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This Saturday will mark the next Free Fishing Day in New York State.
“The September 27th free fishing day is particularly special because it coincides with National Hunting and Fishing Day, a celebration of the incredible angling opportunities our state provides,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton in a press release. “Free fishing days are the perfect time for newcomers to learn to freshwater fish or for experienced anglers to bring others outdoors to enjoy the many abundant waterways across New York.”
This annual Free Fishing Day coincides with National Hunting and Fishing Day, which was designated by Congress in 1972. The day helps encourage people to experience, understand, and appreciate traditional outdoor sports and recreation and abundant natural resources, while also recognizing hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation.
No rod? No problem. In a new program, the DEC has partnered with libraries across the state to provide a fishing rod lending program. Along with borrowing a book, library patrons can sign out a fishing rod. This affordable program provides an opportunity for people to try fishing before deciding to purchase their own gear. For more information on the program and a list of participating libraries visit the IFishNY webpage https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/learn-to-fish/i-fish-ny-programs#loaner.
You may borrow a rod and reel at the following locations:
In Montgomery County: Fort Hunter Free Library, 167 Fort Hunter Rd, Amsterdam, 518-829-7248; [email protected]; Fort Plain Free Library, 19 Willett St., Fort Plain; 518-993-4646; [email protected]; Margaret Reaney Memorial Library, 19 Kingsbury Ave., St. Johnsville; 518-568-7822; [email protected].
In Schenectady County: Scotia Branch Library, 14 Mohawk Ave., Scotia; 518-386-2247; [email protected].
In Saratoga County: Corinth Free Library, 85 Main St., Corinth; 518-654-6913; [email protected]; Mechanicville District Public Library, 190 North Main Street, Mechanicville; 518-664-4646; [email protected]; Schuylerville Public Library, 52 Ferry Street, Schuylerville; 518-695-6641; [email protected]; Stillwater Public Library, 662 Hudson Ave, Stillwater; 518-664-6255; [email protected]; Waterford Public Library, 117 Third St., Waterford; 518-237-0891; [email protected].
In Albany County: Cohoes Public Library, 10 Cayuga Plaza, Cohoes; 518-235-2570; [email protected]; Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Ave., Guilderland; 518-456-2400; RCS Community Library, 95 Main St., Ravena; 518-756-2053; [email protected]; Rensselaerville Library, 1459 County Road 351, Rensselaerville; 518-797-3949; [email protected]; Voorheesville Library, 51 School Road, Voorheesville; 518-765-2791; Westerlo Public Library, 604 State Route 143, Westerlo; 518-797-3415; [email protected].
The final free fishing day for 2025 will take place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. On Free Fishing Days, New York residents and non-residents alike may fish for free without a fishing license. Free Fishing Day participants are reminded that, although the requirement for a fishing license is waived during free fishing days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect. When not participating in Free Fishing Days, anyone 16 years of age and older must have a current New York State fishing license to fish. Fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.
SALMON RIVER FISH HATCHERY OPEN HOUSE
Another event planned for National Hunting and Fishing Day is the 26th annual Salmon River Fish Hatchery Open House on Saturday from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The Salmon River Fish Hatchery is located at 2133 County Route 22 in Altmar.
This free, rain-or-shine event celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day, which was designated by Congress in 1972 to encourage people to experience, understand, and appreciate our abundant natural resources and traditional outdoor sports and recreation. This day recognizes hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation.
DEC ambassadors will lead tours of the facility between 10 a.m.-3 p.m., providing behind-the-scenes access to the hatchery’s operations. Guests can observe migrating salmon by visiting the outside fish observation decks, which are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Visitors are also encouraged to view other New York fish in the hatchery’s indoor aquarium to learn about other fish species. Outside on the grounds, youth can learn how to cast a fishing rod. Inside the auditorium, attendees can practice tying flies for fishing and participate in air archery.
In addition to ongoing activities, multiple conservation organizations, outdoor recreation groups and fishing and hunting clubs will share displays and lead activities to share information about their involvement in the Salmon River corridor and the Lake Ontario ecosystem.
The Salmon River supports a world-class fishery for migrating Lake Ontario trout and salmon. The area offers hiking trails, including a short quarter-mile accessible crushed stone trail leading to two observation points for a 110-foot waterfall that offer views of spectacular scenery. If looking for something a little out of the ordinary to do this weekend, a visit to the Salmon River Hatchery may be just the ticket.
LOWER FLY-FISHING SECTION OF SALMON RIVER CLOSED TO FISHING
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced it has taken actions to mitigate the impacts of unusually low water flows this season along the Salmon River. These include modification of water releases and a delayed opening of the river’s lower fly fishing section ahead of the annual run which attracts thousands of anglers every year.
“New York State’s Salmon River waterway boasts world class fall salmon and trout runs,” said Region 7 Director Dereth Glance in a press release. ”The modified water releases and delayed opening of the lower fly fishing section are necessary to ensure a successful egg collection at the hatchery to continue New York State’s legacy of a thriving Lake Ontario salmonid fishery.”
This summer, below-average rainfall has led to very low and ever-declining water levels in the Salmon River Reservoir. The Executive Committee of the Salmon River Flow Management Team, comprised of natural resource agencies and Brookfield Renewable hydroelectric facility that regulates reservoir water levels, canceled scheduled whitewater releases and delayed the annual increase in baseflow to conserve reservoir water and maintain suitable flows throughout the salmon spawning run. Under a federal license, Salmon River seasonal baseflows are normally increased from 185 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 335 cfs on Sept. 1, as long as water levels in the Salmon River Reservoir are above a critical threshold. Levels are currently well below that threshold, which required the cancellation of a scheduled whitewater release over Labor Day weekend. Additionally, significant precipitation is not in the future forecast, prompting the DEC to recommend a delay in the scheduled baseflow increase.
The DEC’s recommendation comes based on abnormally high water temperatures coupled with extremely low water flows in Salmon River tributaries, including Beaverdam Brook where migrating Chinook salmon access DEC’s Salmon River Fish Hatchery for egg collection that support the State’s successful stocking program. Increasing baseflows prematurely would likely cause Chinook salmon currently “staging” in Lake Ontario to begin their spawning migration into the Salmon River, which could strand and/or kill fish if water temperatures remain high. These fish will have difficulty reaching the DEC’s hatchery until rainfall sufficiently raises the water levels in Beaverdam Brook.
To increase the probability that sufficient numbers of salmon reach the hatchery to sustain the salmon stocking program, the popular lower fly fishing section, located just below the hatchery and typically where large numbers of salmon and anglers congregate, did not open on Sept. 15 as per usual and will remain closed until the DEC collects sufficient numbers of salmon eggs at the hatchery, or at least through Oct. 31.
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