Fish for free in NYC this weekend, no license required (and you probably won’t need to drill through the ice)

The New York State Department of Environmental Protection is waiving fishing license fees February 18-19. New Yorkers and visitors can wet line for free in any of the state’s 7,500 lakes and ponds or 70,000 miles of rivers and streams.

In almost every other year, fishing in February in upstate New York means drilling a hole in the ice. DEC has a quick guide to ice fishing online which you can read here.

But this unseasonably warm winter has not been kind to upstate ice fishermen. Many of the most popular ice fishing lakes in the region have ice that is either too thin (less than four inches) to be fished on or almost non-existent.

So if you’re planning to hit hard water this weekend, check local conditions first. Your best bet is to check online forums or Facebook groups such as Oneida Lake Diehards to get the latest posts from other anglers about fishing in a particular body of water.

Or check with a tackle shop for skinny ice conditions and bait selection. Go fishing with a partner and always check the ice with a hairpin. Be aware that ice thickness can vary greatly within a few feet.

DEC offers a wealth of information for beginner anglers, including the I FISH NY Beginner’s Freshwater Fishing Guide, which provides information on rod rigging, catch determination, fishing rules, and ice fishing tips. If you prefer video, DEC has a YouTube channel.

Don’t know where to wet the line? Visit one of the DEC Places to Fish websites. DEC also recently added a new feature to its HuntFishNY app called “The Tackle Box” where you can find fishing regulations, boating spots and stock information in a map-based interface.

In addition to Free Fishing Days, there are free “Learn to Fish” fishing courses. A list of what is currently scheduled can be found on the DEC website. The site will be updated as new events are added throughout the year.

Free Fishing Day participants are reminded that although a freshwater fishing license is not required on Free Fishing Days, all other fishing rules remain in effect. Outside of Free Fishing Days, anglers aged 16 and over must have a valid fishing license. For more information on purchasing a license, visit the DEC website.

DEC will offer additional free fishing days next year, including June 24-25; September 23 (National Hunting and Fishing Day); and November 11 (Veterans Day).

Steve Featherstone lights outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com And NYUP.com. Contact him at [email protected] or on twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow all of our outdoor content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.

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