Thanks to a catch and release season, diehard trout anglers looking to get their fix can get out fishing on inland trout streams year-round, however there’s still something special about April 1, which one could argue will always be the official trout and salmon season opener here in New York.

With an uncharacteristically snowy winter, stream flows will likely be very cold and high, making angling conditions a little tougher than recent years.

Early season trout are typically lethargic, and anglers will have best success using bait and lures such as spinners that can be fished slow and deep. Fishing will improve markedly when water temperatures get into the 60’s later in the spring. Aquatic insect activity will also pick up, which will improve opportunities for fly fishing anglers. Some of the best fishing of the year can be found in lakes and ponds immediately following ice out, which can be as late as May in some northern Adirondack ponds.

When it comes to figuring out where you want to go trout fishing, reliable resources include DECinfo Locator (best for desktop, laptop, or tablet devices) and the Tackle Box feature within the HuntFishNY app (mobile-friendly). Here you can pan around a map-based interface for information on public access, fishing regulations and stocking information.