LOCALadk Magazine

Summer 2017 LOCALadk Magazine 3 LOCALadk Fishing is second only to hiking as the most popular outdoor recreational activity for visitors to the Adirondacks – and may be the most popular activity of those who live here. It's no won- der. With more than 3,000 lakes and ponds ranging in size from the 313,600-acre Lake Champlain to 0.1-acre beaver ponds, and 30,000 miles of mountain brooks, streams, and rivers, the Adirondacks provide abundant opportunity to fish for both cold water (trout and salmon) and warm water (bass, walleye, pike, pickerel, and panfish) species. That these waters are easy to access is another reason fishing is so popular. Millions of acres of Forest Preserve and municipal lands abut these waters, and dozens of DEC and municipal boat launches and hand launches provide access to deeper waters and the more remote shorelines by boat, canoe, or kayak. The Adirondack/Lake Champlain Fishing web page provides information and links to top fishing waters, boat launches, public fishing rights, morphometric maps of selected lakes and ponds, and much more. DEC supplements fish populations and provides additional fishing opportunities through their stocking program. These pages can be found at www.dec.ny.gov If you or someone you know is just learning, or seeks to improve and try new techniques, visit DEC's "Learn to Fish" site. It in- cludes links to information on I FISH NY, lots of information and advice, and the recently published I FISH NY Beginners' Guide to Freshwater Fishing. This guide provides all the information you need to get started including fish identification, basic fishing tackle and techniques, how to handle fish you catch, safe and responsible angling, and much more. If you still are not sure, hire one of the many Adirondack fishing guides or outfitters. They will ensure you learn the basic skills and have the right equipment, and they will take you to the places you are most likely to catch fish. But remember – the best part about fishing is not catching fish, it's spending a day on or along the water with family and friends enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural beauty of the Adirondacks. So get out there and go fishing. Fishing In The Adirondacks A message from the Department of Environmental Conservation What You Need to Know Purchase a fishing license if you are 16 or older. Children fish free, but everyone 16 years and older needs a license. The mon- ey is used to manage the fishery for the enjoyment of all. Know and obey all fishing regulations. The regulations are designed to protect fish populations and to ensure fishing op- portunities for all anglers into the future. Prevent spreading invasive species. Clean, dry, or disinfect all boats, trailers, waders, and other fishing and boating equip- ment before fishing in new waters. Protect native brook trout and the Adirondack fishery: • Do not move fish from one body of water to another. It is illegal and can damage the aquatic ecosystem as well as fishing opportunities. • Do not use bait fish on Adirondack waters where it is prohibited. Check the Special Regulations section of the fishing regulations guide for a list of waters where the use of baitfish is prohibited. Most waters will have signs posted. • Never release unused bait fish where their use is al- lowed. Many fish species sold as bait are not native to the Adirondacks. Don't litter. Carry out what you take in, especially fishing line. Aquatic birds and other wildlife can become entangled in fish- ing line, causing injury and death. Use non-lead sinkers. Lost sinkers, especially split-shot, may be mistaken for food or grit and eaten by waterfowl such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls and loons. This can cause lead poisoning in such animals. Practice catch and release. Help to ensure future populations of good size fish and the opportunity for other angles to enjoy catching them. Nancie Battaglia

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