Delaware Stuff

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Hi Guys,

Trout stocking in Region 4 could be delayed by snowfall in March, but most streams throughout the region should be stocked by late April, weather permitting. Waters to be stocked with two-year-old brown trout include both branches of the Delaware River, the Beaver Kill, the Batavia Kill, Butternut Creek, Catskill Creek, Canajoharie Creek, Charlotte Creek, Claverack Creek, Colgate Lake, East Kill, Greens Lake, Hannacrois Creek, the Holding Pond (Schoharie County), Kinderhook Creek, Oaks Creek, Onesquethaw Creek, Otego Creek, Ouleout Creek, the Poesten Kill, the Roeliff Jansen Kill, Schenevus Creek, Schoharie Creek, Tackawasick Creek, Taghkanic Creek, the Walloomsac River, and Wharton Creek.

Angler diary cooperators are needed again this year for Cannonsville and Pepacton Reservoirs. Anglers interested in keeping a diary of their trout fishing on one or both reservoirs should contact the DEC Fisheries Unit by mail: 65561 Route 10, Stamford, NY 12167; or by phone (607) 652-7366. Last year, boat anglers on Pepacton Reservoir averaged 0.38 trout per hour and 0.17 trout per hour on Cannonsville Reservoir.

Anglers should remember that the Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River, where New York and Pennsylvania share a common boundary, has a delayed season that does not open until April 12 this year. The delayed season also applies to all tributaries to the Delaware River located in Delaware County and to the East Branch tributaries between Hancock and the Hamlet of East Branch.

Didymo has been verified in the East Branch Delaware River downstream of Corbett and in the West Branch Delaware River downstream of Balls Eddy. Although didymo has not been verified in Delaware River, it should be considered infested due to exposure from the East and West Branches. Didymo is a microscopic algae (diatom) that can produce large amounts of stalk material to form thick mats on the stream bottom. Anglers will need to plan their fishing trips on these waters to prevent the spread of didymo to uninfested reaches. Anglers fishing these waters should disinfect all fishing gear prior to fishing their home waters. Contact the Region 4 Fisheries Office for more information and disinfection methods.