DEC and Onondaga County Parks are hosting family-friendly, all-abilities fishing events at Onondaga Lake. All events are land-based, require no fishing license, and DEC provides rods, bait, and staff assistance for first-time anglers.
The Missouri Department of Conservation's Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery is hosting a free Veterans' Fishing Day on April 18 at Bennett Spring State Park, offering no license or daily tag fees for veterans and active duty service members. The event includes fly tying demos, casting instruction, and adaptive fishing equipment displays.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announces the 2026-2027 general inland fishing season opens May 2 statewide with several new regulations and season structures in effect. Key changes include the muskellunge season opening May 2 on all inland waters, a catch-and-release lake sturgeon season on select waters, and new species-specific bag and length limits across the state.
Clark Harman, a 64-year-old crop advisor from Burley, Idaho, won the 2026 MLF Road to REDCREST Sweepstakes, earning a trip to REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance and the Outdoor Sports Expo in Springfield, Missouri, April 17-19. The dedicated Major League Fishing fan hopes to meet anglers like Dustin Connell, Ott DeFoe, and Jacob Wheeler during the championship weekend.
GoOutdoorsFlorida and TrophyCatch partnered with Front Row Motorsports to sponsor a Craftsman Truck Series vehicle driven by Chandler Smith to victory at Daytona, reaching over a million viewers. TrophyCatch Season 14 has recorded 16,897 approved bass submissions, including 176 Hall of Fame catches, with Phoenix Boats sponsoring boat prizes and Justin Goodman winning the Season 13 grand finale drawing.
Seneca Creek in Pendleton County, West Virginia, is a premier brook trout fishery beneath Seneca Rocks, the Eastern U.S.'s only true peak. Trout Unlimited, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have restored streambanks and improved fish passage through the Potomac Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative.
Virginia's spring shad run marks the unofficial beginning of fishing season, with hickory and American shad returning to rivers like the James and Rappahannock for spawning. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources notes that while hickories are abundant, Americans are catch-and-release only under current harvest restrictions.
New Jersey's trout season opens April 11 with 19 additional fishing days, 23 new stocked ponds, and over 570,000 rainbow trout plus 20,000 brown trout from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. The NJDEP Fish & Wildlife has simplified regulations and expanded opportunities for anglers across the state.
Spring is prime time to catch trophy-sized bass in Idaho as they move to shallow waters to spawn. Martin Koenig, Fish and Game's Sportfish Program Coordinator, explains that bass are most catchable in the mid-50 degree water temperature range, with optimal spawning occurring around 60 degrees. The article provides guidance on targeting both largemouth and smallmouth bass across Idaho's diverse fisheries.
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved spring Chinook seasons opening April 25 in eight river systems including the Snake River, Lower Salmon River, and Clearwater River tributaries. Bag limits and fishing days vary by river section, with preseason forecasts projecting sufficient hatchery salmon for sport fisheries.
Vermont's trout fishing season opens April 11. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department advises anglers to adjust tactics based on conditions, focus on low-elevation streams, and use larger baits or visible flies. State Fisheries Biologist Shawn Good recommends checking the department's Trout Stocking page for updated information.
Nick LeBrun, a Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour competitor from Bossier City, Louisiana, credits his success to Yamaha outboards and the Yamaha Power Pay contingency program. Rising from blue-collar roots to compete professionally, LeBrun emphasizes the reliability of his Yamaha engine and how the Power Pay program rewards loyalty and performance.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mitigation Action and Waterman Support (MAWS) Act and the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025. The MAWS Act establishes a pilot program to create a market for Chesapeake Bay blue catfish in pet food, while the second bill prohibits lead ammunition bans on federal lands unless supported by science and state law.
Lake John State Wildlife Area in Jackson County offers excellent fishing for rainbow trout, cutbows, and Snake River cutthroats. Aquatic biologist Mark Sandersen with Colorado Parks and Wildlife highlights the lake's thriving ecosystem, abundant vegetation, and diverse invertebrate hatches that support healthy fish populations year-round.
New York's recreational striped bass fishing season opens with specific regulations for Hudson River and marine waters, including slot sizes, possession limits, and required handling practices to reduce release mortality and conserve the population.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission invites residents and visitors to enjoy license-free freshwater fishing on April 4-5. Family events at Tenoroc Fish Management Area and Florida Bass Conservation Center feature casting contests, free meals from Publix Supermarkets and Vital Fleet Services, and loaner equipment for youth.
Wisconsin's 2026-2027 inland trout harvest season will open one month earlier on April 4 and run through October 15, 2026. The earlier opening provides expanded fishing opportunities on inland streams, springs, and spring ponds when trout populations are strong and other seasons are closed.
Idaho Fish and Game's Hagerman Wildlife Management Area opened for fishing on March 1, featuring a dozen stocked ponds and lakes with rainbow trout, including the area's legendary yellow-colored "banana trout" variant. The facility offers family-friendly amenities and benefits from its mild climate and Fish and Game's Hagerman Hatchery operations.
Bailey Bleser and his father Rich won the US Anglers Choice National Championship on Pickwick Lake with 49.01 pounds, earning nearly $80,000 and qualification for the 2026 Bassmaster Team Championship. The victory highlights how grassroots tournament trails like US Anglers Choice and B.A.S.S. Nation provide pathways for competitive anglers to reach the highest levels of professional bass fishing.
Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources reports abundant walleye fishing opportunities expected in 2026 through collaborative hatchery efforts. DWR fisheries biologists and hatchery staff at Vic Thomas, Front Royal, King and Queen, and Buller Fish Cultural Stations propagate walleye fingerlings stocked across Commonwealth waters.