The Fishing Line - October 9th Edition

This Week's Topics

• Our Newsletter has a Name!
• DEC Fisheries Needs Your Input
• Lake Erie Steelhead: Fall Fishing Forecast
• Improved Access to Chenango River
• Invasive Species Removal Projects on Long Island

Our Newsletter Has a Name!

The Freshwater Fishing and Boating Newsletter is now “The Fishing Line.” Our name may have changed but delivering interesting, informative news on freshwater fishing, boating, and fisheries management in New York hasn't!

Want to us cover a particular topic? Let us know by emailing fwfish@dec.ny.gov.

DEC Fisheries Needs Your Input

DEC is conducting a brief survey to learn more about the views of New York anglers on yellow perch fishing on inland waters. Go online to take the survey.

DEC is accepting responses until October 23rd.

Lake Erie Steelhead: Fall Fishing Forecast

New York’s Lake Erie tributaries boast some of the highest angler catch rates for steelhead (rainbow trout) in the entire country, and the arrival of fall’s colors signals the beginning of the steelhead season. Favorite fishing destinations such as Cattaraugus, Eighteen Mile, and Chautauqua Creeks typically begin to cool down by late September, and frequent rain events help attract the first big runs of the fall fishing season. However, 2020 has not been a typical year by any means, including the weather. Drought conditions in western New York have persisted into October, and this may bring a slow start to the tributary steelhead season. In years like these, expect water conditions to improve once the leaves begin to fall off the trees - usually by late October - and expect fall steelhead runs to extend into December and possibly even to the holidays. Anglers looking for current water conditions can look online at the USGS water gauges for all the major Lake Erie tributaries, or visit the DEC Lake Erie Fishing Hotline for weekly updates on the steelhead fishery. Tight lines!

Improved Access to Chenango River

DEC Region 7 Operations, along with considerable assistance from the NYS Department of Transportation and the Town of Fenton, recently improved the Port Crane Fishing Access Site. The parking lot has been in existence for decades but is located several hundred yards from the Chenango River, making it very inconvenient for shore angling and particularly individuals wishing to launch canoes or kayaks. The new access road now provides a riverside turn around to facilitate both activities.

Invasive Species Removal Projects on Long Island

Staff from DEC and Suffolk County Parks recently teamed up on two aquatic invasive plant removal projects in Calverton on Long Island.

Fox Pond
Staff pulled by hand a young stand of phragmites (Common Reed) from Fox Pond, a small bog-type pond located in Calverton Ponds Preserve. Banded sunfish and swamp darter, two species listed as threatened in New York, are found here in the core of their range. Left unmanaged, phragmites will out compete the native vegetation, eliminating preferred shoreline habitat for these species.

Swan Pond
Many invasive species are tough to completely eradicate, and water chestnut is no exception. For over a decade there have been several attempts to remove it from Swan Pond, including this summer when staff removed another patch. They’ll continue to monitor the population and consider removing the plants earlier in the season next year before they mature.

DEC asks anglers and boaters to be aware of the part they may play in the spread of invasive species and to take action to help stop their spread.

Fisheries Fact

According to the 2017 New York Statewide Angler Survey anglers spent over one million days fishing for yellow perch in New York waters.