With the statewide trout season opening next Tuesday, April 1, the next few days will be critical in determining what anglers will encounter when they hit their favorite trout stream. The month of March has been running 10 to 15 degrees below normal and that would usuallly mean stream levels will be lower and fishable. The zinger is that we've had a lrage amount of rain fall this month, which has kept water levels high, despite the colder temperatures.
The latest extended weather forecasts are indicating our temperatures are supposed to rise, at least reaching near or slightly above normal for the date. If those hold true, opening day just might be bearable, while stream levels may be near normal for this early in the season unless the rainy pattern hangs on. However, like most opening days, stream water temperatures are apt to be cold regardless of the water level, making the trout lethargic.
I don't think opening day has the same impact it once did, although along the major, more popular flows, such as the Otselic, Genegantslet and Upper Chenango, the angler traffic should be heavier than elsewhere. As usual, the DEC will not be stocking any trout prior to opening day due to the high mortality the hatchery-reared fish often incurr when water temperature and levels are severe. I tip my hat to the Department for waiting, as it's senseless to dump delicate trout into waters only to see many die due to shock or be swept away by abnormally strong currents.
DECís fish stocking efforts for catchable-size trout generally begins in late March and early April in the lower Hudson Valley, Long Island, and western New York, followed later by stocking in the Central region, Catskills and Adirondacks. This year, the DEC plans to stock 2.3 million catchable-size brook, brown, and rainbow trout in almost 300 lakes and ponds and roughly 3,100 miles of streams across the state. Spring stockings will include 1.7 million brown trout, 415,000 rainbow trout and 143,000 brook trout. DEC will again include 2-year-old brown trout in the spring stocking program averaging 12-13 inches in length, with some as large as 15 inches. Approximately 96,000 of these larger fish will be stocked in lakes and streams throughout the state.
More than 2.1 million yearling lake trout, steelhead, landlocked salmon, splake and coho salmon will be also be stocked by DEC this spring to provide angling opportunities over the next several years. For those who prefer a quieter, more remote setting, an estimated 350,000 brook trout fingerlings will be stocked in 342 lakes and ponds this fall, providing unique angling opportunities for future years. A complete list of waters planned to be stocked with trout this spring is posted at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30465.html . A listing of waters stocked last year can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30467.html.
The daily limit on trout in Chenango County is five fish with no more than two longer than 12 inches, plus five brook trout under 8 inches.The first five trout may consist of any combination ñ brook, brown or rainbow. So, in essence, if the angler is fishing a stream that contains only brook trout, the daily limit would be 10, as long as five are under 8 inches and no more than two are over 12 inches. For more regionally specific regulations, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html on the DEC web site.
The DEC recommends the following waters in our region (Region 7): Nine Mile (Onondaga County), Limestone and Butternut Creeks in Onondaga County; Oquaga and Nanticoke Creeks in Broome County; the Otselic River in Chenango and Cortland counties; Genegantslet Creek in Chenango County; Chittenango Creek in Madison County; the west and east branches of Tioughnioga River and Factory Brook in Cortland County; Fall and Virgil Creeks in Tompkins County and the east and west branches of Owego Creek in Tioga County. I'd add the upper Chenango River's two primary tributary branches (both in Madison County) to that list. Keep in mind that should the water levels be very high, the smaller streams are usually your best bet.
As many avid trout anglers are aware, we have a wealth of good trout streams in our area beyond what DEC usually lists. Although most are on private lands, a polite inquery of the landowner(s) will usually result in permission to fish. Some of the ones popular with anglers are: Bowman Creek, Ludlow Brook, Canasacwacta Creek (east and west branches), Handsome Brook, Dark Hollow Brook, Fly Meadow Brook, Fly Brook, Lyon Brook, Great Brook, Shawler Brook, Brackel Brook, Wharton Creek, and Bear Brook, to name a few. Most contain brook trout, but several are home to both brook and brown trout.
When we think of opening day of trout season, we normally associate it with stream fishing, but several ponds and lakes in our area harbor trout and are stocked annually by the DEC. Bowman Lake, Guilford Lake, Mill Brook Reservoir, Jeffrey Pond, and the old Y-Camp Pond in Pharsalia GMA are the most popular. Naturally, access to fish these waters depends on whether the ice is off them or not. A late spring translates to many of them still being iced over which, as I write this, is primarily the case this year.
By far, the bait of choice is the common garden variety worm or red worm that many bait shops sell. Next up would probably be salted minnows, followed by commercially prepared baits such as small colored marshmallows, artificial trout/salmon eggs, or processed baits that come in various shapes such as real worms, grubs, or pellets. Artificial lures favored are small spoons and spinners such as the Little Cleo, Dardvle, Phoebe, Mepps, Panther Martin, etc. Fly fishers normally opt for weighted nymphs and small streamers. Regardless of the bait or lure used, it should be fished deep and slowly since the trout are often lethargic this early in the season.

Fishing Activity Reduced by Access Problems
Over one quarter of U.S. anglers report their fishing activities have been reduced by problems accessing their preferred fishing holes. In a 2008 poll of over 1,800 anglers by AnglerSurvey.com, anglers were asked if in the past year they had canceled a trip or stop fishing specific locations due to access problems. Of the anglers reporting such problems, 80 percent reported their access issues were in freshwater areas while 15 percent experienced access issues in saltwater locations. Of all anglers, 10 percent either reduced their fishing activity or stopped fishing altogether.