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Border Waters Special Regulations

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Statewide seasons and limits apply, except as listed below.

Delaware River & West Branch Delaware River
(New York/Pennsylvania Border Water)
Species Open Season Minimum Length or Slot Limit Daily Limit
Trout April 1 through October 15 None 1
October 16 through March 31 Catch and release only, Artificial Lures only
Black Bass First Saturday after June 11 through the Friday preceding first Saturday after April 11 12″ 5
First Saturday after April 11 through Friday preceding first Saturday after June 11 Catch and release only
Walleye 1st Saturday in May through March 14 18″ 3
Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge All year 40″ 1
Pickerel 12″ 5
Striped Bass 28″ to 35″ 1
Anadromous River Herring (Alewife and Blueback Herring) Possession prohibited
Lake Champlain and Tributaries to the First Impassible Barrier (New York/Vermont Border Water)
Species Open Season Minimum Length Daily Limit
Trout All year 12″ 3
Lake Trout All year 15″ 3
Landlocked Salmon All year 15″ 2
Black Bass Second Saturday in June through November 30 12″ 5
December 1 through the Friday preceding the second Saturday in June Catch and release only; artificial lures only
Walleye First Saturday in May through March 15 18″ 3
Muskellunge Last Saturday in May through November 30 40″ 1
Northern Pike All year 20″ 5
Crappie 8″ 25
Pickerel Any size 10
Yellow Perch Any size Any number
Sunfish Any size Any number
Sauger May not be taken or possessed at any time
Additional Special Regulations:
  • No more than 2 lines per person. Each fishing line may have no more than 2 baited hooks or 2 artificial lures, with or without added natural bait.
  • No more than 15 ice-fishing lines may be used for ice fishing from November 15-April 30.
  • Ice fishing permitted
Additional Lake Champlain Tributary Regulations:
Tributary Section Regulation
Ausable River
 from the marked
boundary 800 feet west of the 1st
State Route 9 bridge upstream
from Lake Champlain upstream to Rainbow Falls		 Fishing from boats prohibited.
Ausable River
 from D&H Railroad bridge
upstream to Rainbow Falls		 From June 15-Dec 31
  • Maximum hook gap 1/2 inch.
  • Fishing prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
  • Fishing permitted with unweighted artificial flies or unweighted natural baits only (see definitions).
  • No supplemental weight, such as metal leaders, sinkers, split shot, twist-ons, or swivels may be attached to line, leader, or hook.*(see note)
Ausable Boat Basin
 at the mouth of Ausable
Chasm between posted boundaries		 Fishing prohibited at all times as posted onsite
Boquet River
 from mouth upstream to Wadhams Falls		 From June 15-Dec 31
  • Maximum hook gap 1/2 inch.
  • Fishing prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
  • Fishing permitted with unweighted artificial flies or unweighted natural baits only (see definitions).
  • No supplemental weight, such as metal leaders, sinkers, split shot, twist-ons, or swivels may be attached to line, leader, or hook.*(see note)
Boquet River
 from the Route 22 bridge in
Willsboro, downstream
approximately 1,500 feet to the marked
boundary at the base of the cascades		 Fishing prohibited
Great Chazy River
 from Rte. 9B at Coopersville
upstream to Perrys Mills Dam		 Fishing prohibited from Mar 16-Friday preceding the 1st Saturday in May
Mill Brook (in Port Henry)
from mouth
to falls west of Route 22		 Fishing prohibited from Oct 1-Dec 31
North Branch Boquet River and tributaries
from mouth to first upstream barrier		 From June 15-Sept 30
  • Maximum hook gap 1/2 inch.
  • Fishing prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
  • Fishing permitted with unweighted artificial flies or unweighted natural baits only (see definitions).
  • No supplemental weight, such as metal leaders, sinkers, split shot, twist-ons, or swivels may be attached to line, leader, or hook.*(see note)
From Oct 1-Dec 31
  • Fishing Prohibited
Saranac River
from Catherine Street
bridge upstream to Imperial Mill Dam		 At all times
  • Fishing from boats prohibited
From June 15-Dec 31
  • Maximum hook gap 1/2 inch.
  • Fishing prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
  • Fishing permitted with unweighted artificial flies or unweighted natural baits only (see definitions).
  • No supplemental weight, such as metal leaders, sinkers, split shot, twist-ons, or swivels may be attached to line, leader, or hook. *(see note)
*Note: Sinking or manufactured weighted line without supplemental weight is permitted.

Greenwood Lake
(New York/New Jersey Border Water)
Species Open Season Minimum Length Daily Limit
Black Bass Third Saturday in June through November 30 12″ 5
December 1 through the Friday preceding the third Saturday in June Catch and release only
Pickerel All year 15″ 5
Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge All year 44″ 1
Walleye May 1 through last day of February 18″ 3
Channel Catfish All year 12″ 5
Crappie All year 8″ 10
Indian Lake
(New York/Connecticut Border Water)
Species Open Season Minimum Length Daily Limit
Black Bass 3rd Saturday in April (6 AM) through November 30 12″ 6
Pickerel 3rd Saturday in April (6 AM) through March 31 15″ 6
Fishing is prohibited from April 1 through 6 AM on the 3rd Saturday in April
License Requirements for Border Waters
Does a New York State fishing license entitle the holder to fish the out-of-state portion of waters listed below?
Water State/Province Yes/No
Lake Ontario Ontario No
Lake Erie Ontario, Pennsylvania No
St. Lawrence River Ontario, Quebec No
Niagara River Ontario No
Lake Champlain Quebec No
Vermont Yes
(except for The Inland Sea (including "The Gut"),
Mallett's Bay, Missisquoi Bay and all rivers)
Delaware River & West Branch Delaware River (along boundary) Pennsylvania Yes
Greenwood Lake New Jersey Yes
Indian Lake Connecticut Yes

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