Central New York Fishing Hotline
March 24 - March 31
For those interested, there are also other fishing hotline/reports available for the region. A few of the web sites are: Wayne County Tourism, Visit Oswego County, Lake Ontario Fishing, and Oneida Lake Fishing Report (all leave DEC website).
Under Brianna's Law, all motor boat operators will need a boating safety certificate. How soon this certificate is required depends on your age, but by January 1, 2025, all operators of motorized vessels regardless of age will need a certificate. For more information on Brianna's Law, classes, and the age breakdown please view Boating Education (leaves DEC website) on the NYS Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation site.
The 2023 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide (cover features a young angler holding a rock bass) is available at places that sell fishing licenses. It will also be available to view, in the near future, on the Freshwater Fishing Regulations page.
Region 7 and Eastern Region 8
A reminder that from Nov 1 to May 1, all persons aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet regardless of age must wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) while underway. For more information on boating regulations please view the NYS Boater's Guide (leaves DEC website).
Just a reminder that walleye, pickerel, northern pike and tiger musky seasons closed on March 15. They open again on May 1.
The traditional trout season kicks off on Saturday, April 1st. But for anglers wishing to get out, there is the catch and release artificial lures only trout season on inland trout streams, which runs from Oct 16 to March 31. This regulation is for inland streams and does not apply to Finger Lakes tributaries where the season doesn't start till April 1.
A good resource is the DECinfo Locator interactive mapping tool, which shows stocked stream sections, public fishing rights, and regulations. For detailed instructions on how to use it and print your own maps please view Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide. For more information on trout fishing methods please view Fishing for Stream Trout.
By Friday March 24th, the following waters were stocked with trout:
- Broome County - Nanticoke Creek (March 23), East Br. Nanticoke Creek (March 23), and Dudley Creek (March 23)
- Chemung County - Cayuta Creek (March 23)
- Onondaga County - Stocked by Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery; for stocking information please call (315) 689-0003 or view Fish Onondaga County Stocking Reports (leaves DEC website)
- Steuben County - Cohocton River (March 22), and Cayuta Creek (March 22)
- Tioga County - Cayuta Creek (March 24), East Br. Owego Creek (March 21), West Br. Owego Creek (March 20), and Owego Creek (March 20)
Salmon River
The flow is up and is at 1,200 cubic feet per second (CFS) at the dam as of March 24. With inflow from the tributaries, flow increases as you move downstream. This flow does make fishing more challenging in places. Fish are spread out from the lower to upper river with some reports of fish starting to spawn. If float fishing or bottom bouncing try egg sacs, beads, pink worms, or jigs and waxworms. If fly fishing try egg patterns like sucker spawn or glo-bugs, nymphs and streamers. For information on steelhead fishing please view Steelhead Fishing in Lake Ontario Tributaries.
The Trestle Pool South Parking area will be closed starting on March 29. The Trestle Pool North and Museum Parking area gates will be opened on March 27.
Also a reminder that the Upper Fly Section opens on April 1.
Oswego River
The flow is up from last week's report and is 12,700 cubic feet per second (CFS) as of March 24. This flow makes fishing difficult on the river. If float fishing or bottom bouncing try egg sacs, beads, pink worms, or jigs and waxworms. If fly fishing try egg patterns like sucker spawn or glo-bugs, nymphs and streamers. For information on steelhead fishing please see the link in the Salmon River report above.
Remember there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. Visit Oswego County Tourism website (leaves DEC website) for more information on this and also for information on the life jacket loaner programs in the area.
Oneida Lake
The mouth of Scriba Creek up to the Oneida Fish Hatchery Dam is posted as closed to fishing from March 16 through April 30 due to its importance for walleye spawning. Please note, the hatchery remains open and limited parking is available for those planning to visit the hatchery and observe the spawning run in the creek.
Skaneateles Lake
The DEC launch is now open.
Other Hotline Waters
Nothing to report for the other waters.
Warm water (bass, pike, etc.) angler diary cooperators are needed for Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua, Hemlock, and Canadice Lakes. If interested please contact Region 8 Fisheries at fwfish8@dec.ny.gov or by calling 585-226-5343.
Note: We are always looking for new participants in our Angler Diary Cooperator Program for our program on the Finger Lakes. Our numbers have dropped in recent years, and we need new cooperators now more than ever. If you fish Cayuga Lake, Owasco Lake, Skaneateles Lake, Otisco Lake or any of their tributaries and want to learn more about this program and how to sign up, please contact the Region 7 Fisheries office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 213, or by email at fwfish7@dec.ny.gov.
If you fish Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Conesus Lake, Hemlock Lake, Honeoye Lake, Keuka Lake or Seneca Lake and want to learn more about this program and how to sign up, please contact the Region 8 Fisheries office at (585) 226-5343, or by email at fwfish8@dec.ny.gov.
If you would like to contribute to the fishing report, or need more fishing information, or have any fishing/fishing equipment related questions, you can contact fwfish7@dec.ny.gov. Good luck fishing.
The fishing line can also be heard at (607) 753-1551.
