Border Waters Special Regulations

Statewide seasons and limits apply, except as listed below.

On This Page:

Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River
(New York/Pennsylvania Border Water)

 
SpeciesOpen SeasonMinimum Length or Slot LimitDaily Limit
TroutApril 1 through October 15None1
October 16 through March 31Catch and release only, Artificial Lures only
Black BassFirst Saturday after June 11 through the Friday preceding first Saturday after April 1112″5
First Saturday after April 11 through Friday preceding first Saturday after June 11Catch and release only
Walleye1st Saturday in May through March 1418″3
Muskellunge and Tiger MuskellungeAll year40″1
Pickerel12″5
Striped Bass28″ to 31″1
Anadromous River Herring (Alewife and Blueback Herring)Possession prohibited

Lake Champlain and Tributaries to the First Impassable Barrier (New York/Vermont Border Water)

 
SpeciesOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Limit
TroutAll year12″3
Lake TroutAll year15″3
Landlocked SalmonAll year15″2
Black BassSecond Saturday in June through November 3012″5
December 1 through the Friday preceding the second Saturday in JuneCatch and release only; artificial lures only
WalleyeFirst Saturday in May through March 1518″3
MuskellungeLast Saturday in May through November 3040″1
Northern PikeAll year20″5
Crappie8″25
PickerelAny size10
Yellow PerchAny sizeAny number
SunfishAny sizeAny number
SaugerMay not be taken or possessed at any time
Additional Special Regulations:
  • No more than 2 lines per person. Each fishing line may have no more than 2 baited hooks or 2 artificial lures, with or without added natural bait.
  • No more than 15 ice-fishing lines may be used for ice fishing from November 15-April 30.
  • Ice fishing permitted
Additional Lake Champlain Tributary Regulations:
Ausable River
from the marked
boundary 800 feet west of the 1st
State Route 9 bridge upstream
from Lake Champlain upstream to Rainbow Falls		Fishing from boats prohibited.
Ausable River
from D&H Railroad bridge
upstream to Rainbow Falls

From June 15-Dec 31
 

  • Maximum hook gap 1/2 inch.
  • Fishing prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
  • Fishing permitted with unweighted artificial flies or unweighted natural baits only (see definitions).
  • No supplemental weight, such as metal leaders, sinkers, split shot, twist-ons, or swivels may be attached to line, leader, or hook.*(see note)
Ausable Boat Basin
at the mouth of Ausable
Chasm between posted boundaries		Fishing prohibited at all times as posted onsite
Boquet River
from mouth upstream to Wadhams Falls

From June 15-Dec 31
 

  • Maximum hook gap 1/2 inch.
  • Fishing prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
  • Fishing permitted with unweighted artificial flies or unweighted natural baits only (see definitions).
  • No supplemental weight, such as metal leaders, sinkers, split shot, twist-ons, or swivels may be attached to line, leader, or hook.*(see note)
Boquet River
from the Route 22 bridge in
Willsboro, downstream
approximately 1,500 feet to the marked
boundary at the base of the cascades		Fishing prohibited
Great Chazy River
from Rte. 9B at Coopersville
upstream to Perry Mills Dam		Fishing prohibited from Mar 16-Friday preceding the 1st Saturday in May
Mill Brook (in Port Henry)
from mouth
to falls west of Route 22		Fishing prohibited from Oct 1-Dec 31
North Branch Boquet River and tributaries
from mouth to first upstream barrier

From June 15-Sept 30

  • Maximum hook gap 1/2 inch.
  • Fishing prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
  • Fishing permitted with unweighted artificial flies or unweighted natural baits only (see definitions).
  • No supplemental weight, such as metal leaders, sinkers, split shot, twist-ons, or swivels may be attached to line, leader, or hook.*(see note)

From Oct 1-Dec 31
 

  • Fishing Prohibited
Saranac River
from Catherine Street
bridge upstream to Imperial Mill Dam

At all times

  • Fishing from boats prohibited

From June 15-Dec 31

  • Maximum hook gap 1/2 inch.
  • Fishing prohibited from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
  • Fishing permitted with unweighted artificial flies or unweighted natural baits only (see definitions).
  • Exception: On the Saranac River, floating lures with one free-swinging hook permitted.
  • No supplemental weight, such as metal leaders, sinkers, split shot, twist-ons, or swivels may be attached to line, leader, or hook. *(see note)
*Note: Sinking or manufactured weighted line without supplemental weight is permitted.

Greenwood Lake (New York/New Jersey Border Water)

 
SpeciesOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Limit
Black BassThird Saturday in June through November 3012″5
December 1 through the Friday preceding the third Saturday in JuneCatch and release only
PickerelAll year15″5
Muskellunge and Tiger MuskellungeAll year44″1
WalleyeMay 1 through last day of February18″3
Channel CatfishAll year12″5
CrappieAll year8″10

Indian Lake (New York/Connecticut Border Water)

 
SpeciesOpen SeasonMinimum LengthDaily Limit
Black Bass3rd Saturday in April (6 AM) through November 3012″6
Pickerel3rd Saturday in April (6 AM) through March 3115″6
Fishing is prohibited from April 1 through 6 AM on the 3rd Saturday in April

License Requirements for Border Waters

 
WaterState/ProvinceYes/No
Does a New York State fishing license entitle the holder to fish the out-of-state portion of waters listed below?
Lake OntarioOntarioNo
Lake ErieOntario, PennsylvaniaNo
St. Lawrence RiverOntario, QuebecNo
Niagara RiverOntarioNo
Lake Champlain
View more details on the Lake Champlain reciprocal fishing license		QuebecNo
VermontYes
(except for The Inland Sea (including "The Gut"),
Mallett's Bay, Missisquoi Bay and all rivers)
Delaware River & West Branch Delaware River (along boundary)PennsylvaniaYes
Greenwood LakeNew JerseyYes
Indian LakeConnecticutYes