Write a commentApril 1st marked the beginning of trout season 2024! With all the excitement of the Eclipse Weekend, this mile marker must not be forgotten. Over 900,000 licenses were sold last year in Oswego County alone.
Around 300,000 are out-of-state or international fishermen and women, putting our tourism franchises on high alert for the fishing season in general.
Thinking about joining the fishing craze in our area? Here is what you have to know.
If you are under 16, no license is required to fish. However, once you hit that milestone, New York State requires that you pick one up. You can get those at town offices, city offices, and locally qualified vendors such as Walmart, Raby’s Ace Home Center in Oswego, B & T Sports shop in Fulton, and the Salmon River Sports Shop in Pulaski, to name a few. Residents from 16 – 69 years old pay $25 for a year, $12 for a week, and $5 for a day. Once you hit 70 years old, it is only $5 a year. Then again, if you are in a family of avid fishermen and women you can get a lifetime license for yourself or your young children (the younger, the cheaper) and never worry about picking one up again. Check that out here (opens DEC website).
Just want to try out fishing and see if it is for you? New York State offers a free fishing weekend June 29-30. They also have free fishing days September 28 and November 11. So just get out there. We are sure you will get hooked.
Let’s face it, just because you have a license doesn’t mean you are free from regulations. Yep, fishing rules. Unless you are catching Lake trout, size does not matter. Rules say 5 a day with only 2 over 12 inches. Now, back to that Lake trout. You can only catch 3 per day and they have a minimum length of 21 inches. Plus, the season for most types of trout closes October 15. More specifics can be found on the DEC website. Fishing on the free days without a license does not mean you do not have to follow these guidelines. A DEC agent can appear and take a peek at what you're doing. If they see a broken rule, you can be issued a ticket. Be sure to follow the rules.
Back to the fun part. We have areas in our county that are stocked with trout. Over 100,000 trout will be added to our waterways this spring in May. Don’t expect to tap into those until next month!
When next month comes, the state adds yearling trout at the spots marked in the above map.
Then, it's time to cook it. Trout can be pan fried in a bit of oil for five minutes on one side, flipped for a minute on the other side. Add seasonings of your choice such as salt, pepper, or any other spices to your liking. Maybe squeeze a sliver of lemon on it to finish it off for a great meal. Enjoy!
