Hudson River Regulation Changes

License requirements
There is no longer an exemption to the requirement for a license to take fish from the Hudson River south of the Troy Barrier Dam at Troy. Anglers will need to have a license when fishing the Hudson River. Depending on the specific location of the Hudson River fishing activities, and the specific species fished for, an angler may need to have a recreational marine fishing license, a fishing license or both licenses:

• If you are fishing downstream from the Tappan Zee Bridge, you are considered fishing in the marine and coastal district and will need to have a recreational marine fishing license.
• If you are fishing upstream from the Tappan Zee Bridge and are fishing for non-migratory fish (such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, carp, walleye, and perch), you will need to have a fishing license.
• If you are fishing upstream from the Tappan Zee Bridge and are fishing for "migratory fish from the sea" (such as striped bass, American shad, hickory shad, blueback herring, or alewife), you need a recreational marine fishing license.
• If you are fishing upstream from the Tappan Zee Bridge and are fishing for "migratory fish from the sea" and for non-migratory fish, you will need a recreational marine fishing license and a fishing license.

What license do I need to fish the tributaries to the Hudson River?

The same rules apply to the to the tributaries of the Hudson River as applies to the mainstem of the Hudson River up to the first barrier impassable by fish. A fishing license is required if you are fishing upstream of the first barrier impassable by fish.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31427.html

Customizing a Blue Fox Wildeye

I have had good luck with my Blue Fox® in-line spinners, especially my #5 silver Wildeye®, which has been one of my go to weapons to hook up on the bigger fish. So I decided to customize one to use alongside one that is not customized, to see what advantages I could create. Customizing baits and lures; finding the combinations that produce fish and building a tackle box full of gear that works add to the fun and enjoyment of fishing. Plus, building customized gear gives you something to do in the off season when you're not in the woods with a boom-boom stick stalking brown, furry, four legged critters with horns.



I started with a #5, 7/16 oz. Wildeye® cutting off the treble hook with a pair of diagonal cutters. I then added a white silicon skirt with silver flakes, made by Strike King Lure Company®, to a red colored VMC® #2, Barbarian treble hook. I made sure that the skirt was facing the correct direction so it will perform well in the water. After the skirt and treble hook was all set, I added a #4, 50 lbs. Owner® split ring to the treble hook and attached the treble hook to the wire at the end of the lure.



The end result of my customizing project is an in-line spinner that is silver with a white colored silicon skirt and red treble hook. The lure now looks like a more expensive lure and I think it will look yummy to the bigger fish. I can now easily replace the skirt with a new if needed or switch the skirt with one of a different color.

    Customized Blue Fox® In-line Spinner.  Photo taken by Shawn Thompson.

Stay tuned for upcoming customizing projects here on Capital Region Fishing.



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