No license needed, try out fishing in New York for free: Here's where, when

Jeff Murray, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
·4 min read
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Thinking about taking up fishing, but don't want to shell out the money for a license, only to decide you don't like it?

If you are on the fence about angling, New York state has the answer.

New York offers several free fishing days throughout the year that enable people to get a taste of the sport without having to first invest in a license.

The last weekend in June, which falls on June 24 and 25 this year, is among the annual free fishing events. The others are President's Day weekend in February, National Hunting and Fishing Day (Sept. 23) and Veterans Day (Nov. 11).

What are free fishing days?

In New York, with a few exceptions, anyone 16 and older is required to purchase a fishing license before casting a line.

A license costs $25 for residents and $50 for nonresidents and is good for one year, beginning the date of purchase.

Two anglers try their luck on the Susquehanna River in Binghamton in this file photo.
Two anglers try their luck on the Susquehanna River in Binghamton in this file photo.

To encourage more people to give fishing a try, the state Department of Environmental Conservation initially offered a free fishing event the last weekend in June, and has since expanded the offerings.

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Depending on where you go, you can find opportunities to catch a wide variety of sportfish, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleyes, northern pike, catfish, yellow perch and other panfish, and several species of trout.

While participants don't need to purchase a license to fish on those dates, they still need to follow all other applicable regulations — including season dates, size limits, daily creel limits, and certain rules that apply to specific bodies of water.

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Information on freshwater fishing regulations can be found online at dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html.

Where to fish in the Southern Tier?

Rivers, lakes, ponds and reservoirs across the Southern Tier offer abundant supplies of many popular gamefish.

Here are some waters where public access is readily available.

  • Allegany County: Allen Lake is a 58-acre manmade reservoir in northcentral Allegany County. Fish species include largemouth bass, brook and rainbow trout, and yellow perch. The Genesee River, which flows north through Allegany County, also offers trout fishing opportunities.

  • Broome County: Several rivers flow through Broome County, including the Susquehanna, which offers a variety of game fish, including smallmouth bass, walleyes, northern pike and channel catfish. Other streams include the Chenango, Otselic and Tioughnioga rivers. The 1,200-acre Whitney Point Reservoir boasts top angling opportunities for crappies and other gamefish. Other bodies of water with public access include Arctic Lake in Sanford, Chenango Lake in Fenton, and Jackson Pond in Binghamton. Broome County will offer free hour-long boat rental at Nathaniel Cole, Dorchester, and Greenwood parks during the weekend.

  • Chemung County: The Chemung River has abundant populations of smallmouth bass and walleyes. Other locations with ample public access include Eldridge Lake in Elmira and Park Station Pond in the Town of Erin. Lowe Pond at Sperr Memorial Park in Big Flats offers largemouth bass and other fish.

  • Chenango County: The Chenango and Otselic rivers also flow through parts of Chenango County. Other waters that offer good public access include Bowman Lake in McDonough, Jeffrey Pond in North Norwich, and Mill Brook Reservoir in New Berlin.

  • Delaware County: Both the east and west branches of the Delaware River are known for rainbow, brown and brook trout populations. Big Pond in the Town of Andes, Cannonsville Reservoir in the towns of Deposit and Tomkins, and East Sidney Reservoir in Sidney offer public fishing opportunities.

  • Schuyler County: Seneca Lake, the deepest of the Finger Lakes, offers largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, rainbow trout, lake trout and Atlantic salmon. Other waters with public access include Cayuta Lake north of Odessa, and Waneta and Lamoka lakes on the western edge of the county.

  • Steuben County: Another of the Finger Lakes, Keuka, cuts into parts of Steuben, and offers a mix of trout, bass and panfish. The county is also crisscrossed by multiple rivers, including the Chemung, Cohocton, Tioga and Canisteo rivers.

  • Tioga County: The Susquehanna River also flows through much of Tioga County before it turns south into Pennsylvania just east of Waverly. Other bodies of water with public fishing access include Owego Creek, Cayuta Creek in Barton, and Alexander Pond in Newark Valley.

Learn more

For more information on fishing opportunities in New York state and the Southern Tier, go to dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7749.html.

For tips on getting started fishing, go to dec.ny.gov/outdoor/44809.html.

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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: New York to offer free fishing weekend, no license needed: Where, when