For fishermen, the real shocker is that the surveys were carried out in August, when most people had quit fishing for the season! The Wiscoy fishery is famous among western New York’s trout fishermen. But apparently few are aware that the action lasts all season for those adept at taking wild trout on small headwater streams. That portion of Wiscoy Creek in Wyoming County was previously open to Extended Season fishing, and that regulation now pertains to the Allegany County sector.

Trout streams slated for surveys this summer include Lime Lake Outlet and McKinstry Creek in Cattaraugus County, Clear Creek in Wyoming County and Hosmer Brook in Erie County.

This cluster of streams, situated where the three counties meet, is included in the new Extended Season regulations, offering a bonus of wild rainbows in the 12- to 13-inch range in addition to brown trout, according to Evans.

“Rainbows are easier to catch later in the season,” he said. “They occupy open-water niches, while browns will be along banks protected by vegetation.”

Researchers found that rainbows in these streams do not spawn until they reach an age of 3 years or older, and the recent special regulations -- minimum size 9 inches, daily limit of three fish -- have really boosted their numbers. Brown trout populations are also up, due to the special regulations.

While the Extended Seasons are in the spotlight this year, Evans claims that providing stream access is a continuing management program.

“There are plenty of public fishing rights on Wiscoy Creek and other western trout streams. Maps of these sites are available on the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Web site (www.dec.state.ny.us),” he said.

Western-region streams slated to receive stocked trout this spring include the Genesee River; Ischua Creek and Upper Cattaraugus Creek in Cattaraugus County; Goose Creek in Chautauqua County and East Koy Creek in Allegany County, which receives yearling browns, along with some 2-year-olds. Traditional favorites in this region include Oatka Creek and Spring Creek in Livingston and Monroe counties; the Cohocton River in Steuben County and Cayuta Creek in Schuyler and Chemung counties.

If most streams are high and muddy on opening day, some inland lakes that have been stocked will be good bets including Allen Lake in Allegany County; and Case Lake, Harwood Lake, New Albion Lake, Red House Lake and Quaker Lake (the latter two in Allegany State Park) in Cattaraugus County.

CENTRAL NEW YORK
Last year’s flooding, particularly the widespread property damage caused by the Susquehanna River, did not harm any of the trout streams in central New York, according to Dan Bishop, a DEC fisheries manager stationed in Cortland.

“We were unable to find any trout stranded after the floods,” he reported, “and we believe that young-of-the-year were able to escape.”

The main trout-management accomplishment for 2007 is the new Extended Season on certain streams in this region of the state.

New Fall Creek regulations also offer fishermen some unique opportunities, Bishop said. In that section of the stream from below the railroad bridge downstream from Route 13 to Ithaca Falls, catch-and-release, artificial-lures-only fishing will be permitted from Jan. 1 through March 15.

Another Finger Lake tributary change involves Spafford Creek, the inlet to Otisco Lake, previously considered a lake-run rainbow fishery. Surveys have revealed that for this stream, general trout-fishing regulations are more suitable.