstay of ice fishing in Northern New York are panfish, yellow perch, walleye and northern pike. A good place to fish for these species is where you see others already fishing or where they have fished. Some opportunities for catching other species does exist including a few waters where anglers are allowed to take trout and salmon through the ice. To be sure what species are open for ice fishing, size restrictions and bag limits, be sure to check the fishing regulation guide and look at the special regulation section.
