And this year, the open season on Spafford runs from April 1 through Oct. 15. The daily limit is five fish with no more than two trout longer than 12 inches, plus five brook trout less than 8 inches.

Stream improvements are continuing in this region, and structures recently completed on Ninemile Creek are a good example. In the stretch between Marcellus and Camillus, which is extremely popular with Syracuse-area fishermen, several cross vanes have been installed to raise the water level, narrow the stream and protect an eroding bank. One deep pool has been created, along with riffles and shallow pools.

Good fishing is expected this year throughout the Finger Lakes. Seneca, Cayuga and Owasco lakes will offer great opportunities for browns, rainbows and lake trout. Skaneateles should produce good catches of lakers and rainbows and, along with Cayuga, excellent chances for landlocked salmon.

Tributaries featuring lake-run rainbows include Catharine Creek, an inlet to Seneca Lake that remains the most popular tributary for early-spring fishermen. Naples Creek (the inlet to Canandaigua Lake) is also a good bet. Smaller Finger Lakes tributaries --such as Salmon Creek, Cayuga Inlet, Yawgers Creek and Fall Creek on Cayuga Lake; Hemlock Creek, Dresserville Creek, Decker Brook and Owasco Inlet on Owasco Lake; and Grout Brook on Skaneateles Lake -- will usually have fewer fishermen.

Central New York streams with above-average populations of trout this spring include Ninemile Creek, Butternut Creek and Limestone Creek in Onondaga County; Chittenango Creek in Madison County; Oquaga and Nanticoke creeks in Broome County; the Otselic River in Chenango and Cortland counties; Factory Brook in Cortland County; Genegantslet Creek in Chenango County and the East and West Branch Owego Creek in Tioga County.

NORTHERN NEW YORK
Last year’s generous rainfall is expected to result in more holdover trout in the fabled Adirondack rivers and other North Country streams, a welcome change from recent seasons.

But conditions on opening day, always questionable in this region, will depend upon the snowpack in the mountains and daytime temperatures at the end of March. Unless the weather is unusually brutal, a few selected streams will have been stocked with trout by the time the season opens. Prospects for this early stocking, for example, are the Chateaugay River in Franklin County; the Saranac River within the village of Saranac Lake; and Oswegatchie River below Cranberry Lake in St. Lawrence County.

Hatchery trucks will begin their regular rounds in April and will continue delivering fish through May.

Three Hamilton County waters have new trout regulations this year. In that portion of the Indian River in the town of Indian Lake and in Lake Pleasant, the trout season is open year ‘round, with no size limit and a daily limit of five fish. In Sacandaga Lake, the landlocked salmon season is open all year. Minimum length is 15 inches. The daily limit is three trout.

Adirondacks pond fishermen wait for ice-out with great anticipation --possibly until May -- when some of the year’s best brook trout fishing occurs near shore during the first sunny days of spring. Trolling a streamer behind a canoe, or fly-casting midge emergers to rising fish are highly recommended techniques.

On larger lakes, surface-trolling for lake trout and landlocked salmon produces some hot action, despite the chilly spring weather.