New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the adoption of new freshwater fishing regulations that will take effect on April 1, 2022.

Following a public comment period on the draft proposals earlier this year, the new regulations reflect the input received and the support of the angling community in DEC’s efforts to make fishing New York’s waters less complicated and easier to understand.

Notable regulation changes include:
• New statewide regulation for rainbow, brown trout, and splake in lakes and ponds. The season will now be open year-round, with a five-fish daily limit, any size, with a “no more than two longer than 12 inches” harvest rule;

• Statewide Atlantic salmon regulations will now allow for a
year-round open season;

• Ice fishing is permitted on all waters in New York unless specifically prohibited with the exception of Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties where previous rules remain;

• New specific dates replaced floating dates for statewide season openers to include:
May 1 - Walleye, Northern Pike, Pickerel and Tiger Muskellunge;
June 1 – Muskellunge. Note that in 2022, DEC will allow for the fishing of muskellunge beginning the last Saturday in May to accommodate previously planned fishing trips; and
June 15 - Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. • A five-fish daily walleye limit in Oneida Lake;

• A new regulation to limit the growth of the walleye population in Skaneateles Lake. No daily possession limit; 12-inch minimum size limit, open year-round;

• The statewide sunfish daily harvest limit has been reduced from 50 to 25 fish; and

• The statewide minimum size limit for crappie has been increased from nine inches to 10