Great Lakes & Tributaries Regulations
FINGER LAKES REGULATIONS |
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Water |
Species |
Regulation |
All Finger Lakes |
Northern Pike |
May 1–Mar 15, Minimum Length-22”, Daily Limit-5 |
Walleye |
May 1–Mar 15, Minimum Length-18”, Daily Limit-3 (see Skaneateles Lake for exception) |
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Brook Trout |
Apr 1–Oct 15, Daily Limit–5 with no more than 2 longer than 12” |
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Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Conesus Lake, Hemlock Lake, Keuka Lake, and, Seneca Lake |
Black Bass |
June 15–Mar 15, Minimum Length-12”, Daily Limit-5 |
Mar 16–June 14, Catch and Release only, Artificial lures only |
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Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon |
All year, Minimum Length-15”, Daily Limit-5 in combination, Catch shall include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout or Atlantic Salmon |
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Cayuga Lake |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, 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 |
Honeoye Lake |
Black Bass |
June 15–Mar 15, Minimum Length-12”, Daily Limit-5 |
Mar 16–June 14, Catch and Release only, Artificial lures only |
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Sunfish |
All year, Minimum Length-8”, Daily Limit-15 |
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Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon |
All year, Minimum Length-15”, Daily Limit-5 in combination, Catch shall include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout or 3 Atlantic Salmon |
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Alewife |
Possession prohibited |
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Otisco Lake |
Tiger Muskellunge |
May 1–Mar 15, Minimum Length-36”, Daily Limit-1 |
Sunfish |
All year, Minimum Length-8”, Daily Limit-15 |
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Trout |
All year, Minimum Length-12”, Daily Limit-5 |
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FINGER LAKES REGULATIONS |
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Water |
Species |
Regulation |
Owasco Lake |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon |
All 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 |
Skaneateles Lake |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon |
All year, Minimum Length-15”, Daily Limit-5 in combination, Catch shall include no more than 3 of any species |
Walleye |
All Year, Minimum Length-12”, Daily Limit-Any number |
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Alewife |
Possession prohibited |
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FINGER LAKES TRIBUTARIES REGULATIONS |
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Water |
Species |
Regulation |
All tributaries to Canadice Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Hemlock Lake, Keuka Lake, and Seneca Lake upstream to the first barrier impassable by fish |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon |
April 1–Dec 31, Minimum Length-15”, Daily Limit-3 in combination, Catch shall include no more than 1 Rainbow Trout |
All tributaries to Owasco Lake, Otisco Lake and Skaneateles Lake upstream to the first barrier impassable by fish, except Spafford Creek |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon |
April 1–Dec 31, Minimum Length-15”, except 9” for Brown Trout, Daily Limit-3 in combination |
All tributaries to Cayuga Lake upstream to the first barrier impassable by fish, except Fall Creek |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon |
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 Falls |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Atlantic Salmon |
April 1–Dec 31, Minimum Length-15”, except 18” for Atlantic Salmon, Daily Limit-3 in combination |
Jan 1–Mar 31, Catch and Release only, Artificial lures only |
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Angling prohibited between sunset and sunrise from Oct 1–May 15 |
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FINGER LAKES TRIBUTARIES REGULATIONS |
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Water |
Species |
Regulation |
Spafford Creek (Otisco Lake) |
Trout |
April 1–Oct 15, Daily Limit-5–with no more than 2 longer than 12” |
Tributaries to all Finger Lakes (except Conesus Lake and Honeoye Lake) upstream to the first barrier impassable by fish |
All other species |
Open season, daily limit and minimum length regulations that are in effect for the Finger Lakes |
Additional Tributary Regulations
A.Any action to frighten fish 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 the right.
D.Angling is prohibited all year in Cayuga Inlet for a distance of 500 feet up and downstream of the dam located within the flood 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 1⁄2” 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 those stream sections listed to the right.
Trout season is closed Jan 1–March 31 in these sections.
