Wednesday marked the annual first day of trout season and the season will commence despite the current COVID-19 crisis.

Local fisherman, who view the season as a one of the earliest signs of spring will be out on the region’s lakes and creeks.

Edward Corney of Newburgh was out there on the Moodna Creek in Cornwall early in the morning. He’s been fishing since he was 6 years old and expects that he has missed as many as three opening days since 1968.

Opening day is more about getting out on or near the water and to mark the beginning of spring. And, it’s not usual to not catch anything at the Moodna.

“It’s ceremonial,” Corney said. “It’s a day just to get your line in the water. The only thing that stops us is a major snowstorm or a downpour of rain. Even if it rains, we’ll go down there where we can put lines in the water and watch from the car.”

The area has experienced a mild winter so there could be some bites early. Corney said the fish bite a little when the water is 55 degrees, and don’t bite much at all once it reaches 65.

The state Dept. of Environmental Conservation stocks the Moodna with rainbow and brown trout in March and April.

“I stay local,” Corney said. “I’ve been fishing the Moodna since I was 15 years old. There are many places where you have access to the creek. It’s my favorite spot because the animals are almost tame.”
He said the ducks will come up right next to the fishers, as well as bluebirds. He said he’s also seen bald eagles about 5 feet off the surface of the river.

“When you’re fishing, that means they’re flying right at eye level,” Corney said.

He also spoke highly of the Ramapo River in Tuxedo, which the DEC stocks with Rainbow Trout in March and Brown Trout in March and April. The Shawangunk Kill Creek in Crawford is stocked in March and April with both Brown and Rainbow Trout.
Corney also said the Esopus Creek in Olive and Shandaken are also good places to fish for trout, but those areas are stocked a little later, in April through June.

Corney said the best window for trout fishing is between April 1 and June 1, but some places upstate you can fish longer.
During the COVID-19 crisis, the Dept. of Environmental Conservation is encouraging anglers to fish locally and to avoid high traffic destinations.

Corney said he prefers to fish between midday and 5 or 7 p.m. because the crowd is thinner at that time as many fishermen like to get out there early.

It’s also encouraging fishers to move quickly through parking lots and paths and choose a different location or different time to fish if there is a crowd.

However, the Moodna is a large creek with many access points, which could aid social distancing.

“It will be a madhouse,” Corney said. “It may be different this year due to the virus. But people will find places to be with more than 6 feet between us.”