Opening day for trout fishing, kids help stock the local creeks

SCOTTSVILLE — Trout season officially opens today in New York State.  The State hatcheries raised thousands of fish to bolster the numbers of trout available for anglers who have waited all winter to get their lines wet again.  And with the improving weather many are anxious to get outside and try their luck.  This year the State Hatcheries provided over 3500 yearlings and two year old fish for Oatka Creek.  An excited group of children off school for Good Friday came to help with the stocking of fish.
 
The State Hatchery at Caledonia raises the trout and loads them in trucks for distribution to local streams.  The Oatka Game Club brought a group of kids to form a bucket brigade and as the workers added trout to the buckets the kids whisked them off to their new home in the stream.  The trucks had several stops to make and the caravan of helpers followed to each of the locations until all the trout were unloaded.  The volunteers were then treated to a party at the Oatka Fish and Game Club lodge.  Definitely a “Good Friday.”
 
Fishermen anxious to start the season were on hand as well.  Some brought their own kids out to give them a day on the Creek and all filled their limits easily.  Another group of anglers was there to just catch and release the newly stocked trout, preferring the sport over the taking.
 
Stream conditions were very good for the stocking.  Most of the spring runoff has passed so conditions should be good for opening day.  Even though stretches of the Oatka are open year round, many choose to wait until April 1st before starting the season.  Much of the creek is private land but the stocking takes place in areas open to public fishing.  Anyone fishing anywhere should be aware of the landowner status and also familiarize themselves with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) laws pertinent to the stream and area they are fishing.  Many streams including Oatka Creek have different regulations for individual sections of the stream.  Happy fishing and Good Luck!