Stream Sections for Which Additional Tributary Regulations B, C, D, E, F, and G Do Not Apply:
- Barge Canal from Seneca Lake upstream to the northernmost Rte. 14 bridge in Montour Falls, Schuyler County
- Cayuga Inlet and flood control channel from Cayuga Lake upstream to posted “NO FISHING” boundary below the fishway in Tompkins County
- 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
These regulations apply to the New York waters of Lake Erie, the Upper and Lower Niagara River, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and designated sections of the tributaries to these waters.
- Tributary sections subject to these regulations are generally defined as the bridge closest to the mouth upstream to the 1st barrier impassable to fish.
- Tributaries with different boundaries and exemptions are listed separately.
- Note that there are also seasonal tackle restrictions and restrictions on night fishing in the tributaries.
REGULATIONS FOR ALL GREAT LAKES & TRIBUTARIES
Regulations for all Great Lakes waters, including Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the Upper and Lower Niagara River, St. Lawrence River, and tributaries to these waters.
At all times:
⊲ Snatching (page 69) and attempting to snatch is prohibited.
⊲ All foul-hooked fish must be immediately released without unnecessary injury.
⊲ Use or possession of gaff hooks is prohibited, except when ice fishing or bowfishing.
⊲ Any action to frighten fish and move them from concealment, including herding, driving, kicking, or stoning, is prohibited.
⊲ The use of eggs for chumming is prohibited (page 76).
LAKE ERIE AND TRIBUTARIES REGULATIONS
Lake Erie tributary seasonal fishing regulations
Portions of Lake Erie tributaries where seasonal regulations apply |
CATTARAUGUS CREEK |
From the Aldrich Street Extension Bridge in Gowanda upstream to the Springville Dam |
BUFFALO RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES |
From the I-90 (NYS Thruway) bridge upstream to 1st barrier impassable by fish |
ALL OTHER LAKE ERIE TRIBUTARIES |
From bridge closest to the mouth upstream to the 1st barrier impassable by fish |
Season |
Seasonal fishing regulations apply Sept 1–Mar 31. |
Fishing hours |
Fishing only permitted 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset (fishing at night is prohibited). |
Hook regulations |
⊲ The distance between a hook’s shaft and point cannot exceed 1/2 inch. ⊲ Hooks attached to any lure must be free-swinging, except on an artificial fly (page 68) or jigs. |
LAKE ERIE AND TRIBUTARIES SEASONS AND LIMITS |
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Species |
Open Season |
Minimum Length |
Daily Limit |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (including Steelhead), Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon |
All year |
12” |
3 in any combination |
Lake Trout |
All year |
12” |
1 |
Brook Trout |
April 1-Oct 15 |
none |
5 |
Northern Pike |
May 1–Mar 15 |
22” |
5 |
Walleye |
May 1–Mar 15 |
15” |
6 |
Muskellunge, Tiger Muskellunge |
June 15–Dec 15 |
54” |
1 |
Black Bass |
December 1–June 14 |
20” |
1 |
June 15–Nov 30 |
12” |
5 |
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Catch and Release Regulations for Chautauqua and Eighteenmile Creeks |
Catch and Release Regulations ⊲ Catch and Release only for trout and salmon in creek sections described below⊲ Only Artificial lures can be used in Catch and Release sections⊲ Seasonal regulations regarding hooks apply. Stream reaches where Catch and Release regulations apply |
CHAUTAUQUA CREEK |
⊲ From the bridge on South Gale St. upstream 1.3 miles to the upper Village of Westfield water intake dam |
EIGHTEENMILE CREEK (ERIE COUNTY) |
⊲ Main branch of the creek (excluding South Branch) contained within Eighteenmile Creek County Park |
NIAGARA RIVER REGULATIONS
UPPER NIAGARA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES SEASONS AND LIMITS |
