April 1st trout season? Question, Upstate NY

[ADK11]

Seeming how the start of trout season is basically here, I have a frequently asked question. Can you poke holes through the trout lakes or do you have to wait until the ice melts? Obviously following the prior regulations of artificial lures only. I tried calling the DEC but got a voice-mail. Thanks!

[adktony]

technically you are not supposed to cut through any ice on specific trout waters. BUT if there is open water you can fish it. piece that together and there is a way around it

[flukeman]

I guess I don't understand this question. If the water is open to fishing for a species(trout), why does it matter if I have to drill a hole to drop my rod in or cast in open water to catch the fish?

[BIGFISH]

                                  go cut a whole lot holes today    he he !!!!    BIGFISH             

[hot tuna]

I guess I don't understand this question. If the water is open to fishing for a species(trout), why does it matter if I have to drill a hole to drop my rod in or cast in open water to catch the fish?

It's one of those regulations that kind of make no sense. The reason you can't do though is because by definition , its called " ice fishing " and as per regulation , it don't matter what time of year it is , ice fishing is not permitted on certain trout waters.
Don't think for a minute I wouldn't love to hike into some of my favorite brookie ponds with an auger and jig rod

[ADK11]

  its just putting a hold on the "special trout waters" fishing.  I mean we have close to two and a half feet of ice on almost all of our lakes and with 40 degree weather i wouldnt expect much of it to go away any time soon.

[adktony]

You got it bigfish

[hot tuna]

You got it bigfish

 Well I think that’s kinda lame..  I would for sure love to ice fish some of my favorite trout ponds.. Think the playing field ought stay equal though. .. Those willing to search for ice out or permitted waters should be rewarded for their efforts

[Loudmouth879]

head to trout waters in southern ny.... no ice down here. Just like in the beginning of ice season we have to go up there. Come support us down here like we do up by you guys!

[hot tuna]

head to trout waters in southern ny.... no ice down here. Just like in the beginning of ice season we have to go up there. Come support us down here like we do up by you guys!

 I do,
spent a ton of dough at pier 9 , OCC, taxis, lodging and entertainment .. I fish the ditches of those hills as well and raced dirt in middletown..

[JJ]

technically you are not supposed to cut through any ice on specific trout waters. BUT if there is open water you can fish it. piece that together and there is a way around it

The regulations say nothing about whether you cut the hole or not. You are not allowed to fish "through the ice" on trout waters unless they are listed in the Special Regs by county as 'Ice fishing Permitted". There is no legal way around it. Just wait till the ice melts like we used to do when winters were normally like this past one.

There has already been a couple threads about this.

[fordman]

How are the small creeks alone the sides of the roads up n creek and beyond froze or. Someone pm me

[adkRoy]

The creeks are running high and fast. Still a lot of snow on the ground up here.

[deadsmelthead]

The regulations say nothing about whether you cut the hole or not. You are not allowed to fish "through the ice" on trout waters unless they are listed in the Special Regs by county as 'Ice fishing Permitted". There is no legal way around it. Just wait till the ice melts like we used to do when winters were normally like this past one.

There has already been a couple threads about this.

Well if your crazy enough to fish along a pressure crack opened up enough there is... Just saying.. That and if you know of any creeks that cut a good piece of ice out and there is open water...

I asked a ECO this question a few years back... Basically if it isn't a man made opening in the ice its OK was my understanding...

[adkRoy]

The easiest way to settle the whole "Can you fish for trout through the ice on the remote ponds" is to invite an Encon Officer to go along with you as you fish. 

[bird21s]

I say " fish and find out " if your wrong don't get caught doing it again.  If your not wrong then do it again.  If you fish and no one is around to determine if your rite or wrong, looks like you had a good day fishing.

[HybridHunter]

Well if your crazy enough to fish along a pressure crack opened up enough there is... Just saying.. That and if you know of any creeks that cut a good piece of ice out and there is open water...

I asked a ECO this question a few years back... Basically if it isn't a man made opening in the ice its OK was my understanding...

That's the way I understand it. Same as fishing the edges ones the ice isn't locked up anymore. It's open water! You just have to figure out a way from shore to ice, which isn't to hard

[prchslyr]

All in fun, but you guys are nuts!
I'd hate fishing while looking over my shoulder to see if every twig that snaps might be a green shirt.
Aside from when I forget my wallet and know it holds my license.  I've never feared them showing up while I'm fishing. You know?! I'll wait a few weeks to avoid that predicament.
Hate to pull that internet white knight crap on you guys. It would just make me more paranoid than it's worth to try and make my way around that law.

[adktony]

All in fun, but you guys are nuts!
I'd hate fishing while looking over my shoulder to see if every twig that snaps might be a green shirt.
Aside from when I forget my wallet and know it holds my license.  I've never feared them showing up while I'm fishing. You know?! I'll wait a few weeks to avoid that predicament.
Hate to pull that internet white knight crap on you guys. It would just make me more paranoid than it's worth to try and make my way around that law.



Lol technically if you use your trout rod and no ice fishing gear your not ice fishing right?

[Timber]

Just saying if it was legal to fish thru a drilled hole , which line would you use a weight forward or a double taper ?

 

[EasternCentralNY21]

streams are good to go. water is super high but just use heavy spinners checked out my spot on the mettawee. flooded pretty bad but still gonna give it a try.