Trout season kicks off with two annual fishing derbies near Rochester
Anglers, prepare your fishing rods. Hundreds of fishermen will wade into the still-frigid waters to take part in the area's opening day derbies — one in Irondequoit Creek in Powder Mills Park and the other in Naples Creek in southern Ontario County. The two annual fishing derbies each attract hundreds of anglers and mark the start of trout season, no matter the weather. Many more fishermen head to local creeks to fish solo or with friends, a rite of passage each April 1.
Fishing derby in Powder Mills Park
The 20th annual Riedman Foundation Opening Day Trout Derby at Powder Mills Park runs from 7 a.m. to noon, based out of Powder Horn Lodge. Irondequoit Creek will be freshly stocked with rainbow and brown trout, according to Ron Mitchell, general manager of the park's historic fish hatchery. The hatchery-raised fish will be joined by lake-run fish from Lake Ontario.
More than half of the 2,000 fish to be stocked for the derby will include 9-inch-long yearlings. Hundreds more will be 2- and 3-year-old trout with "a handful" of older fish that weigh between 4 and 10 pounds, Mitchell said. Creek conditions are "pretty good," currently, Mitchell said, as Irondequoit Creek runs low, but not muddy.
The annual event is named in honor of the late John Riedman who stepped in to help Monroe County fund hatchery operations in 2003. The derby, which drew more than 600 anglers last year, supports the ongoing operation of the 90-year-old hatchery. Last year, Robert Kase of Rochester reeled in a 9.63 pound brown trout that measured 26.5 inches long to win the top prize. Some participants come as early as 3:30 a.m., hours before the derby begins, to stake out their spot along the creek, Mitchell said. One group annually pitches a tent and cooks breakfast.
Aside from taking home what they catch, registered participants are also eligible for prizes in one of three age categories, including the youngest group of 8 and younger. As usual, the top prize is the Bank of America Angler Award, which includes a $500 prize for reeling in the biggest brown trout.
Registration costs $5 per person and can be completed at fishpowdermill.org or in person at the hatchery by the end of the day on Friday. There's no cost for children 8 and younger. Participants who are 16 or older must have a valid fishing permit and abide by state Fish and Game Laws.
What do fishing conditions look like?
At the state Department of Environmental Conservation's annual trout sampling in Naples, Ontario County, last week, biologists were optimistic, even though some rainbow trout have started to run and spawn. Crews sampled the popular creek, using an electrified wand to bring fish to the surface where they were netted by aquatic biologists.
DEC biologists record data for each fish, including weight, length, sex and general health. A scale sample is also taken to determine the age of the fish. The team netted, sampled and returned 48 rainbow trout to the 42-degree creek - including a 26.2-inch-long rainbow trout, according to the DEC.
"Seven of the 28 females were ripe, or ready to spawn and release their eggs, which indicates that the spawning run will last a little longer, which is good news for anglers looking forward to opening day," DEC officials said.
The forecast for Saturday currently predicts rainy weather for the derby. Mitchell noted that the derby will be held rain or shine.
The fishing derby in Naples
The Naples Creek Rainbow Trout Derby runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, with event headquarters at the Naples Fire Hall on Vine Street. The Rotary-sponsored derby, in its 62nd year, holds a weigh-in contest and a catch-and-release tournament. A special youth award this year will includes a handcrafted fly fishing rod and a fishing charter and will be given to the angler (who is between 12 to 16 years old) with the heaviest weight brown or rainbow trout.
Pre-registration is required and costs $10 per person ($5 for children and senior citizens). Participants can register at The Sutton Company, 120 S. Main St., Naples. A registration table will be open at the fire hall from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday and in the two hours before the derby begins on Saturday.
All event proceeds fund community service projects in Naples.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Trout season in NY kicks off with two fishing derbies near Rochester