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Species |
Open Season |
Minimum Length |
Daily Limit |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (Including Steelhead), Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon |
All year |
None |
3 in any combination |
Lake Trout |
All year |
12” |
1 |
Brook Trout |
April 1–Oct 15 |
none |
5 |
Northern Pike |
May 1–Mar 15 |
22” |
5 |
Walleye |
May 1–Mar 15 |
15” |
6 |
Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge |
June 15–Dec 15 |
54” |
1 |
Black Bass (north of the Peace Bridge) |
Statewide Angling Regulations Apply |
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Statewide gear restrictions apply in the Upper Niagara River and tributaries. |
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LOWER NIAGARA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES SEASONS AND LIMITS |
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Species |
Open Season |
Minimum Length |
Daily Limit |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (including Steelhead), Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon |
All year |
15”, except 21” for Rainbow Trout |
3 (Trout & Salmon) in any combination, not to include more than 1 Atlantic Salmon, 2 rainbow trout (steelhead), or 2 Lake Trout |
Lake Trout |
Dec 1–Sept 30 |
None, except only 1 Lake Trout may be between 25” and 30” |
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Atlantic Salmon |
All year |
25” |
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Brook Trout |
April 1–Oct 15 |
none |
5 |
Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge |
June 15–Dec 15 |
54” |
1 |
Northern Pike |
May 1–Mar 15 |
22” |
5 |
Walleye |
May 1–Dec 31 |
18” |
3 |
Jan 1–Mar 15 |
18” |
1 |
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American Eel |
Closed |
Possession prohibited |
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Statewide gear restrictions apply in the Lower Niagara River and tributaries. |
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LAKE ONTARIO, ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, AND TRIBUTARIES REGULATIONS
LAKE ONTARIO, ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES* SEASONS AND LIMITS** |
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Species |
Open Season |
Minimum Length |
Daily Limit |
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout (including Steelhead),Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon |
All year |
15”, except for Rainbow Trout or Steelhead: 21” in the lake and 25” in tributaries |
3 in combination, not to include more than 2 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) in the lake, and not to include more than 1 Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and 1 Brown Trout in the tributaries |
Except 9” and 3 fish daily for Brown Trout in Irondequoit Creek upstream of the south side of Rte. 286 bridges; Lindsey Creek, and the Black River from Dexter Dam to Mill Street Dam (Jefferson County) |
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Lake Trout |
Dec 1–Sept 30 |
None (except no more than 1 shall be between 25” and 30”) |
2 |
Atlantic Salmon |
All year |
25” |
1 |
Brook Trout |
April 1-Oct 15 |
none |
5 |
Northern Pike (Lake Ontario) |
May 1–Mar 15 |
22” |
5 |
Northern Pike (St. Lawrence River and tributaries downstream of Tibbets Point) |
May 1–Mar 15 |
22” |
3 |
Black Bass |
Statewide Species Regulations apply, except that fishing for black bass (including Catch and Release) is prohibited Dec 1–June 14 in Lake Ontario and tributaries in Jefferson Co. and the St. Lawrence River and tributaries |
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Walleye |
May 1–Mar 15 |
18” |
3 |
Muskellunge and Tiger Muskellunge |
June 15–Dec 15 |
54” |
1 |
American Eel |
Closed |
Possession prohibited |
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Yellow Perch |
All year |
None |
