PFR Adirondacks/Lake Champlain

What are Public Fishing Rights?

Public fishing rights are permanent easements along quality fishing streams which have been voluntarily granted to the people of the State of New York by private landowners. New York has acquired these permanent easements in order to assure the public's continued access to recreational fishing. Often times fishermen's parking areas and footpath rights-of-way are developed to facilitate access.

Public fishing rights allow the public to walk along the stream banks for the sole purpose of fishing. Easements along stream banks are normally 33 feet in width. The easements may be along one bank or both banks, depending upon what was purchased. Right bank and left bank are terms used to describe where the public has a right to fish. Right bank and left bank are identified as one faces downstream. Fishing rights also allow the public to park in designated parking areas and to access the stream via marked footpaths.

Public fishing rights do not include public access for other purposes including trapping, hunting, camping, boating or picnicking. These other activities may be enjoyed only with permission from the landowner.

Landowners of public fishing stream areas may continue to use their property for domestic and agricultural purposes. They may fence the property, cut trees and make improvements. They may not post the stream rights area against fishing, however they may legally post and prevent all other public use of the land.

You may see these signs
along streams with PFR

PFR Adirondacks/Lake Champlain

What are Public Fishing Rights?

PFR Adirondacks/Lake Champlain Links