FISHING

Lewis County
Water Species Open Season Minimum Length Daily Limit Method
All waters except as listed below Trout April 1 through Oct 15 Any size
5 - with no more than
2 longer than 12"
All baitfish-prohibited waters listed on page
36 except as listed below
Trout April 1 through Oct 15 Any size 5
Black River, Deer River, West Branch Deer River,
3rd Sat June through Nov 30 10" 5
Black Bass
Beaver River
Dec 1 to Fri preceding the 3rd Sat in June Catch and release only Artificial lures only
Black River, East Branch Fish Creek from Rome
5 - with no more than
Trout April 1 through Nov 30 Any size
Reservoir Dam downstream, Moose River
2 longer than 12"
Lake Bonaparte
Trout All year 9" 5
Lake Trout All year 18" 3
Ice fishing permitted
Beaver Lake, Francis Lake, Soft Maple Reservoir,
and Whetstone Marsh
Statewide Angling Regulations Apply
Ice fishing permitted
Refer to page 36 for a complete listing of waters in which the use or possession of baitfish is prohibited.
Oneida County
Water Species Open Season Minimum Length Daily Limit Method
All waters except as listed below Trout April 1 through Oct 15 Any size
All baitfish-prohibited waters listed on page
36 except as listed below
Black River
Mohawk River from Barge Canal upstream to
Delta Dam, Mohawk River from bridge in Westernville
upstream to Lansing Kill, Moose River,
Nine Mile Creek, Sauquoit Creek from Pinnacle
Road in Sauquoit downstream
Oneida Lake east of Route 81 bridge and
tributaries upstream to first barrier impassable
by fish, and Barge (Erie) Canal and tributaries
upstream to Lock 22
Oriskany Creek from bridge in Deansboro
downstream to Mohawk River
5 - with no more than
2 longer than 12"
Trout April 1 through Oct 15 Any size 5
3rd Sat in June through Nov 30 10" 5
Black Bass
Dec 1 through Fri preceding the 3rd Sat in June Catch and release only Artificial lures only
5 - with no more than
Trout April 1 through Nov 30 Any size
2 longer than 12"
Trout April 1 through Nov 30 Any size
5 - with no more than
2 longer than 12"
Walleye 1st Sat May through March 15 15" 3 Ice fishing permitted
Trout
5 - with no more than
April 1 through Oct 15
Any size
2 longer than 12"
Oct 16 through Mar 31 Catch and release only Artificial lures only
Oneida Creek from Peterboro Road (Rt. 25)
downstream to NYS Thruway
Trout All year Any size 5
West Canada Creek, East Branch Fish Creek
5 - with no more than
from Rome Reservoir downstream and West Trout April 1 through Nov 30 Any size
2 longer than 12"
Branch Fish Creek, except for sections below:
West Canada Creek from Trenton Falls Dam
downstream to the first bridge (Comstock Trout All year Catch and release only Artificial lures only
Bridge) below the mouth of Cincinnati Creek
Hinckley and Prospect Reservoirs Trout All year 12" 3 Ice fishing permitted
Fish Creek from Barge Canal upstream to
junction of East and West Branches of Fish
Creek, West Branch of Fish Creek from mouth
upstream to dam in McConnellsville, East
Fishing prohibited March 16 until the opening of walleye season in May
Branch Fish Creek from mouth upstream to the
route 69 bridge in Taberg, Mohawk River from
Delta Lake upstream to bridge in Westernville
Delta Reservoir Statewide Angling Regulations Apply Ice fishing permitted
Refer to page 36 for a complete listing of waters in which the use or possession of baitfish is prohibited.
Give Them a Break
Region 6 • North Central New York
New York’s efforts to restore the lake sturgeon to its historic range in our state have shown much
promise. Fish raised in the DEC hatchery system have survived and grown well, and spawning concentrations
of these fish are now showing up in tributaries to the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River,
Finger Lakes and Oneida Lake. The success DEC has in stocking lake sturgeon is significant, but
only a component of an overall effort to restore these fish. Lake Sturgeon must be allowed to spawn
without harassment for a number of years in order to fully restore their populations.
Although fishing for sturgeon is quite popular, particularly in northwestern states, it is ILLEGAL in
New York State. Any harassment of a spawning sturgeon can severely compromise its ability to successfully
spawn. Anglers incidentally catching a sturgeon should not remove it from the water and
quickly and carefully remove the hook or cut the leader if deeply hooked. Let’s give these ancient
fish an opportunity to replenish their populations in New York State. DON’T FISH FOR THEM!
2016–2017 New York Freshwater Fishing Guide 35