50, except Yellow Perch may be taken in any number in Jefferson County, except Sandy Pond |
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Lake Ontario Tributary Seasonal Fishing Regulations, Except the Lower Niagara River and Salmon River |
Lake Ontario Waters and Tributaries Exempted from Seasonal Tributary Regulations The following waters are exempt from Lake Ontario tributary seasonal fishing regulations: |
BUCK POND |
⊲ Lake Ontario Seasons and Limits apply |
CRANBERRY POND |
⊲ Lake Ontario Seasons and Limits apply |
IRONDEQUOIT BAY |
⊲ Lake Ontario Seasons and Limits apply |
LONG POND |
⊲ Lake Ontario Seasons and Limits apply |
NIAGARA RIVER |
⊲ Upper Niagara River or Lower Niagara River Regulations apply |
ROUND POND |
⊲ Lake Ontario Seasons and Limits apply |
SALMON RIVER |
⊲ See page 66 |
SODUS BAY |
⊲ Lake Ontario Seasons and Limits apply |
SOUTH SANDY POND |
⊲ Lake Ontario Seasons and Limits apply |
Sections of Lake Ontario Tributaries Subject to Seasonal Tributary Regulations
The following tributary sections are subject to seasonal fishing regulations—described below—during the period Sept 1–Mar 31:
BLACK RIVER |
⊲ From the upstream tip of the lowermost island to Mill St. Dam in Watertown |
CATFISH CREEK |
⊲ From the mouth upstream to the dam at County Rte. 1 |
EIGHTEENMILE CREEK (NIAGARA COUNTY) |
⊲ From the Rte. 18 bridge upstream to Burt Dam |
OAK ORCHARD CREEK |
⊲ From the 1st power lines that are 1.9 miles upstream (south) of the Rte. 18 bridge upstream to Waterport Dam |
GENESEE RIVER |
⊲ From the State Rte. 104 bridge upstream to the Lower Falls |
OSWEGO RIVER |
⊲ From the Utica St. Bridge upstream to the Varick Dam |
STERLING CREEK |
⊲ From Old State Rd. to the 1st impassable barrier upstream of Rte. 104A |
STERLING VALLEY CREEK |
⊲ From McIntyre Rd. to the 1st impassable barrier upstream of Rte. 104A |
ALL OTHER TRIBUTARIES |
⊲ From the bridge closest to the mouth upstream to the 1st barrier impassable by fish |
Lake Ontario Tributaries with Seasonal Closures
LITTLE SANDY CREEK (OSWEGO COUNTY)
⊲ Fishing is prohibited from Mar 16– April 30—from the State Rte. 3 bridge downstream 850 feet to the intersection of the channelized area and upstream 1.0 mile from the bridge to the Public Fishing Rights section.
Lake Ontario Tributary Seasonal Fishing Regulations
SEASON
Seasonal fishing regulations apply Sept 1 to Mar 31.
FISHING HOURS
Fishing from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise is prohibited, except in the Black River (Jefferson County) from Lake Ontario upstream to the Rte. 180 bridge in Dexter, where fishing is permitted at all times.
HOOK, LEADER, AND WEIGHT REGULATIONS
⊲ Only one hook with a single hook point is permitted, except as outlined below for floating lures and artificial flies.
⊲ Hooks attached to any lure must be free-swinging, except on an artificial fly (page 68) or jigs.
⊲ An artificial fly (page 68) can only have a single hook with no more than two hook points. Tandem artificial flies are not permitted.
⊲ The gap between a hook’s shaft and point cannot exceed 1/2 inch.
⊲ Use of hooks with added weight is prohibited, except artificial flies
(page 68) and jigs weighing no more than 1/8 oz.
⊲ A floating lure is a lure that floats at rest in water with or without any weight attached to the lure, leader, or line.
⊲
Hooks:
Floating lures:
Can have multiple treble hooks.
⊲ Any hooks on a floating lure must be attached to the lure by a ring or swivel, except for artificial flies.
⊲ The distance between the body of a floating lure and the points of any attached hooks shall not exceed 1 1/2 inches.
Leaders and weights:
⊲ The distance between the hook, artificial fly or lure, and any weight attached to the line or leader, whether fixed or sliding, shall not exceed four feet.
⊲ Any weight added to the line, leader, swivels, artificial fly, or lure shall not hang lower than the hook when the line or leader is held vertically.
