Printer-friendlyFor Release: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
DEC Announces Free Fishing Events Throughout the State
Regional Activities Offer Opportunities To Try Fishing Statewide Free Fishing Weekend is June 28-29
New York State is among the nation's premier, year-round fishing destinations, and to help newcomers or those interested in learning how to fish, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has scheduled free fishing events in each of its nine regions. These events are in addition to the state's annual free fishing weekend being held on June 28 and 29, 2008.
"Few places provide the number, quality, and diversity of fishing opportunities like New York," DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said. "These free fishing events provide a great way for newcomers to learn more about the sport and the locations near every New York community to connect to nature and have fun."
Each DEC regional office sponsors clinics to help teach adults and children the basics of fishing. Participants are supplied with equipment and learn about fish identification, fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics and aquatic ecology. No freshwater fishing license is required at these events. A full list of events with contact information is attached.
DEC also designates the last full weekend in June each year as a free fishing weekend, which enables all residents and visitors to fish New York State's waters without a DEC freshwater fishing license. It is important to note that permits from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) may still be required to fish in the New York City watershed. Information on how to obtain a permit can be found at www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/watershed_protection/html/wsrecreation.html on the NYCDEP website.
While a DEC fishing license is not required for either the free fishing weekend or regional free fishing events, DEC's other fishing rules and regulations remain in effect. To learn more about New York's freshwater fishing regulations, go to on the DEC website. For more information on how and where to obtain a fishing license, go to www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html on the DEC website
The list of regional free fishing events is below and can also be found at: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27123.html .
| Region | Name of Event | Location | Date/Raindate | Time | Contact | Contact Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 6 Mile Waterworks Family Fishing Festival | 6 Mile Waterworks, Albany, NY | May 3, 2008 | 10:00 am - 2:00 pm | Joelle Ernst | 518-402-8891 |
| 3 | Rudy Vallet Memorial Youth Fishing Derby | Town of Wallkill Park Rt. 302 Circleville, NY | May 10, 2008 | 10:00 am- 1:00 pm |
Murph Guidry | 845-564-4212 |
| 4 | Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School | Holding Pond | May 14,2008 raindate: May, 15, 2008 |
7:30 am - 2:45 pm | Jamie Bautochka | 518-231-6658 |
| 6 | 9th Annual Youth Fishing Derby | Wilson Hill Causeway/Boat Launch Town of Louisville, St. Lawrence County |
May 17, 2008 |
9:30am -1:00 pm | Richard Boprey Massena Recreation Department |
315-769-3161 |
| 6 | Fort Drum Fishing Clinic | Remington Pond & all waters open to fishing on Ft. Drum | May 17, 2008 | 9:00 am - 2:00 pm | Raymond Rainbolt | 315-772-9636 |
| 7 | Iroquois Chapter of Trout Unlimited Stream Trout Fishing Clinic | Mill Run Park Whorrall Pavilion Mill Street, Manlius, NY |
Sat. May 17 No Rain Date |
9:00 am - 1:00 pm | Anthony Lubrino | Day 800-925-8201 Evening 315-637-7592 |
| 3 | Family Fishing Day | Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Westchester County |
