On very good authority, the 5 weeks between
the end of June and the end of July are an exceptional period for small
mouth bass fishing on Findley Lake. Because no horsepower restrictions
exist, fishing boats of all size and horsepower are welcome, which makes
Findley Lake the perfect fishing destination. If your significant other
doesn't relish hours on the water, the downtown shops offer a warm
welcome all weekend long!
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New York State's
abundant waterways offer a flourishing habitat for a wide variety of
freshwater fish species and Chautauqua County is home to some of the
best fishing in the state. Findley Lake, one of Chautauqua County's
favorite fishing destinations, offers anglers an excellent opportunity
to catch catfish, crappies, large-mouth bass, small mouth bass, muskie,
northern pike, perch, sunfish & walleye.
Each year DEC releases over one million pounds of fish into more
than 1,200 public streams, rivers, lakes and ponds across the state. These
fish are stocked to enhance recreational fishing and to restore native
species to waters they formerly occupied. The DEC runs 12 fish hatcheries,
each specializing in raising one or more species of fish, including brook
trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, steelhead, chinook salmon,
coho salmon, landlocked salmon, walleye, muskellunge and tiger
muskellunge. Between January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2003, in cooperation
with County Federal Sportsmen, Findley Lake was stocked with 1,000 Tiger
muskellunge averaging 9.5 inches in size.
Between January 1,
2003 - December 31, 2003, in cooperation with County Federal Sportsmen,
Findley Lake was stocked with 1,000 Tiger muskellunge averaging 9.5 inches
in size.
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The Blue
Heron Inn
guests Ken & Nancy Ramsier of Girard, PA with a few nice smallies
from Findley Lake |
General Angling Regulations
Species |
Open Season |
Minimum Length |
Daily
Limit |
Trout
(brook, brown and rainbow trout and hybrids of these species; and
splake) |
April 1
thru October 15 |
Any size |
5 |
Lake Trout |
April 1
thru October 15 |
21" |
3 |
Landlocked
Salmon |
April 1
thru October 15 |
15" |
3 |
Kokanee |
April 1
thru October 15 |
Any size |
10 |
Largemouth
and small mouth bass |
3rd Sat in
June thru Nov 30 |
12" |
5 |
Muskellunge |
3rd Sat in
June thru Nov 30 |
30" |
1 |
Northern
Pike |
1st Sat in
May thru March 15 |
18" |
5 |
Pickerel |
1st Sat in
May thru March 15 |
15" |
5 |
Tiger
muskellunge |
1st Sat in
May thru March 15 |
30" |
1 |
Walleye |
1st Sat in
May thru March 15 |
15" |
5 |
Crappie |
All year |
9" |
25 |
Whitefish |
All year |
Any size |
5 |
American
Shad |
All year |
Any size |
6 |
Yellow
perch |
All year |
Any size |
50 |
Sunfish
(bluegill, pumpkinseed and redbreast sunfish) |
All year |
Any size |
50 |
All other
species (except endangered and threatened species) |
All year |
Any size / any number |
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Special Regulations — Findley Lake
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Walleye -
Open |
1st Sat in
May—March 15 |
18” |
3 |
Method -
Ice Fishing Legal
*
Where regulations appear in the Method column, they pertain to all
fishing in the listed water
* |
*License
Fees
The following is a
list of current fees for fishing licenses in New York State. See Sporting
License Fees for further information on all New York State sporting
license fees. In addition, see Licenses and Permits for general
information on New York State Sporting Licenses.
License Type - Resident Fee
Senior (65+/Military Disability) $ 5.00
Annual 19.00
7 day 12.00
License Type - Non-Resident Fee
Annual $40.00
7 day 25.00
1 day 15.00
Beginning August 18, 2003, you may purchase 2003-2004 sporting licenses
and permits via DECALS at:
all license issuing outlets (most municipal clerks' offices and many
sporting goods stores),
by phone* at
1-86-NY-DECALS (1-866-933-2257) or
by mail to: WorldCom,
P.O. Box 36985, Phoenix AZ 85067-6985. A Mail order application form (50
kb pdf) is available.
