Except for the Carmans River in Southaven County Park, and the Nissequogue River in Caleb Smith State Park, trout fishing is permitted year 'round on all of Long Island's freshwater (non-tidal) streams for rainbows and browns -- brookies must be released. There is no size limit and three trout may be creeled daily. Additionally, trout fishing, both open-water and ice-fishing, is permitted in all of the island's lakes and ponds with the same size and creel limits, except for East (Swan) Lake, Laurel Lake and Deep Pond.

BEAVER KILL AND WILLOWEMOC
These two legendary trout streams, known collectively as the "Beamoc," were pioneers in modern fisheries management, where DEC biologists experimented with extended open seasons. Both rivers now offer certain stretches where the trout season is open all year to artificials-only, catch-and-release fishing. The fact that these waters are among the most heavily fished during the regular season attests to the success of the program.

In February, "heavily fished" is a relative term. As you buzz along Route 17, you rarely see more than a single angler standing in the quiet current beyond the rim of ice, and most times, you see no one on the water.

On the Beaver Kill, there are two segments of all-year fishing, both downstream from Roscoe, and these are well marked with DEC signs. The first stretch begins at the Sullivan-Delaware counties border and extends for 2.5 miles downstream. Included are several of the best pools on the river, each named by fishermen decades ago. These include Barnhart's, Hendrickson's, Cairn's and Wagon Tracks. The latter makes no sense unless you know that a farmer used to ford the stream there with horses and wagons.

The second Beaver Kill segment is centered on the steel bridge at Horton, extending one mile upstream and 1.6 miles downstream. Even after the recent floods made some changes in the river, the historic pools here remain including Cemetery, Horton Bridge and Acid Factory. The Horton Bridge stretch is such a honeyhole that fishing is now prohibited there from July 1 through Aug. 31 to protect the large numbers of trout that collect there during late summer's warmwater period. A parking area was included when the new bridge was built.

The Willowemoc joins the Beaver Kill at Roscoe. The artificial lures-only, no-kill water begins at the second Route 17 bridge east of Roscoe and extends upstream for 3.5 miles to a point 1,200 feet above the mouth of Elm Hollow Brook. The Willowemoc is about half the size of the lower Beaver Kill, and low-water conditions make for tougher fishing. If crunching shoreline ice signals your approach, it might be better to move on down to the Beaver Kill sections.

Slowly worked nymphs and streamers are the key at both locations. Sometimes, a fly the fish have not seen, such as a Spruce streamer, will be productive. Woolly Buggers, Muddler Minnows and small black stonefly nymphs are popular.

Small, medium-sinking stick baits are recommended for spinning, as water levels on the Beamoc are likely to be too low for metal lures to be effective.

These special regulations sections are off state Route 17 (The Quickway). Exit at Roscoe, Cooks Falls or Horton to Old Route 17, which borders the Beaver Kill and Willowemoc.

CROTON RIVER
Continuing the theme of southern rivers, the East Branch Croton River in Putnam County north of metro New York City offers excellent chances for holdover rainbows and browns in the 1.5-mile stretch between the Diverting and East Branch reservoirs. This gem of a tailwater fishery, with its warmer water in winter, has long been a favorite of anglers escaping the city for a couple of hours on the stream.

The East Branch produces prolific numbers of aquatic insects, and caddis and midge nymph patterns are effective all winter. A beadhead pheasant tail in No. 16 or 18 should be a good bet, along with various caddis pupa patterns.