The Best Places For Trout Fishing In Western New York

The 2022 trout season is almost here and if you are getting your gear ready for the opening day, it wouldn't hurt to know where the best places to catch a fish are. The New York State DEC has announced the locations that trout have been recently stocked.

April 1st is traditionally the opening day for trout season here in Western New York. I have tried to get out for an hour or so every year. One year I was running late and parked my truck on a bridge in Franklinville and returned to a parking ticket!

But if you are trying to makes plans for which stream or pond to fish in, below is a link and a few highlights of where the trout might be.

The guide is broken down by county and then by area and date of stocking. It appears that things are about to get very busy. The fourth week of March has NYS DEC officials moving fish to their new (temporary?) homes.

Keep in mind that you may need a license to fish. The NYS DEC says that you need a license if:

License Requirements

You need a fishing license if you are 16 years and older and fishing for:

--Freshwater fish species by angling, spearing, hooking, longbow, and tip-ups.
Frog species by spearing, catching with the hands or by use of a club or hook.
-Freshwater baitfish for personal use.

Good luck and if you can, take a kid fishing! It is a great way to introduce kids to the outdoors and if you get to the right stocking area soon enough, it can be a very successful day!