Free Fishing In New York Next Weekend

Next weekend, New York will open up all of its parks to people who want to go fishing, and all it will cost is some bait.

For Feb. 18 and 19, the state is waiving its license requirements for people to go fishing at state parks. That means that interested anglers can try out the sport without having to shell out for the license.

It's also a great time for those who are interested in ice fishing to see if they can find a spot to try it out.

"No matter the season, New York is home to some of the best fishing in the nation," Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said in a release. "These free days are a prime opportunity for anglers of all experience levels, whether they are New Yorkers or visitors, to get out and experience for themselves the great fishing on the lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in every corner of this state."

Long Island, and Nassau's South Shore in particular, is home to dozens of great fishing spots, both freshwater and saltwater. Locations that will be open next weekend for free fishing include:

• Camaans Pond, Merrick
• Forest City Park Pond, Wantagh
• Freeport Reservoir, Freeport/Merrick
• Grant Park Pond, Hewlett
• Hempstead Lake, Hempstead Lake State Park
• Lower Twin Pond, Wantagh
• Massapequa Lake
• Massapequa Reservoir
• McDonald Pond, Hempstead Lake State Park
• Mullener Pond, North Merrick
• Oyster Bay Mill Pond
• Ridders Pond, New Hyde Park
• Smith Pond, Rockville Centre
• Smith Pond, Roosevelt
• South Pond
• Upper Twin Pond, Wantagh
• Wantagh Mill Pond

The Department of Environmental Conservation reminds those venturing forth on the ice that four inches or more of solid ice is considered to be safe for accessing bodies of water on foot. Ice fishermen should note that ice thickness can vary on different bodies of water and even on the same body of water. Anglers should be particularly wary of areas of moving water and around boat docks and houses where bubblers may be installed to reduce ice buildup.

The presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice should not be considered evidence of safe ice conditions. Individuals are strongly encouraged to check ice conditions and avoid situations that appear to present even a remote risk. Testing the thickness of ice can be done easily with an auger or ice spud at various spots.

Those new to ice fishing are encouraged to download the Ice Fishing Chapter of DEC’s new I FISH NY Beginners’ Guide to Freshwater Fishing for information on how to get started with ice fishing. Additional information, including a list of waters open to ice fishing, can found on the DEC ice fishing web page and the Public Lakes and Ponds map.

For more information on the Free Fishing Days, contact your local park, or visit the DEC website.

Photo: Jani Uusitalo