Conservation agencies geared up recently for the distribution of hundreds of fish into various bodies of water across the state. As some local restocks have already begun, the DEC urged New York residents to get off of electronics and use this opportunity to develop a better connection with nature.

The trout release efforts first started for Chautauqua County during the fourth week of March, with 12 of the 20 release sites being for Goose Creek. Goose Creek sees many of these releases in late March when the efforts begin, with six sites having releases during this time. Two of these releases were located in the town of Harmony, two were located in the town of North Harmony, and the remaining two were split between those two towns. The two sites in Harmony, and the two North Harmony, saw about 160 rainbow trout released each, all ranging from 9 to 10 inches, and 20 brown trout released each, which varied from 12-15 inches. The split location from the last week in March released about 430 rainbow trout, which ranged from 9-10 inches, and 50 brown trout, which ranged from 12-15 inches each. Though hundreds of fish have been released already, this is far from the end of the release effort in Goose Creek.

“DEC trout stocking is in full swing with more than 1.7 million catchable-size brook, brown, and rainbow trout stocked in waters across the state from mid-March through early June,” said Lori Severino of the DEC press office in a March 27 release. “Stocked-Extended streams, specified in the Inland Trout Streams Regulations section of the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide, will receive fish every other week for two months to provide season-long opportunities for angler success. Most stream stockings include larger trout (12 inches or more) as 10% of the total number. Spring trout stocking lists, including the scheduled week of stocking for trout streams, can be found on DEC’s website.”

Stocking in Goose Creek is anticipated to resume again in the second week of April with close to 500 fish planning to be released during that time. All of these are anticipated to be brown trout, though 440 are anticipated to be between nine and ten inches whereas only 50 are anticipated to be between 12 and 15 inches. Another 480 will then be coming once more in the fourth week of April. This time 430 of these will be rainbow trout, with the remaining 50 being brown trout. The last release for Goose Creek will take place during the second week of May, with all of these final releases being brown trout. During this week about 50 brown trout between 12 and 15 inches are anticipated to be released, with another 440 between nine and ten inches getting released as well.

A student releases a bucket of trout.

Four other locations throughout the county will be seeing trout stocking as well. Cassadaga Creek in Stockon was the first of these locations, having been stocked during the fourth week of March. During this week the creek saw about 50 brown trout released and about 430 rainbow trout releases. Canadaway Creek in Arkwright will be stocked the first week of April, during which time about 40 brown trout and 320 rainbow trout will be released. Mill Creek in Gerry will also be getting stocked up during the first week of April, predicting about 60 brown trout releases and about 480 rainbow trout releases. Clay Pond in Poland will also be receiving a large stocking at an unspecified point during the month of April, with about 310 rainbow trout and 120 brown trout anticipated to be stocked.

All of these efforts prepare for the anglers to hit the outdoors, especially with the March 27 announcement from DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton that April 1 will mark the start of spring trout fishing. With the time for outdoor fun here, and the nearby water bodies freshly stocked, state officials hope that residents are encouraged to get out and get active.

“New York’s season opener is a welcome sign of spring for trout anglers,” said Lefton. “I encourage anglers to introduce someone new to recreational fishing this year and enjoy Getting Offline and Getting Outside to experience some of the greatest freshwater fishing opportunities in the nation.”

Students listen to instructions