EXAMPLES OF LEGAL SEASONAL FISHING RIGS
Special Regulations by Section for Salmon River and Tributaries (Oswego County)
SALMON RIVER DOWNSTREAM OF RTE. 52 BRIDGE IN ALTMAR |
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From the upstream-most navigation buoy located between the breakwalls at the mouth of the river upstream to the County Rte. 52 bridge in Altmar and tributaries to this section. |
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Effective Dates |
Regulations |
April 15–Aug 14 |
Statewide gear restrictions apply. |
Aug 15–April 14 |
•Fishing is prohibited at night from 1⁄2 hr. after sunset to 1⁄2 hr. before sunrise,except as permitted below. •Only one hook with a single hook point and a gap not exceeding 1⁄2 inch ispermitted, except on floating lures as noted below. •Hooks attached to any lure, except an artificial fly, must be free swinging andunweighted. Artificial flies with no more than 1/8 oz. of added weight maybe used. The method by which weight is added to a hook does not affectclassification as an “artificial fly” provided the conditions of the definition ofan artificial fly (page 68) are met. •The distance between the hook, artificial fly, or lure, and any weight attachedto the line or leader, whether fixed or sliding, shall not exceed 4 ft. •Weight shall not be added to the line, leader, swivels, artificial fly, or lure inany manner that the weight hangs lower than the attached hook when theline is suspended vertically from the rod. |
Aug 15–Oct 31 |
Additional Regulations for Floating Lures Apply
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Nov 1–April 14 |
Multiple single, double, and treble hooks are permitted on floating lures. |
April 1–Aug 14 |
Fishing at night is permitted from Lake Ontario to the Rte. 3 bridge. |
Salmon River fly fishing Catch and Release sections
FISHING HOURS, SEASON DATES, AND LOCATIONS
⊲ Angling Permitted: From 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
⊲ Lower Fly Section: Open Sept 15–May 15, from the County Rte. 52 Bridge in Altmar upstream 0.25 mile to the marked boundary at Beaverdam Brook.
⊲ Upper Fly Section: Open April 1–Nov 30 from a marked boundary upstream of the New York State Fish Hatchery property to a marked boundary 0.6 miles upstream at the Lighthouse Hill Reservoir tailrace.
⊲ Fishing is prohibited outside the open season.
CATCH AND RELEASE
All fish must be immediately released without unnecessary injury.
TACKLE RESTRICTIONS
Tackle is restricted to a traditional fly rod, fly reel, fly line, and artificial fly (page 68). Restrictions on fly lines, flies, attractors, leaders, and supplemental weight are as follows:
Fly lines:
⊲ Use of less than 20 feet of a floating, sinking, or combination floating/ sinking fly line or shooting head immediately behind the leader and in front of any running line or other backing is prohibited.
⊲ From May 1–August 31: Floating fly lines only.
⊲ From Sept 1–April 30: Floating, sinking, and sink tip fly lines are permitted.
Flies:
⊲ From May 1–August 31: a single unweighted artificial fly having one hook point with a 1/2 inch maximum gap only is permitted.
⊲ From Sept 1–April 30: a single unweighted or weighted artificial fly with no more than 1/8 oz. added weight, having one hook point with a 1/2 inch maximum gap only, is permitted.
Attractors:
⊲ The use of added baits or attractors such as, but not limited to, fish eggs, insects, beads, spoons, spinners, plugs, or similar devices on the line above the artificial fly is prohibited.
Leaders:
⊲ The total length of the leader, including the tippet, shall not exceed 15 feet.
⊲ From May 1–Aug 31: Sinking and metal leaders are prohibited.
Additional weight:
⊲ From May 1–Aug 31: The use of supplemental weight, such as split shot, sinkers, metal leaders, twist-ons, or swivels attached to the leader, tippet, fly line or fly, is prohibited.
⊲ From Sept 1–April 30: The use of supplemental weight is permitted with the following restrictions:
- The combined weight of any supplemental weight and fly may not exceed 1/8 of an ounce.
- The maximum distance between the artificial fly and any added weight to the line, leader, or tippet shall not exceed four feet.
- Weight added to the line, leader, swivels, or artificial fly in any manner such that the weight hangs lower than the attached fly is prohibited.
Beaverdam Brook in Altmar fishing closure
Fishing in Beaverdam Brook and its tributaries, Oswego County, is prohibited from their mouths to the upstream boundary of the Salmon River Hatchery property.
