UDR Anglers Encouraged to Weigh In on Proposed NY Trout Stream Regulations
Thanks to all of you who submitted comments on the draft New York State Trout Stream Plan earlier this year.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recently issued the Final version of the NYS Trout Plan and the Draft Statewide Trout Stream Regulations that form the legal underpinnings for implementing the plan.
The NYSDEC plans to formally adopt these regulations in time for the 2021 fishing season.
The public comment period on the draft regulations ends on 1/25/21 and we encourage all of you to submit comments!
Here are four documents that explain how the regulations will work and provide instructions on how to submit your comments.
NYS Tout Plan: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/troutstreammp.pdf
Stream Categorization List: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/tsmpreachcat.pdf
Assessment of Public Comment: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/apcdrafttsmp.pdf
NYS Sportfishing Regulations: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/troutpart10expressterms.pdf
These regulations will have a significant impact on the Upper Delaware River wild trout tailwater fishery.
Here’s a snapshot:
The UDR East Branch, West Branch, and main stem will be categorized as a “Wild Premier” trout stream indicating the DEC recognizes our river as one of the finest wild trout fisheries in New York State.
The introduction of stocked fish will be eliminated in the Upper East Branch
The fish harvest limit will be reduced from a total of 5 fish (2 in the EB, 2 in the WB, 1 in the MS) to 1 fish, any size, for the entire Wild Premier system.
The Wild Premier section of the UDR tailwater fishery will end at Lordville, but a similar regulation has been proposed to provide added protections to the border waters south of the Lordville Bridge.
The entire UDR system will be open to fishing year-round under catch and release.
FUDR is reviewing the documents now and will be developing detailed comments on the regulations. We will share them with you when completed. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or require additional information that will help you formulate your own comments.