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Freshwater Fishing in New York
New York Fishing at a Glance
From the babbling streams of the Adirondack Mountains to the lakes and ponds of Long Island, New York offers a wide variety of freshwater fishing opportunities with species ranging from bass to walleye and trout.
Before heading out on your New York fishing adventure, remember to get yourself a valid license, which can be purchased online or in any outdoor retail store throughout the state. Depending on where you are headed and what you plan to catch, you’ll need to choose the right license type for your needs (see the link further down).
Once you have everything sorted out, it’s time to cast a line! Bass aficionados should head over to Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River or Cayuga Lake; Trout enthusiasts should take a trip up to the Finger Lakes region; and Walleye hunters will find their prize catches off Lake Erie.
New York ranks #44 in the U.S. for fishing licenses per capita and has a good number of local fishing enhtusiasts with over 4.37% of the population having fishing licenses.
Key Insights
- New York offers a wide range of freshwater fishing opportunities with species ranging from bass to walleye and trout.
- Before fishing in New York, you need to get a valid fishing license which can be purchased online or in any outdoor retail store.
- Bass lovers can head to Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River or Cayuga Lake; Trout enthusiasts can go to the Finger Lakes region, and Walleye hunters can find their catches off Lake Erie.
- New York ranks #44 in the U.S. for fishing licenses per capita with over 4.37% of the population having fishing licenses.
Table of Contents
Estimated Fishing Enthusiasts
| Population: | 20,201,249 |
|---|---|
| Fishing Enthusiasts | 882,450 |
| Fishing License % | 4.37% |
| Hunters Rank | 44 |
The state of New York is mostly private land with just 36.97% of acres considered public land -ranking #10 amongst all states.
Land Types (Acres)
| Acres | % | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 30,223,400 | ||
| Public | 11,174,550 | 36.97% | 10 |
| Private | 18,930,650 | 62.64% | 38 |
| Tribal | 118,200 | 0.39% | 19 |
New York Fishing Licenses & Requirements
For the most accurate and updated information on fishing licenses and requirements, it’s always a good idea to check the New York DNR. We’ve provided their contact information and other helpful information for your convenience here.
New York DNR
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-0001
- (518) 402-8920
New York contains a wealth of fishing opportunities. When it comes to freshwater fishing, there are five clear favorites: brown trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, lake trout and Atlantic salmon. Brown trout are the ultimate fighters and can be found in abundance in rivers and streams across the state. Rainbow trout have an eye-catching beauty about them that make them an enticing catch for any fisherman. Brook trout are much smaller than other types of trout but pack an impressive punch when hooked. Lake trout, on the other hand, are fast and powerful; their huge size makes them a coveted trophy for avid anglers. Lastly, if you’re looking for a change from trout, Atlantic salmon are also a popular catch in New York’s rivers and streams.
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Fishing private land in New York
Fishing on private land in New York has some real advantages over public lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds *if you can get access. For instance, there’s nothing like having a quiet lake all to yourself and oftentimes there are simply more fish available to catch, because they haven’t been fished out. There are generally more processes for access private land for hunting than fishing, though some similar methods exist. For instance, you can sometimes join a fishing club in New York or if you have the money, it may be possible to rent some private land for fishing. Another option is to knock on doors or work your contacts in an area to see if a landowner would let you fish for the day or possibly be open to a longer term arrangement.
Fortunately Wing It is simplifying land access for fishing, hunting, camping, and more. We’re adding new land every day and if we have some in your area, you’ll see some great options below.
1. Lake Ontario
2. Finger Lakes
3. Hudson River
4. Niagara River
5. Lake Champlain
Fishing private land in New York
Fishing on private land in New York has some real advantages over public lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds *if you can get access. For instance, there’s nothing like having a quiet lake all to yourself and oftentimes there are simply more fish available to catch, because they haven’t been fished out. There are generally more processes for access private land for hunting than fishing, though some similar methods exist. For instance, you can sometimes join a fishing club in New York or if you have the money, it may be possible to rent some private land for fishing. Another option is to knock on doors or work your contacts in an area to see if a landowner would let you fish for the day or possibly be open to a longer term arrangement.
Fortunately Wing It is simplifying land access for fishing, hunting, camping, and more. We’re adding new land every day and if we have some in your area, you’ll see some great options below.