New York proposes Adirondack brook trout pond rules, including a wider baitfish ban

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on Oct. 28 proposed new fishing rules meant to protect brook trout ponds in the Adirondacks. Under the proposal, using live baitfish would be banned inside the Adirondack Blue Line except on 146 listed waters. Today the baitfish ban covers 1,211 specific waters.

The proposal would also remove special harvest rules on 24 of the roughly 430 managed brook trout ponds, which would put those ponds back under the statewide limit of five trout a day with no size limit. DEC says the changes carry out the Adirondack Brook Trout Pond Management Plan, which was finalized in December 2025. The announcement includes comments from DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton.

Public comments are being taken through Dec. 28, 2026. You can email them to regulations.fish@dec.ny.gov with the subject line "Adirondack Brook Trout Regulations," or mail them to NYSDEC Inland Fisheries Section, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: NYSDEC — DEC Announces Proposed Rulemaking for the Protection of Adirondack Brook Trout Ponds (Oct. 28, 2026).