Let’s Go Fishing

Stream Trout Fishing Opens in Putnam County

To Trout Anglers April Fool’s Day wasn’t about playing practical jokes on friends, it was about organizing tackle boxes, unpacking the wading pants, and checking their supply of artificial lures.

Yes, my friends, stream trout fishing season has opened in Putnam County, and we should be thankful.  Fishermen and women will be back in our streams and into our stores. Putnam County offers many opportunities to catch a fresh, healthy dinner on downstream segments of the NYC Reservoirs.  Brown trout are the most common species, but an occasional rainbow or brook trout can be lured onto your line. 

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) work together to provide a high quality habitat for the wildlife. Their goal is to protect them in an effort to keep more fish in the stream, and to allow more to reach larger sizes. This is good for Putnam because many of the streams are fully stocked and healthy fish attract tourist to our community.

Take Rick for example, a quite fisherman from NYC.  I met him while he was fishing on Lake Gleneida Sunday afternoon.  He looked so relaxed and peaceful that I had to stop and take his picture.  I couldn’t resist going up and talking to him about why he fished, and why Lake Gleneida?  Seems that Rick and his buddies come up whenever they have a few hours to spare.  He said solemly and sincerely, “I love the water.  It is so peaceful up here.  This water is part of New York City’s drinking water and it  is very clean.”  He went on to say that Putnam, in general, had great fishing.  Rick is a “catch and release” fisherman, as are his friends.  They just enjoy getting away from the noise, crowds and hussle of the city to escape to Putnam County.  They take an occassional picture of their catch and then release it back into the water.  I was curious to learn if Rick  and his friends patronized any shops while they were in town and he enthustically replied, “Sure we always shop or grab a bit to eat while we’re up here. There are always good buys.”

Putnam County has 22 fishing locations; five of them are stream trout fishing. Before you enter the water, check with the NYS DEP Fishing and Boating Office in Mahopac to be sure that you know the rules, daily limits, and minimum fish size requirements.  Not all waters are for public access and not all waters allow you to kill fish.  You can also contact the below listed bait and tackle stores for maps and further information about fishing in Putnam.  Also, visit www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor for downloadable maps and more general information about conservation and wildlife in New York State.

We are lucky to have so many lakes and streams in our backyard.  If you haven’t ever fished before, why not give it a try?  For those of you who love to fish, we welcome you to Putnam.  Stay a while, do some shopping, and please keep our county clean.

NYS DEP Fishing & Boating Office
54 Croton Falls Road
Mahopac, NY 10541
914-232-1309

B&D Bait and Tackle
Putnam Avenue
Brewster, NY 10509
845-279-7368

Brewster Bait & Tackle

Route 2
Brewster, NY 10509

845-279-2665

Stewart Marine
Croton Falls Road
Carmel, NY 10512
845-277-31453

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Tags: bait & tackle, brown trout, NYS Reservoirs, places to fish Putnam, rainbow trout, stream fishing, tourism

Category: Community News, Featured