May 18, 2008 | 10:00 am- 3:00 pm | Mark Rogers & Ryan Coulter | 914-631-1470 Ext. 14 845-256-2204 |
| 8 | Monroe County Senior Citizen trout derby | Powder Mill Park, Monroe County | May 22, 2008 | 8:00 am-12:00 pm | Nick Tratto | 585-753-6481 |
| 9 | Free Learn to Fish Family Picnic | Letchworth State Park Trout Pond | May 24, 2008 no raindate |
12:00 pm -4:00 pm | George Dovolos | 585-493-3636 |
| 2 | Fishing field trip | Prospect Park, Brooklyn | May 27, 2008 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Melissa K. Cohen | 718-482-4022 917-613-8260 |
| 5 | Fishing on the Farm | Batten Kill, Highbrow Farms | June 7, 2008 | TBA | Meegan Finnegan | 518- 692-7285 |
| 6 | Sauquoit Creek & Tributaries Fishing Clinic | New Hartford Athletic Park, Intersection of Oneida Street and Roberts Road | June 7, 2008 | 9:30 am - 2:00 pm | Bill Girvan | 315-736-5738 |
| 7 | Family Fishing Day at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery | Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, Route 321, Elbridge, NY | June 7, 2008 no rain Date |
2 Sessions: 8:30 am -11:30 am 12:30 pm -3:30 pm |
Carpenter's Brook Hatchery | 315-689-9367 |
| 9 | Fish & Wildlife Festival and Youth Fishing Derby | Hyde Park Lake | June 7, 2008 no raindate |
8:00 am-11:30am | Sandra Keppner | 716-691-5456 |
| 4 | Neawha Park | Oneonta | June 8, 2008 | 12:00 pm-3:00pm | Bob Pierce | 607-432-3911 |
| 7 | Falcon Sportsmen Kid's Fishing Derby | Falcon Sportsmen Club Turnpike Road Auburn NY 13021 |
June 8, 2008 no rain date |
9:00 am - 4:00 pm | ||
| 9 | Tifft Nature Preserve Free Family Fishing Day | Tifft Nature Preserve, Lake Kirsty | June 14, 2008 no raindate |
10:00 am-2:00 pm | Michael Todd | 716-851-7010 |
| 9 | Forness Pond Youth Fishing Derby | Forness Pond Olean, NY |
June 21, 2008 no raindate |
9:00 am-1:00 pm | Michael Todd | 716-851-7010 |
| 1 | Free Fishing Weekend Festival* | Lake Ronkonkoma County Park | June 28, 2008 no raindate |
10:00 am -4:00 pm | Malynda Nichol I FISH NY |
631.444.0283 |
| 3 | Free Fishing Day at Stone Ridge Orchard | Stone Ridge Orchard Pond Town of Stone Ridge Ulster County |
July 12, 2008 | 7:00 AM- 3:00 PM |
Bruce Duffy & Ryan Coulter | 845-657-6184 & 8245-256-2204 |
| 6 | Cranberry Lake Fishing Clinic | Cranberry Lake Campground & all waters of Cranberry Lake and the Oswegatchie River downstream to Rt 3 | July 19, 2008 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm | Chris VanMarren & Murray Averill | 315-785-2262 & 315-848-2315 |
| 1 | Lakeside Fishing Clinic* | Lake Ronkonkoma Town of Brookhaven Beach |
July 30, 2008 no raindate |
6:30 pm-sunset | Malynda Nichol I FISH NY |
631-444-0283 |
| 8 | Family Fishing Clinic | Town of Murray | August 2, 2008 | TBA | Mike Todd | 716-851-7010 |
| 1 | Family Fishing Clinic* | Hempstead Lake State Park, MacDonald Pond | August 9, 2008 no raindate |
10:00 am-2:00 pm | Malynda Nichol I FISH NY |
631-444-0283 |
| 2 | Fishing Clinic for Everyone | Prospect Park, Brooklyn | Sept. 13 or 14, 2008 | TBA | Melissa K. Cohen | 718-482-4022 |
| 3 | Take Your Kid Fishing Day | Kensico Reservoir, Westchester County |
Sept. 13, 2008 | TBA | Paul Thesing & Ryan Coulter |
914-773-4553 & 845-256-2204 |
| 7 | Broome County Sportsman's 2008 Kid' Fishing Derby | Nathanial Cole Park 1674 Colesville Road Harpusville, NY 13787 |
Sept. 27, 2008 no rain date |
9:00 am - 1:00 pm | Nancy DeLia | 607-648-5251 |
| 5 | Kids Fishing Derby | Adirondack Museum Blue Mountain Lake NY 12812-0099 |
October 11, 2008 | TBA | Adirondack Museum | 518-352-7311 |
| 1 | Fall Fishing Festival* | Hempstead Lake State Park, MacDonald Pond | October 18, 2008 no raindate |
10:00 am-4:00 pm | Malynda Nichol I FISH NY |
631-444-0283 |
