Drop A Line! Check Out New York’s Free Fishing Days For 2023

New York State has some of the greatest varieties of fishing opportunities in the country. From world class fly fishing for trout to floating a worm off of a lake dock for crappie, the Empire State has plenty of cool places to drop-a-line! The Department of Environmental Conservation announced "Free Fishing Days" for 2023. The free days are sure to provide the awesome experience of being a New York State angler.

Fishing can be an inexpensive activity that brings a ton of fun for families to enjoy. Pretty good quality fishing rod & reel packages can be purchased from $10-$40, depending on how you want to start out. Some reels are easier to use than others. Kids, 15 and under, do not need a NYS fishing license. Adult fishing licenses are $25 per year or $5 per day. However, on Free Fishing Days, everyone is free!

The first Free Fishing days of 2023 may be a bit chilly but are perfect for those looking to shake off those winter blues! The free days will be President's Weekend, February 18-19. Ice fishing is a sport that requires a bit more knowledge and equipment than throwing a worm on a hook off a dock. However I FISH NY offers a ton of resources for new fisherman looking to take up the sport without breaking the bank. The next free days are probably the most popular.

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The Capital Region waterways feature some amazing large and small mouth bass fishing, along with trout, crappie and dozens of other "easier" to catch species. Free Fishing days this summer are June 24-25. This is a perfect time to enjoy fishing. During the warm summer months fish are active and that means they are eating! Plus, after enjoying a few days of Free Days in June, you can spend the summer reeling in memories that will last a lifetime. The final Free Fishing Days of the year can provide some amazing backdrops.

Fall fishing in New York State is some of the most scenic in the world. The best part about that is many of those spots are in our own backyard. September 23rd is National Hunting and Fishing Day, so appropriately that is the first of the fall Free Fishing Days. The second day of choice is also a spot-on day for some free fishing, Veteran's Day on November 11th. Many people think that fishing should always be free and there is certainly some validity to that argument. However, the fishing license money in New York State is used for stocking millions of fish along with some worthy conservation and instruction programs. Take these opportunities to enjoy a great sport. Tight Lines!