Spawning Catharine Creek rainbow trout are healthy, big. What that means for anglers

Anglers who have been counting the days until trout fishing returns can look forward to the potential for a big opening day, at least if they fish Catharine Creek.

The legendary trout stream, which flows from the marshes north of Horseheads to Seneca Lake at Watkins Glen, attracts thousands of spawning rainbow trout each spring — fish that can grow huge in the nutrient-rich lake environment.

There's a good chance some of those bruisers will be in the creek when fishing season opens April 1, at least based on an annual sampling of the spawning run by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

What happens each spring on Catharine Creek?

For 11 months out of the year, rainbow trout live and eat and grow in the vast expanses of Seneca Lake and other Finger Lakes.

As the approach of spring brings changing conditions, those trout respond by flocking to Catharine Creek and other tributaries to spawn.

Once the spawning run is complete, the trout will return to the lake, leaving behind the fertilized eggs that represent the next generation.

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It was in the late 1930s that local anglers started noticing the bulked up rainbows swimming up the winding stream, and Catharine Creek became a trout fishing mecca that attracted enthusiasts from multiple states.

How does DEC assess the rainbow trout population?

Each March, DEC sends a crew of Region 8 staffers to Catharine Creek to gauge the timing of the spawning run and the condition of the trout.

One staffer will carry an electrified wand that, as it's passed through the water, temporarily stuns the trout so they can be scooped up into nets.

The trout are then measured, weighed and assessed for their overall condition before being returned to the creek to continue their journey.

Last year's sampling indicated most of the trout had already spawned and were likely headed back to the lake.

This year's sampling got underway Tuesday morning. DEC will do a similar sampling on Canandaigua Lake tributary Naples Creek on March 23.

What did the annual sampling reveal?

Based on trout that were sampled Tuesday, the spawning run appears to be in full swing, with many of the females captured still "hard," meaning they have yet to lay their eggs, according to DEC Region 8 fisheries biologist Brad Hammers.

That means, depending on the weather over the next few weeks, there will likely be a large number of trout still in the stream opening day, especially if it doesn't warm up too soon, Hammers said.

And some of them could be trophy size. The DEC staff netted several large rainbows at the first stop, including a 10-pound male.

Some of the fish sported ugly circular scars made by sea lampreys. The numbers of scarred fish weren't as high as in 2021, Hammers said.

DEC conducted a lamprey eradication effort in 2020 and will repeat the process in 2024, he said.

What else should anglers know about trout fishing?

For anglers who don't want to deal with the inevitable opening day crowds along Catharine Creek, DEC stocks numerous creeks and other waters across the Southern Tier and state with hatchery-raised rainbow, brown and brook trout.

Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat Commission also stocks hatchery trout at multiple sites before and during fishing season.

While many waters are open year-round for catch-and-release fishing, the harvest season for trout opens April 1 at most locations in both New York and Pennsylvania.

For more information on trout fishing in New York, go to dec.ny.gov/outdoor/fishing.html. To learn more about trout fishing in Pennsylvania, visit fishandboat.com/Fishing/Pages/default.aspx.

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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Catharine Creek rainbow trout: Sampling shows promise for anglers