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New York

Fishing

Fishing

Finger Lakes & Tributary Regulations

FINGER LAKES REGULATIONS
WaterSpeciesRegulation
Northern PikeMay 1–Mar 15, Minimum Length-22", Daily Limit-5
May 1–Mar 15, Minimum Length-18", Daily Limit-3 (see Skaneateles Lake for exception)
All Finger LakesWalleye
Brook TroutApr 1–Oct 15, Daily Limit–5 with no more than 2 longer than 12"
June 15–Mar 15, Minimum Length-12", Daily Limit-5
Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Conesus Lake, Hemlock Lake, Keuka Lake, and, Seneca LakeBlack BassMar 16–June 14, Catch and Release only, Artifcial lures only
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic SalmonAll year, Minimum Length-15", Daily Limit-5 in combination, Catch shall
include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout or 3 Atlantic Salmon
All year, Minimum Length-15" except 18" for Atlantic Salmon, Daily Limit-5 in combination, Catch shall include no more than 3 Brown Trout, 3 Rainbow Trout, or 3 Atlantic Salmon
Cayuga LakeBrown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon
June 15–Mar 15, Minimum Length-12", Daily Limit-5
Black BassMar 16–June 14, Catch and Release only, Artifcial lures only
SunfshAll year, Minimum Length-8", Daily Limit-15
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic SalmonAll year, Minimum Length-15", Daily Limit-5 in combination, Catch shall
Honeoye Lakeinclude no more than 1 Rainbow Trout or 3 Atlantic Salmon
AlewifePossession prohibited
Tiger MuskellungeMay 1–Mar 15, Minimum Length-36", Daily Limit-1
SunfshAll year, Minimum Length-8", Daily Limit-15
Otisco LakeTroutAll year, Minimum Length-12", Daily Limit-5
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic SalmonAll year, Minimum Length-15", Daily Limit-5 in combination, Catch shall include no more than 3 Brown Trout, 3 Rainbow Trout, or 3 Atlantic Salmon
Owasco Lake
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic SalmonAll year, Minimum Length-15", Daily Limit-5 in combination, Catch shall include no more than 3 of any species
WalleyeAll Year, Minimum Length-12", Daily Limit- Any number
Skaneateles LakeAlewifePossession prohibited


FINGER LAKES TRIBUTARIES REGULATIONS
WaterSpeciesRegulation
All tributaries to Canadice Lake, Canandaigua
Lake, HemlockBrown Trout, RainbowApril 1–Dec 31, Minimum Length-15",
Lake, Keuka Lake,Trout, Lake Trout,Daily Limit-3 in combination, Catch shall
and Seneca Lake upstream to the frst barrier impassable by fshAtlantic Salmoninclude no more than 1 Rainbow Trout
All tributaries to Owasco Lake, Otisco Lake and Skaneateles Lake upstream to the frst barrier impassable by fsh, except Spaford Creek
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic SalmonApril 1–Dec 31, Minimum Length-15", except 9" for Brown Trout, Daily Limit-3 in combination
All tributaries
to Cayuga LakeBrown Trout, RainbowApril 1–Dec 31, Minimum Length-15",
upstream to the frstTrout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmonexcept 18" for Atlantic Salmon, Daily Limit-3 in combination
barrier impassable by fsh, except
Fall Creek
April 1–Dec 31, Minimum Length-15", except 18" for Atlantic Salmon, Daily Limit-3 in combination
Fall Creek (Cayuga Lake) from the downstream edge of the railroad bridge below Rt. 13 to Ithaca FallsJan 1–Mar 31, Catch and Release only, Artifcial lures only
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic SalmonAngling prohibited between sunset and sunrise from Oct 1–May 15
Spaford CreekTroutApril 1–Oct 15, Daily Limit-5–with no more than 2 longer than 12"
(Otisco Lake)
Tributaries to all Finger Lakes (except Conesus
Lake and Honeoye Lake) upstream to the frst barrier impassable by fshAll other speciesOpen season, daily limit and minimum length regulations that are in efect for the Finger Lakes

Additional Tributary Regulations

A. Any action to frighten fsh and move them from concealment, including herding, driving, kicking, and stoning is prohibited.

B. Angling is prohibited from Jan 1–Mar 31, except for those stream sections listed to the right and Fall Creek downstream of Ithaca Falls.

C. Angling is prohibited between sunset and sunrise from April 1–May 15 and Oct 1–Dec 31, except for those stream sections listed to theright.

D. Angling is prohibited all year in Cayuga Inlet for a distance of 500 feet up and downstream of the dam located within the food control channel and Coy Glenn Creek from Cayuga Inlet up to and including the second check dam in Tompkins County.

E. Use of more than one line with a single hook point is prohibited, except for those stream sections listed to the right.

F. Possession of hooks with a gap greater than ½" is prohibited, except for those stream sections listed to the right.

G. Possession of landing nets larger than 50 inches around the frame or with handles longer than 20 inches is prohibited, except for thosestream sections listed to the right.

Stream Sections forWhich Additional Tributary Regulations B, C, D, E, F, and G Do Not Apply:

Trout season is closed Jan 1–March 31 in these sections.

  • Barge Canal from Seneca Lake upstream to the northernmost Rte. 14 bridge in Montour Falls, Schuyler County
  • Cayuga Inlet and food control channel from Cayuga Lake upstream to posted “NO FISHING" boundary below the fshway in TompkinsCounty
  • Fall Creek from Cayuga Lake to the downstream edge of the railroad bridge below Rte. 13 in Ithaca, Tompkins County
  • Guyanoga Creek from Keuka Lake upstream to Rte. 54A bridge, Yates County
  • Old Seneca Inlet in the southeast corner of Seneca Lake upstream of State Rte. 414
  • Owasco Inlet from Owasco Lake upstream 0.7 miles to marked boundary at old railroad bed in Cayuga County
  • Sucker Brook from Canandaigua Lake upstream in Ontario County
  • West River from Canandaigua Lake upstream in Ontario County
  • Yawgers Creek from Cayuga Lake upstream to the abandoned Lehigh Valley railroad bridge in Cayuga County