Wayne County Fishing Update

March 14, 2023 No Comments

Updated March 14, 2023

Streams

The steelhead are in the streams, however a “nor-easter” is wrapping its delightful snowfall in our face. Wayne County will receive wet snow around 5 to 7 inches.

For the rest of the week it will be clear so…cast out egg sacs in Salmon Creek in Pultneyville and Maxwell Creek in Sodus. Lake Ontario water level is perfect to keep all channels open letting the steelhead come and go from the lake.

Lake Ontario tributary regulations:

Three fish in combination and not to include more than one Rainbow Trout (or Steelhead) and One Brown Trout.

Bays

We are not getting any cooperation with weather patterns for fishing the bays. Ice fishing was a bust and now we have March storms and colder temperatures making slush on the bays.

The only good news this week is that the perch, crappies, bluegills, bass, and pike are still in the bays. They have not left so keep calm and prepare your gear for springtime fishing.

Pike season ends tomorrow March 15th and resumes May 1st.

When you launch your boat… remember from November 1st until May 1st New York’s law requires you to wear your PFD. That means it cannot be laying around your boat. It must be worn.

Bait for ice fishing is available on the south end of Sodus at Davenports and Bay Bridge Sport Shop.

On Port Bay Jarvis Bait shop is open on Brown Road. The signs are on East Port Bay Road at the junction of Brown Road. In Ontario, Grantley’s Bait at 1864 Route 104 Ontario, NY.

Erie Canal

The slush on Widewaters is not the best sight. Just like our bays, the canal needs warmer weather.

The New York State Canal Corporation recently announced that, conditions permitting, all portions of the New York State Canal system are scheduled to open Friday, May 19, 2023, at 7:00 a.m. for the 199th consecutive season of navigation.

Put Safety First When on the Ice

A Minimum of Four Inches of Clear Ice is Safe for Anglers on Foot. The NYS DEC is reminding ice anglers to use caution and common sense as ice fishing gets into high gear across much of New Yor State.

Four inches or more of solid ice is safe for anglers accessing ice on foot. Ice anglers should note that ice thickness can vary on everybody of water and even on the same body of water.

Anglers should be particularly wary of areas of moving water and around boat docks and houses where bubblers may be installed to reduce ice buildup.

The presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice should not be considered as evidence of safe ice conditions. Individuals are strongly encouraged to check ice conditions and avoid situations that appear to present even a remote risk. Testing the thickness of ice can be done easily with an auger or ice spud at various spots.

“Ice fishing is a popular sport in New York and interest in it increases every year,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Safety is the first thing to consider when taking part in the sport, and we remind people to use good judgement when venturing onto the ice. Ice fishing is great for families looking to try something new, and parents can mix in skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or other activities during ice fishing trips to keep everyone interested and happy.”

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Ice Fishing in Wayne County

www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/41850.html

Ice Fishing Basics

www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7733.html

Fishing License Information

www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6091.html

Notable Freshwater Fishing Regulation Changes

The following list offers a brief summary of the most notable fishing regulation changes resulting from the adopted rulemakings described above. 

  • New statewide regulation for rainbow trout, 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.
  • The statewide minimum size limit for crappie has been increased from nine inches to ten inches.