Proposed 2022 Reg Changes (esp muskies)

[John Jarosz]

Don't know if you've heard of the proposed changes in the Freshwater Fishing Regs for 2022. They deal with Trout, Walleye, bass and, yes, Musky.

The DEC is trying to align opening and closing dates to be uniform throughout the state. The big one for our club is the opening & closing dates for muskies. Instead of "Last Saturday in May" the trend is to have a hard opening date, such as June 1st. Below are just a few:

• May 1 for walleye, northern pike, pickerel, and tiger muskellunge;
• June 1 for muskellunge; June 15 for black bass; and
• Aligning special regulations with new season dates for these species (that would be us)

NOTE: The new proposal is to open the statewide musky season June 1st. It's presently the last Sat in May.

Here's the link to the DEC's proposed regs. If you have any comments, both for or against, their email is in the link. Take the time to send one.

NOTE: The Upper & the Great Lake's regs come under "special regs." When I talked to the DEC they mentioned that the new special reg for Upper River & Great Lakes muskies would be Open June 15th & close Dec 15th

[Tony Scime]

I will never understand how extending the season helps muskie fisheries which may have historically low populations, such as the upper Niagara River, Buffalo Harbor, and St. Lawrence. At least enhance the spawning and nursery habitat and show some successful recruitment first.

Fishery scientists have always said that the highest rate of morality for all warm water species, including muskies, are during the cold water period. 

[Capt. Larry D. Jones]

I believe the June 1st Opener could be more devastating on years of late spawning, then 15 days of December. Not that many Fishermen out in December and high winds & brown water during most of those days.But I believe spreading out the fishing pressure in the Upper Niagara River in December may help all the pressure on the musky channel in the Canadian waters of the Triangle.

[Scott McKee]

The proposed regulations list musky season for the upper and Lake Erie from June 15 (currently the third Saturday in June) to December 15 (currently November 30.)

New regulations changes

[John Jarosz]

Chris D. cleared that up for me. The June 1st opening would only be for the inland lakes, like Chautauqua. The Upper Niag & Lake Erie come under "Special Regs" and that opening would be June 15th regardless of the day instead of the third Sat in June. The 15th isn't that far off past openings that were on a Saturday:

2022: The Upper would be Wed the 15th instead of Sat the 18th

2021: 3rd Sat was 19th, so Tues 15th vs Sat 19th

2020: 15th vs 20th (Mon vs Sat)

2019: 15th vs 15th (Sat vs Sat)

2018: 15th vs 16th (Fri vs Sat)

[John Miller]

I love hunting musky.   However, I believe a shorter season is best for fish. 

[John Miller]

What's wrong with 3rd Saturday of June? Why are they interested in changing the opener if it's so close to the existing regulations opener? I like that the season currently starts on a weekend. It allows many anglers a chance to celebrate opening day of musky season on the water. The proposed opening day would potentially have musky season opening in the middle of the week. Not great for weekend warriors with your typical full time employment.

[John Jarosz]

The DEC conducted an online survey regarding openers, size limits, quality of fishing and a bunch of other angling related topics. One of the topics was about going to a "hard opening date" (like April 1st for inland trout) rather than having "1st Sat in April." I haven't seen the results of the survey but that's the rationale the DEC is using to change to a "hard date." One reason I see that keeps coming up is to have a uniform opener system throughout the state.

This is still a proposal & there is time to comment. Below is the link to their news release. The last paragraph contains the email & snail-mail address for comments:

https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/124339.html

There are also proposed reg changes in panfish in a different press release. Some I agreed with, others I didn't, so I sent an email anyway. Don't know if it will do any good but if I don't send anything, I can't complain.

[John Pensyl]

I'm with Johnny Miller. Leave the traditional 3rd Saturday in June opener alone. Weekday openers for anything are tough for families. Especially kids in school. I do however support unifying the great lakes seasons state wide and that means a December 15th closer for Erie and the upper just like all canadian great lakes waters and the st lawrence.

[Stephen Glassic]

At least us retired guys and those who can take the day off work will have less boat traffic to deal with when the opener falls on a weekday. Especially when adding in the recreational boaters.

And cheaters won't have an excuse like; "Oh! I thought today was the third Saturday". And you won't have to be concerned about the closing date when fishing close to the border line. But what about the opener? It would be good if Canada would delay their 1st Sat in June opener to help protect spawning.