A color brochure showing the locations of the various fresh waters of Long Island and New York City along with information on the type of access available and fish species present is available from the DEC's Region 1 Freshwater Fisheries Unit at (631) 444-0280.

WESTERN REGION
"We opened up several of our streams to fishing through winter to provide more fishing opportunities when we found that natural reproduction is sufficient," said Region 9 fisheries biologist Paul McKeown. "These are waters where natural production is high and the fishing is very productive."

A catch-and-release artificials-only regulation has been established for the period from Oct. 16 through March 31 on Clear Creek in Cattaraugus County, Lime Lake Outlet, McKinstry Creek, Hosmer (Sardinia) Brook, and Clear Creek and Wiscoy Creek in Wyoming County in DEC Region 9.

A year-round catch-and-release artificial lures-only regulation has been instituted on Ischua Creek in the area of Franklinville in Cattaraugus County.

"We don't expect that the new regulation is going to have any negative effect on our fisheries at all," McKeown said.

During the new period, McKeown does not anticipate much fishing pressure. Most sportsmen will be hunting or fishing for steelhead during fall and early winter. Even so, the trout population will be closely monitored.

"We conduct electro-shocking studies on our waters periodically," McKeown said. "We also conduct angler surveys to determine the number of trout that are being removed, so we have a pretty good feel of what is going on in our streams."

Also, the daily limit for trout has been changed to five fish per day with no more than two trout over 12 inches for all waters not covered under special regulations in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Wyoming counties in Region 9.

McKeown advised anglers to watch for new year-round fishing regulations at Wiscoy Creek, Easy Coy Creek, Cattaraugus Creek, Elton Creek, Elm Creek and Mansfield Creek.

"The new regulations will allow fishing on streams that were traditionally closed," he said. "Anglers are reminded that the law allows catch- and-release artificial lures-only fishing on these streams."

Goose Creek may differ from the others in that harvesting of trout may be allowed.

McKeown cautions anglers to avoid disturbing trout spawning beds while fishing during spawning season.

Wiscoy Creek and its tributary, East Coy Creek, provide an outstanding wild trout fishery in Wyoming County. Parking and public access have improved over the past few years.

"That's our top region stream," McKeown stated. "You're talking about 1,500 wild browns per mile of stream."

In addition to the regular statewide regulations, New York has numerous special regulations that apply to specific bodies of water. Anglers are advised to check the regulations booklet issued with each fishing license.

For more information about trout fishing and management in New York, contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753; call (518) 402-8920, or check the agency's Web site at www.dec.state.ny.us.

For travel information, contact the New York State Division of Tourism (North America Group Travel), Empire State Development, Empire State Plaza, Concourse Level, Room 110, Albany, NY 12223; or call 800-CAL-LNYS, Ext. 47624.