2026 regulation year
New York Brook trout 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Salvelinus fontinalis
Last updated
Brook trout are New York's state fish and the Adirondack heritage waters hold the only original-strain native populations in the lower 48. Heritage-pond regs are restrictive — artificial lures only, barbless on some, and frequent slot rules.
Season
Apr 1 – Oct 15 on most waters; year-round on listed waters; heritage-strain ponds carry stricter rules.
– Statewide most waters
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 5 / day (combined with brown, rainbow, splake; only 2 over 12 in)
- Possession
- Same as daily bag
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- No statewide minimum on heritage-strain waters; 7 in elsewhere
- Slot
- Heritage ponds: protected slot or release-only depending on water
Gear restrictions
- Heritage ponds: artificial lures only — no bait
- Some Adirondack ponds: barbless single hooks required
- Wild-trout streams: catch-and-release only sections marked in regs
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific New York waters:
Lows Lake (Adirondacks)
Heritage water: artificial-only, barbless
Honnedaga Lake
Heritage strain; restricted-access via permit
Beaver River (Stillwater Res.)
Wild brook trout; statewide rule
Catskill streams (Schoharie etc.)
Wild-trout sections: catch-and-release in marked reaches
Official source
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation publishes the authoritative 2026 New Yorkfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.