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 23-24, 2018 is Free Fishing Weekend in NY. February 17-18, 2018 and November 11, 2018 have also been newly designated as Free Fishing Days. During these days, anyone can fish the fresh waters of NY and no license is required!
| Region/County | Name of Event | Location | Date/Rain Date | Time | Contact | Contact Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Queens |
Free Fishing Clinics | Gantry Plaza State Park (East River), Long Island City | Saturdays (May 5 - September 29) | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Devin Gorsen, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation | 212-866-2529 |
| 3 Dutchess |
Fishing the River | Norrie Point Environmental Center (Hudson River), Staatsburg | May 23, 2018 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Ryan Coulter, NYS DEC | 845-256-2204 |
| 8 Ontario |
Come Fish With Me! | Lakefront Park (Seneca Lake), Geneva | May 26, 2018 (Rain Date- June 5) | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Antoinette Shama, City of Geneva Recreation Department | 315-789-5005 |
| 9 Wyoming |
Free Learn to Catch a Fish and Kid's Conservation Day Clinic | Letchworth State Park, Castile | May 26, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Douglas Kelly, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation | 585-493-3605 |
| 2 Richmond |
Willowbrook Park Outdoor Adventure Day | Willowbrook Park (Willowbrook Lake), Staten Island | June 2, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Melissa Cohen, NYS DEC | 718-482-4022 |
| 4 Schenectady |
Schenectady Central Park Family Fishing Clinic | Central Park (Iroquois Lake), Schenectady | June 2, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 6 Oneida |
Sauquoit Creek Fishing Clinic | Washington Mills Athletic Park (Sauquoit Creek), Washington Mills | June 2, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM | David Erway, NYS DEC | 315-793-2556 |
| 7 Onondaga |
Carpenter's Brook Fishing Clinic | Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, Elbridge | June 2, 2018 | 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Jim Everard, NYS DEC | 607-753-3095 |
| 9 Chautauqua |
Take a Kid Fishing | Dunkirk Harbor (Lake Erie), Dunkirk | June 2, 2018 | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Zen Olow, Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club | 716-640-2776 |
| 4 Otsego |
Basswood Pond Ribbon Cutting Celebration- Fishing Clinic | Basswood Pond State Forest, Burlington Flats | June 5, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Chris VanMaaren, NYS DEC | 607-652-2620 |
|
7 |
Free Family Fishing Day | Rogers Environmental Education Center (Ice Pond), Sherburne | June 16, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Sarah Freedman, Friends of Rogers | 607-674-4733 |
| 2 Richmond |
NY Outdoor Adventure Day | Mt. Loretto Unique Area (Raritan Bay & Mt. Loretto Pond), Staten Island | June 9, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Melissa Cohen, NYS DEC | 718-482-4022 |
| 9 Chautauqua |
Great Lakes Experience | Memorial Park (Lake Erie), Dunkirk | June 9, 2018 | 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Zen Olow, City of Dunkirk | 716-640-2776 |
| 1 Suffolk |
I FISH NY- Fishing Fun (Ages 8 and up) | Belmont Lake State Park, North Babylon | June 10, 2018 | 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM | Pamela Hunter, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation | 631-581-1072 |
| 8 Livingston |
Chip Holt Nature Center Free Fishing Clinic | Chip Holt Nature Center- Vitale Park (Conesus Lake), Lakeville | June 16, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Matthew Sanderson, Chip Holt Nature Center | 585-243-1904 |
| 4 Otsego |
Father's Day Fishing Clinic | Neahwa Park, Laskaris Skate House (Hodges Pond), Oneonta | June 17, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Tom Trelease, Dave Brandt Chapter #210 of Trout Unlimited | 607-434-7211 |
| 3 Orange |
Sterling Forest State Park Fishing Clinic | Sterling Forest State Park, Tuxedo | June 23, 2018 (Rain Date- June 24) | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Michael McElroy, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation | 845-351-5907 |
| 4 Rensselaer |
Free Family Fishing Program | Grafton Lakes State Park (Long Pond), Grafton | June 23, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Joelle Ernst, NYS DEC | 518-402-8891 |
| 9 Erie |
Teach-Me-To-Fish Clinic | Chestnut Ridge County Park, Orchard Park | June 23, 2018 | 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Michael Todd, NYS DEC | 716-851-7010 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop in Hudson! | Henry Hudson Riverfront Park (Hudson River), Hudson | June 27, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Town of Islip Fishing Clinics | Brookwood Hall Park (Knapp's Lake), East Islip | June 28, 2018 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Nutten Hook (Hudson River), Stuyvesant | July 11, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Town of Islip Fishing Clinics | Brookwood Hall Park (Knapp's Lake), East Islip | July 19, 2018 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 4 Schenectady |
Steinmetz Park Family Fun Day | Steinmetz Park, Schenectady | July 21, 2018 (Rain Date- July 22) | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Richard Ruzzo, Goosehill Neighborhood Association | 315-745-0092 |
| 9 Erie |
Tacklin' the Basics: Free Fishing Clinic | Chestnut Ridge Park, Orchard Park | July 21, 2018 (Rain Date: July 28) | 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Megan McCulloch, EMPact America of New York | 716-435-7873 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Ernest L. Lasher Memorial Park (Hudson River), Germantown | July 25, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Henry Hudson Riverfront Park (Hudson River), Hudson | August 1, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 6 Jefferson |
Family Fishing Day *Free Recreational Access Pass Required |
Fort Drum Military Installation (Remington Pond), Fort Drum | August 3, 2018 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Raymond Rainbolt, Environmental Division- Fort Drum Army Community Services | 315-772-9636 |
| 1 Nassau |
Hempstead Summer Fishing Clinic | Hempstead Lake State Park (McDonald Pond), West Hempstead | August 4, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 1 Suffolk |
Town of Islip Fishing Clinics | Brookwood Hall Park (Knapp's Lake), East Islip | August 9, 2018 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |
| 7 Onondaga |
Webster Pond Free Fishing Weekend | Webster Pond, Syracuse | August 11, 2018 (Rain Date- Aug. 18) | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Chad Norton, Anglers Association of Onondaga | 315-727-2922 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Nutten Hook (Hudson River), Stuyvesant | August 15, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 4 Rensselaer |
Learn to Fish | Schodack Island State Park (Hudson River), Schodack Landing | August 18, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Ashley Drum, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation | 518-732-0187 |
| 4 Columbia |
Drop In Hudson! | Ernest L. Lasher Memorial Park (Hudson River), Germantown | August 29, 2018 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Pamela Price, Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District | 518-267-3313 |
| 4 Rensselaer |
Learn to Fish | Schodack Island State Park (Hudson River), Schodack Landing | September 1, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Ashley Drum, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation | 518-732-0187 |
| 1 Nassau |
Fall Family Fishing Festival | Hempstead Lake State Park (McDonald Pond), West Hempstead | October 20, 2018 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Bob McCormack, NYS DEC | 631-444-0280 |