* In order to apply by phone you need to have proof of hunting
qualification in the computerized system (currently includes NY Lifetime
License holders, 2002-03 hunting license holders and graduates of hunter
education courses in New York since 1980.)
*When
you buy your license you will need:
NYS residents must
provide one of the following proofs of residency:
Your driver's license or a NYS non-driver's identification issued by the
Department of Motor vehicles
an IT-201 or W-2 income tax form for the previous year
a current voter registration card
a current NYS vehicle registration
a current lease
military LES (Leave and Earnings Statement) or military orders
a current student ID card
a current pay stub or letter from a current employer on letterhead
containing your legal address
*
Who Needs a License?
Everyone must have
a valid fishing license in their possession while fishing, except:
Persons under 16 years of age.
When fishing waters of the Marine District or in the Hudson River south of
the Troy Barrier Dam.
When fishing on licensed fishing preserves.
Citizen-resident owners, lessees and citizen members of their immediate
families occupying and cultivating farm lands, when fishing on their own
lands.
Persons
holding farm fish pond licenses and members of their immediate families,
when fishing on waters covered by their licenses. Resident parties at
United States Veterans Administration hospitals, Department of Mental
Hygiene institutions, and Department of Health rehabilitation hospitals,
and inmates at Division of Youth rehabilitation centers. A free permit is
available from: NYSDEC License Sales, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York
12233-4790.
*
License Privileges and Requirements
A fishing license or combined hunting and
fishing license entitles the holder to: take fish by angling, spearing,
hooking, longbow, and tip ups; take frogs by spearing, catching with the
hands or by use of a club or hook; and take bait fish for personal use,
all as provided by the laws and regulations of the Department of
Environmental Conservation: The holder of a license shall have such
license on the holder's person while exercising any privilege of that
license. The holder of a license shall exhibit it on demand to any police
officer, peace office, or the owner, lessee, or other person in control of
the lands or waters on which the license holder is present. No license
authorizes the holder to trespass upon private lands or waters or
interfere with property belonging to another person.
*
Free Fishing Days
Each year, the last full weekend in June is
designated as Free Fishing Days in New York State. During those two days,
anyone can fish New York State waters, and no fishing license is required.
This event started in 1991 to allow all people the opportunity to sample
the incredible fishing New York State has to offer. Since no license is
required, it is the perfect time to take a friend or relative fishing. In
2004, New York State's Free Fishing Days are Saturday and Sunday, June 26
& 27. In addition to the June Free Fishing Days weekend, there are a
number of "Free Fishing Events" held in various locations across the
state. Free Fishing Events are DEC sponsored events (such as family
fishing clinics) where participants can learn about fish identification,
fishing equipment and techniques, fisheries management, angling ethics and
aquatic ecology. Each of DEC's nine regions can sponsor up to four free
fishing events per year. Most free fishing events occur during the period
from April through October. So, first time anglers, as well as those who
have drifted away from the sport, should take advantage of this
opportunity to see how much fun fishing can be. For more information about
Free Fishing Days, contact your DEC Regional Fisheries Office (see DEC
Regional Offices and Phone Numbers).
*
Free Fishing Licenses
The following individuals are eligible for a free fishing license and may
obtain a license at any license issuing outlet:
Citizen residents who are blind.
Active members of the U.S. Armed Forces who provide proof that they are
New York State residents and are in the state for a maximum of 30 days.
Resident patients at U.S. Veterans Administration hospitals or facilities
can obtain a free fishing license through their hospital or facility.
Native Americans who are members of the
Shinnecock and Poospatuck tribes or the Six Nations residing on
reservations in New York State may obtain a free fishing license by
contacting their reservation or the DEC License Sales Office at (518)
402-8843.
*
For more information
Call
518/457-8862
- or -www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/fishregs/index.html
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Bruce & Tobi Ahlquist, Owners/Innkeepers
P.O. Box 588, 10412 Main Street
Findley Lake, NY 14736
Phone: 716-769-7852 ~ Fax: 716-769-7866
Email:
stay@theblueheroninn.com
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